Transformers: The Game


Transformers: The Game is the name of multiple versions of a video game based on the 2007 live action film Transformers, itself part on the Transformers franchise, which depicts the conflict between the Autobots and the Decepticons, both factions of the eponymous alien race, who can change their form into various vehicles; in the game, the Autobots and Decepticons arrive on Earth following the downfall of their home planet, Cybertron, and race to claim the AllSpark - a powerful artifact and the source of all life on Cybertron - first, with players being able to choose either faction to join. A sequel,, was released in June 2009, based on the.
All versions of the game all were released in North America in June 2007. The home console and PC versions were developed by Traveller's Tales for the PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3 and PC, while a different PlayStation Portable version was developed by Savage Entertainment. Transformers Autobots and Transformers Decepticons are the Nintendo DS versions of the game. Vicarious Visions, who was tasked with bringing the adaptation to the Nintendo DS, chose to adapt the DS version into two separate games. Autobots follows the heroes' perspective while Decepticons follows the villains'. Unlike games with multiple SKUs such as Pokémon which feature only minor differences between versions, these are two separate games, sharing some basic similarities, but with unique characters, missions and locations.

Gameplay

The game is mainly a third-person action-shooter. All the robots have at least five attack types: a light weapon, a heavy weapon, a melee attack, and the ability to throw objects such as cars, lamp posts, trees, etc., and using a long object like a lamp post as a sword. As its title and characters imply, a robot can transform into a vehicle and vice versa, this gives the game some racing elements, as the player must, in some missions, race to certain point within a time limit or before a character of the opposing faction does. Each area is an open world environment, and there are also side-missions, Energon cubes and Autobot/Decepticon emblems scattered through the city, if accomplished successfully/collected the player can unlock trailers, production photos and unlock color schemes for certain characters.

Consoles and PC

The PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC and the Wii versions all have the same features. By completing certain objectives throughout the game, the versions of Optimus Prime and Megatron become available as alternate appearances, as well as G1 color schemes for Jazz, Starscream, and Optimus. These options are turned on or off once obtained through the bonus menu, and only appear while playing as the specified character. On January 9, 2008, downloadable content entitled Transformers Unlockables was made available for the Xbox 360 on the Xbox Live Marketplace. It unlocks all bonus characters/skins, items, upgrades, and other unlockable content. The PlayStation 2 version of Transformers: The Game has the same gameplay and features like all the other console versions, with graphic quality being reduced.
The Wii is unlike the other consoles, utilizing a different control scheme for movement and attacks that take advantage of its motion sensing controls. With a controller in the left and right hand the player can swipe to imitate attacks or throwing objects and point the Wii Remote at the screen to aim and shoot the gun. The Wii graphics are at a lower resolution than the PC, Xbox 360, though more detailed than the PlayStation 2 version.

PlayStation Portable

Transformers: The Game for the PSP is very different from its console counterparts, whereas the console versions allow the player to choose which side's storyline they wish to play, the PSP version has only one storyline which alternates between the two different sides. Also, the player is able to play a total of 23 characters, including characters from previous generations. Overall the PSP version of the game has the most playable character out of all versions, and also includes an alternate story, unrelated to that of other versions.

Synopsis

Setting

The game focuses on the eponymous Transformers, a race of extraterrestrials from the planet Cybertron who resemble robots and can change their form into various vehicles, such as tanks or jets. The Transformers are divided into two factions, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, and arrived on Earth following a civil war that left their home planet a deserted and lifeless place. Forced to disguise themselves by taking the form of human vehicles, the Transformers soon reenact their past conflict upon learning that the AllSpark, a powerful artifact and the source of all Transformer life, is on Earth; while the Decepticons seek its power to subjugate the Earth, the Autobots attempt to save the planet from this threat and make peace with mankind.
The game features two separate campaign, one from the Autobots' perspective and the other one from the Decepticon's, which cross over on several occasions. Players may choose to play through whichever campaign they desire, and each one features four different stages, with each stage containing four missions; between missions, players can freely explore the stage they are in, which act as mini-open worlds.

Characters

Autobots campaign

The Autobot scout Bumblebee lands on Earth, somewhere in the suburbs, and takes on the form of a yellow Camaro to disguise himself from humans. Upon defeating a group of Decepticon drones, Bumblebee learns that Sam Witwicky is going to buy a used car, so he transforms into his car form in order to be bought by him. Later, Sam and his girlfriend, Mikaela Banes, are attacked by the Decepticon Barricade, but Bumblebee saves them, defeating Barricade. Afterwards, he is contacted by Autobot leader Optimus Prime, who informs him that Sam is in possession of an artifact which could lead them to the AllSpark and, as such, must be protected at all costs. Optimus and other surviving Autobots - Ironhide, Ratchet, and Jazz - soon land on Earth and assume alternate forms as well. After they meet with Bumblebee, Mikaela, and Sam, the latter gives them the artifact - his grandfather's glasses - and Optimus proceeds to explain to the two humans their mission on Earth: to find the AllSpark and use it to revitalize their homeworld of Cybertron. Ratchet then explains that the Decepticon leader Megatron, currently trapped in the Arctic, burned the location of the AllSpark in Sam's grandfather's glasses for the Decepticons to find.
After Bumblebee takes on a new alternate form - an improved yellow Camaro - the Autobots' location is detected by the Sector 7 agency and helicopters are sent to capture them. Jazz creates a distraction, allowing the others to escape, but the Autobots are then attacked by another group of Decepticon drones, led by Shockwave. While the Autobots fight the drones, with Optimus defeating Shockwave, Bumblebee, Sam, and Mikaela are captured by Sector 7. Decoding Shockwave's transmissions, the Autobots then discover that Starscream, Megatron's second-in-command, has also learned about the AllSpark and Megatron's whereabouts. Bumblebee, Sam and Mikaela are imprisoned at the Hoover Dam, but the former manages to escape following a power outage. While exploring the base, he stumbles upon the frozen Megatron and the AllSpark. As Megatron partially unfreezes himself, he attacks Bumblebee, but he manages to retrieve the AllSpark and escape with Sam and Mikaela, before Megatron is fully unfrozen. Starscream and Blackout then attack the dam and free Megatron.
Bumblebee, Sam and Mikaela travel to Mission City with the AllSpark, whose power surges transform numerous human machines in the area into feral drones that attack Bumblebee. While Ironhide saves him, Jazz fights Starscream and Blackout and, though he prevails, he is then killed by Brawl. An enraged Ironhide then fights and kills Brawl, avenging Jazz's death. Meanwhile, Bumblebee fights Barricade, who is attempting to take the AllSpark, and defeats him, but is then subdued by Megatron, causing Sam and Mikaela to flee with the AllSpark. Before Megataron can kill them and claim it, Optimus arrives and fights him. Optimus prevails, but just as Sam is about to give him the All Spark, Megatron awakens and attempts to kill Optimus, only for the Autobot leader to kill him by shattering the AllSpark and placing it into Megatron's chest, which destroys the Decepticon leader upon touching his own spark. The game ends with the Autobots choosing to remain on Earth and protect it from any potential future threat.

Decepticons campaign

Upon arriving on Earth, the Decepticon Blackout attacks a MH-53 Pave Low helicopter and takes on its form to disguise himself before attacking a SOCCENT Air Base in Qatar, while his minion Scorponok chases and prevents the survivors from calling for help using mobile communication vehicles. Afterwards, Blackout searches for top secret data about the AllSpark from the remains of SOCCENT through computer terminals kept inside Software towers, but in the process accidentally sends a Morse Code signal informing Stealth Bombers and F-22s of his location. After destroying them, Blackout finds data about an artifact that will lead the Decepticons to the AllSpark.
Meanwhile, the Decepticon scout Barricade, taking on the alternate form of a Saleen Ford Mustang Police cruiser, recovers the minicon Frenzy from Sector 7 and together they go hunt down Sam Witwicky, who has the location of the AllSpark. After finding Sam and his girlfriend Mikaela Banes in the suburbs, Barricade pursues them, but is attacked by the Autobot Bumblebee, who attempts to stop him. Neverthelress, Barricade defeats Bumblebee and retrieves the glasses with the location of the AllSpark burned into them from Sam. Elsewhere, the Decepticon sub-commander Starscream is gathering an army to retrieve the AllSpark, and arrives at an airbase, where he recruits Brawl and Bonecrusher, destroying the base in the process. He and Blackout later attack the Hoover Dam, releasing their leader Megatron.
Both the Decepticons and the Autobots gather in Mission City, where Sam and Mikaela are taking the AllSpark. After dropping the two humans off, the Autobot Jazz fights Barricade, but is ultimately killed. The other Decepticons then arrive in the city and battle the Autobots, with Blackout deploying Scorponok to destroy several Energon drones that have spawned from the AllSpark. After destroying them, Scorponok is chased away by Ironhide, whom Blackout then battles and kills. Meanwhile, Megatron destroys the city as he searches for Optimus Prime, and finds Sam and Mikeala hiding with the AllSpark instead. Before he can kill them and claim it, Megatron is attacked by Optimus, whom he ultimately defeats. After executing Optimus, Megatron retrieves the AllSpark, which releases a massive shockwave, presumably converting all the electronics in the world into Decepticons. With his new army, Megatron takes over the world and is seen sitting on his "throne", ordering his Decepticons to kill all of mankind before they leave Earth.

Development

Cast

, voice of Optimus Prime in the original 1984 TV series as well as in the 1986 and 2007 films, reprises the role. Mark Ryan, voice of Bumblebee in the 2007 film, voices Ironhide. Andrew Kishino voices Jazz as well as providing additional voice recording. Fred Tatasciore voices Ratchet as well as providing sounds for the Autobot drones. Seth Bleiler provided sounds for the Autobot drones as well as providing some additional voice recording. Erik Passoja also provided sounds for the Autobot drones as well as providing some additional voice recording. Frank Welker, voice of Megatron in the original 1984 TV series as well as in the 1986 movie, reprises the role. Actor Keith David voices Barricade. Daniel Ross voices Starscream as well as Hound and Mixmaster in the PSP version. Noah Nelson voices Blackout as well as providing sounds for the Decepticon drones and some additional voice recording. David Sobolov, who voiced Depthcharge in, voices Brawl as well as providing some additional voice recording. Daniel Riordan, who voiced Omega Prime in, voices Bonecrusher as well as providing sounds for the Decepticon drones. Keith Szarabajka provided sounds for the Decepticon drones as well as providing additional voice recording. Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox, Sam Witwicky and Mikaela in the live-action film, reprise their respective roles. Thom Kikot, Yuri Lowenthal and Kari Wahlgren also provided additional voice recordings. Stephen Apostolina, Ranjani Brow, David Cowgill, Jackie Gonneau, Donald Fullilove, Jacqueline Pinol, Jessica Pennington, Pepper Sweeney, Claudette Wells and W.K. Stratton provided walla sounds. Carl Weathers and Keythe Farley were the voice directors for the game.

Cybertron Edition

/EB Games sell Transformers: The Game Cybertron Edition for the Xbox 360. This collector's edition contains exclusive material; codes that unlock the Cybertron level, a making of the game DVD, a Transformers comic book by Simon Furman, and Cybertron Edition box art.

Reception

Transformers: The Game received mixed reviews upon release. GameRankings and Metacritic gave it a score of 57.69% and 55 out of 100 for the PC version; 57.44% and 56 out of 100 for the PlayStation 2 version; 54.38% and 53 out of 100 for the Wii version; 53.49% and 54 out of 100 for the PlayStation 3 version; 52.42% and 52 out of 100 for the Xbox 360 version; and 46.89% and 47 out of 100 for the PSP version.
In most reviews, graphics and sound effects were praised, IGN's review named the graphics of the Wii version in the time of its release as the best on the system while Peter Cullen's voice acting as Optimus Prime, alongside Frank Welker were considered strong points also. GameSpot also commended the responsive motion-controls on the Wii.
However, the various reviewers noted multiple flaws, such as a troublesome camera that tumbled, repetitive missions, and clunky driving in the vehicle modes. They also commented that the game was too short and it had an unbalanced difficulty, older gamers finding it too easy, while younger players finding extremely hard to pass certain missions. Furthermore, although there were few complaints about it, the main console versions of the game lack multiplayer modes. Hyper's Maurice Branscombe commended the game for looking good and comments that "exploration and destruction is fun". However, he criticised the game for its "mission objectives that are repetitive and boring". He also criticised the combat as poor.
The game was nominated for the 35th Annie Award title of Best Animated Video Game, but lost to Ratatouille.

Sequels

A sequel for the game has been subsequently released based on the film's sequel, '. Vicarious Visions returned to develop the two DS games, and Savage Entertainment again developed the PSP version. Luxoflux developed the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 version, which was ported to PC by Beenox. The PlayStation 2 and Wii versions were developed by Krome Studios. A second sequel, ' was released in June 2011.