Transistor

Taking its name from one of the most seminal technological inventions of the 20th century, Transistor is unequivocally one of the greatest games this year and rivals Journey as one of the best indie titles this decade.

Transistor contains not only some of the most stunning art design, but one of the best game soundtracks I have ever heard. The droning bass of the main theme is mesmeric, and any music with vocals is astonishing – this is a soundtrack you’re going to want to buy, and composer Darren Korb has absolutely delivered.

Like Bastion before it, Transistor is a pleasure to play and an involving experience from start to finish. Its mature story and evolving combat will keep you engaged to the very end, and have you longing for more.

Players looking for a very artistic world with unique narration and an amazing soundtrack, you have just found it. Strategy fans will have a great time taking on the combat, and anyone looking for a great game for $20 should not pass this up. Transistor has the style along with the game play that makes this a must own for many.

I can’t stop thinking about the story of Transistor, even after finishing the game. There is so much mystery and intrigue that left me smiling.

Transistor's nuanced world-building and clever storytelling render its narrative original and intriguing.

Transistor is an atmospheric and action-packed sci-fi RPG with excellent combat mechanics and deep customization options. The top-notch audiovisuals are complemented with a gripping storyline. Overall, Transistor is an excellent role-playing adventure. I sincerely hope, that other game companies are smart enough to copy the smartest ideas from this indie pearl. [Aug 2014]

This is a remarkably assured game for such a young studio, the work of a small team that knows exactly what it wants to do and executes it almost without error.

Transistor puts a unique spin on the turn-based RPG concept everyone loves and, surprisingly, pulls it off. The game has a steep learning curve, but strong visuals and an interesting story will keep you playing.

Again we have to congratulate Supergiant Games for bringing us Transistor, which is more than it meets the eye. Beautiful to see and hear, surely this game will be a delight for those who really want to know its mechanics.

The enticing narrative, interlaced with gripping story-mechanics, all culminating in a fittingly poignant finale make Transistor a game that deserves to find its home in as many PlayStation 4's as possible.

Transistor is the best example that shows us that it's not necessary to sacrifice aspects in the game in exchange for good gameplay.

Even though it isn't as groundbreaking as it may have seemed when announced, Transistor is an excellent game, and appealing for many different audiences.

Every once in a while, a game comes along that just feels special and Transistor is one of those games.

Transistor is an absolute triumph: a stunning sensory experience that buoys its lofty ambitions on a rock solid strategic core.

More like an effort-intensive relationship than an adrenaline-inducing one-night-stand, Transistor is a must-play for those who are committed to its cause. However, those who are looking for an instantly-gripping cheap thrill should look elsewhere as this is a game that must be seen through to the very last second.

Great combat mechanics and excellent writing help Transistor transcend the familiarity of its individual components. A gorgeous, intriguing, and ultimately moving tale, Supergiant's sophomore effort builds on the strengths that made Bastion so memorable without feeling like a mere retread.

Following on from Bastion, I doubt many would have begrudged Supergiant from heading down the same path again. While Transistor does hold certain similarities, such as having the constant presence of a voice and the general underpinnings of the action RPG gameplay, the Turn() planning phase completely transforms the manner in which you will tackle a fight, making it a far more considered and tactical experience.

The PlayStation 4 and PC versions are nearly identical save for one feature: On PS4, you can choose to have the sword’s voice come out of the speaker on the controller. While it seems gimmicky on paper, I found myself playing through the entire game this way, and really appreciating the immersion it added to my experience.

Transistor is as much about what is left unsaid as what is explained. I find that openness to interpretation refreshing; I suspect I won’t be the only one.

Transistor is a memorable and immersive game thanks to the companion voice and the stunning visuals and audio. Its rich gameplay is a bit demanding, but also rewarding if you want to experiment and discover all its secrets.

Transistor falters near the end by giving players access to a few game-breakingly powerful abilities, but the anticlimax is more than made up for by its touching story, gorgeous presentation, and imaginative take on the action-RPG formula.

Transistor creates a place that you want to understand, where you don't want to be, yet at the same time don't want to leave. It's a game you will never forget, despite the somewhat sloppy end. We can only wish to play Transistor for the very first time again, to enjoy this wonderful world and equally special music without any prior knowledge. Transistor will never let you go.

A stunning game with a hell of a battle system. [Issue#245, p.]

The stellar concept and artistic style of Transistor is nigh-on unparalleled. The mystical aura surrounding and permeating the entire game is original and attractive, the blending of real-time and turn-based gameplay is inspired (and yeah, it works exceedingly well), and there’s a surprising amount of humanity injected into this otherwise sci-fi presentation.

With Bastion's precedent, we were expecting that Transistor would be a most likely must have among indie games in PS4. Perhaps quite expensive if we take in consideration the relation between price and duration, but those superb visuals and music are really worthy. Probably the best exclusive, digital game for PS4 to date.

My biggest wish is for more of this game, a sequel or some DLC, because I want to see this world continued, and I want to play the combat until my thumbs bleed. I’m disappointed in its short play-length, but it can’t be said enough that Transistor is a beautiful and unique RPG that every gamer should play. I can hardly wait to see what Supergiant will come up with next.

Transistor'a a very beautiful game which has got perfect music and an incredible and different world. If you have played Bastion before, you'll love this game.

Transistor is an example of style and courage, an action RPG with an intriguing combat system, a fascinating story and characters. This game is also simply sublime in the field of graphics and sound. A great game by the creators of Bastion.

Transistor is more Supergiant magic, even if it doesn't surpass its previous attempt. [July 2014, p78]

Transistor has every element necessary in it to steal your heart. The combination of an inventive combat system, beautiful surroundings and an intriguing narration results in an elegant symbiosis which you will often enjoy. It's just a shame that Transistor never becomes the memorable masterpiece that would expect. Therefore, the story turns to anticlimax and fighting never exploits its potential.

It won't necessarily appeal to all of Bastion's fans, but Transistor shows that Supergiant Games isn't just a one-hit wonder and is capable of crafting an entirely different kind of game experience that is still exciting and delightful.

The experience of Transistor is lush and enjoyable. It is a beautiful game with some truly excellent mechanics. Unfortunately, its story and lack of character development through gameplay brings the rest of the game down - but not by much.

Transistor is a nice little adventure, an emotional one, with remarkable art direction and an interesting (even if somewhat unbalanced) combat system.

A unique creative vision that's not to be missed. [July 2014, p.82]

Transistor gives players a dazzling world to explore, a customisable combat system that anyone could find pleasure in, and a story that can pull on even the toughest person’s heartstrings if engaged with.

With colorful yet somewhat frightening environments, a great soundtrack and a fantastic combat system, Transistor is a unique experience that’s hard not to be amazed at. The game is a bit short and the story could’ve been better told - but it’s easily forgivable in this memorable adventure.

Overall Transistor certainly shows how far Supergiant Games have come from Bastion - which was a great effort. Unfortunately, it’s missing some essential elements in an RPG (such as the aforementioned grinding) making a few bosses harder than they should be.

An incredibly charismatic and elegant game that stands out mixing playability and aesthetics in a really organic way.

The game with the Lady and the giant sword may start slow, but the political background as well as the relationship of the main characters drag you into this beautifully designed world with its well executed tactical role playing.

The creators of Bastion managed to deliver another great action/ RPG. Transistor is shorter than Bastion, but has amazing visuals, an incredible atmosphere and a superb battle system.

Bastion certainly wasn’t a fluke. Transistor cements Supergiant Games as one of the sharpest, most stylish, and unique small developers. Though some of its flourishes aren’t quite as fresh the second time around, Transistor speaks with a unique creative identity, mostly successfully refreshes solid RPG mechanics, and tells a poignant story worth experiencing.

Transistor’s combat engages with the same dualism that informs the game’s central tension between coded performativity and human agency.

Transistor's clever combat and incredible customization makes for an intensely fun strategy game, but the world and story leave much to be desired. Come for the art and wonderful soundtrack, stay for the ability to freeze time and slash up robots.

There's a touch of magic, even of spirituality, to Transistor's story, a sense that there are things within the world of Cloudbank that transcend our understanding of what's possible.

Transistor is technically beautiful and has a great combat system, but it lacks depth in both gameplay and narration, and its price is quite high compared to the experience it offers.

Bewitchingly beautiful with sharp writing, but its gameplay doesn't take the same steps forward. [Aug 2014, p.72]

With Transistor, Supergiant Games delivered yet another successful game. It looks absolutely stunning, has a great soundtrack and a very tactical combat system. To bad it's a bit tedious.

Transistor is a pretty nice experience in a matter of atmosphere, with a gorgeous visual style and an absolutely terrific soundtrack. But when it comes about gameplay, the frustration isn't far away. The mix of A-RPG and strategy is smart and it works quite well, but you barely enjoy playing. Strange.

Transistor is beautiful and engaging with a brilliant combat systems that encourages careful planning before and during battle. It’s just a shame the story holds it back from being a true classic. It’s a more flawed experience than Bastion was, but it’s also a more interesting one.

There’s a beauty on the game’s surface, but it doesn’t let you get deep enough for its payoff to truly strike home. Transistor is a game conscientious gamers will want to love. It’s clearly a work of true vision and artistic intent, backed up with skilfully constructed systems.

Like the combat, the story starts off strongly, intertwining threads about Red's past, the history of the Camerata and the true purpose of the Transistor, but it doesn't come together in a satisfying way.

As pretty as the game looks and sounds, it just doesn’t make up for shallow gameplay and a story that really fell flat for me in the end. At least I was able to complete it in six hours, so the tedium didn’t last for that long.

Transistor is esthetically pleasing with a varied and well-made combat system which offers endless possibilities and fun gameplay. Sadly, repetitive parts and lack of challenging and smart enemies makes it fall short in the end.

There’s a very human pleasure in the mysterious. It encourages thought and excites our imaginations. But people are smart. We can tell the difference between legitimate mystery and something that is left unexplained simply for the sake of being unexplained in a vain attempt to fabricate depth and hidden meaning...The initially promising Transistor is, unfortunately, a case of the latter.