No surprises roll out of 'Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen'

Video Game Review

[3 Comment(s)]

By David Bates

A few episodes of the old "Transformers" cartoons are included in Revenge of the Fallen. These TV shows from the '80s, laughably awful by today's standards, are more entertaining than the game itself.

Autobots are still battling on to defeat the evil forces of the Decepticons. You can select between either the Autobot or Decepticon campaign. The different transformers carry different weaponry, and some can fly. They have one thing in common, though - they move like a ton of bricks. Very clumsy bricks.

Players have very little control over how fast a transformer is moving at any given time. Transformers can walk in robot mode, but there's only one speed whilst strafing, which makes it very difficult to shoot precisely.

As for vehicle mode, the controls assign acceleration and transformation to the same button, meaning that there's no way to stop accelerating without changing back to a robot. All this means that it's nearly impossible to make fine adjustments to a Transformer's position, a sensation akin to wearing big, cast iron boots. Those boots would also make irritating squeaking noises, as the audio in Revenge of the Fallen is not up to par.

The same two or three lines get repeated over and over again during missions. It's exactly like being around a child who owns a "talking" toy. The repetitive and occasionally absent music doesn't help matters.

Rise of the Fallen has an online multiplayer component. Some of the more annoying aspects of the single player mode are absent here, but the controls are still gummy and sluggish.

This game is not an exception to the well-known rule that movie-based video games suck out loud. The only fans ravenous enough to enjoy it are likely the same ones who'd enjoy anything with an Autobot insignia. Don't buy this game, and maybe the people responsible will devote time and effort to something more respectable than a shameless cash-in.

Originally Published: Issue 806 - July 1, 2009

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