Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Review

BY Nicholas Rego | POSTED: 31 July 2009

Perhaps transform into a better game?



With the summer well underway, you can either do two things in Dubai - flock to the malls or head to the cinemas for the latest summer blockbusters. And of course, hot on the heels of the movie releases comes the infernal slew of video games based on movies. For as long as I can remember, I have yet to review a video game that does the movie justice, or at least comes close to it. Sadly, my latest experience with Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on the PS3 was yet another disappointing experience, and left me debating which was more painful to sit through - the movie or the game. Truth be told, it would be unfair for me to slate both in this review, so I’ll just stick to the video game.



When Transformers was released last year on the various consoles, it was plagued with various issues, ranging from buggy graphics, boring gameplay, crippled controls and a host of other problems. So it’s only expected that the developers would learn from their mistakes and ensure that the next version was much more polished for fans. To be fair, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a marked improvement over 2007’s blunder, but it still has some shortcomings that make the overall game less enjoyable.

Once again, the Autobots and the Decepticons square off against each other in a bid to either save or destroy the human race. The two parallel campaigns run seamlessly, and have a variety of missions for you to unlock as you blast your way through each level. Unfortunately, the missions themselves eventually begin to mirror each other, and consist of destroying an enemy base or Transformer, or defending a base from attacks. Though each single player campaign is lengthy and ensure plenty of gaming hours, the action soon becomes a bit repetitive. That’s not to say that it’s boring in any way – often you’ll find yourself absolutely overwhelmed by the on-screen explosions and robots flying across the screen.

There are a variety of Transformers to choose from either side, with some classics such as Optimus Prime, Starscream, and Bumblebee making an appearance, as well as some new characters exclusive to the game. Each Transformer has a basic melee attack, as well a primary and secondary weapon. You also get a unique special ability with each robot, ranging from health regeneration to devastating shockwaves. Each of your attributes can be powered up when you finish a level, allowing you to tweak and master your Transformer’s abilities. It’s an evenly balanced reward system based on the number of enemies you can clear in a level, special takedowns,  and how quickly you finish a mission. The control system however, needs a bit of getting used to – the face buttons are used to jump, boost, and melee attack, while the shoulder buttons let you cycle weapons as well as quickly transform into vehicle mode. While in vehicle mode you can still attack your enemies as you zip around roads or soar through the air, and a combination of the face buttons will let you transform back while performing a surprise attack. Still, trying to pull off a lock-on while transforming and then cycling through your weapons will have your fingers in a cramp.

It all sounds very exciting, but after a while it soon grows incredibly dull. The missions don’t have any particular link to each other, and you’re only allowed to play levels that you’ve unlocked by achieving a certain score. It’s also incredibly annoying that you have to listen to a drawn out monologue after each mission, which I would much rather skip through. The voice-acting is passable, though there is a very bland rock soundtrack which is really off-putting.



Should you tire of the single player gameplay, you can of course choose to hop online and beat up other players in one of the various game modes. While not necessarily ground-breaking, this offers some diversity to the game, though be on your guard for annoying players who fly around the levels targeting you with homing missiles before you can even step forward. There was also a noticeable lag in a couple of games that I played, which made for a rather disappointing multiplayer experience.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a marked improvement from the first game, but doesn’t hold your attention long enough to keep you playing for too long. If you’re fan of the franchise, then give this game a shot – if you’re not, then you’re best moving on as there isn’t anything special to see – not even Megan Fox!