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Who will get the All-Spark in this adventure between good and evil?
July 20, 2007 | 10:55 AM PSTWith all the hype surrounding the new Transformers movie, a videogame version of the movie was an inevitable reality. And here we are, with Transformers for the DS in both its Autobots and Decepticons versions. Transformers is a franchise that screams entertaining game design, but with these two versions of the game, the reality may actually sing a different tune.
Let’s get something out of the way, though. With every game that has more than one version, you usually expect to get the same core gameplay, with a few changes -- it’s the Pokémon syndrome. Transformers follows suit with this game, so don’t expect any huge difference between them. If you choose to side with either the goody-good Autobots or the evil Decepticons, you’ll always get a chance to ride through the city, turning into different vehicles such as helicopter, cars, trucks, and any cool ride you can imagine. Sounds cool? It probably is -- at least for the short time you’ll be able to enjoy.
As the game starts, our main man… er… robot Optimus Prime (leader of the Autobots) will explain what happened, and why you must annihilate Megatron (leader of the Decepticons), who is frantically searching for the All-Spark (or Cube, as the humans call it). If you watched the movie, you’ll understand a few events in the game, but this isn’t really a game faithful to the movie -- you will not see a lot of human interaction with the robots like featured in the movie. The game plot basically talks about both groups of Transformers, and how both groups will try to get the powerful artifact, usually depending on which side you choose when you purchase the game.
If you decided to side with the Autobots, you will answer to Optimus prime and complete missions like protect humans, gather important information regarding the “Cube”, and of course, stop Decepticon attacks. However, if you decide to join the nasty Decepticons, you will take orders from Starscream (there’s a reason why Megatron isn’t your boss in this version -- you will understand as you play), you will have to destroy everything you can, steal information from government bases, and just cause mayhem to humanity. There are four levels in each version (one exclusive, three in common), and the exclusive level is based on some important events in the movie.
Transformers will actually surprise you when you play it. First of all, there are large environments with plenty of details like “human” vehicles, lights, huge streets, big buildings, and all running in a quite impressive engine if you were to stack it against most 3D, Grand Theft Auto-esque games on the DS. When you are using your vehicle form, you can traverse quickly across the levels, and best of all – the bad guys (or good guys, if you choose to side with the baddies) will not notice you. But if you turn into Robot mode, you will get noticed and will get followed by the opposite side. Your arsenal is quite big, too –- you’ve got missiles, lasers, power punches, but the bad side is that this is nothing more than a button masher when all is said and done.
The game is pseudo-mission based, in the sense that you’ll encounter plenty of side-quests to do a la Grand Theft Auto. So if you are into mundane things like racing another Autobot or “find something”, the missions are there for you to do -- but are not necessary to complete the game. Obviously, most of these missions (and who you’re character will be) will depend on the version you choose: Pick the Autobots version and you’ll get a chance to race around with the good guys like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee; but if you choose the Decepticons, you will enjoy crashing everything with Megatron and Blackout. Some missions, however, will not allow you to use any of these famous guys, so you will have to create a generic Transformer in order to continue. It’s not as bad as it sounds, though, because not only will you gain experience when you complete missions (increasing your rankings), but you will also be able to transform into different vehicles unlike, say, Optimus Prime -- which as cool as it is -- cannot transform into an airplane or a helicopter.
The game has a lot going on, but it also has a major drawback –- and that’s the lack of charisma and substance. The game has a huge world, but most of the missions will usually be the same: Run from point “A” to point “B”, and battle a member of the opposite side. So yeah, after the first 10 times of running and racing other transformers, you’ll start to wonder what else is there besides the ending sequence.
Graphically, Transformers looks great. What’s more impressive is the great 3D engine that the guys at Vicarious Visions have created. It’s true that there isn’t really that much you can do with the Nintendo DS hardware when stacked against consoles, but what VV has accomplished is great: The environments are huge, the details are there, and the engine holds up to everything happening on-screen. It’s true that some improvements could be done, especially regarding to pop-up and texture work, but Vicarious Visions can do wonders with their next 3D game if they take the time to refine this already solid engine.
The audio is pretty basic “robotic, exploding, radio signal” transformers stuff, but what’s really impressive is the amount of voice-acting in the game (performed by the original cast: Frank Welker and Peter Cullen as the two main guys, and the rest of the gang). There are a lot of cutscenes going on, but what’s most impressive is that all of these are supported by a huge amount of voice acting -- which is pretty much a first when it comes to Nintendo DS games. Don't get us wrong, we've already heard cool voice acting on DS games before, but none that have as much as this game -- and we can’t wait to see what Vicarious Visions pulls of next.
Use Optimus or Megatron, it doesn't matter.
The multiplayer consists of the basic stuff: Battle mode, and online battles. First we have Battle mode, where four people battle (shockingly!) against each other until they decide who the best robot is. The online mode, however, is actually pretty innovative. You’ll log on to the Transformers Game server, and download a daily mission for you. The missions are not really over-the-top original, but rather simple tasks like racing against a certain Transformer or simply destroy some buildings. You can play that mission over and over for as long as you like. By the end of the day, however, you’ll have to “upload” your score to the Transformers site, and people around the world will do the same. Finally, gamers will be divided in two groups: The good guys (Autobots) and the bad guys (Decepticons), and the group with the highest score will be the one awarded with the “Cube” -- granting you access to some exclusive content that is not available just by playing the single player mode. It’s a great way to innovate on the somewhat stale and unoriginal WFC modes that we’re used to see, and we can’t wait to see what the guys at Vicarious Visions add to the table in the future.
Does it All-Spark or All-Suck?
The Transformers game is like a mixed bag of candy. We have the Sweet candy, which includes the fantastic 3D engine, the solid voice work, and the innovative online mode; but we also have the Sour candy like the generic missions, short story mode, and paper-cut objectives. Some people will enjoy both the sweet and sour candy. Other people will love the sweet candy, and tolerate the sour. Some gamers will not care about the sweet candy, and just focus on how bad the sour candy is. And then there are some people who won’t even care to see what’s in the bag. Either way, there’s a lot to enjoy in Transformers, even if you only take it for a rental spin. The developers at Vicarious Visions keep getting better and better with their 3D and sound engines, so I can only hope that in the future, the right publisher gives them the right funding to develop new, original ideas that won’t carry the awful “movie to videogame” stigma.
-- Miguel Yanez
Let’s get something out of the way, though. With every game that has more than one version, you usually expect to get the same core gameplay, with a few changes -- it’s the Pokémon syndrome. Transformers follows suit with this game, so don’t expect any huge difference between them. If you choose to side with either the goody-good Autobots or the evil Decepticons, you’ll always get a chance to ride through the city, turning into different vehicles such as helicopter, cars, trucks, and any cool ride you can imagine. Sounds cool? It probably is -- at least for the short time you’ll be able to enjoy.
As the game starts, our main man… er… robot Optimus Prime (leader of the Autobots) will explain what happened, and why you must annihilate Megatron (leader of the Decepticons), who is frantically searching for the All-Spark (or Cube, as the humans call it). If you watched the movie, you’ll understand a few events in the game, but this isn’t really a game faithful to the movie -- you will not see a lot of human interaction with the robots like featured in the movie. The game plot basically talks about both groups of Transformers, and how both groups will try to get the powerful artifact, usually depending on which side you choose when you purchase the game.
If you decided to side with the Autobots, you will answer to Optimus prime and complete missions like protect humans, gather important information regarding the “Cube”, and of course, stop Decepticon attacks. However, if you decide to join the nasty Decepticons, you will take orders from Starscream (there’s a reason why Megatron isn’t your boss in this version -- you will understand as you play), you will have to destroy everything you can, steal information from government bases, and just cause mayhem to humanity. There are four levels in each version (one exclusive, three in common), and the exclusive level is based on some important events in the movie.
Transformers will actually surprise you when you play it. First of all, there are large environments with plenty of details like “human” vehicles, lights, huge streets, big buildings, and all running in a quite impressive engine if you were to stack it against most 3D, Grand Theft Auto-esque games on the DS. When you are using your vehicle form, you can traverse quickly across the levels, and best of all – the bad guys (or good guys, if you choose to side with the baddies) will not notice you. But if you turn into Robot mode, you will get noticed and will get followed by the opposite side. Your arsenal is quite big, too –- you’ve got missiles, lasers, power punches, but the bad side is that this is nothing more than a button masher when all is said and done.
The game is pseudo-mission based, in the sense that you’ll encounter plenty of side-quests to do a la Grand Theft Auto. So if you are into mundane things like racing another Autobot or “find something”, the missions are there for you to do -- but are not necessary to complete the game. Obviously, most of these missions (and who you’re character will be) will depend on the version you choose: Pick the Autobots version and you’ll get a chance to race around with the good guys like Optimus Prime and Bumblebee; but if you choose the Decepticons, you will enjoy crashing everything with Megatron and Blackout. Some missions, however, will not allow you to use any of these famous guys, so you will have to create a generic Transformer in order to continue. It’s not as bad as it sounds, though, because not only will you gain experience when you complete missions (increasing your rankings), but you will also be able to transform into different vehicles unlike, say, Optimus Prime -- which as cool as it is -- cannot transform into an airplane or a helicopter.
The game has a lot going on, but it also has a major drawback –- and that’s the lack of charisma and substance. The game has a huge world, but most of the missions will usually be the same: Run from point “A” to point “B”, and battle a member of the opposite side. So yeah, after the first 10 times of running and racing other transformers, you’ll start to wonder what else is there besides the ending sequence.
Graphically, Transformers looks great. What’s more impressive is the great 3D engine that the guys at Vicarious Visions have created. It’s true that there isn’t really that much you can do with the Nintendo DS hardware when stacked against consoles, but what VV has accomplished is great: The environments are huge, the details are there, and the engine holds up to everything happening on-screen. It’s true that some improvements could be done, especially regarding to pop-up and texture work, but Vicarious Visions can do wonders with their next 3D game if they take the time to refine this already solid engine.
The audio is pretty basic “robotic, exploding, radio signal” transformers stuff, but what’s really impressive is the amount of voice-acting in the game (performed by the original cast: Frank Welker and Peter Cullen as the two main guys, and the rest of the gang). There are a lot of cutscenes going on, but what’s most impressive is that all of these are supported by a huge amount of voice acting -- which is pretty much a first when it comes to Nintendo DS games. Don't get us wrong, we've already heard cool voice acting on DS games before, but none that have as much as this game -- and we can’t wait to see what Vicarious Visions pulls of next.
Use Optimus or Megatron, it doesn't matter.
The multiplayer consists of the basic stuff: Battle mode, and online battles. First we have Battle mode, where four people battle (shockingly!) against each other until they decide who the best robot is. The online mode, however, is actually pretty innovative. You’ll log on to the Transformers Game server, and download a daily mission for you. The missions are not really over-the-top original, but rather simple tasks like racing against a certain Transformer or simply destroy some buildings. You can play that mission over and over for as long as you like. By the end of the day, however, you’ll have to “upload” your score to the Transformers site, and people around the world will do the same. Finally, gamers will be divided in two groups: The good guys (Autobots) and the bad guys (Decepticons), and the group with the highest score will be the one awarded with the “Cube” -- granting you access to some exclusive content that is not available just by playing the single player mode. It’s a great way to innovate on the somewhat stale and unoriginal WFC modes that we’re used to see, and we can’t wait to see what the guys at Vicarious Visions add to the table in the future.
Does it All-Spark or All-Suck?
The Transformers game is like a mixed bag of candy. We have the Sweet candy, which includes the fantastic 3D engine, the solid voice work, and the innovative online mode; but we also have the Sour candy like the generic missions, short story mode, and paper-cut objectives. Some people will enjoy both the sweet and sour candy. Other people will love the sweet candy, and tolerate the sour. Some gamers will not care about the sweet candy, and just focus on how bad the sour candy is. And then there are some people who won’t even care to see what’s in the bag. Either way, there’s a lot to enjoy in Transformers, even if you only take it for a rental spin. The developers at Vicarious Visions keep getting better and better with their 3D and sound engines, so I can only hope that in the future, the right publisher gives them the right funding to develop new, original ideas that won’t carry the awful “movie to videogame” stigma.
-- Miguel Yanez
November 20, 2009
