Transformers

Question: When does a shooter game not really feel like a shooter game?

Answer: When you manage to combine the elements flawlessly into a previously known universe with familiar cartoon characters.

Hasbro and Atari have teamed up for Transformers, a pending PlayStation2 release.

Now before you start running around thinking, “hey, I can be a car!” you have to understand something about this title. Yes, Megatron is still up to his evil-take-over-the-known-universe antics, and yes, the Transformers are there to stop him. There are Decepticons to battle, and Mini-cons to rescue.

Of course, the game does allow you to modify your transformer and loadouts for missions.

Perhaps the first thing that is noteworthy about this title are the graphical elements – Transformers enter Earth areas that are lush and richly textured. Land in the drop zone in the

Amazon region and you will find incredible terrain that is impossible to traverse in transformed mode as a vehicle, but you can jump and lumber through the environment, using the terrain to shield you from attack, and sneak up on your targets.

There are three autobots to choose from – Hot Shot, Optimus Prime and Red Alert. Each autobot is rated in four areas: attack, defense, speed and power. Depending on the mission and area, choosing the right autobot is essential to the mission’s success. Each of the autobots also transforms into a vehicle, but once again, choosing the right one for the environment is key. Hot Shot transforms into a race car – not exactly built for zooming around an Amazonian jungle.

In the version received for preview, only Hot Shot was available. And while there are many different mission locales, only the Amazon was available.

In the released version, you will basically begin the game by picking your autobot and entering a mission. There are gates along the way you can activate to save progress and return to HQ to modify loadouts. The overall objective is rather simple – stop Megatron and the Decepticons. To do that, you will have to use your wits and reflexes.

The game’s controls are rather standard. You have a thumbstick for movement and one for targeting and looking about. The autobots don’t exactly respond instantly to movement commands, unless you bring them to a full stop by pulling back on the movement thumbstick – sort of like applying the hand brake.

The audio of this game is solid, from the mission briefings in Optimus Prime’s rich and somewhat war-weary veteran voice, to the musical score, the sound of a robot thudding through the world and the sound of blasters. Stand underneath a hovering ship and you will feel the vibration from the ships engines.

The thing that steals the show is the graphical elements. The first-person mode is generally suited to targeting, but for the most part, this is a lush world, with solid animation and a host of eye candy. You can, in first-person mode, zoom in for a closer look at what lays ahead.

Transformers is in the early phase of development, but from even this brief look, it seems readily apparent that this is not just a kids’ title, but has actually had a grown-up treatment, which will make this a shooter worth watching for.  Transformers appears to have it all: action, adventure, and terrific graphical elements.