Transform and roll out
Developer: High Moon Publisher: Activision Format(s): XBOX 360, PS3, PC, Wii
As a child of the 80s growing up there really was only a couple of programs on tv at the time, the a-team and transformers, whilst the first was good transformers was better and gen 1 (the fan given name for the original series) was the best of them all and this is where high moon take us on what could possible the sleeper hit of the year.
Developer: High Moon Publisher: Activision Format(s): XBOX 360, PS3, PC, Wii
As a child of the 80s growing up there really was only a couple of programs on tv at the time, the a-team and transformers, whilst the first was good transformers was better and gen 1 (the fan given name for the original series) was the best of them all and this is where high moon take us on what could possible the sleeper hit of the year.
Transformers war for cybertron is a prequel to the original gen 1 series and as such has been granted as official cannon to the transformers universe by Hasbro, set a millennia before the autobots and decepticons brought there war to earth war for cybertron sees you play as both factions in the war for cybertron’s fate.
Splitting the main campaign into two half’s each following a different group or individual is not a new idea but high moon have lovingly crafted two rather individual stories to follow that cross over just enough so as not to treed on each others toes, from the fall of starscream to the attack on the autobot capital city the whole campaign is playable with up to two friends online which is a bit odd seeing as a standard co-op campaign is either 2 or 4 players and the inclusion of a third npc / human player really would not have been a problem as the levels are more then spacious enough to cope with it, sadly what this game really need was a cover system of sorts as running for cover to regenerate health will be an often occurrence for you and the lack of any proper system beyond simple standing behind and object often leaves part of you exposed which enemy AI will take full advantage of.
The online multiplayer has been lovingly crafted and feels like you really are fighting to defend or enslave cybertron as you play, there are no really innovative game modes here rather all the archetype team deathmatch, territories versants you would come to expect in an fps or third person shooter these days with a cybertron twist of course, it does however give you the opportunity to live out you dreams of being a giant transforming robot with the ability to change the chases of you character and colour scheme too, and being a game of two halfs you get the opportunity to create both an autobot and decepticon version of all four character classes, scout, solider, scientist and leader or in laymens terms car, tank, plane and truck all the standard vehicle types from the gen 1 series and all of which you of course get to try out in the campaign, (sadly though the jets make only a couple of apprentices thought the course of the campaign so online you tend to find people gravitating away form aerial combat simple due to a lack of play time), plus there is nothing more satisfying then exploding off a ramp transforming in mid air and landing of some kids head with a massive axe only for him to shout out how cool that was as much as you.
The online multiplayer has been lovingly crafted and feels like you really are fighting to defend or enslave cybertron as you play, there are no really innovative game modes here rather all the archetype team deathmatch, territories versants you would come to expect in an fps or third person shooter these days with a cybertron twist of course, it does however give you the opportunity to live out you dreams of being a giant transforming robot with the ability to change the chases of you character and colour scheme too, and being a game of two halfs you get the opportunity to create both an autobot and decepticon version of all four character classes, scout, solider, scientist and leader or in laymens terms car, tank, plane and truck all the standard vehicle types from the gen 1 series and all of which you of course get to try out in the campaign, (sadly though the jets make only a couple of apprentices thought the course of the campaign so online you tend to find people gravitating away form aerial combat simple due to a lack of play time), plus there is nothing more satisfying then exploding off a ramp transforming in mid air and landing of some kids head with a massive axe only for him to shout out how cool that was as much as you.
The game sadly does suffer from a small degree of problems from the often poor network connections when playing multiplayer online to getting stuck on scenery mid fight to the lack of available ammo around (dead enemies don’t drop ammo so you often have to stop the main course of play to find some ammo creates) and the long reload time, thankfully thought these pail in comparison to how cool the over all effect of the game is and nothing that high noon could not fix with a quick auto update.
With an increasing number of games including a second multiplayer game mode to accompany the main campaign and online multiplayer war for cybertron is no different, escalation mode sees you play as either an autobot or decepticon trying to hold your own against an ever increasing number of enemies (think gears of war 2 horde), in escalation mode much like the Nazi zombies mode of call of duty world at war you are awarded credits as you play that let you to unlock more increasingly powerful weapons, you can also play as your custom multiplayer character here too including any skins that you have for pre ordering the game (although I will eat my hat if at some point they don’t release these skins as a paid for dlc at some point in the future).
With an increasing number of games including a second multiplayer game mode to accompany the main campaign and online multiplayer war for cybertron is no different, escalation mode sees you play as either an autobot or decepticon trying to hold your own against an ever increasing number of enemies (think gears of war 2 horde), in escalation mode much like the Nazi zombies mode of call of duty world at war you are awarded credits as you play that let you to unlock more increasingly powerful weapons, you can also play as your custom multiplayer character here too including any skins that you have for pre ordering the game (although I will eat my hat if at some point they don’t release these skins as a paid for dlc at some point in the future).
Is transformers war for cybertron perfect, no but what is, what you do get thought is a lovingly crafted and well balanced game that high moon really have not only worked on for the casual player but all so the die hard transformer fans, and the best conceived game based on an existing IP since batman arkham asylum and sadly one that might be over looked by the general public due to the lack of advertisement, low stock quantity available and poor previous titles based on the recent Michael Bay transformer films.
+ Thomas
+ Thomas
In short transformers war for cybertron is the best transformers based game there has ever been and the fluid transformation is implemented perfectly and not just as a gimmick, sadly though it offers nothing new that you can not get better else where in fact if not for the transformer brand you may even over look it completely but that would be like kicking the 8 year old version of your self in the balls as there really is nothing more satisfying then quick transformations from car to bot and back again to crush a kid online, a must rent for anyone fans of either 3rd person shooters or transformers alike.
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