OVERVIEW = 7
A 3D beat-em-up/hack-and-slash based on the 1980s Generation 1 Transformers cartoon.
PRESENTATION = 9
The game is gorgeous. Its cel-shading captures exactly—I mean exactly—the look of the 1980s cartoon, right down to the exaggerated mirror sheens on the transformers’ metal. The last game representing a cartoon nearly this well was 2002’s “Robotech:Battlecry” on PS2 andOVERVIEW = 7
A 3D beat-em-up/hack-and-slash based on the 1980s Generation 1 Transformers cartoon.
PRESENTATION = 9
The game is gorgeous. Its cel-shading captures exactly—I mean exactly—the look of the 1980s cartoon, right down to the exaggerated mirror sheens on the transformers’ metal. The last game representing a cartoon nearly this well was 2002’s “Robotech:Battlecry” on PS2 and Gamecube. A petty complaint is that Megatron transforms into a tank instead of a gun, an odd choice for a game that otherwise accepts all the ridiculousness of the cartoon, including size-changing. All characters are voiced by their original actors (or by facsimiles so accurate I didn’t notice). The effects look good. Environments could have used some more variety: it’s one city in earth, within Cybertronian-style technology, and space. There’s no ragdoll or gib physics, sadly. None of the original music score from the show was used, however, which is weird because they had to resolve licensing issues to begin with to publish this. The plot isn’t very good (which I suppose is also accurate to the tv show), but it’s not grating either and cutscenes are skippable. Also, Unicron never shows up, which was a personal disappointment.
GAME MECHANICS = 5
The game controls decently. It wisely eschews the Batman:Arkham/Ubisoft system of pressing a button to automatically counter, but it’s hardly complex. The Right Shoulder button/bumper pulls triple duty by transforming you into a car, triggering a free vehicle-based hit during a combo whenever the screen flashes, or acting as a universal dodge button to avoid getting hit. There’s a third-person shooting system, but ammo is so restricted that it functions as a special attack before resorting to melee weapons. Basically the game is you hitting “X” for fast strikes (occasionally with “Y” for heavy to mix up a combo), holding the “R” button whenever it flashes, and tapping the “R” button every 2 seconds when you’re about to get hit. Just barely dodging will slow time, allowing you a free hit with a slower, heavier weapon.
Despite the game’s assertion otherwise, there are only 4 melee weapon types: hammer, single sword, double swords, and fists. There are a few guns, but only the sniper rifle (lets you aim in 1st person) and hookshot (reels enemy in) are functionally different. You can only carry 4 weapons total, 1 of which must be a gun, so this means 3 functional weapons.
You can play as Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Wheeljack, and Grimlock. Disappointingly, this means just basic cars the entire game, and, as you’d imagine, essentially all characters play alike. Even Grimlock is just a slower car you will try once and then go back to Optimus because his unlimited flamethrower breath isn’t worth the loss of a weapons slot or the speed decrease.
Most of the game is played with just two buttons, “R” and “X” and the left joystick to move. Different enemies, even the giants, don’t require changing tactics, they just have different attack patterns to dodge (except shielded enemies, who require a rushing charge). Flying enemies get really annoying because you have to wait for them to come close (they dodge the hookshot!). Only one level requires you to chase an enemy in vehicle form. Even in empty space, the physics and double-jumping are the same as on land. I wish they had gotten more creative with the possibilities for using the mechanics.
There are short platforming sections but nothing challenging, and the jumping physics aren’t exactly noteworthy. There’s also a few brief turret sections and one cool 2D shooter level.
It can be fun, especially in the more chaotic arenas where you’re dodging giant laser beams/balls and multiple enemies and a giant and all your robot allies are shooting back, but while it tests reflexes it’s never complex. Even on PC, Ninja Gaiden Z: Yaiba and Metal Gear Rising:Revengeance (heck, even The Matrix: Path of Neo) have better, more developed systems.
DESIGN = 5
The game is effectively 5-6 linear hours. You don’t get lost. There are a few extra challenge missions here and there.
The worst design element is the weapons crafting system, which really screws with the difficulty curve and with the slower-weapon-equals-more-damage design. You have to combine existing weapons to level up the 3 you actually like in order to keep the game reasonable. It’s just busywork, and worse, guesswork, since I was never sure which weapons to sacrifice or to level up. Each weapon has a few “element” variants (like fire for extra damage, ice to slow enemies, etc.), which, like the other random buffs (extra damage if you headshot etc.), look cool but barely affect gameplay. But since the gateways to the crafting menu are so far apart in the main game, if you want to try out a weapon on some real enemies, it will be a good long while before you get to the next gateway to switch it back out if you didn’t like it.
Fun enough, if you’re into Transfomers or really into beat-em-ups.… Expand
Transformers: DevastationYour Score0 out of 10User Score
