With the
new movie finally releasing very soon, Transformers fervor is in full swing. To
celebrate the release, Activision is releasing the game across consoles and
handhelds, including the Nintendo DS. However, the real difference surrounding
the DS version is that it is actually two versions. Instead of having one option
when picking up the game for their system, DS owners can pick up either a
Decepticon version or an Autobot version, depending on their personal
preference. While they are essentially very similar in terms of basic mission
structures and gameplay, they each have subtle nuances that might determine
which version you feel is worth your hard earned cash.
This
review will be focused on the Autobots version, placing the gamer in charge of
protecting the Earth and all of humanity from the Decepticon onslaught. However,
either way you go, Transformers does things a bit better than its console
brethren by offering a more polished package and some pretty engaging online
play.
Whereas
Transformers: The Game on consoles placed you in the role of several key
characters from the upcoming film, the DS version put you in control of a brand
new robot in disguise. Your role is to help rid the Earth of the Decepticon
menace while keeping them from destroying everything in their path. The benefit
of being a new robot is that you are able to take on several different forms
instead of only one vehicle.
When you
begin, you first have to scan a car so that you have the ability to transform
into it. As you proceed through the game, you’ll be able to scan more vehicles,
like faster cars all the way up to a helicopter. Switching between the vehicles
that you transform into is a snap, as you just have to go through the menu and
select the vehicle you’d like to use.
Transformers: Autobots is a fairly open-ended game. While your missions are
presented to you in a linear fashion, you still have access to side missions
that you can find while exploring the world. The missions let you do things like
destroy as much property as you can (a little odd, considering that the Autobots’
mission is to save the world, not destroy it). You’ll often run into skirmishes
with Decepticons as you patrol the map as well. Oftentimes they’ll look just
like any other vehicle until you get close enough to them for them to spring
into action and take you down.
Differently than the
Decepticons
version of the game, the Autobots version has you engaging the Decepticons in
order to keep the order on Earth.
While the missions are slightly different in focus, they largely fit into the
same mold as the Decepticons version. Ultimately, it just boils down to who you’d
rather play as, the good guys or the bad guys.
The game
uses the DS’s touch screen in a few key ways. It serves as a map, giving you
reticules to follow, like new missions or enemies as well as whatever object you
happen to currently be targeting. It also displays your experience and your
character’s level for quick reference, as well as how far you have to go until
your next level. There are also two touch sensitive areas, one of which controls
your transformation, and the other toggles your scanner.
A problem
that arises (that was a large problem in the console version) is that the combat
can be pretty repetitive and gets tedious after a while. Using long-range
weaponry is seldom necessary or effective, leaving you to button mash melee
attacks against your foes.
Fortunately, the online play keeps things interesting for DS gamers. Over a WiFi
connection, you can get into online deathmatches with your friends, play
Allspark Sports, which is a weird soccer game involving an Allspark as the
soccer ball.
The most
interesting online feature though is the Allspark Wars. Essentially a persistent
single-player game, Allspark Wars presents you with a new mission that you
download daily and complete for your faction. The better you do, the higher
score you get for your faction and the more unlockables you receive. Scores can
be compared online at the game’s Web site, allowing you to check out leaderboards
and compare your stats to anyone else’s.
Graphically, the game is pretty impressive for the Nintendo DS. The robots are
well animated and the fully 3D environments look very nice and move along at a
smooth clip.
The sound
is quite nice as well. The voice work is pretty impressive, if a little tinny
sounding (which actually seems appropriate, given that it’s done by robots). The
score also sounds pretty good on the DS.
Transformers works well on the DS, given its unique online features. While the
combat can get a bit repetitive, Transformers is still a fairly impressive title
for the DS.
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Gameplay: 7.0
The open-ended
world feels nice on the DS, and the ability to change into several vehicles is a
nice added bonus. The game is a little on the short side, but the side missions
add some nice content to the title. On the downside, the combat is pretty
repetitive.
Graphics: 7.5
The robot models
look pretty good, although the vehicle models are a little simplistic. The
environment is pretty large, though, and moves at a decent clip, and the
animations are nice.
Sound: 7.5
The tinny sounding
voices feel appropriate this time around given that it’s talking robots, and the
score sounds pretty good through the DS’s small speakers.
Difficulty: Medium
Concept: 7.0
The game is a little
short, but the online play extends the value quite a bit.
Multiplayer: 8.0
The inclusion of the
deathmatch and Allspark Sports modes is a nice and unexpected touch, but the
Allspark Wars is a pretty engaging affair that gives the game some nice replay
value.
Overall: 7.5
Whereas the
console versions faltered with a repetitive experience, the DS version fares
much better with competent online gameplay.
