Transformers

I had a chance to try the preview version of the game and I was surprised that I actually enjoyed the game very much. The game has awsome graphics (Hot Shot looked really nice). I can’t wait till the full version out in May.
Rating: 5 / 5

Based on how Transformers games have usually been(horrible), I wasnt expecting much. To my surprise , this game rocks. Best described as a mix of first/third person shooters, Smugglers Run , and mild platforming, it combines the best of those genres, and adds new elements to the mix. Transformations are both flawless and usefull, you can run down your enemies as a car, and quickly transfrom and start blasting. The power-ups(Obtained by collecting ‘mini-cons’) are very cool, and combine with each other.. adding missiles, sniper guns, night vision, ect set up in a combination you feel is best.The game runs quite smoothly, the level design is excellent, and the lack of radar or maps, gives it an adventure/exploration feel. The levels never feel repetitive or ‘boxlike’, the terrain, plants and little details bring it to life. The enemy AI is very good, if you fire and they dont see you, they will fan out and search, untill they have visual sight of you. Some will run and contact other bots to come help, with huge dropships adding more enemies where you have defeated them. The boss battles are what some of us have waited 20 years for, better than the original cartoon, and an absolute blast to play. (Tidal WAVE!!!)
The only strikes against it are it does run a bit short, and it is an absolute crime that the game is not 2 player. The replay would have been extended 100fold were the existing levels and powerups made available for 1 on 1 battles. Oh well. And as far as all the armada/gen 1 threads, who cares? Its about how the game plays, and this one plays well.
Rating: 5 / 5

Let me start off by saying that I am 28 and therefore the Transformers have been a major spiritual influence in my life. I quote Optimus Prime the same way others quote scripture. So, needless to say when I saw this game coming out, my interest was more than I little peaked.

When I received the game (via Amazon), I did approximately what I would have done at 8 years old. I ripped the box open, ran to the den, kicked my family off the TV, and counted each agonizing second as the game booted on the PS2. The opening screen and control panel interface are frankly amazing, the best I have ever seen. Of the three Autobots you can pick from, I naturally chose Optimus and started into my adventure!!

Well, this is where the story goes a little off track. I usually start with listing the good then the bad, but to communicate the magnitude of my disappointment, I will start with the bad:

The Bad

- This is not Transformers like I remember them. Sure there are some of the old characters (Optimus, Megatron, Shockwave), but there is something really different about them as if you were looking at them through the distortion of a fun house mirror. Megatron is no longer the hand held gun fired by Soundwave, but rather this big tank looking thing. I understand that this is actually not the original Transformers, but rather an evolution called Armada. I know that I am biased in this, but the originals were just…well… better. They looked cooler and were more fun. Oh well, I guess they were close.

- The story really is not all that great. You are hunting down a group of littel autobots called the Minicons. I understand the story comes from an Armada comic series that people liked a lot. Truth be told, unless you have read the comic strip, there really is not much there. Again, I was just so disappointed, because there is so much potential.

- The characters are ok, but you can only choose one of three. They are not really very different. One goes faster than the others, another is more powerful, and the third is balanced. If I remember correctly, there are at least 30 or 40 characters that could have been used, but alas. Alos, there are no hidden characters to unlock. As an aside, if you could have somehow unlocked the old school characters, there is nothing that could have stopped me from playing 200 hours straight to get to them.

- I am not going to tell you what the last level is, but it is a major disappointment. I am surprised that they wanted to end on such a sour note. It is hard to control, tedious, and (at the end of the day) just not very fun

Ok… enough with the complaints, here are the good:

-Slick, slick, slick interface. It looked really good and it was obvious that a lot of time has gone into polishing the game.

- Graphics are very nice. There is really a strong sense that Atari wanted to make this the best looking (if no the most fun) game around.

- Gameplay was somewhat fun and worth spending time on. Levels and bad guys were different to an extent. I kept wondering why they used such a small cast from all of the potential characters.

- Bosses were a lot of fun. Tidal Wave was incredible.

- Upgrades were fun to get especially the glider. There was a free-flow feel to the game created by the ability to fly pretty much anywhere.

Conclusion

Would I recommend this game? Well, for people in my peer group (28 year olds who still play video games), I would probably say go rent it. You get the same nostalgic feel in the first hour of playing it that you would in the 40th. For people younger than me whose first experience with the Transformers was one of the later genrationas, I think the production values alone would qualify the game for a hearty recommendation.

Rating: 3 / 5

Well, I was weary of this game because it’s licensed, it’s licensed for a series of Transformers cartoons that I have never seen, and it’s by Atari. I basically had a free rental and this was the only thing that caught my eye. You know what, despite all that – it turned out to be pretty good.

My main gripe is that it’s not based on the original Transformers (mid 80s) series, which is really the only Transformers series around in my opinion. Being based on Armada, the only characters that I recognized and that transformed to the same vehicle were Starscream and Optimus Prime. The fans of the mid 80s show are in their twenties now, with tons of disposable income. Where the heck is a decent game for that?

Anyway, it turned out to be pretty good. It’s a third person shooter basically. You can change into a car, but it’s really useless because of the terrain, so the expected blend of driving and third person shooter is really not there. There are about 7 short levels (2 jungles, 2 snow based, 1 outer space, 1 island based, and 1 ship based) that are mostly done linearly, but you can comeback to earlier ones to collect Datacons and Minicons. Datacons unlock extras (movies, etc.), while Minicons are little robots that give a certain power, whether it be extra shielding, regeneration, better weapons or something else. Searching for Minicons can be annoying (I started using a guide in about the second level and beyond), but are worth it because of the improved weaponry. Most of these are optional, but rewards the extra time to find them.

There are three difficulty settings and you can play as three different autobots at almost any time (Optimus Prime, Hot Shot, Red Alert). I found the easiest level to be somewhat challenging, especially some of the bosses, so I never ventured into the higher difficulty settings. Constant save points are littered throughout each level, so you’ll find yourself rarely repeating fights.

The good thing about this game was that I couldn’t put it down. I was out one day, and all I could think about was coming back home and destroying Megatron. Even though not spectacular, this game really grabs you. The Minicons add a new dimension to a very standard game, and CGI movies are pretty polished as well. Finally, I got to play Optimus Prime. How cool is that?

Now to the bad. The graphics are typical of early PS2 games, and the controls seem kind of jerky. With modern shooters (like TimeSplitters 2 or James Bond’s latest), it seems kind of dated. The fact that there really is no driving in the game kind of defeats the purpose of “transforming.” I was pretty frustrated on the second level in easy mode. They could have made a tad easier.

All in all, if you’re an Armada fan, this is a great game. If you’re not, you’ll still find it to be decent.

Pros:

In the end, I could not put it down.

Optimus Prime!

Minicons enhance abilities.

Numerous save points.

Cons:

It’s not the “real” Transformers, so not as fun.

Graphics are subpar.

Pretty difficult in the beginner level.

Hardly ever use the automobile.

Controls are kind of clunky.

Time to complete (with FAQ guide, easiest level): 12 hours

Difficulty level (easiest level): Medium

Frustration level: Medium
Rating: 3 / 5

As I was searching for a new game to add to my collection, I inadvertently came across Transformers for the PS2. Having grown up watching the Transformers, I was immediately interested in the game. After I read the reviews and searched for the best price, I decided to buy the game which I purchased for $19.82 at Walmart.

Eagerly, I brought the game home and booted up my PS2. The cool Atari logo which “transformed” into the Transformers logo made my anticipation skyrocket. Once the introductory game video came on, I was thoroughly impressed. The music was excellent, using many of the different themes from Transformers in various contemporary styles. The music for the different levels is also very appropriate for each situation. The menu screen is superbly done, with a slick rotating “throne room” for the three autobots used in the game. On this menu the user can select which minicons he wants to use. There are also a plethora of other options as well. By the way, the menu and load times for this game are outstanding.

Honestly, I’m not sure why the game didn’t get higher reviews from major video game reviewers. I’m no video game expert, but this came is simply cool. The graphics are fantastic. The scenery is at times breathtaking, especially when you get the Slipstream minicon and can soar through majestic hills and valleys. The textures, shadows, lighting, and other attention to details are top notch. Even the character’s shadow from the sun is correct from whatever angle you are facing! Oh, and if you want to see some very cool CGI clips of the Transformers, this game has them! Obviously the team at Melbourne put a lot of work into this game.

If you want a game that has lots of action, requires strategy, has many different weapon add-ons, has beautiful graphics, and a vast assortment of enemies to fight, then Transformers is the game for you. Especially if you love the Transformers, you should get this game. I played this game for a week straight and could not get enough of it. I was very disappointed when I beat the game!

Pros:

- Fast load time

- Excellent music (despite IGN’s opinion)

- Cool screensaver (when level is loading)

- Wonderful graphics

- Plethora of minicons (very fun to try each one)

- Exciting explosions (watch those robot parts fly!)

- Precise zoom cam mode (gotta try the rangefinder and rifle)

- Fun extras (everything from old TV spots to extra music)

- Autosave feature is a timesaver! Many save points also.

- Bosses (especially Tidal Wave and Megatron!)

- Slip Stream (glider) Minicon (this greatly enhances game coolness!]

Cons:

- No tutorial or trainer except during the game.

- Limited minicon carrying capacity. Can Optimus Prime really only carry four minicons?

- Limited use of autobots. This game would have been much cooler if the autobots could have fought together as a team, at least in some of the levels.

- Limited movement. No duck or roll for autobots.

- No mulitiplayer. This, perhaps, is the biggest weakness of this game. Being able to play together with a friend or online would enhance the fun factor of this game ten-fold.

Presentation: As I already said, the menu layout and opening theme music are very sharp and appealing to the eyes and ears. The fast loading times are also a big plus.

Graphics: The graphics go from amazing to breath-taking. When you feel like you are actually walking through a great icy canyon in Alaska, you know that the programmers did something right!

Sound: I really disagree with IGN on this one. I thought the music was well thought out — not exciting all the time, but then again, I don’t think that’s always appropriate.

Gameplay: The weakest of the categories. Limited movement. The camera angles seem confused at times when close to a wall or object. Definitely needs duck and roll!

Lasting Appeal: The game is short compared to other RPG/Shooters, but it’s still a great game to keep and play from time to time. Hey, it’s the Transformers! I can’t wait for Transformers 2!!
Rating: 5 / 5