Games Radar on the TF game: "It's like The Incredible Hulk, only not as good"

Ra88 · Jun 21, 2007

Hmmn, my enthousiasm just dropped 90%.

http://www.gamesradar.com/gb/xbox360/game/news/article.jsp?articleId=20070620163314818059&releaseId=2007020914219234022&sectionId=1006&pageId=20070620163546114034

Wednesday 20 June 2007
Dear Traveller's Tales,

We need to talk. We loved Lego Star Wars, of course we did, and there's no doubt that we're going to adore Lego Batman. But we need to talk about Transformers: The Game. We've tried, honest we have. We've tried to love it, to be excited by it, to relive all those fantastic childhood memories. But it just isn't working. It's not you, it's us.

Well, actually, it is you. But we can explain. So here's five reasons why we just can't bring ourselves to go wild with excitement for Transformers: The Game...

It's pretty, but dumb
Our recent playtest did bring one positive point - Transformers: The Game looks lush. Explosions, environments and especially the big bots themselves, all look solid and pleasing. But beneath the surface is a game that's dimmer than a single watt bulb.

The majority of our hands-on test consisted of completing baby-simple tasks - kill these enemies, then kill these other enemies - and were regularly bookended by some awkwardly staged cut-scenes.

The levels we played were early on in the game. But we can't be certain that this stop-start setup will get any better as you progress. Which will turn what should be an Autobot actionfest or Decepticon destruction romp into a stiff and unappealing objective-hunt.

Example: Bumblebee fights Barricade. There's three separate staging grounds for three seperate battles, split by terribly weary CGI clips. Had this been a continuous, flowing clash without needless and irritating interruptions, the impact - and our enjoyment - would have been far stronger.

One truly good thing about Transformers is the destructible scenery. Smash a building and it'll go through several believable stages of wreckage, and if a fire breaks out it can spread between structures. Plus, you can uproot objects and use them for weapons, like trees or lampposts. But there's not much oomph to it all - it doesn't really feel that thrilling.

Our first Decepticon mission, for instance, involved us decimating an army base. But it was less exhilarating, more a monotonous tick-list - building destroyed, building destroyed, building destroyed...

The Incredible Hulk achieved a sense of destruction by connecting us to a recognisable environment, using it again and again. But the Transformers levels are run-of-the-mill, unremarkable. When they crumble, you're impressed, but the destruction feels insignificant.

Of course, in Hulk we were the only giant. But in Transformers you're surrounded by robots often bigger or of similar size to yourself. Combat certainly feels better than when we last saw the game, but with only a single attack button to relentlessly mash, battles are lightweight and disposable.

It's all a bit messy
City levels are full of vehicles, which give them some life. But when combined with the destructible surroundings, this can result in some messily explosive moments. Charge into combat and you might scatter several cars. These will spang off you and crash into nearby buildings, destroying them and scattering bits - while at the same time you're being shot at by enemies as you try to blat a Decepticon up close with an uprooted tree.

For spectators, it looks thrilling. But when you're playing it can be confusing, which distances you from the action on screen. Are you being hit? Beyond your energy bar depleting, there are no obvious visual cues. Are you damaging your enemies? The only real way to tell is by reading your rival's energy bar, or by your target eventually exploding into bits.

This messiness and vagueness can sometimes create excitement, but more regularly it leaves you feeling uninvolved and removed from what should be a gripping encounter.

The weaponry fails to excite
Each Transformer, Autobot or Decepticon, has a number of different on-board weapons - roughly two for each form it takes. But, strangely, for intergalactic metal warriors, these weapons are pretty lame in practice.

In our army base-destruction mission with Blackout, for example, half the reason we weren't whipped into an excitedly explosive fervour was that his aresenal lacks any real wow-factor.

You can toss a grenade-type thing, but there's not much of a satisfying explosion. You can unleash some effective but piddly sounding machineguns, or you can fire a stream of weak-looking missiles. We remember the laser blasts and missile storms of Atari's Transformers game with far more relish.

Blasting Decepticon drones with Bumblebee's projectiles is similarly uninspiring - so you'll want to get up close and smash 'em. Unfortunately, as we've mentioned before, the single-button combat system results in a stream of repetitive and underwhelming fisticuffs. Yawn.

All the other little things are wrong
You can't transform in mid-air - so no jumping from a building to land in Bumblebee's car form. You can climb buildings, which is a nice touch, but your enemies are more likely to run around on the ground instead of pursuing you skyward for some exciting building-top conflicts.

You can smash up buildings, but you can't smash small walls. There are unexplained Transformer-boosting health pickups lying around - where the hell did these come from?

Worst of all, several things make your Transformer look stupid: The on-rails combat that can't be steered into nearby enemies. The times you flail at an object because the collision detection is off, leaving it just out of grasp even though you're almost stood on top of it. Being hurled backwards by an object thrown at you, while enemies shrug off the impact of a twenty-foot billboard heaved into their faces.

Transformers: The Game hasn't really been created for gamers. It's mainstream entertainment, like chart music, Saturday night television and inoffensive rom-coms starring Lyndsey Lohan. And about as sophisticated and challenging as that sounds.

Please, Traveller's Tales, don't take this too personally. We know the version we played isn't finished - although it does come out on 20 July. But it's difficult to shrug off our misgivings and praise the gorgeous, sometimes exciting game that lurks within Transformers: The Game, when so much of it feels broken, below-par or just plain rushed.

Our fingers are crossed that the final game will be much improved. Honestly, we really want to be proved wrong here, folks.

Need some Transformers love? Why not head on over to our feature exploring the history of the robots in disguise?
Click to expand...

Rocker22 · Jun 21, 2007

Well I never heard of Game Radar so doesn't affect me, I'm calling my Gamestop now for it.

Sector Seven · Jun 21, 2007

One poor review does not change my opinion of a game. I decide what I like or not... and the only way to do that is to play it myself.

Beastbot X · Jun 21, 2007

Not to mention 80% of their complaints seem to be solely personal taste and opinion...

Jedi2016 · Jun 21, 2007

Something odd there.. he said you can't transform in mid-air, but I distinctly remember the developers saying you could jump off a building and transform before you hit the ground. From a development standpoint, I don't see why transformations would have to be tied to the ground, even for the Autobots.

Valkysas · Jun 21, 2007

well, it wasnt a finished version of the game. but it does worry me.

mid-air transformations better be in. I loved doing those in the armada game. hell, I dont recall ever standing and transforming. it'd really suck for the flying decepticons if they have to land to transform, and take off from the ground every time they transform into vehicle mode.

redsquadron · Jun 21, 2007

When describing a new game, it's quite common for critics to say "it only boils down to 'kill this' and 'smash that'" and present it as a criticism, but to be honest, at my tired and jaded time of life that's exactly what I'm looking for. Not every game has to be a revolution in the field,

If it plays smoothly and looks nice (which it appears to) I'll give it a go.

And I saw STARSCREAM do a mid-air transform in the trailer. I hope it's in, as it was so much fun in PS2 ARMADA to drive off a small bump, transform mid-air and allow your momentum to carry on barrelling into an enemy.

Ziero · Jun 21, 2007

Didn't we already get confrimation that you could transform mid air?

I think they played a small fraction of the game and just didn't know what they were doing. That whole part about not knowing if you were hit or not because of too many explosions was just silly to me, if anything all the chaos would make the battle seem more realistic to me. Though thier comments about combat being one button and the weaponry lacking does worry me. I'll wait for more reviews to come in as opposed to buying it off the reviews.

Edit: Didn't we see numerous mid-air transformations already in the trailers?

Foster · Jun 21, 2007

Not for gamers is fine by me. I don't spend 50 hours a week fondling a controller.

redsquadron · Jun 21, 2007

fosterlager said:

Not for gamers is fine by me. I don't spend 50 hours a week fondling a controller.
Click to expand...

Exactly. I want a game I can sit back and have a quick blast on, not something to be glued to for hour upon hour. 'Superficial' games are fine by me. Attractive and superficial games are a guarenteed winner!

Prowl · Jun 21, 2007

If you can Transform in Mid-air on the PSP (Which you can, I played it), then I'm sure you will be able to on the PS3 and 360.

Galvatron397 · Jun 21, 2007

*Points to sig*

netkid · Jun 21, 2007

Windcharger said:

If you can Transform in Mid-air on the PSP (Which you can, I played it), then I'm sure you will be able to on the PS3 and 360.
Click to expand...

Yeah, but isn't the PSP version developed by someone totally different than Travler's Tales?

Joe Moore · Jun 21, 2007

When I played the game, I had no problem jumping off a ramp or building and pressing the transform button and land in robot mode. I dunno what they are talking about.

DaggersRage · Jun 21, 2007

What console is he talking about? Only the DS and PSP versions are out, if he's reviewing the console ones, I don't consider it a cannon review, they're not avilable yet.

Joe Moore · Jun 21, 2007

DaggersRage said:

What console is he talking about? Only the DS and PSP versions are out, if he's reviewing the console ones, I don't consider it a cannon review, they're not avilable yet.
Click to expand...

They are talking about the same preview build that I had a chance to play. I'm guessign they are talking abotu the PS3, Wii, 360 versions all at once.

onesock · Jun 21, 2007

Who the fuck is Games Radar?

Sso02V · Jun 21, 2007

I pretty much disavowed the whole review when they complained about powerups

pscoop · Jun 21, 2007

I'm more inclined to take Joe's opinion of the game than Gameradar. onesock made a good point.

DaggersRage · Jun 21, 2007

Speaking of Joe's opinion, would you get the game Joe? Anything of that Gamesradar review you agree or disagree with?

Log in or Sign up

Games Radar on the TF game: "It's like The Incredible Hulk, only not as good"

Ra88 Dutchman!

Rocker22 Well-Known Member

Sector Seven ∞ GΣΣK™

Beastbot X Old skool. In a lot of ways.

Jedi2016 Well-Known Member

Valkysas Attack Buffalo

redsquadron Token idiot...

Ziero TFW2005 Supporter

Foster Haslab Victory Saber Backer #3 Veteran

redsquadron Token idiot...

Prowl Well-Known Member

Galvatron397 Official TFW Omni-Geek

netkid Where's my Goddamn shoe!

Joe Moore Is Not Jim... Veteran

DaggersRage Autistic bastard.

Joe Moore Is Not Jim... Veteran

onesock Banned

Sso02V Injector Has a Posse

pscoop Dead inside

DaggersRage Autistic bastard.

Log in or Sign up

Games Radar on the TF game: "It's like The Incredible Hulk, only not as good"

Ra88 Dutchman!

Rocker22 Well-Known Member

Sector Seven ∞ GΣΣK™

Beastbot X Old skool. In a lot of ways.

Jedi2016 Well-Known Member

Valkysas Attack Buffalo

redsquadron Token idiot...

Ziero TFW2005 Supporter

Foster Haslab Victory Saber Backer #3 Veteran

redsquadron Token idiot...

Prowl Well-Known Member

Galvatron397 Official TFW Omni-Geek

netkid Where's my Goddamn shoe!

Joe Moore Is Not Jim... Veteran

DaggersRage Autistic bastard.

Joe Moore Is Not Jim... Veteran

onesock Banned

Sso02V Injector Has a Posse

pscoop Dead inside

DaggersRage Autistic bastard.

Useful Searches