Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark

 PC
User Score
4.6

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 75 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 75
  3. Negative: 42 out of 75

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  1. hein
    Jun 29, 2014
    3
    This particular franchise was doing amazing. I still get goosebumps watching Transformers: Fall of Cybertron E3 trailer (Developed by High Moon Studios). And then there is this game. Activision most likely thought that this series was doing to well. Must make it crap...and make it crap they did. Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark is nothing like its predecessors. The game itself for aThis particular franchise was doing amazing. I still get goosebumps watching Transformers: Fall of Cybertron E3 trailer (Developed by High Moon Studios). And then there is this game. Activision most likely thought that this series was doing to well. Must make it crap...and make it crap they did. Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark is nothing like its predecessors. The game itself for a lack of a better word is crap...and the PC port is even worse. This game feels like the type that gets tacked onto a movie released. Everyone knows it will be bad but they just tack it on to make more money. Consider Fall of Cybertron the last good game and just assume this POS never got made. Avoid like the PLAGUE!… Expand
  2. HiGPS
    Jun 25, 2014
    3
    Do not buy this game

    This game is nowhere near as good as the first one. This game on PC is a poor console port. Where most of the promts showing as Xbox 360 buttons and not as keys. Options menu is poor, no customizable keys, so pretty lackluster in that regard. The good: The game models looks as expected from a title like this The bad: On hard difficulty the game is nearly    Do not buy this game

    This game is nowhere near as good as the first one. This game on PC is a poor console port. Where most of the promts showing as Xbox 360 buttons and not as keys. Options menu is poor, no customizable keys, so pretty lackluster in that regard.

    The good:
    The game models looks as expected from a title like this

    The bad:
    On hard difficulty the game is nearly unplayable, Poor design choice when it comes to map and enemies can make it hard to spot enemies, even at longer range there is pop-in of enemies of the smaller variety, as you will often find yourself dying to seemingly nothing a bunch of times, without any warning or ability to tell where the damage came from as the enemies spawn behind you and give you no indication of them doing so. This is the only game I have ever quit out of frustration, as the harder difficulty can not have been playtested at all. This seems rushed and there was no reason for the game to come out in this state. Some animations in-game are at what looks like 30 fps. So you will be following a AI companion and they will jitterly move forward as a result of only running at a peasant frame rate while as you run as a masterrace frame rate.

    The game overall feels rushed and unfinnished, some cutscenes are in nice ingame render while others are in what looks like 2002 video renders of the game in terrible low quality all pixelated and grainy. It has some charm, but previous titles in the series were better. This is not one of Edge of Reality's stronger titles unfortunately.

    I would suggest Edge of Reality stick to what they know best and that is growing potatoes for peasants.    … Expand
  3. armada91
    Jun 27, 2014
    6
    To begin, this is an okay game. At best. If you're a Transformers fan from the War for Cybertron series by High Moon Studios, you may feel compelled to purchase this, as it is seemingly the same style. First and foremost, it is not done by the same studio, rather, Edge of Reality was in charge, with High Moon not attached whatsoever. To get to the grit of the review, this game was lackingTo begin, this is an okay game. At best. If you're a Transformers fan from the War for Cybertron series by High Moon Studios, you may feel compelled to purchase this, as it is seemingly the same style. First and foremost, it is not done by the same studio, rather, Edge of Reality was in charge, with High Moon not attached whatsoever. To get to the grit of the review, this game was lacking in all aspects. The story was short, boring, and felt much more like a chore than something truly worth playing. The story was cut up multiple times to tell the paths of both the Decepticons and Autobots while they fought on Cybertron and subsequently, on Earth. It was convoluted and dull to boot, giving you no real attachment to their plight, or really anything at all. As you could tell from the cover of the game, Michael Bay's universe inspires the Earth versions of the Transformers, with Grimlock of the Dinobots stealing the show and having the most truly joyful section of the game, albeit it was only 20 minutes long, tops. The graphics were something you'd expect from an early PS3 release (circa 10 years ago), aside from the top notch character models they took from High Moons work. The Earth levels were unbelievably barren, with noticeable lack of any real substance to the world around the corridors the game was forcing you in. You wanted to explore, given that there are collectibles, but the game was very adamant about pointing you in a direction and sticking you to it. The boring gameplay, on top of the almost jarring difficulty spikes, made the single-player very passable. However, the semi-redeeming factor to this game was the return of the co-op mode, Escalation. In this mode, you fight up to 15 waves of enemies, getting progressively harder, though consistently showing less and less balance and substance to the mode. Enemies would spawn in droves from one location across the map, only to be split up once you arrived to somewhere else. You unlock Gear Boxes as you play in Escalation, as well as campaign, to which you unlock different characters to play as in Escalation, new guns, upgrades, H.A.C.K.s (difficulty settings that altered specific game mechanics in exchange for an experience boost), and Techs (smaller, less powerful abilities that could help you out of a pinch in battle or even offer you up to 6x multiplier on experience), all used to increase the customization of your experience throughout single and multiplayer. While the collection aspect is fun at first, it quickly becomes frustrating after receiving dozens of duplicates, while coming to terms that your favorite Transformer is near crippled in Escalation if it cannot fly, given that you have the option to be whomever you wish. Trophy wise, I could give it a 3/10 difficulty, and as a game I would say it's about a 6.2. Nothing really pops out story wise, and the graphics leave much to be desired, but my nostalgia as a Transformers fan helped me enjoy the sheer site of these beasts back in action, as well as the arsenal from the Cybertron series coming back in full force to blast the enemy to scrap. Verdict: wait for pre-owned.… Expand
  4. MickEllix
    Jun 29, 2014
    1
    i was hoping that it wouldn't be obvious that edge of reality took over from dark moon studious but it's really obvious the quality of the game dropped so much the graphics and port are almost the worst i have ever seen. glad i didn't buy the game i would feel massively ripped off
  5. hboscoe
    Jul 11, 2014
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I'm somewhat of an immense Transformers geek, and lover, so the idea of playing in both Cybertronian and Earth forms made this a must buy for me. The story is strong, (yet admittedly somewhat not expressed that way in the cutscenes) and moments such as playing as an almost youthful Jetfire and seeing the evolution of Prime throughout the ages (not to mention playing as Grimlock, that was very cool)

    This game sits nicely in style half way between War for Cybertron and Dark of the Moon, yet does feel significantly more like a shooting gallery than previous Transformers titles by the same company. But still, I believe this is a must buy for any Transformers fan, young or old.    … Expand
  6. Dunge
    Jun 28, 2014
    5
    First two games were simply amazing, I gave them 9/10. This one? Seems like they asked a few interns to create a new game using the old engine. It still have the same good action, but with bugs, bad level design, a story that makes more or less sense and bad difficulty tweaks. The "loot box" thing is awful. The sound levels are broken (voice are too low, when you reduce the sfx some soundsFirst two games were simply amazing, I gave them 9/10. This one? Seems like they asked a few interns to create a new game using the old engine. It still have the same good action, but with bugs, bad level design, a story that makes more or less sense and bad difficulty tweaks. The "loot box" thing is awful. The sound levels are broken (voice are too low, when you reduce the sfx some sounds don't reduce like grenades so it **** it up, cutscenes don't follow voice level).… Expand
  7. Trance
    Jun 25, 2014
    6
    The first game was amazing, the second was a bit of a step back, this is a leap back.

    The physics both in-game and scripted look horrible, the graphics are bland. I'v never generalised a game so much, Underneath all that rust are glimpses of what made the first game fantastic both off and online. Extra points for huge customisation but that's the only cool thing I can point out. The    The first game was amazing, the second was a bit of a step back, this is a leap back.

    The physics both in-game and scripted look horrible, the graphics are bland. I'v never generalised a game so much, Underneath all that rust are glimpses of what made the first game fantastic both off and online.

    Extra points for huge customisation but that's the only cool thing I can point out. The story, my god the Autobots are in twubble again. Kill me.    … Expand
  8. shamon
    Jun 26, 2014
    4
    this game was such a disappointment

    the gameplay was weaker, the story short and boring and the ending made me feel like i just finished
    playing a demo... from the previous cybertron games this is the worst one.
  9. shArk87
    Jul 7, 2014
    3
    What the hell is this?? I mean, i payed a full priced videogame for this?? How could this sequel end up so terribly? What went wrong? I mean, the 2 previous series were so freaking awesome and then this happens..

    I'm really disappointed, i mean, everything is poor. At least the graphics looked nice but anything else is dull. If this game's attention was to score the quality of Bay's    What the hell is this?? I mean, i payed a full priced videogame for this?? How could this sequel end up so terribly? What went wrong? I mean, the 2 previous series were so freaking awesome and then this happens..

    I'm really disappointed, i mean, everything is poor. At least the graphics looked nice but anything else is dull. If this game's attention was to score the quality of Bay's latest transformers movie, it scored marvelously!
    Save your money, buy a pre-owned !!!    … Expand
  10. slumpy
    Jan 5, 2015
    4
    For the uninitiated Rise of the Dark Spark is the third installment in the War/Fall of Cybertron series originally developed by High Moon Studios. Upon hearing the news that HMS would no longer be behind the helm of this particularly game I was a little hopeful.

    "But slumpy" you may ask "you loved those two games, why would you wish that?" To which I would answer: Because HMS made    For the uninitiated Rise of the Dark Spark is the third installment in the War/Fall of Cybertron series originally developed by High Moon Studios. Upon hearing the news that HMS would no longer be behind the helm of this particularly game I was a little hopeful.

    "But slumpy" you may ask "you loved those two games, why would you wish that?"

    To which I would answer: Because HMS made terrible ports to the PC, quite frankly, they did not seem to care much at all about that particular platform. The result was a REALLY good multiplayer game (the campaigns are decent in both games, but for me, it was all about TDM) mired in a buggy mess, never to be rectified because HMS abandons their games the minute they're released. War/Fall of Cybertron are both disastrously programmed for the PC, communities infested by hackers (one of few legitimate cases of the hacker infestation reputation actually being true) and hopelessly half assed match making systems that are just as likely to fail as they are to find a game....

    And yet... A community, a strong one surrounded those games. As bad as they were, I quite loved them, played them extensively and remain a player in FoC to this day. So it saddened me when I discovered that Edge of Reality were removed the competitive multiplayer modes and instead focusing only on the campaign and escalation game types.

    Well, the campaign, just isn't as engaging as the first two games, and frankly, it doesn't look nearly as interesting as FoC's campaign. There's nothing terribly wrong with it, per se, but it doesn't stack up, making this, ultimately, a disappointing title... With not much to offer in the Multiplayer department, I can't give this game more than a 4.    … Expand
  11. AdrianChan
    Jun 28, 2014
    5
    This game get totally ignored by the critic
    Transformer: Rise of the Dark Spark is a disappointment. It is not as good as the first game .but there is still have some good things about the game. It has a variety of characters and weapons in this game too. The immediate switching from a car to transformer is also very cool, but it is not something impressing because this is not something    This game get totally ignored by the critic
    Transformer: Rise of the Dark Spark is a disappointment. It is not as good as the first game .but there is still have some good things about the game. It has a variety of characters and weapons in this game too. The immediate switching from a car to transformer is also very cool, but it is not something impressing because this is not something new.
    But, the problems is that the campaign is not long enough, the graphics and the texture is very bad (If you are looking forward to a next-gen game then don't buy this one). I personally find the last one has even a better graphics. Conversation between character suddenly stop because it is interrupted by loading screen. Quite a lot of unnecessary checkpoint. It don't have a lot of new features. Most come from previous game.
    This game is $49.99 and it is absolutely overpriced in my opinion. It again show how greedy Activision is. If you want to try this game out wait until the price drops.    … Expand
  12. Nahemah
    Jul 4, 2014
    0
    Controls are pool, xbox360 buttons are all over the screen, some options are completely hidden without telling you how to access them until you device to try to click the text with your mouse out of sheer frustration.

    Now for the car... LOL. What an epic disaster. I feel like my air hockey puck finally got wheels and got turned into a hovercraft... that transforms. What the fail.
  13. SandCharm17076
    Aug 2, 2014
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I haven´t really played the game but I watched a longplay on Youtube. I liked the game but I think the crossover of the movie and the previous game didn´t match. When I played the last level in Fall of Cybertron I wondered immediately of what was going to happen in the next game. For example if I didn´t watched the Transformers 4 I wouldn´t even know who is Lockdown, because it´s objective is different from the game to the movie. I think they should have made two different games, but I actually liked the game, despite some problems with the crossover.… Expand
  14. PyongyangMayor
    Aug 17, 2014
    0
    13 positive reviews? Really this game has 13 positive reviews? 4.3 is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much for this pile of feces. The graphics are atrocious, the gameplay is boring as hell and honestly, $50 or $60 is WAY too much! $20? Maybe, but not $60. I have a feeling the reason why this has a positive rating is because fanboys of the movie just rated it without playing it. Is it better than13 positive reviews? Really this game has 13 positive reviews? 4.3 is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much for this pile of feces. The graphics are atrocious, the gameplay is boring as hell and honestly, $50 or $60 is WAY too much! $20? Maybe, but not $60. I have a feeling the reason why this has a positive rating is because fanboys of the movie just rated it without playing it. Is it better than the last 2 games? Maybe, but it still sucks.… Expand
  15. Kotofon
    Jun 6, 2020
    4
    Transformers Rise of the Dark Spark - игра в жанре экшн, представляющая собой кроссовером между “Вселенной фильмов” Майкла Бэя и анимационным сериалом “Трансформеры: Прайм”. При этом сюжет самобытен и не требует углубленного знания франшизы.

    События игры разворачиваются на Земле и Кибертроне - родине Трансформеров, а в центре конфликта - древний артефакт, несущий хаос и дарующий    Transformers Rise of the Dark Spark - игра в жанре экшн, представляющая собой кроссовером между “Вселенной фильмов” Майкла Бэя и анимационным сериалом “Трансформеры: Прайм”. При этом сюжет самобытен и не требует углубленного знания франшизы.

    События игры разворачиваются на Земле и Кибертроне - родине Трансформеров, а в центре конфликта - древний артефакт, несущий хаос и дарующий абсолютную власть его носителю - “Темная искра”, который заполучают антагонисты Локдаун и Мегатрон. Главным героям предстоит отнять у них мощное оружие, способное уничтожить целые галактики.    … Expand
  16. ygtersz12
    Mar 17, 2020
    4
    this game is relased at wrong time because of transformers 4. Transformers 4 make this game bad if this game doesnt try to be a movie game it would be good I am really sure about that
  17. Maikl_554
    Feb 19, 2021
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. And so, why did I put such a rating on the game? I'll answer it now. Let's start with the fact that the game is a continuation of the series of games from "High moon Studios" these are games like WFR and FOC. I went through these two games 10 times (no kidding) and discovered not so many secrets. With such a franchise, I'm almost 11 years old. The first two games were so good, in terms of gameplay and plot, that they left a mark on my heart and I loved them very much. When ROTD came out, the first thing that caught my eye was the interface, I really didn't like it because the FOC interface was more native, but I closed my eyes to it and continued to pass the first mission. It took about 30 minutes after the gameplay and I just wanted to close the game because it was boring. The music in this game is disgusting, except for the main menu, because it is done well, but then as if...I don't know, there was no music at all, sometimes there was, but it was like it was made on **** off". I also did not like the gameplay, because of the same music and the complete absurdity of what is happening (when you go to the mission for Soundwave, you will understand). The plot...it...is here...disgusting...dialogues, film-animation, there is no epic at all, from the word at all. After completing the entire game (then I knew about loot box) I sat there and didn't understand why they were needed in the game. They would have left the pumping as with FOC and it would have been more interesting to play it! Remember what I said about multiplayer? That I like him? Partly true...but my God, the escalation rink was only 5 or even 10 times! I sat and waited for her for a couple of hours. In conclusion, I can say one thing that this game does not stand next to the first two games at all, it's just a terrible attempt at "Edge of Reality", in a hurry to create a game and think that it will succeed like the others. (Greetings from Russia)… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
49

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 10
  3. Negative: 3 out of 10
  1. CD-Action
    Oct 22, 2014
    50
    What killed Rise of the Dark Spark is its repetitiveness. Variety of combat is illusory, because it actually doesn’t matter what weapons you use or how you move around the map. Every enemy is going down anyway and your only task is to proceed from one checkpoint to another. This game is simply boring. [Sept 2014, p.58]
  2. Softpedia
    Aug 6, 2014
    70
    Its design is uninspired and it feels pretty repetitive, like it was rushed instead of given time to grow into something good, but if you’re a big fan of the Autobots versus Decepticons conflict, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy it.
    Read full review
  3. XGN
    Jul 28, 2014
    50
    The only thing really enjoyable in Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark is the Escalation Mode. The story is very bland and never manages to impress just like the dull missions.
    Read full review
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