Remember those other awful Activision Transformers games based (in some part) on the Michael Bay movies? No? Good, let's work from there.
Transformers: War for Cybertron, developed by High Moon Studios (The Bourne Conspiracy, Darkwatch), takes its inspiration from the G1 universe of the '80s cartoon. Actually, that's not entirely accurate. It's more like what the new J.J. Abrams Star Trek movie is to the original. The characters are the same, their motivations are similar; however everything has a whole new (in this case, literal) paint job. Lead Designer Matt Tieger tells us the game presents "nothing that violates your expectations" and the studio worked closely with Hasbro to stay true to the original idea of the Transformers ... speaking of the original idea of Transformers, there will also be action figures based on the game's interpretations of the characters.
In War for Cybertron, players participate in two campaigns, one following the righteous Autobots and the other shadows the misunderstood Decepticons. Both campaigns take place on the Transformer home planet of Cybertron and, as Tieger puts it, "Ends up with them having no place to go."
Each campaign features three-player online (no offline or "couch") co-op. For the Autobots, the level we saw featured Optimus (not a Prime, yet) and Bumblebee meeting for the first time, and rolling along in the always awkward "third wheel" spot was Ratchet. The Decepticons included Starscream, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Soundwave and Megatron. Of course, in both cases, there are several more playable characters. For fans of the original series, many of the voices will sound wrong -- sadly, in some very important instances, the cartoon's original voice actors have passed away.
The game features no cover system and is similar to third-person action games like Ratchet and Clank (or Crimson Skies in vehicle mode), with the idea being for the Transformers to always be moving forward through the game's linear path. The characters can switch from robot to car (plane, tank, truck) at any time and the weapons have similar strengths in both modes -- so as to not penalize players for transforming. Vehicles have a standard (boost) driving mode and a hover mode, which controls the same as the robot. Each character also has special abilities, like Optimus has an area of effect "war cry" stat boost, Soundwave has ... a shockwave (not to be confused if Shockwave has a soundwave) and Ratchet can heal. Transforming can occur at any point, with no break in the action, and is's easy as clicking the L3 button. Melee takes the modern warfare approach on the R3 button.
After watching the massive arena-style battle between the Decepticons and the immense Omega Supreme, this Transformers title feels like it has a lot in common with Activision's X-Men Origins: Wolverine game. That is, it may be based on a license but, like Tieger explains, they were trying to "make a great game" that is "true to the spirit" of people's expectations. There was no shame in acknowledging that focus testing Transformers fans, both young and old, helped shape this game.
Transformers: War for Cybertron may not be anything revolutionary for gamers, but for fans of the franchise, at least it's not insulting and seems like a respectful re-imagining of G1. The game also features a competitive multiplayer mode that Activision wasn't ready to talk about. T:WoC releases "this summer" according to the devs, in May according to Activision.
Reader Comments (64)
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 10:36PM Benstamania said
The War For Cybertron is based on the fantastic "The War Within" graphic novel...which, IMHO one of the best Transformers stories ever told.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers:_The_War_Within
Also, a poster at EB/GameStop says that Shockwave will be an exclusive preorder character...weird that you guys seen him in action.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers:_The_War_Within
Also, a poster at EB/GameStop says that Shockwave will be an exclusive preorder character...weird that you guys seen him in action.
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 11:02PM CaptainProtonX said
Another case of DLC held hostage. You know the warning: IT'S A TRAP!
Reply
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 10:54PM husher said
Skywarp is gonna be a badass mofo in this game. i can feel it.
that teleporting son of a bitch
that teleporting son of a bitch
Posted: Feb 26th 2010 10:59PM Breakdown said
From a close friend who saw it in person, I am in the game. Or I mean G1 Breakdown is.
Posted: Mar 1st 2010 4:24AM (Unverified) said
Optimus Prime was originally Orion Pax.
Posted: Feb 27th 2010 7:51AM Gel214th said
Umm....why has the PC suddenly been dropped as one of the platforms for the title :(
I think another Co-Op game on the PC would do fantastically.
Borderlands has done very well.
I think another Co-Op game on the PC would do fantastically.
Borderlands has done very well.
Posted: Feb 27th 2010 8:56AM BanditKing said
Remember those other awful Michael Bay movies based (in some part) on the amazing cartoon series? No? Good, let's work from there.
There I fixed that sentence for you. Your welcome.
There I fixed that sentence for you. Your welcome.
Posted: Feb 27th 2010 9:55AM (Unverified) said
If he is not a prime then he would be Orion Pax...sorry had to get that out of my system
Posted: Feb 27th 2010 2:19PM Bobulous said
Cool. I can't wait to play as Leader One or Cy-Kill.
Posted: Feb 27th 2010 9:19PM (Unverified) said
Boo! Keep your crappy Gobots out of my Transformers!
Reply
Posted: Feb 28th 2010 12:17AM Marcus Carter said
looks awesome !
Posted: Feb 28th 2010 3:42PM Spookimitsu said
"in some very important instances, the cartoon's original voice actors have passed away."
sad truth is sad.
:'-(
sad truth is sad.
:'-(
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