Verdict: A lesson in how to transform an exciting film into a very dull game.
For anyone who grew up in the 1980s, the phrase 'robots in disguise' will elicit fond memories of sitting glued to the telly watching 'Transformers'. And finally, just over a month ago, the long-awaited Hollywood blockbuster of the same name made its appearance.
If you haven't seen the film, here's a very potted version: a long-running robot war between the Autobots and Decepticons (good vs evil) has spread to Earth as they each battle to control the Allspark, an object that's capable of granting independent life to normal electronic and mechanical objects. Chick flick it ain't.
The film was launched with an epic marketing campaign and the not unexpected game-of-the-movie spin-off. Transformers: The Game is a third-person action/adventure game, billed as having open-ended environments with a number of selectable mission points - think Need for Speed with robots - but what you really have is a linear progression through the movie.
You can play as either an Autobot or a Decepticon. The Autobots, as the good guys, aren't allowed to lay waste to everything they see (in fact, you're penalised for doing so). At your disposal are two guns and two very large fists for punching the enemy. Oh, and you can turn into a rather naff car. The Decepticons have a little more variety: airborne violence with Starscream and Blackout, tunnelling action with Scorponok, or fists and blades with Barricade.
Both sides have shields, which negates any damage caused by guns or thrown objects, and defeats the object of having those skills. It also means that if you play as an Autobot, the game descends into a basic beat-'em-up scenario. Playing as the Decepticons is a little more fun - they can waste an entire town lasting for nearly an hour. However, it's still a beat-'em-up' setting with some bells and whistles thrown in.
The list of faults is endless: the missions are repetitive, and the number of bugs (such as screwed-up and repetitive audio) suggests that the game was rushed out in time for the film, and it's hard to play without using a gamepad.
The only aspect of the game in its favour is the graphics, inasmuch as they aren't crap. There's reasonable use of smoke and particle effects, and the destructible environment is fun in places.
Transformers: The Game is a classic example of how not to make a game from a film. It's shallow, short-lived (you can finish the entire game in less than six hours), lacking in substance, and it's also buggy and repetitive. Even with its mid-range price tag, it's hard to come up with a good reason why anyone would want to part with their hard-earned cash to play a game that's all style over substance. Even the 200-odd unlockable bonus areas (such as clips from the movie) do little to enhance what little enjoyment you might get from it.
