Transformers: The Game (Wii) Review
Posted by Jay Bryant on 07.03.2007
Frustration In disguise.
Transformers: The Game is based off of the new Michael Bay movie coming out this Tuesday (July 3rd). For those of you who don’t know, the movie is an updated version of the 1980’s cartoon of the same name. The story revolves around Optimus Prime and his heroic team of Autobots in their ongoing war with Megatron and the evil Decepticons for the life-giving Allspark. Transformers: The Game loosely follows the movie storyline, and let’s you choose to either save the Earth with the Autobots or destroy it with the Decepticons… Hmm, decisions, decisions.
First Impression
When you first boot up the game you’re treated to an opening cinematic that sets up the game very well. At the new game screen you are given the choice between Autobots and Decepticons, each of which has very different missions in different locations (i.e. the first Autobot mission is a search and rescue in the suburbs and the first Decepticon mission is to destroy a military base in the desert). When you finally get into your first level, be it Autobot or Decepticon, another cinematic shows how your Transformer picked its disguise (Driving/Flying form) then you start the mission in your robot form. After a grainy radio spill from your leader you are given a target to reach and so comes the first, of many, real time transformation. Of course you’re going to be excited simply because it’s a new game with an exciting franchise, but the excitement dies down as soon as you start driving in the Autobot campaign. The Decepticons actually save the day here as your first mission in their campaign is fun while allowing you to learn the controls at the same time. One good thing about the game is that your excitement for it will make you overlook a few problems in the early stages. Only thing is, the problem stay throughout the whole game.
Graphics
Transformers: The Game is definitely one of the better looking games available on the Wii. Your “Robots in disguise” definitely look better outside of their disguise (Robot mode). The driving/flying forms lack texture for the most part. Of course I’m not expecting Gran Turismo graphics, but at least show me some kind of detail on the cars. The environments are pretty nice. They aren’t anything spectacular really, but definitely not bad at all. If you want the best graphics you already know the Wii version isn’t for you. Considering all console versions of the game are the same the Wii’s controls would be the only thing missing from the 360 or PS3 version of the game.
He may not talk, but he sure knows how to swing a light pole!
Sound
Okay, let’s start with the voice acting. It is superb…when it’s there. Peter Cullen does a fantastic job bringing Optimus to life, just as he did in the 80’s. The rest of the movie cast does a great job as well, what I don’t understand is why Bumblebee never utters a single word. **POSSIBLE MOVIE SPOILER** I know he stops speaking in the movie after a certain battle, but at least he finds another means of communication. In the game you play as Bumblebee a lot and he’s also in a lot of the cinematics. Giving him some sort of voice would have been great. The whole “strong and silent” thing he’s got going is just plain annoying.
I see you!
Controls
Whew…what can I say about the controls that hasn’t already been said about driving bumper cars at the carnival? My biggest gripe is definitely with the driving portion of the Autobot campaigns. The handling on the cars is horrible, absolutely horrible. Learning how to make sharp turns (or any turns at all) takes a little knowledge and a lot of experimentation. Throughout the Autobot campaign, you’ll find yourself chasing things. While it’d be beneficial to remain in the mode that gives you the most speed, your vehicle form, when you get stuck behind buildings or in trees you have to transform because there is no quick way to turn around or get out of that predicament. I’d find myself transforming into robot mode simply to walk around corners or jump over buildings simply because I knew I couldn’t take the turn, or I had destroyed some structure and got slowed down by the debris. When it comes to your robot mode, everything handles pretty well with the exception of picking things up. In certain battles the only way to hurt your opponent is to throw a car at them. This becomes tedious and annoying very quickly. The first problem is the fact that if you get to close to a car you’ll kick it and send it sliding all over the place. Secondly you absolutely must position yourself on the side of the car in order to pick it up. That’s the most annoying issue. Trying to get a giant robot in perfect position to pick up a car or bus is a lot harder than it needs to be. Locking on to the item you want to pick up would make the process a tad bit easier.
Don't cha wish your robot was hot like me?
Gameplay
If I had to some up the gameplay in one word, it would be chaotic. During one mission with Bumblebee there was so much going on that I couldn’t keep up. I died about 20 times trying to finish that mission. It was ridiculous. A million things were happening at once, and while trying to pacify one thing another was killing me. Once I finally figured out how to get past that level I was sorely disappointed at how the game failed to guide me through that part. Just having a checklist or some kind of hint would have done wonders, but obviously that’s too much to ask. That is one way this game really lets you down. There’s very little direction or content. I found myself going through my objectives asking “Why am I doing this?” I never thought being a giant transforming robot would be so frustrating, but there were times I just wanted to scream. Just a warning: When the objective in a game is to survive for two minutes, you’re in for the worst two minute period of your life, and that’s only if you survive the full two minutes. On the flip side the game gives you a pretty decent camera system and lock-on system. You control your targeting reticule with the Wii Remote by pointing at the screen, but only in robot mode. While driving the reticule is set in the center and turns red when there is an enemy within in the general direction you’re pointing. My problem with the camera comes when you transform from vehicle to robot mode. The camera stays fixed looking down instead of simply going behind the back of the robot, so you have to press the “-“ button to manually re-center it behind your bot. This is also a problem when picking things up as the camera will stay pointed down even after you have lifted the car from the ground. It’s sad to say, but in the end I didn’t feel like I played this game, or experienced this game, I felt I survived this game.
Fun Factor
This game had so much potential to be so fun but falls very short of the mark. Transforming on the spot is cool. Beating up giant robots is cool. Hurling a city bus at some Decepticon flinging his arms around is cool too, but mixing all of the cool parts of the game with frustrating levels and so-so controls gives you a game that’s only fun for so long. Your first time through the levels may be fun, but by the 4th or 5th time you have to start at the beginning of a level after getting to the last section, frustration begins to set in. Unless you enjoy screaming obscenities at the television and sounding like a wife beater from a Lifetime movie, fun isn’t the best word to describe this game.
Lasting Appeal
Activision tried to provide you with incentive to keep playing after you beat the game by including challenges found in each level and the ability to replay any chapters you’ve already finished. They even make up with only having two missions as Optimus by giving him his own level on Cybertron after beating the Autobot campaign. There is plenty of unlockable content in the game; the only problem is unlocking them. In each level you have the opportunity to fill up what’s called a “Skill Tracker Chain,” by doing something heroic as and Autobot or destructive as a Decepticon. In the Autobot missions there are five different skills to perform and in the Decepticon campaign there are three. I’d love to tell you what they are, but I don’t even know because Activision failed to list them in the manual. They just suggest that you try different things in each level.
The 411
Transformers: The Game probably would’ve benefited from more time in development and from being a stand alone game instead of a movie tie in. I’m not saying it feels rushed, but maybe with more time in development they could’ve added more content or something. Being tied to the movie and being released a full week before the movie probably tied down the developers in terms of what they could and could not include. The game has its various hits and misses, but it’s not horrible at all. At times it can almost be as fun as it is frustrating, but those times are few and far between. Here’s to hoping the movie outdoes the game by leaps and bounds. If not, we may be witnessing the end of franchise.
Graphics
8.0
The graphics aren't bad at all, just wish there was more detail on the vehicles.
Gameplay
5.0
The game can be fun at times, but little things like only having guns for decoration (since all of your enemies have an energy sheild to protect them against gunfire) take away from the game.
Sound
7.0
Voice acting is great. The only problem is background noises can sometimes be louder than your mission upgrades over the radio.
Lasting Appeal
6.0
It's nice having two different campaigns to play through. Outside of that though, you don't have much reason to keep playing besides unlocking the bonus material.
Fun Factor
5.5
There are definitely moments where the game is fun. Those moments are few and far between though and are also intertwined with frustrating chaotic levels and so-so controls
