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How do you capture one of the flashiest summer movies? Improve on the original game in almost every way.
As in the original, you can play as either the Autobots or the Decepticons in Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Both sides have their own storyline with the Autobots, as the good guys, trying to save the world and the Decepticons trying to destroy the Autobots (and the world in the process). The first time you play a mission you’re usually assigned a Transformer to play the mission as but once you complete the mission you’ll be able to go back and play as any character you want. The missions are not terribly creative, you’ll have to find something, destroy an enemy, get somewhere quickly, etc. What makes the missions more interesting is that every level is timed and you’re awarded medals (ranging from platinum to bronze) at the end. You’ll also find hidden medallions and optional objectives, which give you energon that you can use to buy upgrades. The game makes great use of leaderboards and it’s easy to see dedicated gamers replaying missions to improve their time and get the best medals.
Luxoflux built a surprisingly robust combat system into the game. Each of the game’s Transformers has two main weapons. These include machine guns, missiles, grenade launchers, rifles, and more, which can overheat forcing you to use all of your available weapons. Aside from the guns, you also have melee attacks that you can link up into a combo or charge up for a more powerful attack. The most interesting attacks are those that you can pull off after coming out of a transformation. While in vehicle mode, you can hold down a button and as you transform you’ll execute a special and powerful move that is quite helpful in combat. As you fight more enemies, you’ll unlock Overdrive mode, where your weapons become more powerful and don’t need to cool off. This combat mechanic is the core of the Transformers and how much you enjoy the game will be absolutely correlated with how much you enjoy the combat system (and replaying missions for better medals).
Building on the singleplayer campaign, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen also includes a fully fledged out multiplayer mode. The team-based multiplayer mode includes simple deathmatches, as well as more objective-based modes. In one, you’ll have to move pieces of the AllSpark to your base but if you carry the AllSpark you lose your weapons so someone will have to protect you. You’ll also have to protect the pieces you currently have since they can be stolen. Multiplayer was a pleasant surprise and could give the game even more replayability than the singleplayer already offers.
The game's graphics are pretty good if a bit uninspired. Luxoflux did an awesome job with the Transformers models, which look as great as you’d expect. The animation where they transform from vehicles to robots is even more detailed this time around and looks great. It’s clear that the Transformers were the focus of the visuals since the environments aren’t nearly as sharp. The environments are relatively simple with slightly compressed textures and drab colors. Still, the Transformers and explosions look great, which puts the game more or less on par with the film.
The sound package is great. Key cast members like Megan Fox, Keith David and Shia Lebeouf are in the game. Like the film, the soundtrack is mostly comprised of modern rock songs and various sound effects, especially the explosions, are all good.
Like the movie it’s based on, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen isn’t trying to radically change the genre or introduce innovative new features. It’s giving you great-looking robots that go off and fight other great-looking robots as you watch the resulting explosions. The game takes the best part of the first Transformers game (the robots) and wraps it up in a satisfying combat engine and a mission structure that encourages you to replay the game. For these reasons, fans of the film or the first game, especially younger gamers, will have a great time playing Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. -- Adam Nunez, PGNx Media
---- Jun 24, 2009
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