Transistor

 Switch
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
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  1. God is a Geek
    Sep 3, 2019
    90
    This is a great way to experience on of the best games ever. I really wish they had added the touchscreen functionality from the iOS version as an option to make this the definitive version of the game. If you don’t care about touchscreen controls, the Switch version is amazing and absolutely worth getting if you’ve never played this game before.
  2. Switch Player
    Nov 15, 2018
    90
    Beautiful, graceful and full of charm. Transistor is a gem that should be in everyone's collection.
  3. FNintendo
    Nov 12, 2018
    90
    Transistor is a marvelous piece of gaming worthy of all praises. Whether for fans of action games or turn-based combat games, this is definitely a game to invest in and where players will find themselves experimenting in many ways thanks to the game's long lifespan, with an absolutely exquisite soundtrack in the background.
  5. Nintenderos
    Oct 31, 2018
    83
    A beautiful title. It has an interesting story and a good combat and gameplay system. It also offers a great soundtrack.
  6. GameSpace
    Oct 31, 2018
    80
    While there doesn't seem to be anything new to draw players in, Transistor has always had a goal of replayability to begin with.
  7. Nintendo Enthusiast
    Oct 31, 2018
    85
    Supergiant Games created another beautiful story arc accented by an inventive combat system and an artistic world design with a vibrant color palette. The musical composition complements the visuals and action in a way that makes the title feel like all of its elements are unified and synchronous to a radical degree. Supergiant has made it clear that stories are important to them. Players seeking a game with strategic combat and simply a great, unique story need not look any further than Transistor.
  8. NintendoWorldReport
    Oct 30, 2018
    90
    Red’s epic lasts just a few hours. New Game + promises to carry over my progress and beef up the Process accordingly, and the Sandbox still hides challenges, so there’s replayability here. Still, I want more time with Red and her endearing sword. Transistor is too good to end so soon.
  9. Nintendo Life
    Oct 30, 2018
    90
    Supergiant Games outdid itself with Transistor, providing an engaging ARPG experience that managed to improve upon its predecessor in many ways while adding in distinct new elements that help to define its identity. It's another welcome addition to the Switch library, and is the epitome of a modern RPG classic, with its fusion of cyberpunk elements, unconventional storytelling, and dynamic gameplay make for a game that you won’t want to miss out on. We’d give Transistor a high recommendation to anybody looking for another great RPG for their Switch, or for someone who just wants to hear a good story.
  10. GameSpot
    Oct 30, 2018
    80
    Transistor is always a good-looking game, but in these instances, it demonstrates a rare knack for combining its visuals and music to powerfully convey both narrative information and tone, driving the story forward with Red's own unwavering resolve. So in the end, yes, Transistor is a fun action role-playing game with a neat combat system, but beautiful moments like these make it more than that. They make it a game with a soul.

Awards & Rankings

24
#24 Best Switch Game of 2018
61
#61 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018

User Reviews

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User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 91 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 62 out of 91
  2. Mixed: 27 out of 91
  3. Negative: 2 out of 91
  1. AllySky
    Nov 1, 2018
    10
    As I have explained in my Bastion review, Supergiant Games is a legendary company, releasing Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre. The games story isAs I have explained in my Bastion review, Supergiant Games is a legendary company, releasing Bastion, Transistor, and Pyre. The games story is amazing, one that I will never forget for being so impactful, and its narrative is even better then Bastion's, it brought the game to life, from beginning to end it felt like I was a part of the journey. The soundtrack was so fitting to the world's theme, and was of the highest quality, not to mention the game play was unique to any other, it was both enjoyable and customizable, made to let you play how you want to play.

    This does nothing but prove how absolutely talented the developers are, releasing another masterpiece without a doubt, that does nothing but improve on their previous installment, Bastion. Transistor is outstanding, it is worth every penny, and it is an experience... one not so easily forgettable.    … Full Review »
  2. TheFlannelFox
    Dec 31, 2018
    7
    Originally released in 2014 from Bastion and Pyre creators Supergiant, is the sci-fi action rpg, Transistor, which has now Crashed it’s wayOriginally released in 2014 from Bastion and Pyre creators Supergiant, is the sci-fi action rpg, Transistor, which has now Crashed it’s way onto the Nintendo Switch.

    You play as Red,a singer, whom in the beginning is on the ground kneeling next to a man impaled by a huge blade, known as the Transistor. While the man is dead, his soul and voice have been absorbed by the blade allowing him to speak to Red throughout the game, narrating it. It also has absorbed Red’s voice, leaving her mute.

    Red is burdened by this enormous sword, so large that when she is walking around it drags behind her on the ground. Yet, she needs it to survive. For the city she lives in, Cloudbank, has been overrun by a robotic army, known as The Process.

    Head in the Clouds
    The world of Cloudbank is a beautiful one. Viewed from an isometric perspective is a stunning art deco world, elevated with a sci-fi touch of being in the sky and overgrown with foliage as it has been deserted. The lighting and atmosphere in Cloudbank, gives a rich nostalgic feeling, that when walking miles above with ground with futuristic buildings in the distance you still feel like this happened long ago in a place you’ve been to before. Making the your journey into the unknown a little bit less frightening.

    If at first you don’t succeed, die die again
    The combat system in Transistor is incredibly unique. As you play through you gain new powers or “functions” that can be mapped to one of the four face buttons. Crashing your huge sword, shooting energy beams across the screen, or lobbing grenades at your foes to survive that much longer in this harsh environment. While in typical action-rpg fashion you can run around in real-time trying to even the battlefield, but quickly you will find yourself pushing up daisies.

    Fortunately, Red has the ability to stop time, map out her actions carefully, then execute them. Bringing you the forethought of turn-based combat in an action setting. After you use this tool, you scramble around the level trying to dodging incoming attacks until your time-stop ability recharges. This is the most dangerous time for Red, as she moves quite slow and her dash ability isn’t all that great. Eventually I began ending my time-stopping attacks with an invisibility function that kept me hidden long enough for my time-stop to recharge.

    After hours in the game I found myself heavily relying on the time-stop ability, but playing real-time has its benefits. For example your attacks don’t have to recharge, so if you have a powerful attack you can spam it destroying the robotic enemy hordes, if you can keep out of the line of fire.

    Each function or power that you pick up along the way can be unequipped and swapped for another. Or you can use one function to upgrade another. For example, breach an attack that shoots an energy beam, can be used to upgrade my sword crash, increasing it’s range and speed. Given the fact that you can swap these functions in absolutely any order gives you a huge amount of combat customization. Helping you find the perfect loadout for your playstyle.

    Unfortunately for me the combat began feeling incredibly repetitive after the first couple of hours. Seeing a lot of the same enemies, in the exact same situations, a battle in the beginning is very similar to battles later on; heightened by the fact that the real-time combat feels so good, I wish that there were functions to help you better adapt to that playstyle.

    This game runs great on the Nintendo Switch, handheld or docked I didn’t have any hiccups and it certainly looks fantastic in handheld mode. If playing on a commute headphones are a must as the narrator and background music contribute so much to the story that you won’t want to miss it.

    Transistor is a beautiful game with an incredibly interesting story, that will reward you if you stick it out. Unfortunately the combat system was a low point for me, even with the amazing amount of customization allowed. typically I want to play a game for the moment to moment gameplay not the story. Well with Transistor this was reversed, watching Red’s story come to a conclusion was the real drive for me, not slaying gaggles of repetitive robotic foes. Which in my opinion keeps this good game, from being a great game.    … Full Review »
  3. Greeensky
    Jan 29, 2019
    10
    Tactically Musical Story Teller.

    That is the genre that I believe would be most befitting to this title. Game itself is pleasurable to    Tactically Musical Story Teller.

    That is the genre that I believe would be most befitting to this title.

    Game itself is pleasurable to play, if a bit difficult in later battles. Tactically similar to xcom or jagged alliance, however musically similar to ... nothing, really.

    The game has the best soundtrack I have ever experienced in any game ever and I have over 1500 finished titles on my account. Every time I hear "Paper Boats", I burst into a bubble engulfed with emotions and tears falling from my eyes.

    Nothing has ever moved my soul as this game's soundtrack. I fully recommend listening to it on yt.

    So, if you're in for the musical feast, then please enter and enjoy this experience to the fullest, because I am afraid that for a long time we shan't have an equal to the Transistor.    … Full Review »
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