System: X360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PC, PSP, DS
Dev: Traveller's Tales
Pub: Activision
Release: June 26, 2007
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: Teen
Review by Matthew Walker

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Review Rating Legend
1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid
2.0 - 2.4 = Poor
2.5 - 2.9 = Average
3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
3.5 - 3.9 = Good
4.0 - 4.4 = Great
4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
5.0 = The Best

However, even the variety seekers may not complain too much considering the amount of destruction capable in the game. I mean everything is destructible in the game; you can even pick up the donuts and tires on top of buildings and use them as throwing items, and it is pretty funny to take out a Decepticon or Autobot with a donut. In addition to those appendages of the building, you can also pick up a baseball bat or golf club from one of the big sport store signs to beat your enemies into oblivion. Speaking of the combat system, there is one huge draw back to the game. When you are fighting your respective enemies, there is a ring of action you have to make sure you stand in. There is a little more leeway for the Decepticons, but this is very strict for the Autobots. There are several times that if you are knocked out of the ring you will not make it back into the ring before your time expires. This was a feature that the game could have done without, actually, I had thought we had progressed past this annoying trait in video games; apparently, I was wrong.

The Transformers' graphics are spectacular. The environments have that initial impressiveness, but quickly you will notice the cookie cutter schematic for a lot of the buildings. I figure that the developers did not want to put too much into the design of your environments considering the aftermath of your impending battles. It does not really affect the graphics of the game considering the Transformers themselves and their Transformation will mesmerize you. However, I personally would have thoroughly enjoyed having a little more detail flooding the game to really make the Transformers shine through. The sounds of the game will make anyone who remembers the days of the original cartoon smile. I have to admit this is probably one of the main reasons that I not only played the game, but watched the movie as well. The fabled sound effect of the Transformers is vaguely there and if you listen closely, you will hear it almost with every transformation. However, the sound that I am mostly referencing is the voice of Optimus Prime, as portrayed by Peter Cullen. Now I know this makes me an Über geek, but there is nothing better about the sounds of the game than the voice of Optimus Prime repeatedly harping on you getting to your next destination. Trust me, he will do it a lot. There is also the original voice of Megatron as well, Frank Welker. Not sure why they did not use him in the movie, but at least we have him here.

The Transformers game is a nice companion to the first official blockbuster summer movie. I know there have been others, but this was the first movie that actually felt like a blockbuster instead of just a continuation of something else. The game does disappoint a little, but nothing to the level of complete unplayability. You will be transforming and rolling out in no time as you dive head first into the world of the robots in disguise. I just hope in the next game they amp up the free roam capabilities and truly allow us to dive into the world of the robots from Cybertron.

By Matthew Walker
CCC Project Coordinator

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