| System: PS4, Xbox One*, PS3, Xbox 360, PC |  |
| Dev: PlatinumGames | |
| Pub: Activision | |
| Release: October 6, 2015 | |
| Players: 1-player | |
| Screen Resolution: 480p-1080i | Fantasy Violence |
PlatinumGames does a magnificent job staying faithful to the original design. The two-tone coloring of the Transformers accentuating the glossy sheen of their metal bodies, the hand-drawn feel of their portrait outlines, and the simplistic animations as they transform are a great homage to the Generation 1 series. The game never escapes the era, going as far as using faux wood-paneled station wagons and stonework architecture over glass and steel structures. The constant procession of tightly packed buildings is redundant, and it's a shame the brunt of the game is confined to these quarters. However, if you can assume it is a design choice to maintain the classic vibe, you'll easily shrug off the criticism.
The reverence carries over into the audio department as well, with nearly every aspect befitting the period. The soundtrack is drenched with electric guitar riffs bellowing out during combat sequences and cutscenes. Blaster shots and the timeless transformation sound effect will pull your inner child right into the cartoon you only wished could have happened as an adolescent of the Eighties. Peter Cullen and Frank Weller do an admirable job with the voice work of Optimus Prime and Megatron, respectively, though there are a few lethargic lines that seem to show the age of the actors. The rest of cast does a respectable job with their characters. The only member that pulled me away from the nostalgia was Scott Whyte's Starscream. It is a valiant attempt at the character's tantrums, but nobody captured it quite like the late Chris Latta from the original series.
Transformers: Devastation pays incredible respect to its source material, and yet that esteem could have easily been marred by poor gameplay had publisher Activision not chosen PlatinumGames, a heralded producer of quality action titles, to develop their game. Though a dedicated fan of the original series, I do feel the $49.99 price tag is about ten dollars too steep for the amount of content the game provides. However, the heart-pounding rush of playing iconic Autobots in their classic form is real, and very hard to resist for a fan, either old or new.
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By Sean Engemann Senior Contributing Writer Date: October 7, 2015 |
Game Features:
