Transformers Member Review for the PS2

Just for the record, I am not writing this review in order to stay at the top of the Reviewer's list here at GR. I am writing this review in order to correct the injustice that was done by GR not having an official review for it. Staying at the top is just a bonus.

Anyway, here we go.

The game Transformers for the PS2, from the Australian developers Melbourne House, is a decent title and worth your attention. I would of rated it higher, but a few minor, and one rather large, flaws hold it back.

But first the good stuff. This game is based on the Transformers: Armada TV series, so the cars don't exactly look human. But you won't care as you play AS them! That's right, you play AS the Autobots while fighting the Decepticlones and Decepticons. Fans of the series will know who the Decepticlones are, but others will need some more info. The Decepticlones are the 'nameless peons' you'll kill through the levels, similar to the non-officers in Dynasty Warriors. They don't have a car morph like you, but they do have friends. A LOT of friends. They are sociable robots too, so you'll rarely come across one alone, unless you've just blown up his buddies. These guys are smart enough to run away if seperated from their squad (either accidentally or purposely) and call for backup. If you ever see a lone Decepticlone running away, you should too, as he will most likely come back with a small mob.

Being the social things they are, the Decepticlones will utilise a whole lot of squad strategies. For instance, they will use covering fire to draw your attention away from the sword-wielding Commander robot most likely sneaking up on you. They will even run out a doorway and throw grenades into the room!

You have some neat tricks of your own though. As an official Transformer, you have the ability to turn into a car whenever the need or want crosses your mind. What you turn into depends on who you play as. Optimus Prime is a large hulking fella, and so he becomes the semi-truck. Red Alert, as the all-rounder, turns into an offroad SUV. Hot Shot, being the nimble and agile one, becomes the road-worthy sports car.

But now we get to the bad parts of this game. I'll start with the minor flaws. For one, you only get to play as three people. However, this is minor as this is true to the TV series it's based on. Still, I wouldn't mind some more characters. Another flaw is the fact that this carnage is only for you and you only. There is no two player anything. I would of thought that, having three players to choose from, that there would at least be a co-op mode, but alas.

And now we get to the game's major flaw: replayablility. For, the game can only be passed by collecting at least 35 of the 40 minicons. Once all 40 are collected and the game is finished, things get dull. The higher difficulty levels are really all that is left, and they don't offer much new.

But that, however big it may be, still doesn't change the fact that this is a Transformers game. Being a large hulking robot with guns that blows apart all other robots? Cool. Transforming into a car and running over robots? Wicked. Making it a game? Awesome. Not bad for an Australian developer!