Transformers: Fall of Cybertron PlayStation 3

Released on 24-Aug-2012

• Noobs of the World

  
  

  Ah, noobs. So full of hope and ambition, and usually very quickly pwned at the hands of a more seasoned player. Games wouldn't be the same without them, and we must all remember that we were all noobs once. So, once again a gentle prodding was done around the office, as members of the digital team drudge up memories of their own noobish moments...

  

  Carl - Design Doodler

  As a lot of people did, I got Battlefield 3 the day it came out and I was really excited about the jets and couldn't wait to fly around and blow some noobs up.

  However, after missed chance after missed chance and finally getting into one I made the mistake of hitting the throttle before I had learnt any of the controls. I managed to take off and do a perfect loop-the-loop. The only problem being that I looped straight into the ground, leaving my fellow players laughing and me a bit embarrassed...

  Tom - All About The Assets

  The great example of my own noobishness was in Battlefield 3. I was having trouble getting to grips with the jet controls, so I changed them up and found them much easier to use. Unfortunately whilst showcasing my new airborne skills I banked sharply and flew straight into a tall tower...

  

  The noobishness of another player springs to mind when playing a frantic multiplayer session of Transformers: War for Cybertron. A rather mouthy teenager came online on the opposing team as an Autobot, stating he was going to "own all n00bs and turn them into scrap". Upon entering the match as Megatron he declared "I AM THE MIGHTY MEGATRON, ALL SHALL FA--", his speech ending as I shot him point blank in the face.

  In the next match it was a team switch with him now choosing Autobots and me Decepticons. He chose Optimus Prime and once the match started and he'd killed one member of my team he declared "One Shall Stand--"; I again cut him down mid-quote by shooting him again, point blank. I then finished the quote "One shall fall"

  

  Robyn - In-your-face Interfacer

  When I first joined the Online Team a few years ago, I was introduced to the merits of the Xbox 360 controller. Which, I discovered harshly, handles nothing like the Wii-mote which I was most used to, or any PS2 game I ever recalled playing. Anyway, after giving the team a dose of motion sickness, I gave up on Dead to Rights: Retribution after "Look up at the ceiling - ooh no - down at the floor - ooohh no back up at the ceiling... waahh, into a wall... oh no back at the floor. And I'm facing a wall again."

  

  I was rubbish. 

  I probably still am.

  
  

  Damien - Good Word-Writing Man

  Wii Sports. First time using the Wii controller I did so a bit more... enthusiastically than my brothers. So there's me, running halfway round the room and working up a sweat in tennis, and then pulling my bicep muscle on baseball, while my brother looks at me like a complete idiot as he gently twists and turns the controller for way better scores. Still, exercise is exercise...

  

  Ali - Queen of the Internet

  I heard that Legend of Zelda: Occarina of Time (LOZOOT) was one of the best games ever so when it came out on 3DS I rushed to buy it. Little did I know that it was so metaphorically complex.

  I needed to wake up some bloke who was in my way while trying to sneak into the castle. After hitting him with my sword, jumping on him and shouting into the mic nothing worked. The next day I was moaning at work about it and was informed that I needed a chicken. Brilliant.

  I went home and travelled in search of the chicken. On my adventures I found a village full of chickens. Even better there was a distressed NPC saying she needed help capturing the chickens and promising a reward for my help. Perfect - clearly all I had to do way round up the chickens and she would give me one of my own. Nope, not in Zelda land. All I received was some kind of token and her gratitude. Rubbish. Turns out I needed to go back to the castle, chat up some girl so she gives me an egg, wait till dawn, let it grow and introduce myself to the man I had previously been beating. I clearly need to do more crossword puzzles.

  So, does this bring back memories for you? Do you recall your own truly noobish moments? Why not add your confestion using the comments field below - we're all friends here!

• Transformers: Fall of Cybertron brings back the Dinobots

  Hasbro may have been on the verge of abandoning the Dinobots from the current Transformers universe, had video game developer Half Moon Studios not stepped in to defend the awesome-but-silly dinosaur-themed robots.

  "They're kind of an oddball in the Transformers fiction," admits Matt Tieger, game director at Half Moon, in a new developer diary. "We really had to come up with a unique story that makes sense to bring these characters to life."

  Key to this resurrection was the fact that Dinobot characters, such as Tyrannosaur leader Grimlock, were personal favourites of the game team, as well as many fans. "Grimlock's a huge character. There's some great gameplay we can make around being this giant T-Rex," explains Tieger.

  However, Half Moon pitched their new game, set entirely on the planet Cybertron, just as Hasbro was developing a new "bible" for the new post-movie Transformers universe, and the Dinobots future was in doubt.

  "Dinobots didn't really have a place in that," says Tieger. "We did a super impassioned speech about how important Dinobots were for us, and we desperately need them, and Hasbro gave us the greenlight."

  And so now the Dinobots will return, with a new origin story that has Grimlock and crew as a hardened special ops team on Cybertron who get turned into dinosaurs by Shockwave "It sort of backfires," Tieger reveals. "Nobody controls Grimlock."

  You, of course, can control Grimlock - and lots of other Transformers - when Fall of Cybertron arrives on August 31st for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.

• Transformers: Fall of Cybertron gets an early release date

  In an industry where games too often slip back, sometimes years past their expected release date, fans looking forward to Transformers: Fall of Cybertron are in luck - that game has just been brought forward. Originally due for release on August 31st, it'll now hit UK shops on the 24th instead.

  "High Moon Studios has listened to the countless emails, tweets, user comments and Facebook posts from fans who are clamoring for the game to hit stores," publisher Activision boasted. "They are so proud of their work that they cannot wait to get it into people's hands the minute it's ready."

  The game is a follow-up to the acclaimed War on Cybertron, which ditched the clutter of the Michael Bay movies and instead started telling an exclusive video game saga set on the Transformers homeworld. This latest entry in the series adds the popular Dinobots to the roster of shape-changing robots, using a time tunnel scenario to explain how mechanical aliens know how to turn into creatures from prehistoric Earth. It's a robot T-rex. What more do you want?

  Transformers: Fall of Cybertron (spoiler) is out for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC next month.
  

• Marvel's Deadpool gets his own game

  Deadpool, Marvel's crimson clad assassin, will be starring in his own game in 2013, Activision has announced. The game is being developed by Half Moon Studios, currently putting the finishing touches to Transformers: Fall of Cybertron.

  Famous for his sarcastic banter and habit of breaking the fourth wall to address the reader directly, Deadpool's reputation as the "merc with a mouth" suggests that the game will be played for laughs rather than the gritty seriousness of most superhero games.

  Deadpool will be voiced by man of the moment Nolan North, best known as Nathan Drake in Uncharted. This isn't the first time North has played Deadpool - he also voiced the character in Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions and in the animated movie Wolverine vs Hulk. The script for the game is being penned by Daniel Way, who has been writing the Deadpool comic book since 2008.

  The Deadpool game was unveiled at the San Diego Comic Con with a short teaser trailer which found the motormouth mercenary arguing with himself, gunning down dozens of enemies in gruesome style and poking fun at Wolverine.
  

• TransFormers: Fall of Cybertron - Interview with High Moon Studios.

  
  

  TransFormers: Fall of Cybertron is finally here. And just to whet your appetite a little more, we managed to throw a few questions about the game to Dave Cravens, Senior Creative Director at High Moon Studios...

  

  What new features have been brought into the multiplayer experience?
  We put in a ton of new features in TransFormers: Fall of Cybertron. Sometimes small things like Host Migration, which means when the host of a match gets super angry for you kicking his butt all the time and leaves, the game migrates to a new host and you can play on. Sometimes big things, like our Character Creator! That's right, players will be able to build their own TransFormer from scratch! Everything you'd want to customise you can, including heads, shoulders, arms, legs, wheels, wings, colours and so much more. You can even adjust the metallic sheen of your creation!

  Are there more weapons and abilities for multiplayer?
  Yes! It would take a lot of time to detail everything, but if you played our first game TransFormers: War for Cybertron, you'll notice instantly both in single and multiplayer how many more weapons there are in the game, and everything is upgradable.

  On the full game will there be more character customisation options, such as more colour schemes?
  The more you play multiplayer, the more you will unlock. However it does start off with some great sets of colours!

  Does the fear of upsetting a very devoted fan base hamper any part of the design process; either characterisation, story or gameplay?
  We're part of that very fan base. And we'd hate to upset ourselves, so I guess the answer would be no! You can't please everyone, we know that, but we felt that if we made a game that we loved other fans would love it to. Love is the central theme here. I've said this before, and I'll say again - I feel we've created the definitive TransFormers game of all time. No kidding. That's what we want people to say after playing Fall of Cybertron, that's what we want them to feel. We think we've got a solid shot of making that happen.

  

  Who are your favourite characters?
  In the game? Man, there is honestly something I love about each of the ones you can play. From the start, we wanted each character to provide a very unique experience. When I play as Jazz, I get to zip around using my grappling hook. When I play as Optimus Prime, I get to call in artillery strikes or command my big city-sized buddy Metroplex to go smack bad guys around. When I play as Megatron, I get to literally look down on my prey from a hover before coming down on them like a ton of bricks. But if I HAD to choose, I'm an Optimus Prime / Metroplex combo kind of guy. Wait a second, Grimlock in his fire breathing space T-Rex form is pretty awesome too. And then there's Bruticus - who is a combination of five TransFormers into one! It seems that question is too hard to answer!

  What's the most creative pre-registered username you have seen? I personally like Optimus Prime Rib.
  Ohhh, that's clever. I'm partial to anything "tron." "Super-Mega-Tron," "Trini-tron-atron." Alliteration never fails to amuse me.

  For someone who is unfamiliar with the TransFormers series, why should I pick up your game?
  You don't know anything about TransFormers? Well, my friend, then this is the perfect game for you! We wanted Fall of Cybertron not only to appeal to fans, but be very accessible to those who know nothing about TransFormers. Our story experience is brilliantly multilayered so that beginners can follow it easily. If you don't care about story, you'll get just enough of it to understand who you're blasting and why. If you do care about story, there's plenty more for you to explore and soak up. I will say this is by far the most emotional TransFormers game you'll ever play. You'll laugh, you'll cry, it will become a part of you.

  

  Who was your favourite faction to develop content for? And what led to the inclusion of the legendary Dinobots?
  I'm an Autobot at heart, so it was awesome to develop for them, but there was still so much to love about developing for the Decepticons too. Regarding the Dinobots, the game director, Matt Tieger is a super dino-nerd, so he really, wanted the Dinobots to be in there. And who could argue that? They are inherently cool and super popular among fans. The challenge was to develop a story that allowed them to be in their dino-forms on Cybertron. So we felt it was a great opportunity to work with Hasbro and re-invent these beloved characters for modern times. Hasbro loved the story we came up with and the rest is history in the making.

  How difficult was it to select which TransFormers would be playable in the games story? With so many fan faves how did you do it?
  Those discussions were probably the toughest. You have your cornerstones that will absolutely have to be in the game like Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Megatron and so forth, so those are easy. At the end of the day, what always wins the argument is the question, who would be the most fun to play? We are a game, and gameplay is the most important thing, so we chose characters who were not only fan favourites, but we felt would make fantastic gameplay.

  Is there going to be an awesome 80's hair metal tune playing in the end credits like in War for Cybertron?
  I cannot answer that question... without saying "yes."

  Published: 23/08/2012

• TransFormers: Fall of Cybertron - Review

  
  

  

  More Than Meets The Eye

  2010's War for Cybertron began the story of the Autobot/Decepticon civil war, and sequel Fall of Cybertron picks up where the first game left off, with the Autobots preparing their deep-space ship the Ark for evacuation from the dying mechanical planet.

  The second chapter in what we're hoping is a trilogy, the game shows how the robots-in-disguise travelled from their mined world to our distant planet, eventually crash-landing on prehistoric Earth, where they lay dormant for many years.

  While the original was split into two separate campaigns, one for the Autobots and the other for the Decepticons, Fall of Cybertron features a single narrative that alternates between each, which proves to be a definite boon when it comes to tight storytelling.

  One minute you'll take control of an Autobot battling to secure Energon resources for the Ark's evacuation and the next you'll play as a Decepticon aiming to sabotage those efforts, enabling you to see both sides of the conflict firsthand.

  The game also drops the original's three-player co-op structure, meaning you don't get to choose which character you play as in each level, but you'll still step into the suits of a host of fan-favourite TransFormers who offer plenty of varied gameplay.

  

  One Will Rise. Then Another...

  Third person perspective running 'n' gunning remains the main hook, but each Transformer is different. Optimus Prime levels feature an emphasis on shooting, for example, while the acrobatic Jazz can swing between ledges using his grapple hook in platforming missions.

  Starscream takes to the skies in excellent aerial/ground hybrid levels and Cliffjumper's cloaking ability is perfect for stealth forays. The melee-focused Dinobot section of the campaign can become repetitive, but given that the game delivers a roughly 12-hour single player adventure in which you get to play as a different character in almost all 13 missions, this is easily forgivable.

  Battling 'Bots

  Fall of Cybertron also boasts a solid online offering that adds plenty of value to the overall package. There are a handful of familiar competitive multiplayer game types such as Deathmatch, Conquest and Capture the Flag, which see you playing as one of four classes rather than known characters, but the star of the show is Escalation.

  

  It's a frantic four-player co-operative experience in which players face off against increasingly powerful waves of enemies. Each character class has unique support functions like the ability to absorb projectiles, heal team-mates or replenish ammo, while successful kills and captured objectives are rewarded with points that can be used to unlock weapons and upgrades, activate traps, or open doors to access new areas.

  While TransFormers nuts will get most out of Fall of Cybertron, it's a great game that offers something for all action and shooter fans. Featuring an entertaining story campaign and fun multiplayer modes that entice you to come back after the credits roll, it does a great job of making you feel like an absolute badass as you rip down structures, swoop from the skies, gun down enemies, slash them in two, or roast them with your dino flame breath.

  GAME's verdict:

  The Good:

  • A cool TransFormers story.
  • Regularly switching characters keeps gameplay fresh.
  • Makes you feel like an absolute ass-kicker.

  The Bad:

  • Melee combat could be less repetitive.
  • A few polish issues, lessened by installing the game on Xbox 360.
  • We'll probably have to wait two years for the next chapter.

   

  Published: 30/08/2012

• TransFormers: Fall of Cybertron - Review

  
  

  

  More Than Meets The Previous Eye

  While this is nominally a sequel to 2010's TransFormers: War For Cybertron, don't panic if you didn't play that robotic third-person shooter. Fall of Cybertron is essentially taking a second swing at the same thing rather, this time with a whole lot more scale and spectacle. If you know the basics of the TransFormers mythology, the heroic Autobots battling the evil Decepticons, then you'll grasp the basics, although a steady stream of references, in-jokes and supporting characters aimed squarely at long-term TransFormers fans means many will feel a little confused even if they did play the previous game.

  Each level puts you in the big metal boots of one Transformer, with the perspective frequently shifting from Autobot to Decepticon and back again. Whoever you're playing as will have a special ability to call upon in addition to the constant, frantic shooting action - Cliffjumper can turn invisible, Jazz has a grappling hook, Soundwave can unleash tiny defenders from his chest, and Optimus Prime can order devastating airstrikes from the city-sized Autobot Metroplex. It's the variety that transforms (pun very much intended) Fall of Cybertron from a traditional third-person shooter into something far more engaging.

  

  The changing, over-the-top cast also keeps the game zippy and witty, playing up to the broad personalities these robots were created with back in the mid 1980s. While you might not ever get to leave the beaten track, Fall of Cybertron is adept at ensuring there's always stuff worth looking at and listening to en-route.

  Not Entirely In Disguise

  The price paid for all of this focus-switching and gimmickry is transformation itself. While every character, bar the hulking Decepticon Bruticus, has an 'alt-mode' he can change into at will, there's almost no call to do so in single-player. It's such a barrage of scripted events, and usually so dependent on shooting, that being able to move a bit faster plays little part in the frenzy. A couple of levels do have you play as a flying character, so aircraft mode is mandatory, but that's about it. This doesn't harm the game as such, it's just a strange oversight given its title.

  If being a robot in disguise is the main appeal, you might want to direct your attention to multiplayer, which doesn't have the same bombast and spectacle of the campaign but does push transformation front and centre. Choosing from four different classes - car, truck, tank, plane - you then construct a character of your own design and wade into large-ish maps that require vehicle mode to traverse efficiently.

  

  Quick-fire transformation is also vital for avoiding trouble - or finding it. While the levels are more restrictive than they first appear, it's exhilarating to pursue a fleeing enemy across the skies, or to coolly transform to bot mode mid-flight and let loose a devastating heavy weapon shot at a foe who was convinced he had you on the run. You'll unlock more weapons and parts as you rank up over time, but fortunately for newbies this is more about offering choice than providing an upper hand.

  Build-a-Bot

  The create-a-character aspect is a bit underwhelming, as the stingy choice of parts and the somewhat indistinct art style means whatever you make will tend to look disappointingly similar to every other robot of its class, but hey, it beats being just another soldier with a machine-gun.

  All told, it's not a shooter for the ages but it is a huge improvement on the rather conservative War For Cybertron. The single-player mode especially is brimming with variety and excitement. It's also the most determined slice of fan service TransFormers devotees have likely ever known.

  Our rating: 8.0

  
  

  What's Good?

  • Plenty of variety
  • Warms the hearts of nostalgics
  • Witty, snappy script

  What's Bad?

  • Not much call to transform in single-player
  • Over a bit too soon
  • Multiplayer feels limited

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