Revenge of the LOLin'
Transformers Revenge of the Fallen forgot how to turn into something fun.
Published: September 8, 2009
Transformers Revenge of the Fallen is exactly what it seems like: a video game loosely based on the events of the 2009 summer film of the same name. The game has some pretty nice presentational decisions that look like it was apart of the movie. Sweeping views of your war room, and a cluster-bomb of graphical information consisting of nonsense really sets the tone that matches the second film. This is Michael Bay’s Transformers for all purposes. Every battle, terrible line, and boring plot are all intact and ready for you to play. For some people, this may sound like an awesome concept. For gaming veterans this will sound like a total disaster. Guess what folks; you are both wrong. Sort of.
In Transformers, like in most movie-based games, you can play as either side of the conflict. Unlike the films, you are finally given some insight into the motives and actions of the Decepticons. Even more un-Michael-Bay is how the game gives a middle finger to the film’s “story”. You will not have to play as Sam in a not-have-death-sex-with-a-robot-in-disguise minigame. Nope, instead, all of the story elements are carried out through war room dynamic cutscenes. While Sam and Mikela are somewhat focused upon, they are far from the central characters in the game. Missions will revolve around what they are busy doing in the film’s story, but you really don’t spend much time with them. I know, it is awesome!
This game is driven by the bots and it dies by the bots. The majority of combat involves fighting generic opponents with various builds (all weaker clones of main characters) in order to complete that area’s objective. It never becomes too elaborate as you are mostly kicking tin heads in or destroying buildings. When you select your bot, you can roll around in vehicle form and attack, or just stomp around as your true form. The controls of some vehicle forms are far from a driving game and often do not rival an open world game. There is a fun part to being a vehicle, and that is the advanced attacks. As you grip the controller like a crab, you can launch out and attack your foe, or even better, propel yourself into the air at high speeds. Thankfully, with all of the buildings in each level, you are allowed to climb up the surface, damaging the environment as any giant mech would.
All of that is fine, but what about melee combat? Well, that is a slight problem, as it is horrible. The combo system consists of pressing the attack button 3 times, or holding it down for a charged attack. The charged attack, however, leaves you vulnerable long enough to get yourself scrapped. You will not use this attack ever. Mostly, this game is a shooter, and a frantic one at that. Each bot has their specialty weapons, but there really are only two tactics: shoot a lot and abuse your powerups, or transform and rush them with a vehicle attack. The latter is fun, especially when you play as Bumblebee and you backflip kill a Decepticon. Oh how sweet it is!
Sadly, the gameplay just gets worse online. Even if you find a game through blind matchmaking, it turns into a game of who has a better shot. Melee is pointless here and all that matters is if you picked the ultimate Optimus Prime or Megatron. As the bots differ in single player, they continue this unbalanced tradition in multiplayer. It normally wouldn’t be an issue if the game allowed for one person to be one character and not everyone play as superweapon. It is a simple mistake, but a costly one for anyone that still plays online.
The only real incentive to play this game is the nice collection of unlockable items. Though there is the standard concept art, in-game movies, and other stuff to look at, there are also unlockable singleplayer and multiplayer colors (note: not skins) that you can customize some of your Cybertronians in. The best part of the unlockables are the 6 episodes from the generation one series of the show. Truly a flashback for man, but it will probably turn people off to the series itself. For having all three parts of “The Ultimate Doom”, arguably the best episodes of the entire series, is a real treat for supernerds everywhere. That is, unless you already own these episodes.
Transformers rolls out one of the more mediocre games of the summer. A lot of potential is wasted, but to be fair, a lot of extras were thrown in, just not enough. The main problem is that it lacks any heart or charm. You simply aren’t getting your money’s worth, even if you are a Transformers fan. While this game cuts a lot of BS that the movie was filled with, it still remains a dumb action game. Getting a platinum medal in every mission on both sides is challenging, in the sense that you need to clear the mission as fast as possible. Even still, it isn’t fun enough to finish.
In Transformers, like in most movie-based games, you can play as either side of the conflict. Unlike the films, you are finally given some insight into the motives and actions of the Decepticons. Even more un-Michael-Bay is how the game gives a middle finger to the film’s “story”. You will not have to play as Sam in a not-have-death-sex-with-a-robot-in-disguise minigame. Nope, instead, all of the story elements are carried out through war room dynamic cutscenes. While Sam and Mikela are somewhat focused upon, they are far from the central characters in the game. Missions will revolve around what they are busy doing in the film’s story, but you really don’t spend much time with them. I know, it is awesome!
This game is driven by the bots and it dies by the bots. The majority of combat involves fighting generic opponents with various builds (all weaker clones of main characters) in order to complete that area’s objective. It never becomes too elaborate as you are mostly kicking tin heads in or destroying buildings. When you select your bot, you can roll around in vehicle form and attack, or just stomp around as your true form. The controls of some vehicle forms are far from a driving game and often do not rival an open world game. There is a fun part to being a vehicle, and that is the advanced attacks. As you grip the controller like a crab, you can launch out and attack your foe, or even better, propel yourself into the air at high speeds. Thankfully, with all of the buildings in each level, you are allowed to climb up the surface, damaging the environment as any giant mech would.
All of that is fine, but what about melee combat? Well, that is a slight problem, as it is horrible. The combo system consists of pressing the attack button 3 times, or holding it down for a charged attack. The charged attack, however, leaves you vulnerable long enough to get yourself scrapped. You will not use this attack ever. Mostly, this game is a shooter, and a frantic one at that. Each bot has their specialty weapons, but there really are only two tactics: shoot a lot and abuse your powerups, or transform and rush them with a vehicle attack. The latter is fun, especially when you play as Bumblebee and you backflip kill a Decepticon. Oh how sweet it is!
Sadly, the gameplay just gets worse online. Even if you find a game through blind matchmaking, it turns into a game of who has a better shot. Melee is pointless here and all that matters is if you picked the ultimate Optimus Prime or Megatron. As the bots differ in single player, they continue this unbalanced tradition in multiplayer. It normally wouldn’t be an issue if the game allowed for one person to be one character and not everyone play as superweapon. It is a simple mistake, but a costly one for anyone that still plays online.
The only real incentive to play this game is the nice collection of unlockable items. Though there is the standard concept art, in-game movies, and other stuff to look at, there are also unlockable singleplayer and multiplayer colors (note: not skins) that you can customize some of your Cybertronians in. The best part of the unlockables are the 6 episodes from the generation one series of the show. Truly a flashback for man, but it will probably turn people off to the series itself. For having all three parts of “The Ultimate Doom”, arguably the best episodes of the entire series, is a real treat for supernerds everywhere. That is, unless you already own these episodes.
Transformers rolls out one of the more mediocre games of the summer. A lot of potential is wasted, but to be fair, a lot of extras were thrown in, just not enough. The main problem is that it lacks any heart or charm. You simply aren’t getting your money’s worth, even if you are a Transformers fan. While this game cuts a lot of BS that the movie was filled with, it still remains a dumb action game. Getting a platinum medal in every mission on both sides is challenging, in the sense that you need to clear the mission as fast as possible. Even still, it isn’t fun enough to finish.
