It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Transformers: The Game was supposed to be the first good movie game of summer ’07. It was supposed to be the first good Transformers game ever. With such a great license to work with, and with Traveller’s Tales behind the development, we expected LEGO Star Wars-levels of awesome. Instead, we end up with yet another disappointing, thrown together, crappy movie game. Rabid Transformers fans might like it, but I’d suggest renting it first.
Quick Hits
- Title: Transformers: The Game
- Platform:Xbox 360
- Publisher: Activision
- Developer: Traveller’s Tales
- ESRB Rating: “T” For Teen
- Genre: Action
- Pros: Graphics look nice; good voice acting; Optimus Prime; playing as Decepticons is fun
- Cons: Combat is dull and repetitive; game is very short; “action zones” suck; vehicles drive like the roads are covered in snot
Features
The story in the game follows the story in the new Transformers movie, but it only covers the bare basics and doesn’t really spoil anything. All you need to know is that the AllSpark is on Earth, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf’s character) has an artifact that tells where the AllSpark is, and the Autobots and Decepticons fight over first the artifact and then the AllSpark itself. Lots of things blow up, beloved characters return, and all is right with the world.
The game is set up sort of like GTA in that you have an open world and can take on missions by finding them. In addition to story missions, there are also side missions that have you racing around the city or collecting a set number of items in an area. There are also hidden items spread throughout each level that reward you with movie trailers and artwork from both the movie and the G1 cartoon and comics. A great feature is that there are separate Autobot and Decepticon campaigns, so you can choose to save the world or destroy it. Good times.
Gameplay
Transformers
Where it all falls apart is in the gameplay. When you are in vehicle mode, the cars handle very, very poorly and it is difficult to even make your way around the city. And when combat comes up, a few key flaws rear their ugly heads. First, even though you have huge guns and rocket launchers, you never really get to use them because the main enemies you fight always have shields. So, instead of guns, you have to pick items up (cars, trees, etc.) and throw them at your enemy to stun them, and then you have to run up and use your melee attack. Your melee attack consists of only about three moves, though, so you see everything the game has to offer within your very first battle. After that it just becomes repetitive and boring. Another problem is that the game has a lock-on feature so you can, hopefully, keep your enemy in sight, but it doesn’t really work. Enemies can be standing directly in front of you and you won’t be able to lock on. Trying to attack without being locked on is a losing effort because you probably won’t hit anything. Another problem is that during combat, the game creates an “action zone” around the battle area, and you have to stay within this circular area. If you leave the area and don’t return within 20-30 seconds, it is game over. When you are fighting, if you get hit by the enemy, you will go flying backwards a good couple hundred feet. This means you are constantly thrown out of the action zone, and a lot of the time, the enemies will pounce on you and keep beating you outside of the zone so you have no way to get back in.
Graphics and Sound
The one bright spot in Transformers: The Game is that it looks really nice. The Transformers are insanely detailed and look downright perfect. The environments also look good and they blow apart very nicely.
The sound is also a high point thanks to some good sound effects, decent music, and solid voice acting. Peter Cullen and Frank Welker reprise their roles of Optimus Prime and Megatron from the G1 cartoon, and they do a great job. They sound exactly like they did twenty years ago.
Bottom Line
Activision
All in all, Transformers: The Game is a disappointment. The presentation is certainly at the level we expected, but the combat is just horrendous. Outside of missions, when you are just goofing off, finding hidden items, driving or flying around, it can be fun. But once you get into combat and have to struggle with bad lock on, stupid action zones, cheap enemies, and repetitive attacks, the whole thing starts to crumble. These flaws really come up later in the game when you have to fight main characters such as Ironhide in the Decepticon campaign or the tag team of Starscream and Blackout in the Autobot campaign. These fights will make you want to throw the controller. With all of that said, there is still some nostalgic value here, and fans of Transformers might find things they like. You can unlock G1 skins for some of the characters, which is very cool, and Cullen and Welker teaming up again is awesome. But you can’t overlook the fatal flaws in the game design and no matter how big of a Transformers fan you might be, I have to strongly suggest renting it first.
