Get ready for an action-packed summer in 2009 as the highly anticipated Transformers movie hits theaters, accompanied by the thrilling new video game, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. This game is consuming a significant portion of my gaming time, thanks to its captivating solo story mode and exhilarating online multiplayer experience. Unlike its predecessor, the new game developed by Luxoflux aims to revolutionize the Transformers franchise.
Luxoflux is leaving no room for doubt and asking us to erase any memories of the previous TT Games version. Their passionate team of designers not only possesses an unwavering love for the Transformers universe but also listens closely to the fans. Over the past two years, they’ve scoured message boards, taking careful notes of fan desires and expectations. With Revenge of the Fallen, these dedicated developers are determined to deliver precisely what the fans have been clamoring for.
A New Twist in the Franchise
Prepare for an exhilarating gaming experience as the latest installment in the Transformers franchise takes a fresh spin. The exciting story campaign of this game cleverly touches on key moments from the film without spoiling either the game or the movie. What may be swift battles on the big screen become epic showdowns that can take minutes to conquer and hours to master in the game.
The game is divided into two captivating campaigns: Autobots and Decepticons. Each campaign presents a progression of missions set in various zones around the world. Within each zone, you’ll find 1-3 missions, including crucial story missions that drive the campaign forward, as well as additional missions where you must repair damage or eliminate remaining enemies. With the ability to select a zone and mission on a spinning globe, you also have the opportunity to replay previous missions to improve your scores.
Revenge of the Fallen boasts an impressive lineup of over 20 missions. Surprisingly, the average completion time for each mission hovers around 7 minutes. However, don’t be deceived by the seemingly short duration, as the game demands a delicate balance of speed and thoroughness. You must remain mindful of the ticking clock, which determines your medal ranking ranging from Bronze to Platinum. Additionally, you must fulfill primary objectives and any optional secondary missions, which contribute to your Energon score. This score allows you to enhance your attributes between missions. It’s clear that playing missions multiple times is essential to accomplishing all objectives and achieving the highest medals possible.
Strategic Planning in the War Room
In the high-tech war room, located between missions, your team gathers to devise a winning strategy. Here, you have the power to allocate Energon to a wide range of attributes, including health, turbo, weapon cooldown, and melee damage. With three levels of ranking for each attribute, reaching the pinnacle requires multiple mission replays. Enhancing these attributes is crucial if you aim to achieve the highest medals in certain missions. To succeed, you must possess a deep understanding of the game mechanics and the unique capabilities of each Transformer, allowing you to craft a meticulous completion strategy.
Seamless Integration of Mission Feedback
One standout feature in the war room is the flawless integration of mission feedback into the immersive cutscenes. When playing as the Autobots, Optimus Prime himself delivers remarks on your speed, thoroughness, and ability to minimize collateral damage. These comments seamlessly blend with the ongoing story dialogue, perfectly reflecting your recent performance. For instance, in a mission where I failed to even earn a Bronze medal, Optimus amusingly compared watching me to observing paint dry. The other Transformers also contribute their own feedback to these conversations, creating a post-game locker room-like atmosphere.
Although the game offers a more non-linear experience compared to its predecessor, it still follows a main storyline that unlocks optional secondary missions in each zone. As the game progresses, your journey around the globe advances accordingly. Don’t be surprised if the end credits roll and you find yourself only 50% complete with the campaign. A swift spin of the globe will unveil all-new missions, but it’s advisable to explore and discover these secondary scenarios beforehand. Completing these additional missions becomes crucial as they provide valuable Energon to bolster your resources for the challenging final levels.
Transformers Multiplayer: Unleash Autobot or Decepticon
This year, Transformers delivers the highly anticipated multiplayer system that fans have been clamoring for. Alongside the standard Deathmatch (DM) and Team Deathmatch (Team DM) modes, the true highlights lie in the team-based gameplay. Each character has been meticulously balanced to synergize with their teammates and counter their adversaries. Whether you prefer the commanding presence of Optimus Prime, a fierce brawler, a skilled sniper, or a dedicated healer, there’s a role for everyone to play in this dynamic multiplayer experience.
Prepare for original and captivating modes that truly stand out. Take, for instance, “One Shall Stand,” where your entire team can respawn, as long as the leaders, Optimus and Megatron, remain alive. If a team leader falls, you have a nail-biting 60 seconds to eliminate the opposing leader, or else face defeat. The player who succeeds in vanquishing the opposing leader earns the opportunity to play as their leader in the next match. In my first game, I found myself embodying Megatron, surrounded by my loyal team like dedicated bodyguards. However, the time eventually comes when they must depart from my side to track down and eliminate the opposing leader.
Epic Battles and Character Selection
Prepare for intense team-based clashes in the thrilling Control Points game mode, where players are divided into teams and engage in a tug-of-war for control over strategic points across the city. To claim a node, you must first control the preceding nodes, creating an engaging progression. As a fan-favorite, Battle for the Shards offers an exhilarating experience, as you race through the map collecting AllSpark fragments and returning them to your base in a captivating Capture the Flag-style gameplay. However, remember that carrying the shard prevents you from transforming into a vehicle.
Autobot enthusiasts will be delighted with the diverse character selection, including iconic heroes such as Optimus Prime, Ironhide, Breakaway, Bumblebee, Ratchet, Aerialbot, and Protectobot. Additionally, there are two exclusive multiplayer characters. On the other side of the conflict, Decepticon followers will have plenty of options with Starscream, Sideways, Megatron, Long Haul, Grindor, and Seeker (another multiplayer-exclusive) at their disposal. Expect surprises in the game with characters that don’t appear in the movie, both as multiplayer exclusives and as planned future DLC.
While the game offers a wealth of content and exciting gameplay modes, there are a few concerns regarding the controls. One notable issue is the transform mechanic, which requires holding down R2 to remain in vehicle mode. Traditionally associated with firing, this trigger is now reserved for entering firing mode by holding down L2. After approximately 15 hours of gameplay, I still found myself instinctively attempting to transform when intending to fire. Additionally, there is a problem with Breakaway and Starscream, where your direction reverses momentarily upon transformation while standing still. This can be disorienting, causing unintended collisions with buildings and the game world’s transparent blue boundaries.
Enhanced Combat and Playable Characters in Transformers Game
The latest Transformers game features a new control scheme that enhances the combat mechanics. The advanced melee mode allows players to hold down the attack or jump buttons while in vehicle mode and transform back while still holding down those buttons to execute high jumps, ground pounds, or advanced melee attacks. Additionally, the game introduces a new Overdrive feature that builds up as players perform well in combat. Once triggered, this ability grants temporary invulnerability and deals massive damage, often resulting in one-shot kills on all but the largest enemies.
In addition to the enhanced combat mechanics, the game also introduces new playable characters to balance out the traditional Autobots-driving and Decepticons-flying dynamic. Even Optimus earns his wings by the end of the game. Fortunately, the flying mechanics are much easier to control than the driving mechanics, which can be quite unwieldy given the narrow roads and numerous obstacles found in most levels. Despite this, the breakneck speeds at which you drive make for an exhilarating experience.
Mixed Presentation Value in Transformers Game
The latest Transformers game offers a mixed presentation value, with some aspects being of high quality while others fall short. The opening movie, menus, interface, and pre-mission cutscenes are some of the best, and navigating the team power-ups, unlocks, and other screens is a breeze. However, once in the game, the cities and other environments can feel a bit plain, with buildings lacking in architectural detail and textures. Even the Autobots and Decepticons appear to have been reduced in complexity and level of animation. While there is more action on the screen than in the first game, the overall lack of polish is disappointing for a sequel. On a positive note, the game offers 1080p support, making it one of the few PS3 games to do so.
The music in the game is fantastic, as are the numerous sound effects for all the vehicles, weapons, and voices. It’s great to hear the thumping rotors of Grindor overhead or the whine of Bumblebee’s Chevy engine while playing multiplayer. The game also features voice acting from the movie cast, although some performances fall short, such as Megan Fox’s and Shia LaBeouf’s repetitive one-liners during the final battle. Additionally, there are some technical glitches with the sound, such as significant level balancing issues in the war room conversations where some characters are barely audible while others are normal or even loud.
Endless Excitement for Transformers Fans
Uncover a wealth of content beyond the captivating story and thrilling multiplayer in Revenge of the Fallen. Unlockables await, offering more than just cosmetic upgrades. Immerse yourself in a treasure trove of animated episodes, stunning artwork, posters, and captivating videos, all tucked away on the game disc. Additionally, embark on a challenging journey to earn Trophies across single and multiplayer modes. For devoted Transformer fans, expect a solid 30-40 hours of immersive gameplay before even considering moving on to other titles. Casual and solo gamers can still enjoy a satisfying experience, with approximately 6-8 hours per campaign or a total of 12-16 hours.
While Revenge of the Fallen is undeniably a significant leap forward, it is primarily recommended for dedicated Transformer enthusiasts. The solo play initially captivates, with standout missions like the thrilling Naval fleet defense, but repetitive gameplay soon sets in after around 4-5 hours. The grind for Energon and the rush to earn medals can feel like a tedious chore. Additionally, the presence of timers in the game is a personal dislike. While the multiplayer component is appreciated, it predominantly appeals to Transformer fans who can find sustained interest for an hour or two. Other online games offer superior rewards and experiences.
Conclusion
It’s important to acknowledge that my evaluation is purely based on my personal experience and affinity for the franchise. Undoubtedly, loyal fans of the Transformers universe will derive greater enjoyment from Revenge of the Fallen than I did. Therefore, I encourage you to take my review and score as a subjective viewpoint and adjust them according to your own adoration for the Transformers franchise. Your love for the universe will undoubtedly enhance your experience with the game.