Transformers: War for Cybertron Review

Posted by Jereme Puik at 1:21am on June 28th, 2010

The Decepticons are ready to rage war against the kind-hearted Autobots who look to destroy everything that is evil about the Decepticons in Transformers: War for Cybertron. It’s a new take on a license that has certainly seen better days since its past releases. Its mission is to take players into the classic days of Transformers with its look and feel. Does it strike gold or is meant for the junkyard? Brace yourself as we put our feet in the shoes of both the Autobots and Decepticons in this War for Cybertron.

The game is set during the end of the 3^rd Cybertronian war, Megatron who is the leader of the Decepticons strikes a plan to take the Dark Energon and corrupt the core of their planet. On the other side, the Autobots who are deeply wounded in the war are mounting a counter-offensive against Megatron to wipe him out once and for all and bring Cybertron back to its peaceful state. It’s a great back story that includes many of the infamous Transformers like Bumblebee, Starscream and so on, showing you how each character first met. The action basically takes place through scripted events and fellow banter between mates. Of course you can’t forget the cut scenes for a little extra eye-candy. The dark tone of the title certainly fits the atmosphere well so fans and newcomers to the series shouldn’t have a problem fitting right in themselves.

The campaign is split into two stories, that of the Autobots and Decepticons and you’ll be able to choose your side in the beginning. Don’t worry; however, you’ll easily be able to jump between the two sides after you get started. To give you the run down, each campaign offers up to a 12 chapter story with numerous missions in between to keep you busy. Think of it this way, each campaign will end up lasting you a good 5-6 hours each depending on your play style and how quickly you can progress through the game. You can also choose from several different segments and characters to get you started. Transformers boils down to being a third-person shooter that seems much inspired from Epic Games’ Gears of War. You’ll have two buddies along side you for the ride as your backup. You’ll be blasting everything in sight and there is plenty of ammo and health along the way in case you were wondering.

On the other side of the spectrum there are 6 different versus modes for online play as well as 3 player online co-op. There are several different maps on each of the game types as well so you’ll have some variety. You can customize your characters and classes however you like as you level up. If you’re in for something else to play there is a mode called Escalation. It’s pretty much the same as Nazi Zombies but with Transformers clothes on. As for gameplay, the controls are pretty tight and represent your standard third-person shooter. The twist here is that there are several different options when being a Transformer. Every transformer can transform into its vehicle form simply by hitting the left analog stick. However, it can become frustrating considering the analog sticks sensitivity and you can easily transform while in mid-battle.

Other then that, weapons controls are fine and varied for each character so you won’t necessarily see the same one twice. Offensive classes are given strong melee attacks while defensive classes are given the ability to heal allies and set up barricades. In vehicle mode there are a lot more options available to you as well. The controls for your vehicle are tight and can easily be fun to use. While in battle, keep in mind that simply running into the firefight won’t cut it. There isn’t a proper cover system so it’ll take some strategic planning to move onto the next objective. Though there is a lot of debris laying around if you really needed something to help you out. Mastering your terrain is essential if you want to move forward. The jump ability will help you out greatly especially considering the double jump as well considering each Transformers jets.

The visual presentation is accurate on Transformer accounts even though the world itself looks bland. The textures and character designs are nicely done and the only problem anyone might have would be with Cybertron itself. It looks as if the designers could’ve spent a little extra time on detail and everything would’ve been perfect. Aside from that everything runs smoothly and there are rarely any hitches in the process. War for Cybertron is a nice take on the history of the Transformers before they went to Earth. You’ll be pleased to know that the voice work is right on point with all original members reprising their roles for both Autobots and Decepticons alike.

Verdict: Transformers: War for Cybertron boils down to being a standard third-person action title with a lot of promise. If you’ve finished both campaigns and embark on the multiplayer it at least gives you something to do. That all really depends on your interest in the series in the first place. Transformers: War for Cybertron isn’t essential for your library but it is good enough to give it a spin at your leisure.

Activision | Reviews | Xbox 360

View Comments