Transformers: Fall of Cybertron picks up shortly after the ending of the last game. The epic war between Autobots and Decepticons has ravaged the planet of Cybertron to the point it can no longer sustain these sentient beings. The Decepticons are decisively winning the war, and the Autobots have made plans to flee the dying planet on board a massive ark that would transport them to a new planet where they could begin anew. When the Decepticons learn of this new planet, an all out battle for control of the ark between the two feuding sides reaches its head, as the Decepticon leader Megatron would drain the new planet of its energy to revive Cybertron. The fantastic, character driven narrative gives the Transformers universe its best storyline ever and a game that manages to look just as good or better than the blockbuster films the franchise is now known for.
You'll play as a variety of characters in Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, and each character comes with their own strengths, weaknesses and abilities. You begin the game with a more all around character as Autobots leader Optimus Prime, but you will go on to use many different characters from both the Autobots and Decepticons sides each with their own chapter based around their skills. One stage may have you rampaging through the world destroying anything in your path as fan favorite Grimlock, while the next stage may have you sneaking through a stealth mission as Cliffjumper. Not only do the game's characters feel and play differently, but you'll also realize a lot of thought was put into creating these characters to have unique personalities that will allow you to quickly learn the difference between one massive transforming robot and another. You really feel a connection with these characters, and of course there is some great shooting action here as well.
There are two ways to play Transformers: Fall of Cybertron outside of the amazing single player experience. Escalation makes its return in the game allowing you to make a team of four players and face off with hordes of enemies as you gather currency and unlock better weapons in-game. It may be a pretty standard game mode to include in shooters at this point, but that doesn't mean Escalation isn't a whole lot of fun. You'll also encounter online competitive modes such as Team Deathmatch, Conquest and Capture the Flag with some Transformers twists. Of course if you've seen any footage of the game, you'll know Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is a phenomenal looking game, but its overall presentation is rounded out with fantastic voice acting from the franchise's best actors, some great sound effects like you've come to expect with any Transformers game or film and a great soundtrack that manages to capture the deep emotions of the game's storyline amazingly well.
The bottom line is that Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is hands down the best Transformers title ever released and a great title to end the summer. The unique third-person shooter should be in contention when game of the year is being considered, because it manages to make a name for itself even among a stacked shooter genre. Fans of Transformers have found the game they have been looking for. With so many great characters brought together for one superb gaming experience, this is one that gamers and Transformers fans have to buy and experience for themselves. The Fall of Cybertron certainly isn't good if you live on the dying planet, but the apocalyptic setting makes the perfect game.
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is now available from all major retailers for the MSRP of $59.99 and can be purchased for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC. Transformers: Fall of Cybertron is rated T by the ESRB for Animated Blood & Violence. For more information on the game, check out the official Transformers: Fall of Cybertron website.
Game Features:
Game Information:
Developer: High Moon Studios
Publisher: Activision
Platforms: PlayStation 3 (reviewed), Xbox 360 & PC
Release Date: August 21, 2012
Score: 9.5 out of 10
