Transistor

 PC
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 921 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 736 out of 921
  2. Mixed: 121 out of 921
  3. Negative: 64 out of 921

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  1. DU5KF1RE
    Jun 30, 2014
    10
    It's a short game, but besides that, pretty much everything is perfect. The art style, the music and the gameplay, but where I think it truly shines is the story, which you can only really experience playing the game through. (Twice if possible)
  2. ryanshowseason2
    Jun 26, 2014
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It wasn't bad, it was good but this wasn't a great game by any means.

    Artistic direction: Beautiful
    Soundtrack: Sublime

    Story: Lacking
    Explanation....
    From the get go you are dropped into a world you don't understand and that doesn't change at any point of the narrative. It was like reading a Greg Bear sci-fi novel. Nothing is explained. I don't know if we were all living in a computer or if the process invaded the "real" world. I'm a programmer by trade and all the references and terminology were endearing but by no means coherent. It is baffling, and downright depressing at times, which I suppose is good, it got an emotional reaction out of me so that's not a complete loss...

    Gameplay: Lacking
    Explanation...
    Missed the boat here... Hate to compare, but bastion had it all. A dodge and block mechanic made enemy offense avoidable but not balance breakingly so. In transistor there are issues... I'll elaborate

    Enemies with tractor beams make it impossible to stay in the regular action mode, you will just be pulled in and forced to take hits to the face. Planning mode is forced on you. Which wouldn't be so bad if it didn't preclude you from your attacks or dodge mechanics until it recharged again.

    Jerks and Fetchs are faster than you and you are guaranteed to take damage from them if they target you. Planning mode is your way out but once again you are precluded from attacks and dodge mechanics.

    That is to say if you've CHOSEN to have a dodge mechanic in your lineup which takes an attack slot.

    Another thing is that some combinations that you can make are woefully lacking compared to others, I don't know how I'd complete the endgame with my original choices, I likely would've quit the game. Comparatively running around jaunting and voiding enemies before mask backstabbing them makes planning mode a guaranteed kill in one turn even on Jerks!

    After all this the length is rather disagreeable with what my wallet spent. I've gotten more bang for my buck out of FPS games with single player only. 4 hours is not satisfying.

    I'm tempted to rate a 1 just to try and bring the user score down. But it is not a 1 just a flawed experience. Balance could be better, but length is the biggest upsetting factor. I don't feel it is worth $20 unless I get the soundtrack :P That is worth $20 alone.    … Expand
  3. mmrventricle
    Jun 20, 2014
    9
    Transistor is unique in many ways, most notably the customization: abilities are not designed to be active or passive or perks, but all of them. You can put any skill into an active slot to make it an active skill, passive slot to make it passive, or use it to upgrade another skill. The effects vary depending on the skill, for example a dash will become damaging if you upgrade it with anTransistor is unique in many ways, most notably the customization: abilities are not designed to be active or passive or perks, but all of them. You can put any skill into an active slot to make it an active skill, passive slot to make it passive, or use it to upgrade another skill. The effects vary depending on the skill, for example a dash will become damaging if you upgrade it with an attack move. These are not permanent and can be changed at any point, resulting in the combat being never dull with you keep trying new things.
    Transistor also has an interesting story with great narration, immersive atmosphere and good character design, the details of which I will not spoil. The only thing that keeps Transistor back is the length of game, but it is definitely worth the purchase price of $20.    … Expand
  4. gubo97000
    Jun 15, 2014
    9
    One word: Amazing
    This game is wonderful for the eyes, and fun for the mind. Who loves lores will find a lot of them, who like strategy will find a lot of power and hundred of powerful combination of them, who likes games must play this game!
  5. ezreally
    Jun 14, 2014
    10
    So I rarely enjoy newer games now but wow...I just finished this game and the story gripped me through-and-through. So many questions left unanswered until you get towards the end. Gameplay takes some getting used to but discovering the combinations of abilities is fantastic and you can really customize the way YOU want to play. This game blew me away, the art is stylized and fantastic,So I rarely enjoy newer games now but wow...I just finished this game and the story gripped me through-and-through. So many questions left unanswered until you get towards the end. Gameplay takes some getting used to but discovering the combinations of abilities is fantastic and you can really customize the way YOU want to play. This game blew me away, the art is stylized and fantastic, the story is very intriguing, albeit short, but what makes this well done is that there is replay-ability. Trying out new styles, unlocking the rest of the skills, and even using more "limiters" to make the game harder. I highly recommend this game to anybody who is looking for something different than your average game. Oh and the music is superb, very relaxing and edgy at the same time.… Expand
  6. Futuristic
    Jun 10, 2014
    8
    Pros:
    -Great Atmosphere
    -Great Music
    -Fun and rewarding combat with many different play styles depending what Functions you choose
    -The Narration doesn't get annoying

    Cons:
    -Very Short
    -Story was a little confusing till the end (reading the character profiles help)
    -The limiters were either pointless or borderline unfair
  7. gamerbong
    Jun 9, 2014
    9
    Ever heard of a game called Bastion? Its won the Game of the year award in 2011 and 100 more others to count on , the makers SUPERGIANT ,have added another to their list called the “Transistor” . Transistor as I would call it,is a Game Musical.A Top-down isometric view game which comprises of mix of real-time and turn-based combat.

    transistor Red is a lounge singer in Cloudbank City    Ever heard of a game called Bastion? Its won the Game of the year award in 2011 and 100 more others to count on , the makers SUPERGIANT ,have added another to their list called the “Transistor” . Transistor as I would call it,is a Game Musical.A Top-down isometric view game which comprises of mix of real-time and turn-based combat.

    transistor

    Red is a lounge singer in Cloudbank City who is attacked one night by a mysterious organization called the Process. Red loses her voice and awakens next to a dead man impaled with a talking sword. This sword is the “Transistor“, which speaks to her as she travels and seems to know her very well. At the same time, strange creatures are infesting the city and attacking anyone they find, and Red has to battle through them with hopes of stopping the Process

    Much of Transistor‘s plot is told organically as you play, but a great deal of the narrative context is reserved for text character biographies which unlock as you progress. Red’s sword is the primary Transistor features a constant story telling from Red’s sword and offers a lot of play-by-play commentary.Red communicates through text in a few instances and has expressive animations.

    When it comes to gameplay. Red can use one of four powers in real time, or she can enter turn mode—time freezes and she can plan out her next actions. However, Red can’t use any offensive abilities for a short period after her turn ends, forcing one to be extremely strategic when using it.

    In addition, Red has many different sets of abilities and upgrades that give the player many possible builds to work with. Each new ability can be used as an active primary action, used as an upgrade for an existing action, or be used in a passive slot to gain things like health regeneration or more actions per turn. All manner of play-styles are supported, making the game extremely adaptable to personal preference.

    transistor 2An impressive selection of enemies maintains a steady challenge curve throughout Red’s journey. The insidious Process take many forms, and each attacks and defends in its own way. One might fling out grenade-like area attacks, while another hides in a corner projecting an energy shield onto an ally. Even as one enemy charges headlong toward you, another hangs back and remains phased out and impervious to damage until you come within line of sight. Each battle becomes a puzzle, and the solution lies in which enemies to hit first, and what powers will best do the job.

    The artwork is absolutely gorgeous,along with the soundtrack, Transistor‘s aesthetics deserve every bit of credit that’s been given to them. In between fights, there’s plenty of time to enjoy the gorgeous surroundings. Lush color brings life to the computerized cityscape of Cloudbank, while brief still-life cut scenes help push the story forward. A striking soundtrack combines jazz and electronica to great effect.

    While I have passed very little time on Bastion , and a lot of comparison happening between the two , I would find the game not very disappointing. Though,players looking to find all the answers by the time the credits are likely to be disappointed. Transistor is as much about what is left unsaid as what is explained. But what made me fall in love with the game is the soundtrack which works extremely well in context with the game.    … Expand
  8. Kanazawa
    Jun 7, 2014
    9
    Wow what a game. Beautiful art, incredible music (as expected), fantastic and original combat. Loved how well thought out the atmosphere was. Just everything went right with this game.
  9. mckw
    Jun 6, 2014
    7
    Supergiant triumphs again with an art masterpiece in Transistor with an eye catching art design. Drawing comparisons to Bastion may seem unfair, though it is warranted in some sense that they do draw some similarities.
    One big difference however is the combat system, which I quite thoroughly enjoyed, though sceptical about the turn base mode at first. Trying out different combinations of    Supergiant triumphs again with an art masterpiece in Transistor with an eye catching art design. Drawing comparisons to Bastion may seem unfair, though it is warranted in some sense that they do draw some similarities.
    One big difference however is the combat system, which I quite thoroughly enjoyed, though sceptical about the turn base mode at first. Trying out different combinations of skills and using them in various ways was something I really enjoyed. The story was just okay, and you're mostly left in the dark until late in the game.
    The thing that bugged me the most was the narration in this game just wasn't as good, sometimes even a bit annoying. One liners here and there wasn't welcomed at all. Furthermore the challenges in this game just wasnt rewarding as it was in Bastion. That said, it is still a good game and a worth while experience.    … Expand
  10. setti7
    Jun 4, 2014
    9
    Really great game, gorgeous artwork, beautiful music (as expected), really interesting story, to be honest, I only didn't like the ending very much, I just think that it could end differently, or at least have two endings... anyway, even though, I still enjoyed a lot this game, really, really awesome, totally worth the buy
  11. TitanTeaTime
    Jun 3, 2014
    10
    This review will be talking about the final boss fight and the story as a whole, stop reading now if you have not completed it. An absolutely phenomenal game. Supergiant's 2nd game is just as good, if not better, than their previous game Bastion which was already fantastic. The presentation is fantastically done with amazing art all throughout, while the music sets the right tone for allThis review will be talking about the final boss fight and the story as a whole, stop reading now if you have not completed it. An absolutely phenomenal game. Supergiant's 2nd game is just as good, if not better, than their previous game Bastion which was already fantastic. The presentation is fantastically done with amazing art all throughout, while the music sets the right tone for all aspects of the game. There are very little problems with the game, especially since the gameplay is vastly improved. Outside of turn() it is still clunky but that is the main difference - the intuitive turn() system is fresh and utilizes the abilities quite well. Difficulty is never overwhelming unless you want it to be - activating limiters ramps up the difficulty massively but only if you want it, with a bonus to experience which allows you to get more earlier. Bosses are simple and yet incredible and as is the rest of the game, especially the final boss which throws a complete curveball at you - but I won't talk about that here. The story of Transistor is similar to a Shakespearean tragedy in that it is bound to make you cry at some point, and I love this whole game to death if you hadn't already been able to tell already. A must play, potentially even more than Bastion was.… Expand
  12. vinibez
    Jun 2, 2014
    9
    Every single thing in this game is beautiful. The amazing art, the fantastic soundtrack, the story, the ambient and how everything works together. Supergiant became my favorite indie studio after the release of this game, i loved bastion and i loved Transistor even more. I didn't rated 10 because the game is too short =/
  13. zeroteque
    Jun 1, 2014
    10
    The game offered a powerful blend of fantastic art, engaging story, and fun gameplay, and I thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I was concerned that the developers couldn't top Bastion, but in my opinion they've thoroughly outdone themselves. Recommended.
  14. ForeverNoxifer
    May 30, 2014
    10
    Everything about this game is absolutely astounding. After the incredible success that was bastion, I was afraid Supergiant Games wouldn't be able to match it. But they went above and beyond, completely blowing my expectations out of the water.
    I will warn you, though, if you're more interested in the story than anything, it is not spoon fed to you. You have to work for it. And I mean    Everything about this game is absolutely astounding. After the incredible success that was bastion, I was afraid Supergiant Games wouldn't be able to match it. But they went above and beyond, completely blowing my expectations out of the water.
    I will warn you, though, if you're more interested in the story than anything, it is not spoon fed to you. You have to work for it. And I mean really work for it. The majority of the backstory is unlocked, piece by piece, as you level certain abilities, or when you search for terminals. The large majority of the story is told in a more classic sense, but the details behind everything are what you have to work for.
    To me, I think that's great motivation to get as much out of this game as I can.
    Did I mention I love it ?
    I REALLY love it.    … Expand
  15. UziDuzIt
    May 27, 2014
    4
    First of all I was totally stunned by Bastion back then, but Transistor isn't nearly what it could have been. Yes, it was beautiful. The art, the story, the soundtrack. Everything top notch. But 3 hours of play time? Really? I've even enabled all the limiters I got in that playthrough, but it obviously didn't slow down my progression.

    Now the big problem about this is: You've finally    First of all I was totally stunned by Bastion back then, but Transistor isn't nearly what it could have been. Yes, it was beautiful. The art, the story, the soundtrack. Everything top notch. But 3 hours of play time? Really? I've even enabled all the limiters I got in that playthrough, but it obviously didn't slow down my progression.

    Now the big problem about this is: You've finally experimented with most of the possible skill combos (MOST of them, not even all) and you feel like the story is just getting started and you'll finally understand what's happening in this weird world and then they just end it all of a sudden. The end kinda explains a lot you didn't understand before, but it comes way too early.

    I feel like I've been robbed of my money because it's nowhere near what I've expected. The fights in this game are few and there's a lot of talking and cutscenes in between. So when the game ends you've probably had ~30 fights that were less than a minute each and feel like you just started the game because gameplay-wise nothing happened. It's basically a graphic novel with some little rpg elements in between that make up ~20% of the game. The rest is storytelling, no more. This is also what keeps me from doing another playthrough, it's just not worth it without any actual gameplay...

    On a side note I've even bought the soundtrack because it's just that beautiful. But once you look behind the shiny disguise there's just no game to be played. I don't even know how to describe my feelings towards this game, because after all it is just BEAUTIFUL. But the abrupt ending combined with the feeling of "yeah, finally there was a boss fight, now the game is going to get started, right?" followed by the realization that this was the only and final boss fight after a meager 3 hours made me want to smash my PC screen to pieces.

    So after all, this is a beautiful piece of art, but really lackluster as a game. While the RPG elements are all there and have potential you never get to really use them because of the actual lack of gaming content. If you are looking for an indie graphic novel beautifully disguised as a video game look no further. But to all the serious (RPG-)gamers out there that want CONTENT, stay away!
    I would have enjoyed this way more than I did if it was a comic book, maybe Supergiant Games should think more about what they want to achieve and use the correct medium.    … Expand
  16. natetheartist
    May 27, 2014
    10
    Absolutely breathtaking artistry, soulful narration, phenomenal combat system, a brilliantly creative world and a unique story that unravels itself over time. - Just fantastic. And that's not even to mention the musical score that may be one of the best that's ever happened.

    You will be confused. You will be confused as to what's happening...where you are...who you are...what you are.    Absolutely breathtaking artistry, soulful narration, phenomenal combat system, a brilliantly creative world and a unique story that unravels itself over time. - Just fantastic. And that's not even to mention the musical score that may be one of the best that's ever happened.

    You will be confused. You will be confused as to what's happening...where you are...who you are...what you are. You will be confused by the mechanics of the combat abilities, and as far as I'm concerned, that's perfect. The story and mechanics become more apparent as you play further into the game, and this no-hand-holding-approach to Transistor's design make it all the more engrossing. Your understanding and revelation become an experience. Wanting to understand more drives you to keep the experience going.
    This game isn't just beautiful. It is curious...it inspires curiosity. Once you understand the weapons system it goes from confusing to interesting to absolutely brilliant.

    The only flaw in this game is that there isn't more of it. Immediately after finishing the game, without moving an inch, I began it all over again, and I had to force myself to stop. I can't wait to play it again, and again and again and again.

    An absolutely tremendous accomplishment for a team of only 10 people. Simply wonderful.    … Expand
  17. Ayvalon
    May 26, 2014
    10
    The first thing you must account for when playing this game is that it is not Bastion. The developers have created a new experience and it should not be criticized for being a different style of game from their former work. The approach that the developers have taken this time have meant that this game is not for everyone.

    The game has amazing, well thought out music, in addition    The first thing you must account for when playing this game is that it is not Bastion. The developers have created a new experience and it should not be criticized for being a different style of game from their former work. The approach that the developers have taken this time have meant that this game is not for everyone.

    The game has amazing, well thought out music, in addition Supergiant Games have heavily improved upon the art style of Bastion by adding well implemented modern graphical effects. The game drew me in immediately as the genre greatly appeals to me, the immersion will definitely vary by the player. An understated accomplishment of the developers, is that they have managed to successfully create a second game of the same genre without repetition. The world, story and themes are vastly different from Bastion and I truly appreciate the details of the story.

    From what I've seen people raise three main arguments against the game:
    -The story is confusing and uninspired.
    -Combat is unappealing.
    -Slow progression

    This time around the story is agreeably cryptic as #$^& and a more human approach was taken to the narration. I would compare it to braid in the way that you are left to solve the jigsaw that is the story-line, however unlike braid you are given all the pieces. Everything in this game is explained through details in the world alongside some conclusions of your own. I understand a wide portion of the player base was distraught with the ending, (SPOILERS to theme ahead) as it wasn't directly satisfying, though if you truly investigate the world you will understand it could not have ended any other way (end of SPOILERS).

    I find the only legitimate argument to be made against this game is with the combat. The system is a unique integration of real time and turn based combat, the system has one issue in my opinion and that is the time while your turn ability is recharging. This just felt incredibly restrictive, an interesting trade off but definitely not justifiable in terms of good game design. The rest of the combat was still up to par as there were some interesting play style choices to be made that were well balanced.

    After having raised these few issues some would say that the game is only worth an 8 or 9 out of 10. However at the end of my first play-through and even in my second I was in awe of the masterful emotional reaction that Supergiant managed to evoke from me. The good aspects of this game just absolved any doubts I had on the gameplay 10/10.    … Expand
  18. rolf_nei
    May 26, 2014
    9
    it's not a good game, yet,a bit short and expensive but, it's a charm one, song, story, ok, i like a concept. it's indie job, petty enough for his done~
  19. peterphnguyen
    May 25, 2014
    10
    Graphics = 10
    Story = 8/9
    Characters = 10
    Narrator = Prefer the one from Bastion but this is deservedly a 9
    Game play = 10, loads of different style of play
    Music = Best ever in any game
  20. SethEvandor
    May 25, 2014
    4
    Where do I start? The travesty. Random lines which the Transistor gives you get really annoying because they don't contribute anything. It's a case where 'less is better.' The way this game is unique. You could say the features of most games are unique even if they are really similar.

    The combat system is somewhat interesting, utilizing an unusual form of real-time with pause-on-turn.    Where do I start? The travesty. Random lines which the Transistor gives you get really annoying because they don't contribute anything. It's a case where 'less is better.' The way this game is unique. You could say the features of most games are unique even if they are really similar.

    The combat system is somewhat interesting, utilizing an unusual form of real-time with pause-on-turn. You can choose when to take a turn, you can move whenever you actually like (besides during the execution of a turn). You can take many actions or you can forgo it altogether, so the system gives you a choice or flexible experience, it can be played in different ways. The issue with this system is that a turn based system has more strategy and a real-time system feels less frustrating. Because turns let you do so much, it still ends up rather spammy and there is a lot of lee-way besides when the game is not difficult, so when the game is easy, it's just a bore, the game has to always be challenging and it wasn't. I get the feeling that most people enjoyed the system just because of the execution of turns (result of actions plus eye-candy) and the fact that it was fresh or unique.

    The skill system is great and for people familiar with games such as Path of Exile, Diablo, it will be familiar and easy to grasp. I don't have any particular complaints about balance.

    The music is, well, some parts are great, sometimes the music distracts from the game. In the field at some points it gets really repetitive. If there was more minimal ambient, it would of helped the atmosphere a lot and avoid a lot of the repetition, and take out the cheap beats. The humming was actually my favourite thing, although that could of been minimized when you pause. Less is better.

    Ultimately, repetitive, music and sounds could of been so much better, graphics are gorgeous, story is okay but put forward well. I didn't enjoy it much and I think it is overrated.    … Expand
  21. MrButtermancer
    May 25, 2014
    10
    An unbelievable work of art. A triumph of unique game mechanics and ideas that work perfectly together. This game is a bizarre, unique, and touching experience from start to finish. Understanding the world demands a huge amount from the player, but regardless of how you see the City, you'll feel involved in something rich and spectacular.

    If this entire game were condensed onto a    An unbelievable work of art. A triumph of unique game mechanics and ideas that work perfectly together. This game is a bizarre, unique, and touching experience from start to finish. Understanding the world demands a huge amount from the player, but regardless of how you see the City, you'll feel involved in something rich and spectacular.

    If this entire game were condensed onto a canvas, it'd be hanging behind bulletproof glass.    … Expand
  22. OokamiTSK
    May 25, 2014
    10
    This game is amazing!! The story, although a bit confusing at first comes together as you play which kept me glued to my chair. The Artwork was beautiful and very well done, the music is breathtaking, once again Darren Korb has made a original masterpiece that really brings the game together and is even an amazing soundtrack to listen to by itself the OST is worth the purchase. The gameThis game is amazing!! The story, although a bit confusing at first comes together as you play which kept me glued to my chair. The Artwork was beautiful and very well done, the music is breathtaking, once again Darren Korb has made a original masterpiece that really brings the game together and is even an amazing soundtrack to listen to by itself the OST is worth the purchase. The game play was different and took time getting usted to but that was all part of the magic for me, i love learning new game styles and the strategy of it all and this one was fantastic. All in all this game gets a 10/10 i love it, love it, love it!… Expand
  23. kckkryptonite
    May 24, 2014
    7
    Transistor is a very stylish game with a really interesting combat system I wish they would've fleshed out more, which I suppose would've been tough given the short length of the game. I thought it was quite innovative and fun enough to entertain me until the end. The art and soundtrack are also both great, but the level design was sort of bland and the random things you could find or doTransistor is a very stylish game with a really interesting combat system I wish they would've fleshed out more, which I suppose would've been tough given the short length of the game. I thought it was quite innovative and fun enough to entertain me until the end. The art and soundtrack are also both great, but the level design was sort of bland and the random things you could find or do didn't make the game feel any less like a really long dungeon-crawl. The story is convoluted and disjointed at times, presented through extraneous terminals scattered throughout the map and a voiceover that feels like he's talking to himself, rather than the narration given in Bastion. After a while, I found myself not caring altogether; Transistor's simple story is full of rhetoric and style that is novel and cool to behold at first, but quickly grows weary when you realize its lack of substance.… Expand
  24. GenuineOpinion
    May 24, 2014
    7
    Transistor was better than okay. It was good. I hate comparing games to other games in reviews, but this one begs for it. I liked it a lot less than Bastion for many reasons, most of these are opinion based. For example, I preferred the music score in Bastion, the art style, the game play. As I was going through, never once did I feel like Transistor had anything blatantly better thanTransistor was better than okay. It was good. I hate comparing games to other games in reviews, but this one begs for it. I liked it a lot less than Bastion for many reasons, most of these are opinion based. For example, I preferred the music score in Bastion, the art style, the game play. As I was going through, never once did I feel like Transistor had anything blatantly better than Bastion.

    On its own, it has a lot of charm. It is pretty to look at, but no matter how you package it, at the end of the day, it was a love story with sort of cool fighting mechanics. That's about it. The one thing I felt was messy about this game was its menu system. It never really explained a whole lot, so it didn't insult the intelligence of the average player, but because of this, I didn't want to bother figuring out what sorts of move combinations worked optimally.

    In the end, I know the makers of this game could have put more effort into things. More abilities, more end-game content, more hidden dialogue. Maybe I'm just a complainer, but I felt let down after waiting so long for this game to come out.    … Expand
  25. TheTwistedKris
    May 24, 2014
    10
    A amazingly well structured game combining hack-and-slash with turn based strategy elements (or just one depending on how you like to play) simultaneously that may share the same genre as Bastion, but brings a completely new experience with new story, characters, music, and overall breath taking atmosphere as you progress.
  26. Stemwin2
    May 24, 2014
    9
    This is a game full of trash there is nothing new contrast. But we Haight transistor with good storyline and new gameplay priyyatyn
    Thanks Quarter to Three
  27. RadenNedar
    May 23, 2014
    10
    Fantastic game, I'm currently nearing halfway on recursion mode, en route to get all the achievements which I have never done in any other game as they can't hold my attention long enough, yet there hasn't been a moment I've been bored playing this game yet, even in my second play-through and in the challenges. Would have been willing to pay more than $20 for this game, as I am enthralledFantastic game, I'm currently nearing halfway on recursion mode, en route to get all the achievements which I have never done in any other game as they can't hold my attention long enough, yet there hasn't been a moment I've been bored playing this game yet, even in my second play-through and in the challenges. Would have been willing to pay more than $20 for this game, as I am enthralled with it and it is beautifully done, 10/10 would buy again.… Expand
  28. Chiinatso
    May 23, 2014
    5
    I never did play Bastion but i heard it was good so when transistor came along i thought that i might as well play it since the praise for Bastion was huge, sadly it didn't live up to the hype.
    While everything looked very nice, the combat system was kinda cool,the characters were likable and i really liked that all your abilities were people(?) and that you learned more about them as you    I never did play Bastion but i heard it was good so when transistor came along i thought that i might as well play it since the praise for Bastion was huge, sadly it didn't live up to the hype.
    While everything looked very nice, the combat system was kinda cool,the characters were likable and i really liked that all your abilities were people(?) and that you learned more about them as you used that ability there were some flaws that were kinda hard to look past.

    First some of the minor ones:
    The controls felt kinda clumsy on PC, everything was controlled with your left hand,all the keys you used were grouped very close to each other and moving and trying to use attacks in real-time(as opposed to the pause everything wail away mode) was really clunky making it almost completely worthless.
    The story was really vague for the most part, I had no idea what was going on sometimes like that spine thing that was attacking you in one part, why did it affect the transistor guy? why did the Spine reappear for like one area and then went away again? Stuff like that, it felt to compressed most of the time.

    But the the biggest problem was by far the length of the game, I finished it in 4 hours not dying once and i did maybe half of the challenge missions on the beach.

    So in the end the game was nice i liked to listen to the Transistor guy talk about the world, i liked that there wasn't really a bad guy, I liked the art style and characters but in the end the game was so short and sometimes just plain confusing that it didn't really leave you with that sense of wonder when it was done

    It's worth playing it for the story telling but i would still say wait for it to go on sale    … Expand
  29. SanctumRevel
    May 22, 2014
    10
    Now that is a perfect game in many aspects fantastic soundtrack combat graphics after bastion comes transition to add the final touch and it worked it s a must to play game
  30. kveikur
    May 22, 2014
    10
    Just one word is enough to describe this game: "masterpiece". Transistor has everything that made Bastion a great game. With a more tactical combat, fascinating visuals, a great sci-fi atmosphere and another excellent soundtrack from Darren Korb; this game is even better!
  31. Erenji
    May 22, 2014
    9
    Nice work Supergiant Games! Very beautiful game, with the best soundtrack ever. Gameplay is very good and gives us the opportunity to play Transistor again. And...the main character is very beautiful :)
  32. Wolwgang
    May 22, 2014
    8
    It is very innovative game. Its gameplay is based on active pause in real-time which is rare in nowaday games, but it's very fun and satisfactory to play. Also, the idea of limiters (you achive ten while progressing, by turning them on the game becomes harder in various ways but you get more experience) is one of the best ideas to new systems in games in the last past years. Talking aboutIt is very innovative game. Its gameplay is based on active pause in real-time which is rare in nowaday games, but it's very fun and satisfactory to play. Also, the idea of limiters (you achive ten while progressing, by turning them on the game becomes harder in various ways but you get more experience) is one of the best ideas to new systems in games in the last past years. Talking about graphic: What can i talk about, there is only one word to describe it- Artistic. Music is in my opinion the best part of this game, soundtrack is just phenomenal, and discovering new song by beating chalanges is enough for me to spend a few additional hours on listening to music and discovering the next ones. Now to the most important thing in games to me, plot. The story in game is good, it didn't sticked in to the ground but it is consistent. Characters are, well, for me they are a bit shallow, but maybe it is only my opinion. For me it is strong 8/10 And i look forward to see the next games of this studio :)… Expand
  33. Chaeote
    May 22, 2014
    9
    Wow... just WOW.

    Music and Sound: AMAZING. Enough said. Art: Beautiful! Combat: Really fun! You can spam attack in real time, or use the turn system to plan multi-attacks. Really gives a great strategic feel to the combat. The function upgrading is great, it allows you to expand your character and combat style to suit how you wanna play. Want lots of quick killer back-stabs? GO    Wow... just WOW.

    Music and Sound: AMAZING. Enough said.

    Art: Beautiful!

    Combat: Really fun! You can spam attack in real time, or use the turn system to plan multi-attacks. Really gives a great strategic feel to the combat.

    The function upgrading is great, it allows you to expand your character and combat style to suit how you wanna play. Want lots of quick killer back-stabs? GO FOR IT! Want slower bu massive AoEs? You can do that too! It's great!

    Also, found this out during a boss fight, when your health reaches zero, you don't die right away, instead you lose access to a function for a set period of time (a couple of access points), which means you have to adapt and use different strategies in all the fights until you can reslot your lost functions, really a clever idea.

    My suggestions? Use the mouse and keyboard instead of the controller. Makes using the turn system a lot more intuitive, and really feels like a proper strategic system rather than just a way to delay attacks.    … Expand
  34. Sjalka
    May 22, 2014
    10
    wow, i am blown away. The game caught me by surprise. I love the old school anime style with backgrounds that for some reason remind me on "Metropolis" by Rintaro with an infusion of Ghost in a Shell.
    The music is great, so is the portrayal of characters. While many games fall into a trap of exceeding storytelling at the cost of gameplay, Transistor manages to remain a "game" throughout.    wow, i am blown away. The game caught me by surprise. I love the old school anime style with backgrounds that for some reason remind me on "Metropolis" by Rintaro with an infusion of Ghost in a Shell.
    The music is great, so is the portrayal of characters. While many games fall into a trap of exceeding storytelling at the cost of gameplay, Transistor manages to remain a "game" throughout.

    I tried hard to think of elements to complain about, but cannot find any significant thing. All in all a rare gem, well worth the price. For me, more than a game, it is a piece of style and art. a clear 10/10 from me.    … Expand
  35. MohJ
    May 21, 2014
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. From the confusing beginning, all the way until the creepy chick-flick ending, this game never felt "right", not like Bastion did. By the time "Red" decided to suicide, an outcome I cherished since I never felt connected to her like I did with the "Kid", I couldn't wait until the weird pictures stopped rolling, and then in turn, the credits, to see if there is something else; something else that was coming that could salvage what little hope I had by that point in this production. Alas, there was not. Merely a game-plus mode that would put me through the whole ordeal again. However, all is not lost. The production did contain certain aspects that made me feel my $20 wasn't a complete wash down the toilet, such as beautiful art-work, mesmerizing music, and a some-what interesting combat system. Nothing much else beside that I'm afraid. The list of the things I found lacking follows below:

    - Extremely easy and casual that it even makes games such as Child of Light feel hardcore in comparison. I haven't died once throughout the entire game, which is a huge contrast coming from Dark Souls 2, as one can imagine. I did get over-loaded a couple of times at least. I remember Bastion becoming challenging with all Idols enabled, requiring a change in strategy to survive, not so with Transistor. Enabling 5 out of the 6 "limiters" I acquired through-out the game did nothing in terms of adding any meaningful challenge. It seems, to me at least, that the game was heavily tailored towards the female and casual players demographic.

    - Extremely short. Not the game as whole only, but even the battles in-between. One could literally finish most battles in under a minute, and often times without getting as much as a scratch in the process.

    - Lackluster enemies/bosses. I could swear there were only around 7-8 enemy types in the entire game, which gets "leveled-up" with time, instead of the game giving us new enemy types, which I must, with apologies, attribute to lazy development. If I'm not mistaken, I believe there was a total of only three bosses thought-out the entire game, each being a complete cake-walk. If there was a fourth one, my bad, but they're just so forgettable. I do remember there being some sort of an umbrella in the mix somewhere.

    - Meaningless optional additions. The beach where you go to do challenges and practice is so meaningless and boring that I decided to skip it entirely after the third-one. The terminals you encounter throughout the game serve nothing; they could literally be completely gone and nothing would be lost or gained in terms of substance. The cut scenes where you are riding a bike, a boat and finally what I'm assuming to be some sort of cloud made out from Processes, does nothing but extend the game-length for a couple of minutes. Then, there's the button that you press to make the girl hum a song and the button you press to make her jump and catch her weird, glowing sword; I'm yet scratching my head to try and fathom what the point of adding all this non-sense was.

    - Very Interesting upgrade system, where each acquired skill could be used as an active skill, a supplement skill or a passive skill, but it is too simplistic. Bastion's upgrade system was much more cohesive. Each gun you acquired had its strengths and weaknesses against certain enemy types. In Transistor, I beat the game with the same 4 active slots I acquired at the beginning, and without giving much thought to what I put as supplements or passives.

    Finally, I must complement Supergiant for another artistic achievement; you have clearly put your soul and heart into this, although I feel it was transferred through the wrong medium. It might serve better if someone transfers it as a romantic sci-fi book or movie than it ever does as a game.    … Expand
  36. Dalesworth
    May 21, 2014
    9
    A fantastic game. The soundtrack and visual design alone warrant a purchase, but an impressively deep and rewarding combat system paired with a mysterious and emotional story seal the deal. It takes some time and effort to work out the story, and some of the attacks seem much better than others, but I absolutely loved everything about the rest of it. Easily one of my all-time favourites.
  37. mciggy
    May 21, 2014
    10
    Wonderful Beautiful game. Everything about it is gorgeous. Game can be challenging, but avoids being unfair. Features exist to amp up difficulty if needed. Well worth the money - I even bought the sound track. If you play, be sure to unlock and read the 'Function Data' as a lot of the story hides there.
  38. Soulache
    May 21, 2014
    10
    Красиво, сочно, интересно.
    Что-то настолько красивое не стоит описать словами,сыграв несколько минут, вы всё поймете сами.
    Ни огромные статьи и обзоры, ни что другое не передадут то, что вы почувствуете поиграв в неё. Она ни на что не похожа ...музыка... цвет... и ... вы... в центре это красивого мира. Слушайте и играйте, это прекрасно.    Красиво, сочно, интересно.
    Что-то настолько красивое не стоит описать словами,сыграв несколько минут, вы всё поймете сами.
    Ни огромные статьи и обзоры, ни что другое не передадут то, что вы почувствуете поиграв в неё.
    Она ни на что не похожа ...музыка... цвет... и ... вы... в центре это красивого мира.
    Слушайте и играйте, это прекрасно.
  39. Ayreos
    May 21, 2014
    6
    While Bastion wasn't perfect, it offered a solid gameplay and an immediate story, neither of which definition can be applied to Transistor. I can only appreciate that the developers wanted to push their previous results and achieve something even greater. Unfortunately, while Transistor delivers a level of artistry that is equal to Bastion, it loses in every other regard.
    The story is too    While Bastion wasn't perfect, it offered a solid gameplay and an immediate story, neither of which definition can be applied to Transistor. I can only appreciate that the developers wanted to push their previous results and achieve something even greater. Unfortunately, while Transistor delivers a level of artistry that is equal to Bastion, it loses in every other regard.
    The story is too subtle and inconsistent to truly intrigue players from the get go. This despite the super soundtrack to give it life, which instead steals the spotlight entirely. Furthermore, the narration that made Bastion famous is back, but with no story to narrate. This time the narrator is part of the story, and since said story is holding itself back to create a sense of wonder, the narration has truly little to narrate, quickly becoming a nuisance to the action.
    Finally, the gameplay (combat), a hybrid of turn-based battle and real time action, doesn't coalesce into a unified whole because of a lack of coherence to its mechanics. While the player can control the main character freely, he usually cannot efficiently escape the enemies because of their superior range and speed. This forces the player to make use of the "planning" stage, which allows to perform a multitude of moves virtually instantaneously, while the enemy is helpless to react. While this mechanic balances encounters, it renders the action part of the game often futile, and misses the obvious gameplay potential of allowing players to plot and stack moves while anticipating enemy movement, since enemies are virtually stationary during its execution. Worst of all, this mechanic translates to a simple and obligatory bite&run tactic for inexperienced players and, given the limited length of the game, requires a second and a third playthrough to be exploited more creatively. At that point the game has already lost most of its difficulty, however.
    Ultimately, all the extravagant and ambitious choices of the game turn out to be shallow, despite the developers'' obvious quest for depth. There is still a remarkable game to play in Transistor, but a number of frustrating flaws as well.    … Expand
  40. Metacritizicer
    May 21, 2014
    10
    Supergiant Games have done it again... What have they done again must you be wondering? Why they have made me not sleep for a whole day! Transistor is a MASTERPIECE! It's got a great story, great MUSIC *seriously the music is gorgeous!* And the art and graphics oh my god! SERIOUSLY THIS GAME IMHO IS THE GAME OF THE YEAR
  41. Esett
    May 21, 2014
    10
    There are very few video games that make my jaw drop after 12 years of hardcore gaming. Transistor is one of those amazing games. It does have its flaws but they really don't matter because as a great sum of its parts it is an experience that everybody should have. The art, music, and game-play blend together to form a unique atmosphere a feeling never found anywhere else. It is partThere are very few video games that make my jaw drop after 12 years of hardcore gaming. Transistor is one of those amazing games. It does have its flaws but they really don't matter because as a great sum of its parts it is an experience that everybody should have. The art, music, and game-play blend together to form a unique atmosphere a feeling never found anywhere else. It is part tragedy, part comedy, part action, part cyberpunk. And it somehow all works. For that this work of art deserves a 10/10. Not because its perfect but because it is uniquely brilliant. If you want to be a prick you can consider it a 8.5/10 for various technical and story elements that do not quite fit.… Expand
  42. gun661
    May 21, 2014
    7
    Let me say I'm really fond of Bastion and the developers' design philosohpy - the team really seems to mean it, i.e. it's not just marketing. So please keep on making games, Supergiant Games! "Transistor" though, alas, feels like a mixed bag. The game's composition of visuals and audio is great (you can see that in the trailers), but for me the narrative and gameplay, while havingLet me say I'm really fond of Bastion and the developers' design philosohpy - the team really seems to mean it, i.e. it's not just marketing. So please keep on making games, Supergiant Games! "Transistor" though, alas, feels like a mixed bag. The game's composition of visuals and audio is great (you can see that in the trailers), but for me the narrative and gameplay, while having potential, don't add up to something larger.

    Transistor's gameplay focuses heavily on combat, other aspects (e.g. a hub/haven where you can rest and do some challenges) fall short, granting you access to them only sporadically at rest houses along the road of battles. The combat itself gives you many skills and combinations thereof to play with, the option to pause the action and plan your moves is awesome, but tactically the encounters don't really inspire you to use all the combinations, since default attacks are just as good to prevail most of the time against the few mobs Transistor throws at you. Instead you're kinda forced to switch and use different skill-combinations because that unlocks bits of the story... yes, just like that, yes, sounds strange... it makes sense story-wise but doesn't feel fun: makes trying out different combinations a tedious work like crossing off a check list to get all them story bits. Although those story bits then only come in form of written text, i.e. entrys in an encyclopedia..

    Speaking of the story, you really need those bits because occurrences of "true" story feel rare and are convoluted. While this has worked for me before (hello, Planescape Torment) Transistor's story is so incoherent (especially in the beginning) that for me it failed to build up enough mystery and wonder to get me involved. I.e. often it felt like running along beautiful drawn levels with just as beautiful music, doing kinda casual battles, now and then encountering a boss that should mean something to you, but somehow doesn't, and on you go... These aspects of the game ultimately made me want to finish it fast instead of taking my time to take it in.    … Expand
  43. Poloy
    May 21, 2014
    10
    Amazing. The things I loved from Bastion and a lot of other new things for me to love. Keep up the good work guys! The animation, the soundtrack, the story, the gameplay, all 10/10 for me.
  44. Nukemi
    May 20, 2014
    10
    Wow.

    I had high hopes to this game, and i do not regret overdrafting 20 euros from my account for it. It's the best unnecessary purchase i've done in ages. The game begins in absolutely breathtaking world. The art is incredible. The atmosphere hits you like a ten ton hammer. For a while, you'll wonder around killing few shells and processes being bit confused, but after a while the    Wow.

    I had high hopes to this game, and i do not regret overdrafting 20 euros from my account for it. It's the best unnecessary purchase i've done in ages.

    The game begins in absolutely breathtaking world. The art is incredible. The atmosphere hits you like a ten ton hammer. For a while, you'll wonder around killing few shells and processes being bit confused, but after a while the game unravels itself bit by bit.

    By the time i got to the first singing scene, i was already sold. Transistor is more than i expected. First 10 minutes proved that indie companies still do produce the best games out there. The person who came up with the combat must be a genius. The combat combines turn based and real time elements really cleverly. When you initiate your pause mode, music goes all eerie, which helps to boost the atmosphere.

    Granted. I already wanted this game when i first heard the main theme by Darren Korb and Ashley Barrett. When i first heard this tune in the game, i felt i am going to cry. The scene was so emotionally set up that it was just beautiful.

    This game is the creme of indie game development. It has a SUPERIOR soundtrack, extremely beautiful graphics, atmosphere like no other, and almost revolutionary combat. At the side, the story seems to require you to use your brains and nothing is spoonfed to you.

    Jerks are everywhere. There have been a lot of great games this year that i've absolutely loved, but transistor so far seems to be one of the best of them.

    10/10. Oh my god. What a game.    … Expand
  45. Urrid
    May 20, 2014
    10
    The presentation is bold but not overwrought. The music is fantastic and a mix of ambient songs with five vocal tracks that call back to the plot of the game itself. “Red” is a character of unfortunate circumstances who must piece together what happened to the city she inhabits.

    Combat can be done in pseudo turn-based mode, or all in real time. The mechanics of combat remain very fresh    The presentation is bold but not overwrought. The music is fantastic and a mix of ambient songs with five vocal tracks that call back to the plot of the game itself. “Red” is a character of unfortunate circumstances who must piece together what happened to the city she inhabits.

    Combat can be done in pseudo turn-based mode, or all in real time. The mechanics of combat remain very fresh due to the skill system. Each skill can be used in its own right, or slotted into another skill to serve as an enhancement to the base skill. Therein lays the dilemma, do you use this skill as a main skill or a passive skill? There are certainly rewards for changing up your build as well.

    There is a sizable amount of optional content. Lore is tucked nicely in with combat skills you unlock as you progress through the game. The tutorial is there but it isn't patronizing, in fact it’s one of the best I’ve seen in years. Controller support is in the game as well as a native support of keyboard and mouse. The controls are responsive for the most part, some skills can require a bit more precision than Red sometimes wants to give.

    Transistor is easily in my top three games for 2013/2014. The whole experience is rumored to be 3-9 hours (depending upon play habits) but the retail price of $19.99 is easily far for a stunning experience.    … Expand
  46. mongolrising
    May 20, 2014
    10
    This is the first game from supergiant done completely on their own (Warner Bros. published Bastion) and it is a testament to what indie studios can accomplish when they aren't fettered by a large studio. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect with Transistor and while it is the spiritual successor to Bastion a lot of it is very different and everything that it borrows from Bastion isThis is the first game from supergiant done completely on their own (Warner Bros. published Bastion) and it is a testament to what indie studios can accomplish when they aren't fettered by a large studio. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect with Transistor and while it is the spiritual successor to Bastion a lot of it is very different and everything that it borrows from Bastion is improved.

    The art style, music, and narration are all in the same vein as Bastion, which is to say they are a masterpiece. The artwork is very beautiful especially during cutscenes and found myself taking screen shots constantly for desktop backgrounds, etc. The music is a big part of the experience as well, and just as in Bastion, both the music and the artwork set the scene. I would not say they improved on Bastion because that would be saying Bastion was flawed in those aspects. And Bastion is more of a western feel while Transistor is very much a cyber-punk game. However, the artwork is more detailed, rich, and beautiful, probably due to the fact that this is a newer game. I also feel that the music is a bit more developed and varied. The narration is also wonderful.

    The gameplay has changed significantly from Bastion, so if you're expecting the fun but rather simple gameplay of Bastion, you will be pleasantly surprised. In Transistor, you only have one weapon, if you can call it that. Your weapon looks like a sword, but it is more like a computer that you can upload programs to. Those programs are your powers and you pick them up as you progress through the game. The awesome thing about these programs is that they have three different uses. You can use them as active powers, passive powers, or you can use them to alter other active powers. For example, you have an area of effect attack, and an attack that gets enemies to fight for you. You can alter the AOE attack with the conversion attack and you have an AOE attack that converts enemies. This obviously gives you an immense amount of flexibility in combat and very different gameplay styles and approaches to defeating your enemies.

    These programs/abilities are then socketed onto your sword, which is the Transistor of the games title. In keeping with the cyberpunk theme, your Transistor has a limited amount of RAM...each program uses different levels of RAM...some only take up one space of RAM, others take up more. Another cool thing about your Transistor is that it is the narrator for your game...I don't want to say too much because I don't want to give away the story, but it all makes sense a little while into the game.

    Another thing that makes the gameplay very fun is that you can pause time on the battlefield. While paused, you can move around the battlefield, and choose which powers you want to use and which enemies you want to target. This allows you to escape when surrounded, or flank your enemies (since attacks from behind do more damage). This gives the game a turn-based feel to it. It does not really feel like a hack and slash at all...you can use your powers in real-time as well, but when facing very powerful enemies, you will die very quickly when using that tactic.

    I have not actually died yet while playing but I have discovered another thing about the gameplay in almost doing so. When you're health bar gets to zero, you don't immediately die, you simply lose one of the programs you have socketed into your Transistor. My assumption is that you will die after you lose all four programs. This also requires you to carefully plan how you which programs you use and how you have them modified, etc. Just another thing that makes this game awesome.

    Finally, the story is very intriguing. You play as Red who is a famous artist and singer. Apparently, there's a group called the Camerati (sounds kind of Mafia-ish) who is angry at you for some reason and they try to kill you. They have also killed the other important people in the city you live in (called Cloudbank). That is all I can say since I don't want to give anything important away. But I can say that the story is very intriguing and every aspect of the game helps tell it.    … Expand
  47. Gold3nstar99
    May 20, 2014
    9
    It's Bastion with better combat. What more could you want in a game? The only fault in the game is that some plot points aren't explained, but I may have missed something.
  48. vreynauld
    May 20, 2014
    5
    After the disappointment that was Wolfenstein, I figured at least I had Transistor to look forward to. Unfortunately I was wrong there too. Three hours in and the story behind this world makes little sense. The combat system is frustrating since it gives you bare minimum information on how to manipulate your skills (and even less information about switching skills). The top down viewAfter the disappointment that was Wolfenstein, I figured at least I had Transistor to look forward to. Unfortunately I was wrong there too. Three hours in and the story behind this world makes little sense. The combat system is frustrating since it gives you bare minimum information on how to manipulate your skills (and even less information about switching skills). The top down view reminds the player of classic Shadowrun... without anywhere near the quality of the story. Speaking of story, when it feels like telling one at all, it's disjointed and lacks any kind of cohesion. Frankly this game feels like indie BS that's too trendy to try to tell a cohesive story or provide solid gameplay, certainly not in the same league as its predecessor, Bastion.… Expand
  49. blodgettza
    May 20, 2014
    9
    Masterpiece. Gorgeous art, fantastic hour and thirteen minute soundtrack, fleshed out main protagonist and great combat to tie it all together. Do yourself a favor and at least watch the trailer if you are on the edge of buying this great game. Transistor is a worthy followup to Bastion and I hope SuperGiant will keep up the great original work!
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Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Best PC Game of 2014
41
#41 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014
68
#68 Most Shared PC Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 35
  3. Negative: 1 out of 35
  1. Riot Pixels
    Aug 4, 2014
    70
    Besides killing enemies, there is not much to do; the entire game is a linear path from one small arena to the next one. Yes, there is a story, but in Bastion it was seamlessly integrated into gameplay, and here it only breaks the pace.
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  2. CD-Action
    Jul 25, 2014
    80
    After completing the game I almost instantly returned to it for another 9 hours of New Game+ and after I’m done with it I’ll do 9 more. Or maybe twice as much. [07/2014, p.52]
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jul 8, 2014
    100
    Breathtaking presentation plus creative combat plus a metaverse of metaphors equals a romance that is brief, but oh so captivating.
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