Hey guys.

This just came in. It’s been a long while coming. Now it’s officially released yesterday and so I was eager to let you have a good read what the reviewers from TFormers.com have positively (thats right, positively)said about this game so far.

I wanted to express my own thoughts about this game too in this post… However due to the time constraint I keep having lately and realising how many fans are looking forward to what the game truly promises for the fans, I thought why not just let everyone have a quick peak what I’ve read in this review huh? ;)

Here’s the review.

At long last, Transformers Hypefest 2010 has come to a close as High Moon Studios and Activision have finally blessed us with the release of Transformers: War for Cybertron. No longer just the light at the end of the tunnel, War for Cybertron is on the shelves: ready to be enjoyed, judged, nitpicked to pieces, and reveled in by fans.

In a year filled with little other news than Transformers 3 eye candy replacement and the occasional webisode, Transformers fans, still licking the emotional wounds of Revenge of the Fallen and the cancellation of Animated, couldn’t get enough news about this new direction for the historically lackluster Transformers video game property. Until, that is, they had had too much, and hope gave way to hype. Now the question is: Can this game, this third-person shooter, live up to the mountain of publicity and speculation it has generated?

Honestly, it’s doubtful anything could.

That being said, this is a great game. Any gamer who enjoys a solid third-person shooter will have nothing to complain about here, and any classic Transformers fan should be overjoyed with the characters, context and dedication to the franchise that High Moon has shown our favorite bots. There has been no reason to expect to get Transformers games this good. It’s kind of a miracle.

The chief thing Transformers fans need to bear in mind here, though, is that this game is solidly placed within the context of the 1980s cartoon and movie. That is not to say there is 100% continuity with the original shows (like they had continuity…) but the characters, story, and feel of the universe simply ooze Sunbow. Homages to the film and show are everywhere.

Imagine this game as a revival of the Transformers made in a universe with no Transformer media between the end of Season 3 of the old show and today, and you’ll be on the right track. You can expect most characters to be almost exactly who they were on TV in 1985.

What color is Rumble supposed to be again? *Puts FIBRIR Helmet on.*

The Decepticon campaign is Megatron- centered, with the only significant deviation being a flying level featuring the original Seekers (Flight of the Repaints = Awesome). This is not the story of Megatron’s rise to power, nor the beginning of the war. It does feature some events that are formative to the story as we know it, but this is not an origin tale.

Neither so much is the Autobot campaign; as promised we do see Optimus take charge of the Autobots, but… it’s complicated. To say that you see him “become a Prime” here is overstating it as presented.

Characters meet for the first time, familiar items emerge and situations taken for granted are illuminated, but overall this game carves a comfortable place of its own near G1 cartoon Transformers lore, and makes it a more satisfying and compelling place. Frankly, the almost episodic nature of the story came as something of a relief – it left plenty of space for more game, more story, and didn’t offend any of my preconceived Transformers sensibilities.

Level design is linear, but no more so than average. The scenery is so detailed, intricate, and on occasion spectacular, that you never feel like you’ve been somewhere before. Your objectives are dynamic enough that you feel propelled forward by the story, never corralled by the level walls.

The “defend this area full of turrets” scheme is a common occurrence, but most instances feel story-driven, and turrets usually equal fun. There is, however, a “Defend the moving elevator! With turrets!” sequence that just feels like busywork.

Cybertron is a rich and varied environment which will be recognizable to any longtime fan, and will be enjoyed by any connoisseur of gaming environments. You can be sure of repeat playthroughs revealing details and Transformers references that you missed the first time.

The setting is one of the game’s greatest features, so be sure to enjoy it.

Your weapons consume ammunition and not just for show, you’ll need to conserve ammo and place your shots wisely, lest you find yourself hip deep in laser-fire with out a pistol.

Those who played the multiplayer demo on Xbox Live may not have gotten the right idea about the game as a whole, nor even the scope of its online play. The multiplayer aspects were significantly more fun after gaining an organic understanding of the character abilities, weapons, and effects of alternate modes on combat in the single player campaigns. For instance, the ability to fly at the drop of a hat significantly affects strategic game modes, but leveraging that advantage takes practice.

Control for the most part is tight; aiming in particular feels well tuned. Transitioning from robot mode to alt mode can take some getting used to. Once you get the hang of it, though, it becomes a fluid and natural part of play that influences your strategic decisions and offers opportunities rarely explored in this genre. High Moon, rather that basing their game around the classic Transformers gimmick, have used that gimmick to add something dynamic and fresh to a tried and true game format. After all, adding “Hit them with a truck” to your list of solutions in a tense firefight is nothing to sneeze at.

In a move that I’m sure will worry many players, the transformation button is located at the L3 position initially, with the melee on the R3. Thumbstick buttons are not always our friends, but in this case, High Moon’s reasoning is sound. A player, using these buttons as placed, will be able to skillfully move, fire, steer, transform, accelerate, and utilize each character’s two special skills without moving a thumb off the controller.

However, “heavy stickers” (one of which the reviewer happens to be) will quickly want to switch to the second controller layout. It re-maps the button to the position formerly occupied by the weapon switch, moving that function to the D-Pad. If you can master the first layout, the advantage is clear, but if you’re one of the many who find themselves unexpectedly crouching when you mean to make a break for it in Call of Duty, you may want to save yourself the trouble and just change this setting at the outset. Sadly, the melee remains as-is.

More flexible are your Y-axis options. The Y-axis inversion can be toggled on or off for each individual alt mode separately, including your robot mode.

Teamwork is the watch word in non-deathmatch War for Cybertron multiplayer match. High Moon has crafted a set of customizable character types whose balanced interaction is remarkable. A team skilled in utilizing the unique talents of each kind of character to support one another is nearly unstoppable.

The characters have a limited selection of weapons, and upgrades for each class. The color scheme, while customizable, only provides a limited palette for each chassis. Online play allows your characters to level up as they are used, and the upgrades you receive rapidly make palatable differences in play.

This encourages play with multiple classes, which is worth mastering. Being a versatile player within this character set can be a great asset. Each character type has valid offensive and defensive functions. The victorious player will at least understand them all.

The most disappointing aspect of the multiplayer mode is the manner in which flying characters are limited. When a flier goes too high, they are simply stopped by an invisible ceiling. Invisible walls are always fail. Perhaps in future games when fliers affect multiplayer balance, it could be addressed more subtly, possibly through airborne weapon range limits or vertical visibility control.

War for Cybertron is the best Transformers game ever, and it’s a slaggin’ good game in general. While the base play is derived from some of recent years’ favorites, in sharp contrast with most licensed games (which are hobbled from the outset by a mountain of preconceived kibble, superfluous, or flat-out contrary to the play needs of the game), its subtle innovation comes from a masterful utilization of its license’s gimmick.

Perhaps the only like franchise to have video games conceived within it that were not intended to be tie-ins or a redux of existing media is Star Wars – a franchise which can claim some of gaming’s greatest achievements under its belt. War for Cyberton was built from the ground up to be a game; written, directed, designed, populated, rendered, and tested to be played; and it shows.

High Moon’s distinguished treatment of the franchise in and of itself is a distinct leap in the right direction for all of Transformers media. They’ve created one of the few, perhaps the only, piece of Transformers in motion media that could have stood on its own without the power of its name and history to justify it.

This game has what makes the Transformers great.

Source: TFormers.com

Towards the end of the review, they gave the game rating 9 out of 10.  So that sounds good! Wouldn’t you think? ^^

Here’s the video review as well for those who like to get better idea via the visuals if words above cannot convince why the game is fantastically fun!

So what are your thoughts Transformers fans?  Is this spectacular or what?!?!?

Source: TFormers.com, All images sourced and copyrighted by TFormers.com

Related posts:

1. 7 reasons why War for Cybertron is the best (and most decent) Transformers game to have
2. War for Cybertron – Further news
3. Transformers: War on Cybertron

Well. Well.

Looks like I was wrong with Heidi Montag after all. Thanks for the rumours that spread across the internet about her so-called audition.

I suspected the video link she personally worked on wasn’t really  ’star-quality material’.  The more I look at her taped audition closely, the more I realised how stupid I was to think someone of that kind of personality would ever want to take up Megan Fox’ replacement for upcoming Michael Bay’s project ‘Transformers 3′.

Instead, (now it’s officially confirmed) we have a hot runway fashion model from Victoria Secret that’s pitched in to be better contender for the Sam Witwicky’s new girlfriend.  After finding out a little bit about  her profile and looking at the picture below, it’s easy to see why she’s best picked out of the the other contenders.

Megan Fox's replacement

Her name is Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.  A young English model at the age of 23, whose career success always been in the fashion business, was a deemed as the ‘new Kate Moss’ as some people say. And for a young girl to work for many best-selling cover magazines like Vogue, it would be hard for Michael Bay to turn down such a pretty-faced girl to audition for such action-hyped film.

So congratulations to her!

Here’s the congratulatory footage (done by Victoria Secret) of her accepting the role in Transformers 3!^^

Source: The Independent

Related posts:

1. Transformers 2 Movie Review
2. Transformer 3 to begin production in July
3. Transformers 2 Poster – International Release

Okay…. There’s been a crazy amount of rumours spreading around online for the past few days that a new Mazinkaizer, super almighty demi-god (Oops! Sorry I mean GOD) persona of Mazinger Z is returning to the TV. As new set of OVA series. I was checking to be sure my hard-wired eyes and ears weren’t playing tricks on me….

Till I arrived at a couple of links. Here and there.

It’s title debut comes as Mazinkaizer SKL, judging by the glossy poster above.  Goodness, it’s been almost 10 years since Mazinkaizer made its spectacular debut.

I also happened to stumble upon this fan’s video on Youtube, foretelling about Mazinkaizer SKL going to be released this year.

At the time of writing, I found out from a reliable source of information on FB, that rumour has it that we have two new different hero characters in this show (as depicted in this video).  It turns out Kouji Kabuto is no longer our main protagonist of the new series??!

THIS CANNOT BE!!

It’d better only a rumor, not a FACT!!  I could not imagine myself if we ever lose Kouji Kabuto to some new kids on the block, whom we know very little of.  Some even said that Kouji is no longer piloting Mazinkaizer anymore?!? No!!!!!!!!!

I don’t want to believe it!  IT MUST BE ABSURD!!! >o<

And I hope that’s what will eventually happen…

Source: Mazingo, Mazinkaizer SKL, ANN.com

Related posts:

1. Mazinkaizer SKL News Update
2. Another Mazinkaizer SKL Update
3. Mazinkaizer

Sorry for no posts for the past couple of weeks.

You probably got my last twits mentioning I was waffling through mountains of paperwork I need to do for my travel visa to find work in Australia.  Their visa requirements are horribly insane!!  Just seem more bureaucratic cr$p to me!  And it’s still aint over.  Sigh…..

Anywho, had enough of my own personal cirumstances, I’m posting on the new Gaiking movie trailer that’s just been released.  Here’s the video below.

Thanks to everyone’s contribution on my Facebook fan page, many concluded rumours that it’s set to released in 2012 for Europe, 2011 for USA and 2010 for Japan. (Oh wait…. The last makes more sense. Needs no intro. D’uh!)

Whatever the case it may be, this is one of the next best giant robot shows that’s highly anticipated to arrive at the big screens!! Here’s another link for those who’s interested to know why and how this project got started and what’s in it for the producers.

What do you think guys? Are you all excited or what??

Source: GeekTyrant.com

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2. Macross Frontier (MF) Movie Premier with a (boy) Ranka Lee!
3. More Gundam Unicorn Movie Trailers!

Never heard of these new animated series of Transformers.

Said to have been around for past few years during its airing on America’s The Cartoon Network, and were based on Transformers G1 toy line.

And here’s the Japanease toy commercial toy for the show, by Takara Tomy.

To be honest, I’m not really impressed with the way the series’ been produced, let alone its artwork.  It’s not that because the artwork was anything but “clumsy”, but rather it lacks its unique appeal as compared to the 80’s classics. And because I’m such an avid old school mecha fan,  I felt whole plot and content of the show was more……

“Kiddie-like”

Sure the original series was aimed for kids too.  But (on a personal note) I just felt this is very wrong for new animated series to have reduced itself to a type of show where people could not fully grasp on the whole picture why Transformers G1 was made as one of the pop culture phenomenon of that decade!  I mean that’s what made it special.

But this…. I’m just not too sure.  Maybe I’m a bit biased?

What do you think?  You’d think the new Transformers animated series live up to its expectations of the original?

Related posts:

1. Transformers G1 DVD Collection Set
2. Transformers – Origins
3. Second Transformers movie was cool. But wait. What’s next? Another possible retro robot series movie in the making?

Now that Gundam UC is happening underway, there’s this one little surprise I uncovered lately.  But I couldn’t seem to put a finger on it….

Does anybody remember this actress?

Recognise the skirts?  The socks?  The Japanese uniform?  And the swinging metallic ball with razor-shapped blades stickin out??!?!

Boy, she was nasty for Uma Thurman’s nemesis!

And 7 years later, here we have her performing as a singing actress for the recent Gundam Unicorn movie and she’s singing its openining theme,

Check out her videos below! (her music video vs the movie trailer)

Source: LA Weekly

Related posts:

1. More Gundam Unicorn Movie Trailers!
2. Gundam Unicorn: Hong Kong Premiere
3. Macross – Biggest crossover singing group concert in history

Was watching this video clip this morning after tweaking my Twitter settings.

Even though this video was many months old (timestamped on 9th July 2009), I still find it relevant on the fact that Japanese subculture is gaining traction (steadily) in many places around the world, even including Australia and New Zealand. I’ve seen a few around in Auckland for the past few years despite our incredible low ratio of 3000:1.

Have a look and you’ll be amazed. Especially how the otaku specialist said something about otaku gained a bad image after a psychopath killer went on a rampage to kidnap young girls. And then killed and dumped them into a river. The killer was an otaku fanatic…. 0.0.

Also, check out the massive Gundam cosplay video at 5:19!!^o^

Source: Youtube

Related posts:

1. Anime Industry – Too late to save? What’s left for otaku and the rest of the world?
2. Real Life Gundam Model built over the land of the rising sun – For real.
3. Can’t build Gundam? No job.

After rushing back from work yesterday, I went online to check out more Gundam Unicorn movie trailers since my last post.

And… Sure enough! Here they are. ^^

Ready to impress online crowd of Gundam aficionados all over the world!

First trailer is the promo on Gundam Unicorn, how the story has finally come to the final chapter after 30 years since Universal Century came into existence. Whilst the second trailer is more of a teaser trailer of some sort. Both of them come with the subtitles on, if you turn on their caption son the right side of the control panel.

Looks very impressive so far!! :)

Related posts:

1. Introducing… Japan’s Gundam Unicorn Voice Cast Crew!
2. Gundam Unicorn: Hong Kong Premiere
3. Gundam Unicorn: Blue Ray/DVD for sales

A week so ago, Sunrise made a big announcement that they’re planning to bring Gundam Unicorn into the big screen at the world premiere in Hong Kong on 6th Feb 2010 (in three days time).

Several online (and offline) comic and manga publishers throughout the Asian region are keeping a keen eye on that, especially with helping out the ticket sales. Expecting that it’s going to be massive on the day of its worldwide release.

This is so fantastic! After watching the trailer (short version) below, I feel so looking forward to book a plane ticket to HK and stay there for overnight accommodation to just watch the film.

All that effort for 2 hour+ film! (Yeah I wish)

Crazy. I know.  But at least, I won’t be only one who’s that excited to look into this!!!^^

Source: ANN.com, Youtube.com

Related posts:

1. Astro Boy Movie Trailer (in Hong Kong)
2. More Gundam Unicorn Movie Trailers!
3. Introducing… Japan’s Gundam Unicorn Voice Cast Crew!

Just read exciting news!

Sunrise is going to bring back one of the great 80s classic mecha anime show back into this modern century.

Armored Trooper Votoms is here! THEY’RE BACK!

A new promotional video of this classic series is out!

And after a while, I was browsing for it on Youtube yesterday…  And lo and behold, I found it!

This is fantastic! And with only less than 30 days to go, it’s going to be one heck of an exciting ride to relive the essence of 80s great anime classics!!^^

Source: ANN.com, Youtube.com

Related posts:

1. Votoms Producers: On Promo Video
2. Gurren Lagann Parallel Works 2 Promo Video
3. Time for old school Votoms memory recap