While The Transformers are said to be “more than meets the eye,” the same can’t be said for many games based on the beloved cartoon series. It's true that the Transformers managed to buck the trend with the critically acclaimed Transformers: War for Cybertron, the franchise has spawned its fair share of shallow, boring tie-in games. But when news leaked that Bayonetta developer PlatinumGames would be getting their hands on the 80’s mainstays to create a game entitled Transformers: Devastation, fans sat up and took notice.
Platinum promised to put their finely tuned beat-em-up skills to work on the robots in disguise, and early trailers looked very promising. But now that Transformers: Devastation has hit shelves, gamers are left wondering if the early buzz translated into an actually good Transformers game.
Here’s what reviewers are saying about the game:
“In a lot of ways, Transformers: Devastation feels like Bayonetta in disguise. It has the same linear arena combat format that alternates between narrow hallways and open environments that signal a fight from miles away. That’s not a bad thing: Bayonetta’s gameplay was solid, but its world and tone proved polarizing and its story was nigh-incomprehensible. Devastation takes some of the best pieces of Bayonetta and throws them in a package you can feel unadulteratedly good about while also producing the best Transformers game yet.”
Score: 4/5
“Nevertheless, it does its most important job right- it’s fun. A hell of a lot of fun. It doesn’t take itself seriously, yet it does pay major respect to a series many of us grew up adoring.”
Score: 8/10
“You don’t need to be a Transformers fan at all to appreciate Devastation. No matter what its origins this is a fantastic action adventure, with great combat and fun visuals.”
Score: 8/10
“The nonstop action helps propel players from start to finish. There are a few shortcomings, though. For starters, the game is priced at $50, and feels somewhere in between a full retail release and a downloadable game. There’s a lot to sift through here, but I could have gone for more characters, secrets, and unlockable modes (a challenge mode is basically it.”
Score: 8.5/10
“Combat is fast, fluid, and flashy. Fans of Platinum’s earlier works like Bayonetta or Metal Gear Rising will immediately feel the similarities. Just don’t expect the same level of depth.”
Score: 7/10
While critics agree that Transformers: Devastation offers brisk, exciting combat, the lack of extra content and the brevity seem to hold the game back. Nevertheless, reviews suggest that Transformers: Devastation is a game worth checking out, for both tried and true fans of the 'bots and fans of beat-em-up games.
Considering that the Transformers have made some odd video game choices lately (fans of the franchise weren't too enthused by Angry Birds Transformers), Transformers: Devastation seems like a breathe of fresh air. Fans can pick up the game now and see if the Transformers have finally managed break the lackluster game streak and get a game that the beloved series deserves.
Transformers Devastation is out now for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.