Transistor

 PlayStation 4
User Score
8.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 678 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 529 out of 678
  2. Mixed: 95 out of 678
  3. Negative: 54 out of 678

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  1. CarrieSnarf
    May 20, 2014
    10
    It's a beautiful game with a haunting soundtrack- I could listen to the soundtrack alone for hours. I found the turn based combat system allows the user to get used to the strategy before running head long in to complicated battles- a nice addition. The story is intense and builds slowly over time- there is so much to discover in Cloudbank that I know I will be learning things in the gameIt's a beautiful game with a haunting soundtrack- I could listen to the soundtrack alone for hours. I found the turn based combat system allows the user to get used to the strategy before running head long in to complicated battles- a nice addition. The story is intense and builds slowly over time- there is so much to discover in Cloudbank that I know I will be learning things in the game for weeks to come! It is totally the spiritual successor to Bastion, but I like it so much more. Great job Supergiant!… Expand
  2. jokerdeus
    May 26, 2014
    10
    Transistor certainly is a beautiful piece of art, but also a very good fun to play.
    Nothing is left behind, from art to the gameplay, everything is amazing.
  3. hiwasafari
    May 25, 2014
    9
    Transistor is amazing!!
    Just the deep combat itself makes the game a blast to play. There are spell like powers called functions which you will unlock the more you level up. Each function can be combined with other functions in a updrage slot or you can put it in a passive slot gaining buffs for your characters. So every functions/spell can be used a direct weapon or a updrage or a    Transistor is amazing!!
    Just the deep combat itself makes the game a blast to play. There are spell like powers called functions which you will unlock the more you level up. Each function can be combined with other functions in a updrage slot or you can put it in a passive slot gaining buffs for your characters. So every functions/spell can be used a direct weapon or a updrage or a passive buff which is amazing, the are 20 functions and the joy of the game is the expiriment you will make you make your character as powerful as she can be.
    Besides the game being great to play, the whole whole world is beautiful. The music is threw the whole game is freakin amazing .
    Overall im really enjoying the game and would recomond this game to any rpg fan.    … Expand
  4. ddrussianinja
    May 29, 2014
    8
    Despite the game's brevity and slightly confusing and underdeveloped plot, the gameplay is deep and rewarding, the presentation and design are fantastic, and the game is thoroughly engaging from start to finish.
  5. Ad4m
    May 27, 2014
    9
    Transistor is a very good game just like the Bastion was, it's almost the same formula, good story+ terrific OST, who liked the previous game of this team, that will love this as well
  6. davidh2014
    Jun 13, 2014
    10
    It's actually a really good indie game that keeps you coming back for more. Very colorful board. Action RPG game. The indie games are becoming a better market than the big name commercial games. Worth the buy.
  7. Rene9aaade
    May 29, 2014
    9
    I am absolutely torn as to the accolade of GOTY this year, given this was the year if the mighty dark souls 2!!!
    child of light and transistor where the outstanding games of the year for me, Transistor is the pinnacle of indie game making. Super giant games have created a fully realised world.
    Simply put this the best Indie game i am yet to play on Playstation systems. i'll start    I am absolutely torn as to the accolade of GOTY this year, given this was the year if the mighty dark souls 2!!!
    child of light and transistor where the outstanding games of the year for me, Transistor is the pinnacle of indie game making. Super giant games have created a fully realised world.

    Simply put this the best Indie game i am yet to play on Playstation systems.

    i'll start 1st with Gameplay, transistor stands out with it's take on the turn based/free flowing action with light RPG elements , while the system is great it is not flawless, but would never hinder your plans and works very well. What makes the title shine is the depth of gameplay, which in turn are shown by the options of your arsenal, you have primary actions, secondary attributes and passive attributes. But the catch is that you mix and match the same powers/abilities into any of these slots each action has two secondaries and then you have 4 passive actions. It is a difficult mechanic to describe in words but works wonderfully, It adds options and strategic depth, moreover it allows you to play the way you want to play.
    Add to that "limiters " which i much say were one of the coolest things in Bastion but come back here even cooler. This is Supergiants take on difficulty, it's a balance where you handicap your self in return of XP % boosts. It's optional but as i am a fan of challenging games, it make my life hell when i turn them most of them on. I just love how this is in an optional feature that elevates the game difficulty to exactly how hard you want it to be.

    2nd thing on the list is Graphics, Anyone who played bastion knows that SG games have unique and awesome presentations. This trend continues in Transistor A beautiful SCI/FI world wonderfully colored and detailed. Its pretty to look at and stylised to perfection.

    3rd up Sound This is DARREN KORB if you know him, you know what your getting into and it's phenomenal if not You are definitely missing out on one of the best artists in the gaming industry. Tunes go from futuristic to melancholic in a blink of an eye, it is done so perfectly and ties with the games sequences in such a way that deserves praise and recognition. Without a doubt the games strongest feat.

    4th and last up story/ replay-ability story is cool not outstanding but it's a nice tale that unravels as the game progresses and was interesting through out. Due to the depth of options it would be a joy to at least play Transistor twice in my opinion.

    All in all this is a video gaming achievement in the indie world and without a doubt warrants the price of admission.    … Expand
  8. Jubilarian
    Jun 3, 2014
    8
    I found myself enjoying Transistor, but also feeling confused about the story.

    When you first get introduced to Cloudbank, immediately you can see the beautiful hand-drawn buildings and Red, herself. You are greeted by a mysterious voice, belonging to a dead person who has been stabbed with the 'Transistor'. At first the gameplay may seem really complex, but once you get the hang of    I found myself enjoying Transistor, but also feeling confused about the story.

    When you first get introduced to Cloudbank, immediately you can see the beautiful hand-drawn buildings and Red, herself. You are greeted by a mysterious voice, belonging to a dead person who has been stabbed with the 'Transistor'.

    At first the gameplay may seem really complex, but once you get the hang of things and know how to use the Turn(), it becomes more easier, but also more harder because as you progress, the enemies get harder. You will need to plan out your attacks and make strategies.

    The music of Transistor is so amazing that it is a must that you listen to the whole OST. Ashley Barrett's vocals are haunting, but so beautiful at the same time that you get lost while playing into the music. It's just that amazing.

    The story is Transistor's weak spot. While it is interesting, sometimes you just don't know a lot of something and become confused at parts. It almost feels like Supergiant took a fraction of the story and released the final product. The ending is great, but the twist is sort of expected.

    Overall, Transistor is a great and beautiful game and while not a must-buy, it is a nice experience to have for $20.    … Expand
  9. claytastic
    Jun 7, 2014
    9
    Transistor is a well-created, fast-paced action game that, in my opinion, tops Bastion. The story will move you in every way (especially for being about the relationship between a singer and a sword), the graphics are well designed, and the soundtrack is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! My only complaint is that the camera can be just flat-out all over the place sometimes. Other than that, it's aTransistor is a well-created, fast-paced action game that, in my opinion, tops Bastion. The story will move you in every way (especially for being about the relationship between a singer and a sword), the graphics are well designed, and the soundtrack is absolutely BEAUTIFUL! My only complaint is that the camera can be just flat-out all over the place sometimes. Other than that, it's a great game. You've earned the hype, Supergiant!… Expand
  10. martscht
    Jun 10, 2014
    8
    Overall, I think the game is astoundingly beautiful. Not just the visuals, but the entire composition - most notably the sound design which allows you to interact with the soundtrack by adding the protagonists humming (always in tune to the current background song) at will.

    But, to get this out of the way, I am not big fan of the hack-and-slash RPG and this is probably the first RPG    Overall, I think the game is astoundingly beautiful. Not just the visuals, but the entire composition - most notably the sound design which allows you to interact with the soundtrack by adding the protagonists humming (always in tune to the current background song) at will.

    But, to get this out of the way, I am not big fan of the hack-and-slash RPG and this is probably the first RPG this decade I actually bought for myself (not including stuff that came free with PS+ or stuff my flatmates bought and I played). This game did not break these genre boundaries to a degree where I could just forget about everything I dislike about the genre but it came very close - especially in the early stages of the game where I was occupied with marveling at the audio-visual design. But especially as the game progresses the novelty of the design decreases and the game quickly becomes a progress-to-next-fight-scene-a-thon.

    But, to its credit, Transistor's battle system is really quite elegant, sort of reminiscent of Fallout 2. Aside from the standard hack-and-slash most of the combat revolves around a turn based attack planning which allows to string together a wide variety of attacks with various combo, backstab and specials modifiers to maximize damage. Especially in conjunction with a very nice upgrade and skill system it does keep the boredom at bay for quite some time. But especially towards the end it does become somewhat tiresome as the game starts throwing more and more enemies at you.

    One more quick word on the upgrade system: It is, like many other things about the game, very elegant. While you can only have four active attacks you will collect multiple possible abilities with XP. Each of these collected abilities can be used as either an active attack, an upgrade to a specific active attack (enabling specific bonuses) or an overall boost (enabling global bonuses). This allows for an extremely flexible skill system which I had great fun experimenting with throughout the game. In addition to upgrades you also earn limiters which allow you to purposefully make the game harder earning you even more XP which I thought was a nice take on allowing for difficulty preferences.

    However, the game does have some shortcomings. As I've mentioned it becomes a bit tedious towards the end where it starts to become a run from battle to battle. While there are a lot of story elements scattered throughout the world (and a large portion which only become visible as you experiment with your skill combinations) I found the story to be somewhat nonsensical in an over-the-top anime-like kind of way.

    So, my basic recommendation is: buy the game if you're into great aesthetic experiences. I imagine if you don't enjoy games for their art-style and design this game will quickly become tedious and unnerving for you. But, for someone who can enjoy games for their style I can only recommend this game even if, like me, you have not into RPGs.    … Expand
  11. EpicusLegatum
    Feb 13, 2015
    10
    I got this with PS+ and honestly wasn't drawn to it. I played every other game I was given free first but now that I've played Transistor, I'm hooked.

    The reviews that say they have no idea what's going on after an hours playtime, well that's a lot of what the game's about. You're thrown into a situation that you know nothing about and you're journey reveals more of the story as you    I got this with PS+ and honestly wasn't drawn to it. I played every other game I was given free first but now that I've played Transistor, I'm hooked.

    The reviews that say they have no idea what's going on after an hours playtime, well that's a lot of what the game's about. You're thrown into a situation that you know nothing about and you're journey reveals more of the story as you play. You gain character files along with your new powers that if you use in all ways possible, you get to read more of their bio. This forces you to mix up your move set and both adds to the story and stops the combat becoming repetitive, as some people have complained. This is as well as having "Limiters" that make the enemies stronger in various ways and rewards you with more exp for using them. With all these factors I fail to see how anyone can claim they breezed through spamming the same move over and over.

    The game's very unique, I've personally not played any other game to makes an accurate direct comparison and I'm surprisingly finding myself with a new top game I'd recommend to friends. Definitely worth checking out    … Expand
  12. diehard-gamer
    Feb 8, 2015
    8
    Its a game that, after about 15 minutes play, you realise its as much art as game.

    In that sense its up there with the Bayonetta, Skyrim, Minecraft and other games that make you realise how important music and voice acting are to a game.
  13. backInBone
    Aug 11, 2014
    9
    I didn't know much about this game before purchasing but after beating the game I felt it was worth my money. The music is really impressive. Few games can make me pause the gameplay and stand still just for listening to the BGM. Transistor is surely one of them. The combat system is addictive to me. There are 16 Functions available and you can combine them any way you like. SomeI didn't know much about this game before purchasing but after beating the game I felt it was worth my money. The music is really impressive. Few games can make me pause the gameplay and stand still just for listening to the BGM. Transistor is surely one of them. The combat system is addictive to me. There are 16 Functions available and you can combine them any way you like. Some combinations are powerful or super useful that could possibly make the game ridiculously easy, but apparently you have to try them out yourself, which is a fun process. Since it's a kinda short game, you will finish 2 enjoyable playthroughs before getting tired of the combat.… Expand
  14. NewSlang
    Mar 10, 2015
    9
    This game is superb. I highly recommend it. I coudn't stop playing. The ability to create your own moves and attacks is very fun. Very Similar to Bastion but even better. The combat system is really fun - just great core mechanic. The voice acting is sublime, the atmosphere really outdoes most games. The story is very compelling. The dev team has created a world I would love toThis game is superb. I highly recommend it. I coudn't stop playing. The ability to create your own moves and attacks is very fun. Very Similar to Bastion but even better. The combat system is really fun - just great core mechanic. The voice acting is sublime, the atmosphere really outdoes most games. The story is very compelling. The dev team has created a world I would love to explore even more of. Great Job.… Expand
  15. Brody_Low
    Feb 5, 2015
    9
    I feel like this game has so many inventive things going on it deserves the highest recognition. The combat system is very intricate, yet simply executed. The soundtrack and sound design are, like most indie games these days, top notch. While the story and presentation are a bit jumbled and confusing, there's enough entertaining things going to where you should probably just put on yourI feel like this game has so many inventive things going on it deserves the highest recognition. The combat system is very intricate, yet simply executed. The soundtrack and sound design are, like most indie games these days, top notch. While the story and presentation are a bit jumbled and confusing, there's enough entertaining things going to where you should probably just put on your seatbelt, bash robots, and enjoy the ride. I will also point out that the atmosphere of the game is very cool. Turn on the controller speaker if you want a better experience.… Expand
  16. Krobolt
    Jun 27, 2014
    9
    Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery and Transistor is very familiar with this. Transistor shares many elements from its famous sibling, Bastion. Both utilize a bastion camera angle, both emphasize combat, and both are set in unique stylized worlds. But Transistor isn’t afraid to step out of the box. Its story and world feels both strange and enticing and its combat feels moreImitation is the most sincere form of flattery and Transistor is very familiar with this. Transistor shares many elements from its famous sibling, Bastion. Both utilize a bastion camera angle, both emphasize combat, and both are set in unique stylized worlds. But Transistor isn’t afraid to step out of the box. Its story and world feels both strange and enticing and its combat feels more fine-tuned, deep and dynamic. Transistor combines these elements to build off its predecessor.

    You play as Red, a popular singer from the cyberpunk city of Cloudbank. The game begins dramatically with Red pulling a broadsword, the Transistor, out of the chest of an unnamed man. This man sacrificed his life to protect Red from an assassination attempt and now his essence is trapped within the Transistor, the weapon used against Red. Now it is up to our heroine, Red, to confront her would-be assassins and uncover the plot behind the assassination as well as their plans that threaten the whole city itself.

    The titular Transistor plays the role as narrator throughout the story. After being introduced to Red, the Transistor gained the soul of the unnamed man and with it; its own personality and voice, and quickly becomes Red’s partner and weapon. The Transistor comments on Red’s actions throughout the adventure, from battles to simple actions across the city. The Transistor’s chatty nature made him a welcome presence on your journey across the deserted city of Cloudbank. With his constant advice and subtle wit, the Transistor acts as an excellent companion.

    The core of Transistor is in its combat. Each player will spend most of their time combating the mysterious Process as they gain control over Cloudbank. Combat revolves around the combined use of “functions” and “loads.” Functions act as player’s attacks during combat and loads are used to control the battlefield. Loads add a layer of turn-based strategy into Transistor’s real time combat. During a turn, time freezes, allowing players to maneuver and line up a number of attacks, then release and watch a plan unfold on the unsuspecting enemies. The cost is a cool down that makes functions unusable. This mechanic is an interesting take on combat as it adds multiple layers to each fight, forcing players to choose between the more dangerous chances of real-time against the safe but costly turn based style.

    Functions can be used in multiple different ways. Each function can be used as an active, an upgrade, or a passive ability. This gives players endless possibilities at different play styles. You could make a melee attack more powerful by equipping it with an explosive ability. Or, you can add a jaunt ability to your function that allow players to attack during “load” cool downs. Each function works well and can be combined into more fun play styles, encouraging experimentation.

    Between core combat and mixing abilities for new load outs, there are other mechanics to be familiar with in combat. Instead of killing you whenever your health bar depletes, you use one of your functions; your abilities. As long as you have an active function working, you can continue the fight. You don’t lose these functions forever though, after reaching a certain amount of save points these functions return. This system allows players a chance to manage what abilities they currently have and learn to use them in new and exciting ways. A player can also use “limiters” which add buffs onto enemies such as taking double damage or less abilities to use per fight. Limiters add difficultly to each skirmish but offer the reward of more experience after each fight.

    When you aren’t fighting the Process, you scour the world. Cloudbank is a rich, beautiful, fantasy city filled with mystery. I scoured the world for viewpoints and terminals that expanded the story and lore. These features aren’t just passive bits of lore; each terminal you encounter often gives the player an opportunity to interact. Red can leave comments on news articles
    These small details not only expand the lore of Cloudbank but also Red and the Transistor’s relationship as they respond to each appropriately.

    Aside from the combat and the lore, the player can also partake in a few side activities. These take place in a “backdoor” that leads Red to a beach paradise. Here the player can challenge themselves to “tests” from defeating a certain amount of enemies within the allotted time to planning a move that defeats a foe in one turn. These don’t offer much as they only give the player more experience points as well as a piece of music that can only be played while in the “backdoor.” After the game is complete, the player is offered a new game plus option that allows players to continue the game with all of their abilities but changes the spawns of enemies. Late forms of Process appear earlier providing a more difficult second attempt.

    Transistor is an excellent game in both visuals and gameplay. Every environment has a soft glow, giving the city a feeling of light in their darkest times. Each encounter feels fresh and never lets down even as foes grow stronger as the story progresses. These elements combine to create a wonderful experience you’ll sink hours into. Transistor isn’t a game you’ll want to forget, it’s one you’ll wish you can play again for the first time.    … Expand
  17. SeanUlfik86
    Jun 27, 2014
    10
    Very different from other games. Diablo mixed with a little bit of Disgaea mixed with gorgeous art and music. Very saddening story though. Right in the feels.
  18. Hazixk
    May 26, 2014
    9
    This game is so...so...so...deep and have a unique beauty when Red mutters beautiful songs... The combat is impressive with more then 4000 styles... there's no reason to not buy this amazing masterpiece game.
  19. Ryguy486
    May 27, 2014
    8
    Transistor is a highly original, beautiful designed RPG with a story that deserves to be played through more than once. It's highly original visuals and art design help absorb you into the unique world of artists and musicians. Of course one of the very best features in the game is the music which acts as a character all on its own. The only complaint I have about the game is the amount ofTransistor is a highly original, beautiful designed RPG with a story that deserves to be played through more than once. It's highly original visuals and art design help absorb you into the unique world of artists and musicians. Of course one of the very best features in the game is the music which acts as a character all on its own. The only complaint I have about the game is the amount of time it took to fully understand the battle system. Offering no explanation at all with a simple but in depth weapons leveling system can be a learning curve. I wanted to replay the game just because I only fully grasped the leveling system at the end of the game. Overall a very well made game absolutely worth the price tag. I Meta would allow me I would give Transistor an actual score of 8.5!… Expand
  20. A5ko
    Jun 5, 2014
    6
    TRANSISTOR [PS4]

    After reading the rave reviews about Transistor I took the plunge. Unfortunately I am struggling to understand where the multitude of perfect scores are coming from. It's by no means a bad game, I just don't believe it is worthy of such praise. GAMEPLAY The combat was initially very interesting but fell flat once a particular set of Functions were introduced. This    TRANSISTOR [PS4]

    After reading the rave reviews about Transistor I took the plunge. Unfortunately I am struggling to understand where the multitude of perfect scores are coming from. It's by no means a bad game, I just don't believe it is worthy of such praise.

    GAMEPLAY
    The combat was initially very interesting but fell flat once a particular set of Functions were introduced. This rendered the game unfortunately very easy, even whilst using every Limiter found. The game could have benefited from varying difficulties, which were beyond the players control.

    + Combat planning is initially quite interesting.
    - Combat AI could have been a little less stupid.
    - Targeting Packets amongst enemies could sometimes be problematic.

    STORY
    A promising start muddied by predictability, with only a surprise of how quickly it was all over. I found the Transistors monotonous droning sometimes annoying and unnecessary. Some cut scenes leant nothing to the game or the growth of the characters, with one being quite honestly very baffling, given the circumstances.

    + Starts off very promising, giving very little away.
    - Is over too quickly and without pay off.
    - Character interaction isn't great. I felt myself becoming annoyed at the Transistors mundane observations.

    MUSIC
    Pleasant most times, but on the odd occasion I felt it really didn't fit the atmosphere particularly well. Whilst I appreciate a brilliant score throughout a game, it should only be there as a compliment and not a selling point. At times I felt as if the music was the soul focus of Transistor and not the story.

    + Nice for the most part
    - Couldn't help but feel they were plugging the soundtrack, when it should have been focusing on the game.

    Overall I would recommend anyone giving it a go, but maybe when it's a little less pricey. Certainly not a 'mind blowing' game, even for it's indie heritage. It fell short in length but maybe that isn't such a bad thing when you consider the combat has the potential to become stale very quickly. (Depending on the Functions you use).

    Was hoping for something a little more.

    - A5ko    … Expand
  21. Laurenceh
    Aug 25, 2014
    9
    A vibrant, yet empty, world with a compelling story really drives the game along with some unique combat mechanics. The soundtrack fits well into the tone of the game and is worth a listen on its own. The rpg elements are well designed, allowing for experimentation until you find what works for you.
  22. dwd26
    Aug 26, 2014
    6
    An extremely beautiful game with a haunting soundtrack. The gameplay is fun in parts, and I especially enjoy planning attacks making this more than just a hack and slash. The ability to mix and match weapons (or functions as the game calls them) allows for a huge degree of customization but you will need to experiment for a while.

    However combat becomes repetitive and sometimes    An extremely beautiful game with a haunting soundtrack. The gameplay is fun in parts, and I especially enjoy planning attacks making this more than just a hack and slash. The ability to mix and match weapons (or functions as the game calls them) allows for a huge degree of customization but you will need to experiment for a while.

    However combat becomes repetitive and sometimes frustrating. Your health is depleted over four sections and as it drops below each level, you lose one of your powers, which I found quite annoying, effectively making me weaker at the worst moment. You actually lose them and can only repair them by reaching 2 save points before you can get them back, so you are stuck with a weaker functions for some time. As a casual gamer who hasn't got the time to go really deep into the game, I found this irritating.    … Expand
  23. InfamousRacoon
    Feb 9, 2015
    10
    Short review: It's cheap and worth your time, go buy it.
    Longer review: This game is both ear- and eyecandy. As a lot of other users has told, the soundtrack is simply fantastic, but the game has an amazing art style too!
    But I feel, that one of the most important features in this game is that it's fun. Like a game should be, it tells a story with you looking at something beautiful,    Short review: It's cheap and worth your time, go buy it.
    Longer review: This game is both ear- and eyecandy. As a lot of other users has told, the soundtrack is simply fantastic, but the game has an amazing art style too!

    But I feel, that one of the most important features in this game is that it's fun. Like a game should be, it tells a story with you looking at something beautiful, hearing something beautiful and having fun on the same time. It also has a kind of strategic gameplay, so you can't sleep while playing it!
    10/10 I'm in love with this game.    … Expand
  24. jeffreymccarty1
    Feb 13, 2015
    7
    At first I didn't think this game was going to be worth much of my time but after an hour I actually found it very interesting. I like turn based strategy games and this is an odd twist to one of those. I would not pay a lot of money for the game but as a free PSN game it is excellent. The game is not very long and I was able to beat it in a couple of days with moderate play time. I doAt first I didn't think this game was going to be worth much of my time but after an hour I actually found it very interesting. I like turn based strategy games and this is an odd twist to one of those. I would not pay a lot of money for the game but as a free PSN game it is excellent. The game is not very long and I was able to beat it in a couple of days with moderate play time. I do recommend giving it a try.… Expand
  25. Pronto
    Feb 10, 2015
    7
    Transistor is a very aesthetically pleasing game. The story slowly unveils as you progress through the game, and as you near the end, you feel more and more motivated to keep going.
    The landscape, soundtrack and story are all amazing and really helps immerse the player.
    I give this game a 7 because the combat becomes quite repetitive and feels like a chore towards the end.
  26. MadeBrazen
    Jul 12, 2015
    8
    A Ghost In-die Machine

    From the team that offered up the well received visual treat of discovery that was Bastion, comes a hidden gem that can be labelled as the cool kid of the indie game renaissance. Transistor combines a delicious nu-retro futuristic design, literally painted onto a pseudo 3-D isometric canvas, along with perhaps the coolest score outside of Hotline Miami 2’s    A Ghost In-die Machine

    From the team that offered up the well received visual treat of discovery that was Bastion, comes a hidden gem that can be labelled as the cool kid of the indie game renaissance.

    Transistor combines a delicious nu-retro futuristic design, literally painted onto a pseudo 3-D isometric canvas, along with perhaps the coolest score outside of Hotline Miami 2’s raging 80’s throwback, and punctuates it all with a surprisingly deep combat system that rewards experimentation with a gleeful moveset and sword-led combos that actually lead the way with innovation in this desperate age of games fearful of pushing the boundaries of originality.

    You are introduced to your protagonist, Red, in the midst of some sort of societal breakdown in the new-modern city of Cloudbank. Red is a cabaret singer, her job title alone offering an idea of the game style considering this is a very much futuristic world. Red is a singer, but she has lost her voice – or rather it has been taken, it is not certain. With expert timing, the very moment you are wondering what the hell is going on here, a voice is there to guide you, coming from a digital sword buried in the body of some unfortunate soul in front of you. Perhaps it was you that put the sword there. Again, and throughout, with adept storytelling skill, Supergiant Games come through here expertly not telling you, with less being more, and letting the stories mystery build the intrigue.

    With a digital theme throughout the game, your sword is the game titles namesake, Transistor, a sort of PCB type design and voiced by the very same guide from Bastion – Logan Cunningham’s cool dulcet tones computerised a little but soothing, commenting and guiding, with subtle quips and oozing coolness, again offering snippets into the tale as you move to figure out your plight.

    The story is far from the main event in this tale, as can sometime feel a little vague in its 6 hours, the real meat available in character codex’s, which stopping to read does not fit so well with the games pace, as require some investment for your eyeballs to munch through. Those that are truly enamoured will likely indulge, and the entries will reinforce the tale towards clarity but for most I imagine actually only during a second playthrough.

    And a NG+ will be of interest, mainly due to what is the serious attraction in this game – combat. Your sword Transistor can be equipped with various ‘cells’, think weapon runes from your standard RPG. ‘He’ has four slots, and there are over 20 cells to gain as you progress. Each offer a different cool attack – anything from shooting a straight laser, or a digital cluster bomb, or firing a deteriorating virus that eats away at your enemy’s health, or even generating a digital companion to fight along-side you temporarily. Some are even able to render you invisible, create a safety barrier, or allow you to phase shift a few blocks in front of you. Sounds cool, right? It doesn’t end there. Each of the four cell slots can be augmented with two additional cells of the 20 you have to choose from – changing the attack of the main cell slightly. Use the cluster bomb cell to augment the phase shift, and you will drop bombs along your phase route. Use the safety barrier on the companion cell and it will generate a bigger, badder friend to fight with you. Remember each one can be augmented by two cells, so your laser shot can also be a health eating virus, which ends in your enemy exploding. The combinations are almost endless, especially once I tell you each of the 20+ cells can also be fitted as a passive ability, not just an attack. I trust you have kept up. This system ends up being extremely deep, and utterly enjoyable switching out cells for others and discovering differing combinations, which you will find yourself doing regularly, if only out of curiosity.

    As you fight your way through the quirky sprites that are a kind of a ghost in the machine, with your bond to Transistor growing at each level up, the game’s noir tone, some beautiful ideas and little nice touches added in, such as Red being able to hum along to the current soundtrack - all in all the game style, sound and gameplay come together to create a wonderful experience, a very welcome distraction from the triple A titles we are supposed to spend most of our time playing.

    If you are yet to go Indie, then here is a great place to start, setting the bar for endearing quality that other smaller developers should be aiming for in a genre that deserves our time just as any other.    … Expand
  27. bersi84
    Jan 26, 2020
    10
    I am really glad that I finally grabbed Transistor after I heard so much about the game. I played it on my PS4 Pro SSD and this game is a polished diamond with great art style and innovative game play. It is rather short but for the easy possibility of getting 50 to 80% deals this game is a plain 10/10 for me.

    The world cannot easily be described it has a digitalized computer-eqsue    I am really glad that I finally grabbed Transistor after I heard so much about the game. I played it on my PS4 Pro SSD and this game is a polished diamond with great art style and innovative game play. It is rather short but for the easy possibility of getting 50 to 80% deals this game is a plain 10/10 for me.

    The world cannot easily be described it has a digitalized computer-eqsue style with colorful and lively aspects. While you thrive your way to the world the narrative speaker gives you additional information and gets you the feeling of being not alone. In each passage you fight against certain groups of enemies which have individual fighting styles and weaknesses. The further you progress the more skill you unlock. So far nothing to special but it ramps a lot when you start combining skills with each other enhancing the main skill by range, damage, execution time etc. by doing this you can create complex skills that suit your personal playstyle, either fast and quick or hardhitting heavy.

    Combat itself is a mix of strategic pause and live combat. When your special bar is ready you can activate and plan your next attacks accordingly. Every step, every attack will consume energy. If you are satisfied or all of your energy is used you execute it. Then you have to cover, run away or fight it like a normal action game until your guage is filled again. Enemies can block attacks or heal other. Some will shadow your view so you cannot easily plan ahead. All in all the mix of enemies as well as the mix of complex spells you can create and test have big potential to keep you going. Experimenting with skills is fun, save points are numerous. If you get downed, skills will be disabled up to the point you are finally dead and will respawn at your latest location.

    For people who want even more competition can use limiters that handicap your gameplay but grant bonus exp or you can recurse the game where you will start anew but have all the skills, limiters and levels unlocked that you had before.

    My personal summary is, that the lone journey with Transistor is pretty short. It will take you probably 6 to 8hrs. Replayability is given due to its progression system and the sheer number of skill combinations you can create. The visual presentation is innovative and outstanding to me, same goes to the sound atmosphere. The game is absolutely polished. I had nearly no loading times, no bluescreen, no fps downs. I grabbed Transistor for 5 bucks at a sale which is definitely a steal for how awesome this game is. I can only encourage everybody to check it out. Sales are numerous, so you can get it at reasonable prices. Enjoy!    … Expand
  28. KingVilla1n
    May 3, 2019
    10
    Духовный и стилистический шедевр. Пожалуй, самая трогательная история о любви в играх.
  29. lostinspace
    Jul 24, 2014
    10
    **** brilliant... Enough said..........................................................................................................................................
  30. RewindTheGamer
    May 21, 2014
    10
    This game was perfect. From the narration to the artwork, soundtrack, gameplay, etc... I was completely immersed throughout the campaign. The game is beautiful, aesthetically, although has somewhat of a dark tone, and the two balance wonderfully to create a truly unique experience. I highly recommend this to anyone!
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Awards & Rankings

23
#23 Best PS4 Game of 2014
33
#33 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2014
45
#45 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 57 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 57
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 57
  3. Negative: 0 out of 57
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Sep 3, 2014
    90
    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]
  2. SpazioGames
    Jul 18, 2014
    85
    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.
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  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Jun 29, 2014
    80
    A unique creative vision that's not to be missed. [July 2014, p.82]
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