Transformers

by Atari

Product Features

• Play as one of three heroic Autobot leaders - Optimus Prime, Red Alert or Hot Shot
• Convert from robot to vehicle mode on the battlefield, as you collect countless power-ups
• Build up your combat abilities with rocket launchers, homing missiles, stealth options and tractor beams
• Countless enemies to fight through, for hours of wild Transformers action -- destroy all-new enemies like Decepticlone Soldiers, Spider Tanks, Sentry Drones and Drop Ships
• Fight against the most powerful Decepticon leaders - Starscream, Cyclonus, Tidal Wave, and finally Megatron himself!

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000V48MA
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches ; 4.8 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: May 11, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (50 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #17,383 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Game Informer Review

As soon as Transformers fans see this score, the hate mail will begin. To them I say: "Save it." You guys will absolutely adore this game. So don't waste your time telling me how much I suck (I already know), and go play this game. You'll be glad you did. Those who aren't hopelessly devoted to this franchise, on the other hand, won't be quite as enamored. It's certainly not a bad game – in fact, I'd say this could be the start of what is potentially a very good series – but it makes too many missteps to truly appeal to a wider audience.

But before I get into what this title does wrong, let's talk about what it does right. First off, the graphics simply rock. The stages are incredible to look at, and the Transformers themselves are just as impressive. The first stage, the Amazon, is one of the best-looking environments I've ever seen on the PS2, and the others are nearly as good. There are a few bland elements, such as the Decepticlones, but none of the visuals are at all bad. The look is great all around.

I also really liked…well, the graphics are the only thing I really liked. Having only three playable Autobots was a bummer, especially since I found no reason to play as anyone except Optimus Prime, as he felt the most balanced. The gameplay let me down in just about every way possible. Combat is repetitive and boring, the controls are goofy, and the rewards you earn simply aren't that rewarding.

In each stage, you'll face the same generic robots (who are actually pretty tough – even on the lowest difficulty level, this is a pretty hard game) in some very familiar third-person action. Run around, shoot the bad guys, and pick up the health power-ups they drop. It's standard stuff, and it would be second nature to play if the control scheme weren't so weird. It uses all four of the shoulder buttons, but the face buttons are virtually forgotten. Even on the last stage, I still hadn't completely adjusted to hitting L1 to jump.

Finally, the Mini-Con system, which is the basis of the entire game, also left a lot to be desired. As you progress through the stages, you'll discover Mini-Cons: little robots that can be equipped for additional powers. Only four can be equipped at one time, and they all have different power requirements, so your best (and most power-consuming) Mini-Cons can never all be equipped at the same time, and certain ones can only be used in particular slots. I would have liked to have had certain Mini-Cons grant permanent attribute bonuses; the enemies you face (especially the bosses) get tougher and tougher, and you really don't. Those that do increase your defenses typically have to be left behind in order to equip those that are essential to completing your mission.

Every time I started to enjoy Transformers, it did something to let me down. But I still have a lot of faith that it could grow into a great series. This title has plenty of flaws, but the main issue is that it's simply too typical and too clunky. By embracing what is so cool about the franchise, this series could really grow into something special. Consider this not a failed game, just a rocky start.

Concept:
Everyone's favorite shape-shifting robots are back in an adventure that ties into the recent Armada cartoon

Graphics:
The environments are amazing, and the character models are sharp and detailed

Sound:
Meh. Not even the once-cool transforming sound is that impressive here

Playability:
The wacky default control scheme cannot be remapped and is hard to get used to no matter how long you play

Entertainment:
The cool license isn't enough to overcome the so-so gameplay, making this one for fans only

Replay:
Low

Rated: 7 out of 10
Editor: Jeremy Zoss
Issue: June 2004

2nd Opinion:
I had hoped that in my lifetime I would never have occasion to say "Optimus Prime is a fragile pansy." Unfortunately, I found myself repeating this phrase time and time again as he was blasted, punched, and hammer-thrown across all creation. Even without this inherent conceptual flaw, there are still some serious problems in the gameplay department that keep Transformers from reaching its potential. The controls are clunky, the objectives unclear, and the boss battles frustrating, making this nothing more than your average action title. However, I was amazed by how great the game looked — the cutscenes in particular are gorgeous. Plus, the ability to transform at will between vehicle and robot form lends itself to some cool moments. Maybe I even whispered "transform and roll out" to myself once or twice. Maybe.

Rated: 7 out of 10
Editor: Joe Juba


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Product Description

Transformers extends the storyline of the classic animated adventure series, where vehicles are far more than meets the eye! In this game, the Autobots on the run. Their only hope for victory lies with Minicons, a lost race of Transformers that are stranded on Earth. Lead the Transformers across the world, as they collect Minicons and fight the Decepticlone army!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! A Game That Does The TransFormers Justice!!, May 10, 2004

By 

Jarrod Leda (Tarentum, Pa United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Transformers (Video Game)

Based on how Transformers games have usually been(horrible), I wasnt expecting much. To my surprise , this game rocks. Best described as a mix of first/third person shooters, Smugglers Run , and mild platforming, it combines the best of those genres, and adds new elements to the mix. Transformations are both flawless and usefull, you can run down your enemies as a car, and quickly transfrom and start blasting. The power-ups(Obtained by collecting 'mini-cons') are very cool, and combine with each other.. adding missiles, sniper guns, night vision, ect set up in a combination you feel is best.The game runs quite smoothly, the level design is excellent, and the lack of radar or maps, gives it an adventure/exploration feel. The levels never feel repetitive or 'boxlike', the terrain, plants and little details bring it to life. The enemy AI is very good, if you fire and they dont see you, they will fan out and search, untill they have visual sight of you. Some will run and contact other bots to come help, with huge dropships adding more enemies where you have defeated them. The boss battles are what some of us have waited 20 years for, better than the original cartoon, and an absolute blast to play. (Tidal WAVE!!!)
The only strikes against it are it does run a bit short, and it is an absolute crime that the game is not 2 player. The replay would have been extended 100fold were the existing levels and powerups made available for 1 on 1 battles. Oh well. And as far as all the armada/gen 1 threads, who cares? Its about how the game plays, and this one plays well.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not too shabby for a licensed Atari game, July 26, 2004

By 

sporkdude "sporkdude" (San Jose, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

= Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Transformers (Video Game)

Well, I was weary of this game because it's licensed, it's licensed for a series of Transformers cartoons that I have never seen, and it's by Atari. I basically had a free rental and this was the only thing that caught my eye. You know what, despite all that - it turned out to be pretty good.

My main gripe is that it's not based on the original Transformers (mid 80s) series, which is really the only Transformers series around in my opinion. Being based on Armada, the only characters that I recognized and that transformed to the same vehicle were Starscream and Optimus Prime. The fans of the mid 80s show are in their twenties now, with tons of disposable income. Where the heck is a decent game for that?

Anyway, it turned out to be pretty good. It's a third person shooter basically. You can change into a car, but it's really useless because of the terrain, so the expected blend of driving and third person shooter is really not there. There are about 7 short levels (2 jungles, 2 snow based, 1 outer space, 1 island based, and 1 ship based) that are mostly done linearly, but you can comeback to earlier ones to collect Datacons and Minicons. Datacons unlock extras (movies, etc.), while Minicons are little robots that give a certain power, whether it be extra shielding, regeneration, better weapons or something else. Searching for Minicons can be annoying (I started using a guide in about the second level and beyond), but are worth it because of the improved weaponry. Most of these are optional, but rewards the extra time to find them.

There are three difficulty settings and you can play as three different autobots at almost any time (Optimus Prime, Hot Shot, Red Alert). I found the easiest level to be somewhat challenging, especially some of the bosses, so I never ventured into the higher difficulty settings. Constant save points are littered throughout each level, so you'll find yourself rarely repeating fights.

The good thing about this game was that I couldn't put it down. I was out one day, and all I could think about was coming back home and destroying Megatron. Even though not spectacular, this game really grabs you. The Minicons add a new dimension to a very standard game, and CGI movies are pretty polished as well. Finally, I got to play Optimus Prime. How cool is that?

Now to the bad. The graphics are typical of early PS2 games, and the controls seem kind of jerky. With modern shooters (like TimeSplitters 2 or James Bond's latest), it seems kind of dated. The fact that there really is no driving in the game kind of defeats the purpose of "transforming." I was pretty frustrated on the second level in easy mode. They could have made a tad easier.

All in all, if you're an Armada fan, this is a great game. If you're not, you'll still find it to be decent.

Pros:
In the end, I could not put it down.
Optimus Prime!
Minicons enhance abilities.
Numerous save points.

Cons:
It's not the "real" Transformers, so not as fun.
Graphics are subpar.
Pretty difficult in the beginner level.
Hardly ever use the automobile.
Controls are kind of clunky.

Time to complete (with FAQ guide, easiest level): 12 hours

Difficulty level (easiest level): Medium

Frustration level: Medium

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awsome, April 16, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Transformers (Video Game)

I had a chance to try the preview version of the game and I was surprised that I actually enjoyed the game very much. The game has awsome graphics (Hot Shot looked really nice). I can't wait till the full version out in May.