Details Title:
Platform:
Release Date:
Genre:
Pros:
Cons:Transformers
Playstation 2
February 25, 2004 (PAL)
March 9, 2004 (US)
Third-person Shooter
Great visuals, large variety of weaponry, nice extra features
Very difficult, even on the easiest difficulty setting
Review Several years after Generation 1 Transformers and Transformers Beast Wars, there had been attempts to revive the Transformers franchise. With a fairly poor reception of Robots in Disguise, a new series was released a few short years later - Transformers Armada. This game is based on the Armada series of Transformers.
The graphics for Transformers are incredible. Lush, open environments, with minimal fog. What's even more suprising is the minimal slow down of frame rate when there's multiple enemies at once with explosions erupting around you. Each of the Autobots and Decepticons are well detailed, including faded paint jobs on their armour. Then there's the general enemies, known as "Decepticlones". There are several types of these enemies, and like Autobots and Decepticons, they have also received great detail in their designs.
Fans of 1980s generation 1 series should not expect to hear the classic Transformers theme song throughout the game, but that doesn't mean that the game's soundtrack is absolute crap. In fact, I believe that it suits the gameplay just fine. The stages soundtrack have somewhat a recon/espionage type of air to it, which is fitting considering the stages are littered with legions of the enemy. The boss soundtracks are all unique to the corresponding boss, but my personal favourite soundtrack would have to be Starscream's boss battle, which features a rather interesting rock track playing as you're trying to blast the Decepticon out of the sky.
I will point out right now that the gameplay can be very difficult, even on the easiest difficulty. However, this is not due to bad programming or control interface. It's just that the game is set to be difficult. If you try rushing a group of Decepticlones with your gun blazing, you'll find that you're scrap metal within a few seconds. The enemy AI is very intelligent, and you'll most likely find enemies in groups, meaning most of the time, you'll have to try and pick off enemies from a distance before moving closer to engage.
However, to make things a little easier for you, there are tiny transformers scattered throughout stages called mini-cons. Aside from being one of the main objectives of the game to collect them all, they provided assistance in the form of various weaponry and armour enhancements to name a few types. Before going to a stage, you have the option of choosing what mini-cons you want to use. Since each level varies greatly, there's an element of strategy required in what type of mini-cons you want to use in the mission. Then there are your mini-con partners, which differ from the collectable mini-cons in that they have the ability to "powerlinx" with you, granting you enhanced speed and firepower for a limited time.On the easiest difficulty, this game will still take a few days to complete. However, aside from the mini-cons, there are plenty of extra features included in this game that can be obtained by obtaining special "data-cons" which unlock the extra features. These include comics, CG rendering of the characters, the game's soundtrack, and even public safety announcements featuring several of the Generation 1 Autobots.
There is definitely a lot of challenge in this game, and will definitely turn off some of the novice gaming fans. But fans of Transformers will most likely persevere, simply because it's a Transformers game, and a decent one at that. If you are dissatisfied with the newer Transformers game based on the movies, I'd suggest giving this older game a try, provided you're prepared to find yourself dying a little more often than what you're used to.