Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark

 Xbox 360
User Score
5.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 31 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 31
  3. Negative: 15 out of 31
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  1. daHOLYxboxmastr
    Jun 27, 2014
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I recently purchased Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark for my Xbox One, (more so to have more games for it and I'm the only guy on my friend's list who will play it anyway), and have mixed reviews.
    Story wise, it was a little difficult to tell where exactly it takes place when you're on Cybertron. Graphics for Earth missions could have been better too...
    And there's no competitive multiplayer...
    Should I have paid $60? Probably not. The game seems to be more of a retail value of $30 - $40
    Considering all you get is a fourteen chapter campaign and a survival mode titled, "Escalation."
    However, the game does have its perks. Gameplay and style are both the same as it was for "Transformers: Fall of Cybertron", which in my opinion, was the best Transformers game. Certain missions I found I had trouble with which proved to be fun for me considering I like a challenge.
    Character wise, fantastic. Everyone's favorite Transformers are in here from the obvious needs like Optimus Prime and Megatron, to others like, Hound, Air Raid, and Quake.

    The story may not be the best. If at most, it sounds like a failed attempt at a cross fanfiction between the movies and games.

    Overall, if I have to recommend it, I'd say get the game but wait till it reduces in price. Even if you're not a Transformer fan, try it. It's pretty fun for a third person shooter.    … Expand
  2. Colcharjnr
    Jun 25, 2014
    3
    This hole game was a meh. Graphics on cybertron were good, but when it hit to earth wow dose it change. The game design overall was average, on earth is was very boring. Voice acting was again a meh, Optimus sounded great as usual but all the others were forgettable. Sorry to be a downer but my expectations were high because the last two were so good
  3. beachedteaspoon
    Jul 9, 2014
    7
    I liked it, but I am probably biased considering that I do enjoy Michael Bay's movies (more of as a guilty pleasure, though). The crossover between the movies and the game felt a little awkward, a little too much like a fanfiction for my liking, but I won't get up in arms about it.
    The graphics are generally good, albeit mostly on Cybertron, though I did have a few problems with the game    I liked it, but I am probably biased considering that I do enjoy Michael Bay's movies (more of as a guilty pleasure, though). The crossover between the movies and the game felt a little awkward, a little too much like a fanfiction for my liking, but I won't get up in arms about it.
    The graphics are generally good, albeit mostly on Cybertron, though I did have a few problems with the game not rendering the graphics fast enough and they appeared blurry and pixelated.
    The gameplay was mostly recycled from Fall of Cybertron, and while the gameplay in FoC was good, it would have been nice to see a few differences. It was hard at times, but it was still fun. The weapons/gear terminal had a better design and function in FoC.
    Voice acting was okay, Peter Cullen and most of the Decepticons were good as always, Drift kinda sounded a little iffy, wasn't sure if I liked his voice (or the character for that matter).
    The story wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.
    Music was good, I did like the soundtrack.

    Overall, the game was okay, but it didn't quite live up to my expectations, especially considering the quality of it's predecessors. However, if you enjoyed WF/FOC, and don't mind some story/ design flaws, then you'll probably like it.    … Expand
  4. PyongyangMayor
    Aug 17, 2014
    0
    9 positive reviews? Really this game has more positive reviews than negative ones with 9 POSITIVE REVIEWS? 6.6 is just **** insane. This is the highest rated version, which is funny considering IMO this the worst version. The graphics are atrocious, the gameplay is boring as hell and honestly, $50 or $60 is WAY too much! $20? Maybe, but not $60. I have a feeling the reason why this has a9 positive reviews? Really this game has more positive reviews than negative ones with 9 POSITIVE REVIEWS? 6.6 is just **** insane. This is the highest rated version, which is funny considering IMO this the worst version. The graphics are atrocious, the gameplay is boring as hell and honestly, $50 or $60 is WAY too much! $20? Maybe, but not $60. I have a feeling the reason why this has a positive rating is because fanboys of the movie just rated it without playing it. Is it better than the last 2 games? Maybe, but it still sucks.… Expand
  5. Termin8ter
    Apr 22, 2018
    4
    This game is a below average effort. All the issues from the DOTM tie in game have been carried into this one only with a fresh 2014 coat of paint. The story is a confused, convoluted mess that only the developers would appreciate. The visuals aren't terrible, i'll admit, but they are still underwhelming. Also, this game features some of the most extensive and aggressive stealing of assetsThis game is a below average effort. All the issues from the DOTM tie in game have been carried into this one only with a fresh 2014 coat of paint. The story is a confused, convoluted mess that only the developers would appreciate. The visuals aren't terrible, i'll admit, but they are still underwhelming. Also, this game features some of the most extensive and aggressive stealing of assets from a game I've ever seen, having heaps of audio lines and animations ripped straight from Fall of Cybertron, with zero changes. Very lazy, guys. Don't buy this game, or rent it, or get it for free. It's not worth a minute of your time.… Expand
  6. Breadn
    Apr 26, 2022
    3
    Oh boy, this game was and still is a disappointment. Where to start?

    The story makes no attempts to make any amount of sense, and it would take a whole essay to list the amount and severity of plotholes. So many of the game's assets were directly recycled from Fall of Cybertron. Enemies? Yup. Guns? All of them, down to item descriptions and damage numbers. Entire map sections were    Oh boy, this game was and still is a disappointment. Where to start?

    The story makes no attempts to make any amount of sense, and it would take a whole essay to list the amount and severity of plotholes.

    So many of the game's assets were directly recycled from Fall of Cybertron. Enemies? Yup. Guns? All of them, down to item descriptions and damage numbers. Entire map sections were reused, many voicelines were reused to annoying amounts, and it feels more like an asset flip than a fully-fledged game.

    And with this in mind, you'd think it would keep the same fun gameplay from Fall of Cybertron, right? Nope. You can't accelerate while transforming which makes the whole mechanic feel awful, they added lootboxes for some god forsaken reason, and in order to upgrade weapons you must open those lootboxes for minutes on end. Although despite all of this, Fall of Cybertron's brilliant gameplay does shine through a bit and is the only thing keeping this game from being completely horrible.

    Aswell as that, reflections and entire textures were messed up which leaves the game looking much worse than Fall of Cybertron. Levels also feel very uninspired and are mostly gray.

    I was hoping that the escalation mode would be the saving grace, but it wasn't. It made the same mistakes as Fall of Cybertron, and cranked them up ten fold. There were a few fun mechanics in escalation, such as permanent upgrades and being able to choose from over half a dozen (though most of them reused) maps, but the bad definitely outweighed the good. Doors and weapon pickups were completely removed, replaced instead with traps and a permanent progress weapon locker. This removed almost all tactics from escalation, and made it feel more like a grind.

    You're probably wondering why I'm stating this all in past tense, and that's because the servers have since been shut down. The little bit of remaining value given to the game from escalation has since been taken due to a server shutdown in 2020. All you're left with is a buggy, awkward, horrible campaign that makes less sense than a Michael Bay film.

    Shame on you, Edge of Reality. Shame on you.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2014
31
#31 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2014
15
#15 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
44

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 7
  3. Negative: 3 out of 7
  1. X-ONE Magazine UK
    Aug 18, 2014
    30
    It is at least mercifully short. [Issue#114, p.82]
  2. GameOver.gr
    Jul 12, 2014
    40
    Rise of the Dark Spark is the definition of a movie tie-in. It contains all the ingredients of uninspired levels, nonsensical story and dull, repetitive gameplay.
    Read full review
  3. LevelUp
    Jul 2, 2014
    53
    Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark main problems are that High Moon Studios didn't developed it and that the terrible Michael Bay's movie, Transformers: Age of Extinction, was merged with the marvelous universe of War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron.
    Read full review
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