Mini Review – Transformers: War For Cybertron
Third-person/Action..
Licenses are the right of all sentient gamers.
Matthew
It’s been a while since the last good Transformers game (the excellent 2004 PS2 game, to be exact) and, while this is from different developers, it contains most of the elements that made the aforementioned game so good. War for Cybertron is a precursor to the upcoming TV show ‘Transformers: Prime’, and has a strong Generation 1 vibe to it – which will please long time fans.
One of the transformers (fuck it, we can't tell them apart these days) having an electro-piss all over some gear.
As the name suggests, the game takes place entirely on Cybertron with the story split into separate campaigns beginning with the Decepticons’, which then leads directly into the Autobots’. While on first inspection it looks similar to Gears of War, it plays very much like a third-person Halo in which you are, for the most part, accompanied by two buddies – either AI-controlled or via online co-op. It’s a pretty solid third-person shooter, more so than I was expecting, and the ability to transform really sets it apart. As well as doubling up as the ‘run’ button, the Transformers’ vehicle modes provide some interesting strategies during firefights. Nothing beats boosting up a ramp, transforming in mid-air and taking out a gang of enemies in one swift move. As well as road vehicles, each campaign has a chapter involving jets from each faction.
Despite a fair few irritations, mostly the tedious boss battles and the ending feeling very rushed, there’s a lot to like about War for Cybertron. They’ve nailed the atmosphere from the original 80s cartoon and movie, with the casual banter between the characters being particularly authentic. The designs of the Transformers themselves strike a good balance between the original chunky Generation 1 counterparts, and the more modernised versions seen in the recent movies. Add in the multiplayer mode, which is surprisingly deep and includes an interesting perk system you’ve got one of the best licensed games around, whether you are a Transformers fan or not.
7/10