 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Logo by Max Layne Photography
| Microsoft Xbox 360 |
With more and more games based on Hollywood films, the amount of quality that goes into many of the games continues to decrease.
Luckily for the Transformers franchise, the latest videogame release, “Transformers: War for Cybertron” is one that is sure to surprise
many fans of the franchise. High Moon Studios has taken a fast, fun, third-person shooter, created a well thought out transformation
mechanic and designed amazing combat situation. The end result is a shooter that has its own identity and creates something cool for
both fans and newcomers of the series.
The game takes place millennia before the original cartoon series and tells the story of the final days of the civil war between the
Autobots and Decepticons on their home world of Cybertron.
“Transformers: War for Cybertron” fills in some gaps in the overall understanding of Transformers lore, explaining things like
Starscream's defection from the Autobots, Optimus's succession to the position of Prime, and much more. The storytelling in the game
is good and feels well situated in the franchises fiction, it is a good modernization of the original cartoon while remaining true to the
characters and stories that so many have enjoyed for years. However, there are points where the story stumbles from one event to the
next, making the game feel like some parts are missing.
There have been a few changes made in order to help move the story along, but nothing that longtime fans of the series will be upset
with. While some fans might be annoyed with the idea of Soundwave transforming into a Cybertronian truck, there is a point later in the
Autobot campaign that will make up for it.
The redesigns of well-known Transformer archetypes like Bumblebee and Soundwave feel up-to-date and cool while remaining
instantly recognizable. With the many small details, such as constantly moving pistons and gears on each Transformer in humanoid
mode and some great transformations, High Moon has done a great job of offering what fan want and respecting the franchise.
Surprisingly, the story and treatment of the Transformers fiction isn't where “Transformers: War for Cybertron” is the most success.
Rather than searching for a reason for cover based shooting in a Transformers title, High Moon instead went with a third-person game
play that emphasizes melee combat just as much as shooting combat.
Transformation in the game no longer feels like a gimmick. Many levels and encounters in the game are designed around the ability to
change at will between vehicle and humanoid forms. From early on a mastery of both forms, and knowing when to use them, is
practically a requirement in order to work through the game successfully. High Moon has created a shooter that rewards both strategic
thinking and heavy experimentation, something different than past games in the series. This of course makes combat in
“Transformers: War for Cybertron” is more satisfying than any third-person shooter in recent memory. There is no more simply running
around a world randomly shooting at anything that moves, there will be some actual thought into completing the game.
While most players will most likely jump into the cooperative campaign mode in “Transformers: War for Cybertron” as soon the
possible, competitive multiplayer is where the game will find its legs and most players will eventually spend a lot of their time.
“Transformers: War for Cybertron” leverages its transformation mechanic to create something that feels shockingly new, though there
are a lot of elements in the game that will be recognized from other third-person shooters. The same combat scenarios that make the
single-player campaign of the game so much fun can also be found in a much faster speed online, as Scientist-class jets fly overhead
and Soldiers, Scouts, and Leaders offer resistance on the ground. While matches are capped at 10 players, the game will feel as
though it is almost too frantic at times considering the low numbers of players that are allowed to play. Conquest Mode is sure to also
become a fan favorite, as the momentum between the Autobot and Decepticon sides can change instantly, creating matches that stay
interesting for a longer amount of time.
Although there are many changes in the game that fans of the series are sure to enjoy, the game has its share of flaws as well. The
frame rate can stagger occasionally throughout the game and some of the boss battles break down to exercises in avoiding instant or
near instant death to shoot a flashing red dot. Transformers nerds will love the fact that there is character customization for each class,
with multiple chassis and customizable paint jobs in multiplayer mode while simultaneously cursing its limitations. However, these
issues are small in comparison to everything that the game does very well in the game.
Luckily for fans of the Transformers series, “Transformers: War for Cybertron” impresses with an amazing single-player campaign with
full cooperative support and a surprisingly deep and inventive online multiplayer component. The game has taken the magic of playing
with plastic and metal toys that turn into something very cool, both while playing alone and with friends and have distilled that into a fun
and exciting experience. This game is sure to surprise fans of the series, especially though who are weary of games based on a
franchise. “Transformers: War for Cybertron” has changed dramatically from the games that preceded it, but in a good way.
Luckily for the Transformers franchise, the latest videogame release, “Transformers: War for Cybertron” is one that is sure to surprise
many fans of the franchise. High Moon Studios has taken a fast, fun, third-person shooter, created a well thought out transformation
mechanic and designed amazing combat situation. The end result is a shooter that has its own identity and creates something cool for
both fans and newcomers of the series.
The game takes place millennia before the original cartoon series and tells the story of the final days of the civil war between the
Autobots and Decepticons on their home world of Cybertron.
“Transformers: War for Cybertron” fills in some gaps in the overall understanding of Transformers lore, explaining things like
Starscream's defection from the Autobots, Optimus's succession to the position of Prime, and much more. The storytelling in the game
is good and feels well situated in the franchises fiction, it is a good modernization of the original cartoon while remaining true to the
characters and stories that so many have enjoyed for years. However, there are points where the story stumbles from one event to the
next, making the game feel like some parts are missing.
There have been a few changes made in order to help move the story along, but nothing that longtime fans of the series will be upset
with. While some fans might be annoyed with the idea of Soundwave transforming into a Cybertronian truck, there is a point later in the
Autobot campaign that will make up for it.
The redesigns of well-known Transformer archetypes like Bumblebee and Soundwave feel up-to-date and cool while remaining
instantly recognizable. With the many small details, such as constantly moving pistons and gears on each Transformer in humanoid
mode and some great transformations, High Moon has done a great job of offering what fan want and respecting the franchise.
Surprisingly, the story and treatment of the Transformers fiction isn't where “Transformers: War for Cybertron” is the most success.
Rather than searching for a reason for cover based shooting in a Transformers title, High Moon instead went with a third-person game
play that emphasizes melee combat just as much as shooting combat.
Transformation in the game no longer feels like a gimmick. Many levels and encounters in the game are designed around the ability to
change at will between vehicle and humanoid forms. From early on a mastery of both forms, and knowing when to use them, is
practically a requirement in order to work through the game successfully. High Moon has created a shooter that rewards both strategic
thinking and heavy experimentation, something different than past games in the series. This of course makes combat in
“Transformers: War for Cybertron” is more satisfying than any third-person shooter in recent memory. There is no more simply running
around a world randomly shooting at anything that moves, there will be some actual thought into completing the game.
While most players will most likely jump into the cooperative campaign mode in “Transformers: War for Cybertron” as soon the
possible, competitive multiplayer is where the game will find its legs and most players will eventually spend a lot of their time.
“Transformers: War for Cybertron” leverages its transformation mechanic to create something that feels shockingly new, though there
are a lot of elements in the game that will be recognized from other third-person shooters. The same combat scenarios that make the
single-player campaign of the game so much fun can also be found in a much faster speed online, as Scientist-class jets fly overhead
and Soldiers, Scouts, and Leaders offer resistance on the ground. While matches are capped at 10 players, the game will feel as
though it is almost too frantic at times considering the low numbers of players that are allowed to play. Conquest Mode is sure to also
become a fan favorite, as the momentum between the Autobot and Decepticon sides can change instantly, creating matches that stay
interesting for a longer amount of time.
Although there are many changes in the game that fans of the series are sure to enjoy, the game has its share of flaws as well. The
frame rate can stagger occasionally throughout the game and some of the boss battles break down to exercises in avoiding instant or
near instant death to shoot a flashing red dot. Transformers nerds will love the fact that there is character customization for each class,
with multiple chassis and customizable paint jobs in multiplayer mode while simultaneously cursing its limitations. However, these
issues are small in comparison to everything that the game does very well in the game.
Luckily for fans of the Transformers series, “Transformers: War for Cybertron” impresses with an amazing single-player campaign with
full cooperative support and a surprisingly deep and inventive online multiplayer component. The game has taken the magic of playing
with plastic and metal toys that turn into something very cool, both while playing alone and with friends and have distilled that into a fun
and exciting experience. This game is sure to surprise fans of the series, especially though who are weary of games based on a
franchise. “Transformers: War for Cybertron” has changed dramatically from the games that preceded it, but in a good way.
| Genre: Action Developer: High Moon Studios Publisher: Activision |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
