| System: X360, PS3, PC, Wii, PS2, PSP, DS | Review Rating Legend | |
| Dev: Beenox | 1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid | 4.0 - 4.4 = Great |
| Pub: Activision | 2.0 - 2.4 = Poor | 4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy |
| Release: Jun. 23, 2009 | 2.5 - 2.9 = Average | 5.0 = The Best |
| Players: 1, 2-8 (Online) | 3.0 - 3.4 = Fair | |
| ESRB Rating: Teen | 3.5 - 3.9 = Good | |
The controls take a little bit of time to get used to. While I am not entirely sure why the need to change the way you transform was implemented, it’s not completely ruined on this new control scheme. Instead of just the pushing of a button, you have to hold down the button to maintain the transformation. Similarly you have to hold down your aiming button as well to stay in that mode. The aiming mode or ‘Weapon Mode’ isn’t as much of a bother. The Vehicle Mode, however, takes way too much time to get used to. The camera also helps in lengthening the problems of holding down the button for the Vehicle Mode. When you are in your robot form, the camera usually has no problems, but when you slip into the Vehicle Mode the camera gets rather nauseating at the worst moments.
Thankfully, the A.I. of enemies allows you to adjust after the sporadic camera hiccups. At times, when things are really heated, the A.I. will just wander away, stopping their attack on you, or they will get stuck on a roof in some random rubble, or they too are having trouble holding down the Vehicle Mode button, since you will see them transforming every two or three seconds.
Graphically, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen captures the look of the Transformers from the film very nicely, where with the first title, there were a few minor issues with the appearances of the Transformers; the transforming looks more fluid as does the general movement of the Transformers. The environments have a bit of blandness, but then again, with as much destruction that can visibly be seen in the game, there’s not much to complain about. Though admittedly, I would have liked to have seen a little more variance in the environments.
While actor Megan Fox and Shia LaBeouf reprise their roles in the games, their performances are on the same level as the voice actors of the Transformers. In a nutshell, the voice work is fairly decent, even if occasionally “robotic.” The main problem with the voice work is once again repetition. Too often I have heard the same lines echoed over and over during a mission that took only four minutes to complete. The score for the game falls victim to the same process, though, due to the heavy action sound effects you may never hear the actual score.
With the multiplayer being its biggest redeeming quality, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen doesn’t really improve upon the formula of the first title. If anything, it takes a step or two back overall when it comes to the single-player experience. If you are looking to play a game to get the experience of multiplayer while not actually being online, this may be the game you’ve been looking for. While the fun of giant robot battles may draw you in, the multiplayer experience will keep you coming back to this title. Even with all its problems, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen ranks up there with most worthy movie-based games.
By
Matthew Walker
CCC Project Coordinator
Game Features:
