Transformers:
War for Cybertron
Developed by High Moon Studios
Published by Activision
Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PSP, DS
I'll say it up front: I've never played a Transformers game. They've never interested me in any way, those big hulking robots from the movies, with their brutally slow way of pounding each other, the mundane setting of Earth, and their rampant product placements.
War for Cybertron is a refreshing return to the Transformer's G1 roots, telling the story of how our protagonist, the Autobots, and their arch-nemesis, the Decepticons, came to abandon their home world and arrive on Earth. The campaign is split into 2 parts, one for each of the factions, split further into chapters reminiscent of DVD chapter selections, making it easy to leave the game and jump back in at your leisure.
The game is a pure action, making no effort to intrude into another genre, quite a change from the recent trend. No puzzles, no leveling, no experience to be had here. Simply choose your hero (or villain) of choice from the 3 they present to you at the start of each chapter, and be sent running and gunning frantically to make your way to the next objective. The gameplay is fun and full of awesome moments, scrambling for cover, transforming to zip out and blast a few enemies before transforming back to swing your cyber-hammer to smash a grunt that's got the balls to charge in close.
The best moments are the boss fights, where you'll face off against robots of Transformers legend, such as Zeta Prime, the Autobot leader that reigned before Optimus, and Trypticon, a giant Dinosaur-Godzilla-Lizard of a Transformer that transforms into a huge orbital cannon.The actions on those boss sequences borders on ridiculous, but never goes into "impossible" territory. Thankfully High Moon Studios left out the button events that seem to permeate every action game since God of War.
Graphically, the game is quite the spectacle. Cybertron with its alien-ish high tech surroundings make an awesome background against which the action plays out. The locations are quite varied, from the ruined cities and corridors of the Autobot's capital of Iacon, to the energy permeated Core of Cybertron, filled with its weird cyber-monstrosities. The Transformers themselves are extremely well designed and amazingly well animated. Even when standing still, the robot's internal works fidget, adjusts, and moves believably. The system requirements are reasonably low, and with a recent system one can easily match, or even surpass what the current generation consoles can produce.
Sound wise, the characters are faithfully voiced, sounding like what both TV and Movie enthusiasts are used to. Random soldiers shout to each other, scream when they're smashed to pieces and occasionally chat with the player character. I could do with less dialogue for Starscream though... what an annoying character. Sound effects from guns and explosions have a satisfying "oomph" to it. Music in the game is relevant enough, with the highs and lows that goes with the action on the screen. Much of it is quite generic and forgettable though.
In conclusion, Transformers: War for Cybertron is easily recommendable to anyone who has the slightest interest in Transformers and action games. It will also serve as a good introduction to the Transformer universe to those uninitiated and are willing to give the series a go. Graphically amazing and fun, the game is one of the highlights of June, and I eagerly await to see if High Moon will decide to come up with a sequel.
Gameplay: 8
Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 8
Graphics: 8.5
Sound: 8
Overall: 8.5
