Transformers went from an 80’s toyline, to a 90’s television phenomenon, and finally to a household name in recent times with Michael Bay’s adaption of the beloved toy franchise into two motion pictures (along with a coming third). Fans of Transformers are now in their element, with the world taking notice of the Cybertronian fiction that exists, and with that comes High Moon Studio’s Transformers: War for Cybertron. But does this robotic war hero contain more than meets the eye?
High Moon have had carte blanche in creating a fully fledged Transformers experience, as War for Cybertron’s story doesn’t take from the movies or even the television show. The story takes place prior to the Transformers contact with Earth and explores the origins of the war that erupts between the Autobots and Decepticons, and delves deeper into the introduction of Starscream and how Optimus became a Prime (for us Transformer fans). The story is excellently told and although made of nuts and bolts, the voice acting and performances are far from robotic, keeping the narration interesting and which also fits into the Transformer universe excellently.
Players can select an Autobot and Decepticon campaign from the get-go, and that said, War for Cybertron isn’t just a good Transformers game, it’s a really good third-person shooter. The gameplay is solid and everything from the transformations right down to the way characters interact with turrets and objects is spot-on.
There is a strong variety of weapons available, and while each character has their specific weapon, there are shotguns, sniper rifles, plasma cannons and other useful tools of destruction that can be picked up and equipped easily.
While it is a Transformers game, vehicular combat plays a pivotal role in the game, and thankfully it’s just as awesome as the running and gunning. As mentioned, the transformations themselves are super-slick with a casual click of the analog your character will shift seamlessly into a tank, car or jet. The tanks handle as a tank should, but packs a powerful punch, cars are quick and help players get into (or away from) action quickly, while the flying mechanics are responsive and effective.
As cliché as it is to say, there is more than meets the eye with Transformers visuals. Everything looks great, as the Unreal Engine does wonders for the metallic character models and diverse world of Cybertron; but it’s the small touches that make the game shine. The cut-scenes are surprisingly engaging and the detail in the levels is impressive to say the least. The vintage Transformers ‘feel’ is definitely there, and that’s what we’ve all been waiting for.
War for Cybertron boasts and extensive multiplayer segment as players can jump into a variety of modes, including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Conquest, as well as Escalation, where players battle increasingly difficult waves similar to Gears of War 2’s Horde Mode. The multiplayer as a whole is suprisingly deep and enjoyable, as players can even create their own Transformers and assign them a class, vehicle, weapons and team.
Transformers: War for Cybertron is definitely fan-fare, but it offers more than just an homage to a great universe, as it presents a very well scripted story, along with fun and exciting third-person mechanics. The Transformers are definitely not hiding anymore.
