by Scatterlung » Fri Sep 04, 2009 6:03 am
- Motto: "I'd just like to remind you all that I'm best. Thank you."
- Weapon: Mighty Ear
I've been waiting for a chance to review this game, so here goes.
Get it. Just... Don't question it, don't ask why, just get it.
Melbourne House claimed they were real G1 fans when they made the Armada game, and, well... maybe they were. But I certainly couldn't tell.
Traveller's Tales too claimed to be big fans of the original series, but to be honest, it had even less influence on making the game.
This one, though, this one was made by real fans. I don't know what it is about this game but you honestly get the sense you're dealing with people who just know what you want. All the nice little touches that effectively congratulate you for being a fan and noticing them.
From the sub-factions being homages to Combaticons, Aerialbots, Protectobots, Omnibots.. Minor characters like Seeker being an obvious throwback to Skywarp, even including his teleportation ability. Recognising familiar colour schemes like seekers in red and blue denoting Thundercracker and Thrust. And Soundwave deploys a small red and black condor or a rumble drone to shake things up, neither of which have been mentioned in any supporting fiction for the movie. These are all touches that Luxoflux have consciously added because they know we'd like it.
And its the first game to really establish what Transformers is good for: Giant alien robots with personality. For me, that's what Transformers is. Its a galactic drama about warring personalities, as well as factions. And this is the first game that really brings it to life. During battle, you'll hear enemies taunt you by name. They recognise you, because they've heard of you or seen you in battle. They have an odd sense of history, and are suddenly not as much drones as actual, individual soldiers in this intergalactic dispute, displaced from their home to fight on this planet. For me, this is a very, very nice feature, that to most might not mean much but, but makes all the difference, I think.
Now the gameplay is tricky at first, but highly rewarding once its been mastered, and it can be. The transformation system is different from previous iterations, but workable and actually thoroughly enjoyable. You can jump up a building and, as you jump onto the roof, transform to car mode, screech along its surface to the opposite edge, release the transform button while holding Jump and launch yourself across the street, then, immediately transform back upon landing, drive off the rooftops and into the street below behind buildings and out of the enemies' sights. Its fluid, fun and very, very fast.
Coupled with a weapon system that's very satisfactory, and fluidly works with the transformation feature, you really feel like you have a fully fledged Transformer at your finger tips.
But again, I have to point out the subtle touches that show Luxoflux are Transfans. You remember how Jazz transformed in the first movie? The first time he does it, he does a little flip on one hand, capoeira-style. And later on he does a spin whilst transforming. Well, he does it in the game too. In fact, every animation that isn't running or walking is a blend of break dancing and capoeira. He can launch into a windmill kick from this vehicle mode and spin as he transformers, all inherently characteristic of his music-orientated nature. The makers have really, really paid attention to detail.
Jetfire creaks and groans as he moves due to age. G1 Sunstorm is able to overheat his enemies weapons, an ability mentioned in his original bio. G1 Starscream can fire Megatron in gun mode. G1 Prime's ballistic shielding turns him gold, a homage to The Golden Lagoon episode.
This game though is not complete without the DLC. The G1 characters are faithfully recreated and modernised just a tiny bit. Expert mode, though, isn't worth it personally. But if people really like a challenge, its a worthy extra. Personally, you haven't bought the full game until you've gotten this content, and I've described the game above as if it came with the DLC because, quiet honestly, its incomplete without it.
The Extras are also interesting. Concept art which shows you the progression as the artist starts with a G1 character and develops a movie counterpart from it, really showing how much consideration goes to the original series. Indeed, if you read the artist's blog, you'll see he is an avid Transformers fan.
So what's bad about it? The controls may be tricky for some, but I find it highly rewarding. If you're good with your hands, you will be unstoppable.
Its been relatively glitch-free for me. No major bugs other than the one time Sideswipe came into the game featuring Bumblebee's idle animation before immediately switching back. Nothing game-breaking. Its remarkably stable.
The single player campaign is a little dull and repetitive. Press at it, and complete the story, unlock the special features and then really start to enjoy multiplayer. I was surprised to see full episodes of G1 in there too, including G1 recolours for movie characters like Starscream and a G2 colouration for Long Haul (yellow and purple).
So that's basically my opinion on it all. Its a good game for G1 fans who really, really like injokes and references and throw backs. It really feels like you're involved in a war with individual bots, not drones, with personality and an intelligent sense of self-preservation - They really use those alternate modes. The controls are slick once you master them, and you can throw your bot around the map with all the finesse and grace of Spiderman if you work at it.
I love it. I really do.
+-+2008_thumb%5B1%5D)
A look can be deceiving,a touch can be lethal.
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