Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark

 Xbox One
User Score
4.9

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 56 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 56
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 56
  3. Negative: 27 out of 56
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  1. ghostfinger
    Jun 30, 2014
    6
    I like the game very much, but there is no getting past how ugly the cut scenes and textures are. So much so that I actually checked the settings on my Xbox one and TV to see if there was anything going wrong. There are "jaggies" absolutely everywhere and some textures are SO bad it looks like it's made of Minecraft. As a game it actually plays fairly well in robot mode, but the turningI like the game very much, but there is no getting past how ugly the cut scenes and textures are. So much so that I actually checked the settings on my Xbox one and TV to see if there was anything going wrong. There are "jaggies" absolutely everywhere and some textures are SO bad it looks like it's made of Minecraft. As a game it actually plays fairly well in robot mode, but the turning in vehicle mode can be very difficult leading to you just going in small straight lines recorrecting your path often. Sudden seemingly unfair deaths happen all the time and it has something of a "Transformers meets dark souls" feel. Escalation mode rocks but its a huge shame you can't use all the fantastic skins you unlock there to replay game levels or some in form of competitive multiplayer online. Dark spark is not even coming close to using any of the next gen power of Xbox one, in has long chapter loads and even mid level loads. I think it just a straight port of the 360 version with no graphic improvement or stand out features for the Xbox one. Despite its major flaws I do like playing it, I just wish the first transformers game to arrive for next gen had been done with a little more care and respect for both the new gen owners and the fans its fantastic world. There is a rumour that they may release a competitive multiple player later on down the track, but I would be very surprised if that actually happened for real.… Expand
  2. jugglaj91
    Jun 26, 2014
    7
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. If you enjoyed War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron you will enjoy this game. Just over half of it is on Cybertron and the ending looks like the next game may tread into G1 territory. Aside from some difficulty spikes and no competitive multiplayer you shouldn't skip this even if you hate the bayformers. Graphics seemed really shiny during the Cybertron levels but really washed out for the Earth levels but the controls are the same as the past titles so it's good on that front. Story only takes about 5-6 hours to complete but is pretty good overall.… Expand
  3. KotorFan3231
    Aug 27, 2014
    7
    I want to start by addressing the elephant in the room with this game, yes it was not made by High Moon Studios and its not going to have the same flare as its predecessors but does that mean its a godawful game no in fact its an enjoyable, fun, 3rd person shooter experience. Lets start with the bad, Its not as cinematically presented as the previous fall of cybertron or war for cybertron,I want to start by addressing the elephant in the room with this game, yes it was not made by High Moon Studios and its not going to have the same flare as its predecessors but does that mean its a godawful game no in fact its an enjoyable, fun, 3rd person shooter experience. Lets start with the bad, Its not as cinematically presented as the previous fall of cybertron or war for cybertron, there were some glitches such as characters would get stuck and I could not progress through the level forcing me to do a level restart, there is no team deathmatch multiplayer or other modes besides the escalation mode, while the cybertron levels are well designed the earth levels are not as inspired, there is one minor plot hole in the game. With the cybertron parts of the game being set between the events of war for cybertron and fall of cybertron, when you meet up with Megatron later in the game he has the body design of after he was rebuilt by soundwave after being crushed by metroplex during the events of fall of cybertron. The last bad thing with the game is I wish they got more of the voice actors to do the micheal bay Transformers like the voice actor for lockdown in the game is not the same one as Transformers Age of Extinction. Now before I talk about the good, I want to give a summary of the story in the game. The game starts off with you playing as the transformer Drift and the earth is under attack by the mercenary Lockdown and his minions and something has crashed and made a crater. You then proceed to meet up with optimus prime and bumblebee and you meet lockdown who takes the dark spark for himself. After that the games cuts to the cybertron unviverse where the same thing is going on the decepticons are loooking for the dark spark and the autobots are trying to get it back. That is pretty much the story in a nutshell except when around the last few chapters the game goes back to the earth sections and you end of facing lockdown and foiling his evil plans for the dark spark. There are two standout moments from the story playing as Bruticus and Grimlock in separate levels. Now on to the good as I said you get to play as Bruticus and Grimlock in the game, those two levels were easily my favorite out of the whole game. I also enjoyed as always Peter Cullen's voice work as the legendary Optimus Prime. The graphics while nothing special were nice to look at so points there. I enjoyed the carry over of the third person mechanics from the previous games those felt right where you get to switch firing arms equip a heavy weapon and add three tech assistants like temporary regenerative health, a black hole grenade and other various temporary power ups. New this time are these things called hacks where it ads a certain layer to the combat like exploding enemies, enemies drop less health but more ammo or vice versa more health less ammo. Another new mechanic I do appreciate are the lock boxes you unlock buy doing certain in mission objectives or multiplayer objectives or just by simply leveling up. From these you unlock different characters to play as in the escalation mode multiplayer which is basically a horde mode however to me it provides a fun fast paced bit of action while playing as my favorite transformers autobots or decepticons. Also form the lock boxes you unlock new weapons and upgrades, hacks, and temporary tech abilities. The last thing thing I want to say about this game is that the biggest fan service it does and I appreciate this is the 40+ characters you get to choose from for the escalation mode. Overall This game is a solid 7/10 while not as well presented as its predecessors it still has a place among them.… Expand
  4. SploogePanda
    Jun 26, 2014
    6
    I really enjoyed about 80% of the game. About 20% was incredible painful.

    Negatives The game is just like every other old game you played in the 90's (other than the graphics). Jumping up levels, grappling to ledges to get across heights, shoot a exploding barrel etc. The game must be played perfectly to the designers structure. If you deviate from the plan you will die. There is no    I really enjoyed about 80% of the game. About 20% was incredible painful.

    Negatives
    The game is just like every other old game you played in the 90's (other than the graphics). Jumping up levels, grappling to ledges to get across heights, shoot a exploding barrel etc.
    The game must be played perfectly to the designers structure. If you deviate from the plan you will die.
    There is no real fun in being a giant transforming robot that can be killed by a small soccer ball sized drone. Each level runs a very simple, kill 30 enemies move on to the next checkpoint, kill 30 enemies pull a lever, kill 30 enemies grapple a ledge.
    There is almost no benefit from changing form, other than a level dictating you must.

    Positives
    The banter between Autobots and decepticons has its moments
    The graphics are great, cartoony but great
    The game play can be quite fun when you are not repeating the same thing over and over
    You will never run out of ammo of life recharges (you will either be instantly killed or barely scratched)
    Good mix of weapons and extras

    its worth playing - but don't push an elderly to the ground in a mad rush to get your hands on it    … Expand
  5. iamadevil
    Jul 4, 2014
    5
    Unless you're an absolute die hard TF fan who can tolerate some of the annoying things that come with a sub-standard game production, I certainly wouldn't recommend this.

    The graphics are well below par, with some seriously hideous lighting issues. The story is just about bearable, but the general Cybertron time line/continuity plus the link between Cybertron/Earth TF's are both more    Unless you're an absolute die hard TF fan who can tolerate some of the annoying things that come with a sub-standard game production, I certainly wouldn't recommend this.

    The graphics are well below par, with some seriously hideous lighting issues. The story is just about bearable, but the general Cybertron time line/continuity plus the link between Cybertron/Earth TF's are both more than a tad dubious.

    Vehicle modes feel cumbersome and somewhat obsolete in this game, the AI is a bit suspect and deaths often come as a complete and utter surprise (it's either breeze through a section or die immediately).

    All in all - Edge of Reality have pretty much cobbled together existing material from previous High Moon TF games as a money spinning ploy to entice fans of War/Fall and the TF movies alike.

    Where War/Fall possibly weren't ever going to be the best games from a neutral perspective, I would've still recommended this as a decent shooters. At least for TF fans they were standout titles & for the G1 purists especially, a reimagined take on the franchise which was also pretty faithful to the original source material.

    Both were great games first time round and had good replay value with campaign, escalation and online MP modes.

    RotDS for me falls way short on all counts. At best it's a mediocre game - and that's even from a TF fans perspective.    … Expand
  6. gameguardian21
    Feb 22, 2016
    5
    I will admit it, I enjoyed this game. It is definitely not the best transformers game out there, but I still find it entertaining. Lets start off with the story. I dont hate the story I think its ok, but it could have been better. The multiplayer is good, with escalation being the best thing about this game. The gameplay is like fall of cybertron, its 3rd person and so on. I know mostI will admit it, I enjoyed this game. It is definitely not the best transformers game out there, but I still find it entertaining. Lets start off with the story. I dont hate the story I think its ok, but it could have been better. The multiplayer is good, with escalation being the best thing about this game. The gameplay is like fall of cybertron, its 3rd person and so on. I know most transformers fans will not like this game, but I think its something different and fun to play.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

84
#84 Best Xbox One Game of 2014
50
#50 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2014
48
#48 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
47

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 7 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 0 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 7
  3. Negative: 5 out of 7
  1. Games Master UK
    Aug 24, 2014
    42
    Not dreadful. [Oct 2014, p.80]
  2. MondoXbox
    Jul 13, 2014
    40
    The developer switch didn't really help the franchise: bad graphics, bad gameplay and frustrating. Its only good feature is the Escalation online co-op mode.
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  3. Polygon
    Jul 3, 2014
    45
    Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark is awash in so much borrowed content, so many poorly executed examples of copy-and-paste design from its predecessors, that I can't help but wonder what happened. My best guess? A lack of time. Regardless, Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark is a colossal failure, serving only as a reminder of how much better its predecessors were.
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