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

Get ready for impact!

Looking back all the great visual highlights of the game, I was thinking at the back of my mind why this is GOING TO BE THAT AN AWESOME GAME TO HAVE to have.  And I can only think of 7 very good reasons to have this game (and why every other fan should own this game as well)

1. IT’S INSANELY FUN.

With its stunning graphics, amazing 3D environments and character design details, one would find it very hard to disagree its fun factor this game provides, even though the critics review won’t be made officially after its 22nd June release date.  You have so many of your favourite characters to choose from.  Autobots, Decepticons, Optimus Prime, Bumble Bee, Megatron, Starscream and the rest; ready to take pounce at each other’s throats.  You get to experience a lot of these Transformers in a very unique way from the first-person perspective such that you’ll get this total freedom to explore each characters’ unique fighting transforming abilities that you would never thought it was possible.  With this much character interaction and four different classes to choose from,,

2. IT’S FAST.

Yes. Fast.  Fast as in not the loading times (sorry)^^”.  I mean given the nature of the game is action-oriented, you’d expect all the action sequences would go lightning fast! With background explosions, enemy atttacks, death beams and simultaneous transformers fighting/transformation sequences all happening in one game disk, what more instense action could a guy ask for?^^ (But hopefully the loading time won’t be painfully slow once you got the game as depicted above….)

3. IT’S SEXY.

Okay.  Maybe not that kinda of sexy we oughta expecting from this game.

But we do know how to love our favourite characters transform into different types of vehicles we like to see (and play). So that’s what made a good game a good game. Game features, action sequences, cooperative team play, intense fighting atmosphere on Cybertron etc.. Everything’s just so sexy with it.   Nuff said.

4. IT’S AVAILABLE ON ALL GAME PLATFORMS.

That’s a huge thing.  So there’s no reason why every gaming mecha fan out there who shouldn’t be heading out to the game store (offline and online) and grab their copy of this game, irrespective of what gaming platform you have at the moment.  PS3, XBox360, Wii, Nintendo DS.   High Light Studio guys have done a massive good job of giving every Transformers fans (young, old and eccentric) what they want for their birthday or early Christmas presents.

SO GET OUT THERE AND START ORDERING THEM!!

5. IT’S MULTIPLAYER.

Yes.  As far as I’m aware of the XBox360 that’s been going about for quite a while, they got the exclusive of the multiplayer functions within. So says their Highlight Studio’s press release

Exclusive to Xbox 360 owners, the demo will grant players early access to a deep Transformers multiplayer experience, offering fans a sample of some of the character classes and game modes that will be found in the final version. It will feature full, 10-player matches and drop players straight into Molten, one of the game’s expansive maps set on the Transformers’ home planet of Cybertron.

Source: TFormers.com

Comes with four modes of flavour.

a. Team DeathMatch

Just like any multiplayer games you ever experienced, your main goal was to head out and start eliminating random opponents, whether you’re on your own and playing in a team.  And you have to complete the goal under some strict conditions of the game, usually time limit or maximum number of opponents killed.  This game offers that too and you should have no problem getting used to this game format if you’re big fan of CounterStrike or Unreal game franchise.  So the stage is all yours to set.

b. Conquest

Conquest is a capture and hold style game when you take your team to takedown your enemies stronghold that has their flag.  To win this game mode, you use your men to eliminate the enemies and the enemies were busy guarding the their flag beacon.  Once you eliminate them all and none survive, you take over their beacon and replace with yours and the match is yours to sealed.

c. Countdown to Extinction

This game mode has one simple objective, just like above.  You take your bomb and place it at the enemy base and you’ll win.  That’s simply it.  You don’t necessarily have to detonate the bomb.  You have to make your men stay alive in the game whilst carrying the bomb and no letting fall into the wrong hands.

d.  Power Struggle

It’s an interesting one.  One of type of gameplay is not commonly used in multiplayer games before.  Hence this would be the first.  The game style is similar to the concept of Capture the Flag, where is each teams’ have their own set of flags and your mission is simply to grab your opponent’s flags as many as you can and bring it to your own territory.

e. Code of power

A two-minute and half match where you and your opponents are fighting for a giant melee weapon.

6. IT’S FIRST PROPER TRANSFORMERS GAME WE HAVE FOR A LONG WHILE.

Well looking at the history pages here, I can see why it’s so (and here’s the part why I claimed it’s most decent game to date).

Whilst reading everything else about it’s been mentioned why Transformers name was never meant to do well historically.  When I meant by that is that given technology back then, everything was so simple and plain to program back then.  Commodore64 was one earliest adoption for the game of Transformers G1.  It’s not hard to see why they couldn’t resist the chance to make the game when everybody were so looking for it when nobody ever thought of an idea of having the game at home.

But sadly we were all mistaken to believe it’s going to be one of those pioneer games.for such fantastic cartoon series. Instead the game ended up as E.T 2 instead. If you take a video here of Transformers on Commodore64.

You can see that it’s a platform type of game.  Which is pretty obvious since in those days, games were a lot easier to developed in that form during those days.  Many people went out and expect to get plenty of games like this.  Many except for one.  Lots of complaints about the game being too buggy and it was a super hard to play with.  It’s hard for many people to get around to understand how the game got involved when you have several Autobot characters to control but nothing of this video suggests you want to experience each robots’ unique strengths and weaknesses.  Whilst I was looking for further criticism what made this game stink, I come across a retro link by a Transformers who remembered this game and this is his thoughts of the view.

Basically, Transformers is a platform shoot-em-up. You take on the role of a team of five Autobots (Optimus Prime, Jazz, Bumblebee, and two others that I can’t remember!) and you have to explore the games levels collecting pieces of the Autobots logo and returning them to your base, negotiating the array of platforms and avoiding the onslaught from the Decepticons who are out to stop you. Collect four pieces and the level is complete. Why they are doing it, is anyone’s guess!

To help you, each Autobot has three modes of transport – walking, flight, or vehicle mode. Different modes are best used to negotiate different parts of the levels with some platforms only being accessible through flight. Naturally, driving around is one of the quickest ways to explore the levels, but it is all too easy to drive too fast and end up going over the edge off a platform. You are open to attack in vehicle mode, but can shoot back in robot or flight mode, and different modes of transport offer different benefits and levels of control for manoeuvring around the levels themselves.

Each of the Autobots on offer gives different advantages and disadvantages to the player. It is possible to switch between ‘bots at any time during the game as long as you move into one of a number of pods scattered around the playing area. Naturally, Optimus Prime is the best for firepower and damage resistance, but he is rather cumbersome when it comes to negotiating some of the trickier platforms. By the same token, Bumblebee is not a ‘bot to use if you are expecting heavy combat, but because of his size, he can go where no ‘bot has gone before. However, Jazz would appear to be the best all-rounder.

The graphics in the game are something of a mixed bag. The sprites are well drawn and well-animated, especially the transformation sequences, but the background images are appalling. The platforms consist of little more than metallic pipes on a plain black background. Yes, the game scrolls smoothly enough, but when the screen doesn’t even look interesting, the gameplay has to exceptional to make you come back for that elusive “one more go”.

Special mention has to go to the music by Fred Gray. He has managed to produce a faithful renditioning of the Transformers theme for the game, although there isn’t a great deal of music during the game itself. However, the sound effects are rather sparse and what is there is rather pitiful!

Overall, this game is too damn difficult for it’s own good. It is a difficult game in it’s own right, but coupled with a lousy control system that is unresponsive and, and an icon system that makes the game a pain to play (not to mention making transforming your ‘bot difficult and not something that can be done in a hurry). Denton Designs were famed for their icon-based games for the C64, starting with their revolutionary graphic adventure, Shadowfire, but icons have no place in a platform game.

If that wasn’t bad enough, there is some dubious collision detection, and worst of all, it is impossible to tell what is coming from off the screen. All too often, you can be in flight mode and suddenly finding yourself crashing head first into an oncoming platform.

To be honest, this game never really set the world alight when it came out, and looking back at it now it has dated very badly.

Source:  InfiniteFrontiers

A real bummer intro of Transformers gaming franchise to what’s supposed to be a very promising start of the franchise.

And…

Does anybody remember this NES version of Transformers game?

Another very disappointing and hard game for the fans to barely hate it, let alone enjoy it.

I remembered correctly a long time ago, this game only exists to be sold in Asian countries including Japan. But it was never set foot in the USA.  Judging by the quality of the game and infinite source of its negative reviews, one could guess why.  Since the title is in Japanese (Transformers: Convoy No Nazo or Transformers: Master of Convoy) and the contribution to this game came from the Japanese exclusive frontline of its own Transformers G1 series.  The title really appealed to me to try this game out.  My fingers were eagerly curious and eager to see if I’m going to get a great fun out of this.

But sadly, to my own disappointment, after seeing too many “Game Over”  screens before even passing level 1 of the stage, I realised this game is was not really meant for kids at my age for fun (I was 8 years old that time).  Moreover, I never heard any kid in my neighbourhood ever beat this game so easily.  The game was said to be one on the extreme difficulty and you’re tested for avoiding enemy attacks and attack them when necessarily.  Reading one of the commentator’s review on this, I’m glad to know someone out there who also shared my frustration over the years and left disappointed that it wasn’t going to be fun anymore.  Or at all.

Another tragic tale of its cartoon masterpiece game plans for the franchise.

NB: Here’s another Transformers game you may be interested to watch. This guy managed to finish the game in 4:25, WITHOUT A SINGLE LIFE LOST! I couldn’t believe when I saw this!! This guy makes the game looks so easy to beat! Check it out for your viewing pleasure!

And but now we’re in the modern age where video game system are starting to evolve and they get more powerful and faster, and with recent PS2 titles of Transformers and Transformers Movie recently coming out the past few years, I’m noticing that this is beginning process of the Transformers franchise wanting to regain its lost reputation in not making the gamers for the Transformers fans several years since its 8-bit ugly intro.

Of course, this doesn’t always happen to be the case such as  Transformers Beast Wars franchise on PS1 and Nintendo 64, for having one of the worst gaming platforms ever introduced on 64 bit gaming platform.  But hey no one’s perfect right?

So it’s safe to say that things are getting better and better, not much worse, for today’s video game makers to push their boundaries to a whole new level of fun.

7.  IT’S FOR THE FANS.  WHAT ELSE CAN YOU SAY?

Lastly this game is made for the fans of who love robot shows for a long while now, not just for Transformers fans speficially specificially.  I don’t know about you.  But I’m pretty excited about this game coming up withing 6 days or so for now.  My childhood life wasn’t that great in my days of the 80s, so hopefully this new game will help to replace old memories with some new fun ones! So yes.  What else can you say for a mecha fan other than “YES! YES! YES!”.

So, fans!  Let’s  go and roll out!^^

Source: TFormers.com, All images do not owned by me and are copyrighted.

Image sourced by GameTrailers.com

With the all the latest hype going on with the upcoming Transformers: War for Cybertron that went on for a few months or so, I decided to go and snap what great juicy news we got with this crazed gaming development for the past few days of this month.  (And I’m sure many of you Transformers fans out there are keen to see what’s going on^^)

First stop, it’s the introduction of Trypticon into the gaming mix.

Trypticon making his behemoth debut

TFormers.com’s been slowly releasing some incredibly nice visual footage of Autobots and Decepticons, along with our usual favourite heroes (and villains). You know, Optimus Prime, Bumble Bee, Megatron, Starscream and what nots. And now we have Trypticon making its huge explosive entrance to give us fans what we’re craving for when getting the game.

Here’s Trypticon’s main entrance.

And here we have extra visual footage of the game itself (Images are copyrighted by TFormers.com)

A video footage of Transformers War for Cybertron on XBox360, commented by one of its lead game designers at High Moon Studios, explaining their inspiration making the game, especially giving us fans intriguing storylines about this game is a actually prequel to the classic 80’s cartoon classic Transformers G1.

Check it out!!

And finally, do you know that (besides XBox360, Playstation 3, Wii) they’re planning to release this game on Nintendo DS platform too?

Here are some screenshots of the DS version of the game.

And here’s the video coverage one of the lead Nintendo DS game designer for War for Cybertron on DS.

Thanks for TFormers.com for providing these excellent coverage of the game.  My blog post would have made without their supplied input on this.

For those who are interested (and THOSE WHO CAN’T WAIT!!) to get your pre-orders  of the game , you can check out on my site, on the right handside of page and you will see a couple of ads showing picture links of War for Cybertron games.

Available on all platforms.  Playstation 3, Xbox360, Nintendo Wii, DS, PC etc.  Currently, priced at US $59.99.

Oh man… I feel like I should grab this game as well.

Source: TFormers.com, All images are copyright by TFormers.com

Oh Wow!

It just occurred to me that Tokyo Game Show 2009 happened over the weekend whilst I was away at my friend’s place for fun, food and games amongst with other busy things I’m involved with lately. Looks like I’d better get into the scoop and see what fun I missed…

After watching the video below, I expected nothing less of the game show. Lots, lots of promotional stands on the latest video games on all platforms, developed by various international software companies of the world. Some big ones like Microsoft, Capcom, EB, Activision etc etc. And compared to the experience I had with other cultural expos that revolves travel, wines, food (and anime of course) in NZ, this was massive, off the charts.

It’s definitely a very, very, very (and I do mean) very wide space of a video games ‘playground’, where people of all walks of life come together to frolick themselves to their utmost content for hours.

Here are some of the latest video game trailers you may be interested to view. (Well they are my personal interests to me, because I’m fan of big guys game makers like Capcom, Koei and Konami)

Final Fantasy XIV

Metal Gear Online

Sengoku Musou 3 (by Koei: makers of Dynasty Warriors Series)

Trinity: Souls of Zill O’ll (by Koei: Makers of Dynasty Warriors Series)

Tatsunoko vs Capcom Allstars

The last trailer was interesting one because it featured certain characters that have mecha-esque characteristics. One of them was a giant robot called Gold Lightan, a very popular super robot show from the early 80s and he’s selectable fighter in the game (from the looks of it). Anyone who’s got Gold Lightan as a favourite super robot series from those early days? I wish it was. But they never aired it back in Malaysia.

And….

I found out that our anime enthusiast idol ‘legend’, Danny Choo, recently received a photo of a giant Gundam’s head (which was disassembled a few weeks ago) been put on a display at the Tokyo Game Show! See the link below.

http://www.dannychoo.com/fusion/en/5750/TGS+Report+Gundam+Head.html

How tragic it is! For them to do something like that! Unspeakable!

Source: CartoonLeap.com, DannyChoo.com