Hello all,
Today's review will be a game review, so it's not anything too wacky. But I played it, and you're going have to read what I think of it. So there.
Yesterday, my insane fanboy hands wrenched a copy of Transformers: War for Cybertron from the cold mechanical hands of a Gamestop employee. The marketing campaign at that Gamestop is incredible! It’s as if they actually hired robots specifically to sell this game! I especially love how the lifelike store manager robot glitched out and asked me if I had played the demo three times through the course of ringing out my transaction. I am impressed.
So without further ado, the review:
Graphics: (4/5)
Graphically, the game impresses. The level of detail on everything is astounding, from the metallic surfaces, of which the entire planet is composed, to the details on each individual Transformer. The transformation effects are pretty cool. If I have any complaint, it’s that the different weapon effects are a bit underwhelming. It’s weird to see big explosive weapons unleash tiny, whimpering explosions.
Sound: (4/5)
The sound is pretty standard fare for a third person shooter. Boom, boom, bang, scream, etc. The soundtrack is pretty standard for a sci-fi game, but toe-tapping tunes that you whistle in the shower went out of style back in the days of the 16-bit system. Where the game truly shines is in the voice acting and banter between characters, most of whom insult each other back and forth in the Decepticon campaign. While it may seem a little strange to hear G1 Transformers with new voice actors, Peter Cullen, the original Optimus Prime, is still there, and the other actors are pros that do a pretty good job. I am however, a little put off by Megatron’s voice actor, James Remar. He does a good enough job, but he seems to be channeling movie Megatron more than G1. This is just a fanboy complaint, as I would have loved to heard Frank Welker, Megatron's original voice. It probably doesn't help that I'm also to used seeing James Remar as spectral Harry in the TV show Dexter.
Gameplay: (5/5)
Here’s the meat and potatoes, the one thing the game studio worked on above all else, and it really shows. This game is fluid and responsive, with every screw up you make being your own damned fault. Transformation is done with a click of the analog stick, freeing up your face buttons. And the transformation is no gimmick, but an integral part of the gameplay. For instance, I found that Starscream makes for an excellent sniper in robot mode, but the second enemies start firing back, switching to jet mode and strafing while staying mobile is by far the best option to keep him alive. And if you know how much of a coward Starscream is, you’d see how true to form he plays. And the other robots control just as appropriately. Aiming and firing is a breeze, and the action is always hectic and chaotic. Multiplayer is just as fun, but allows you to create and customize your own Transformers before jumping into battle. The options for creation are a bit limited, but are still pretty good. One small gripe is that while you’re in game, you REALLY need to watch your ammo count. After a handful of shots, you’ll find yourself on empty, leaving you to rely on up close melee against enemies that are aggressively trying to blast you to pieces. Another snag is the game’s loading times, which were brutally long, and prone to freezing up mid-load. Hopefully a patch gets put out to fix this soon. And if you happen to own this for the PS3, enjoy the twenty minute install time that you’ll be treated to before you can even play.
Overall: (13/15)
War for Cybertron is a fanboy’s dream. The license is handled with care, and while the game’s plot is nonexistent, the gameplay, the online mode customization, and the sheer amount of G1 goodness is enough to make up for all the incredibly awful Transformers games that came before this one. You owe it to yourself to pick it up immediately if you’re already a Transformers fan, and if you love shooters in general, it’s still an excellent buy. It’s not 100% perfect, but it’s the closest thing to it that fans have, and its few minor issues don’t mar the overall experience. Go buy it. I order you to. I'll just sit here until you do.
That's it. I'm no Angry Video Game Nerd, so you won't get rage out of me. At least not until I find a video game I loathe enough.
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