Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Based on the Michael Bay series of films, Transformers: Dark of the Moon is a prequel to the movie of the same name. Unlike many videogame adaptations of blockbuster films, this Transformers game manages to shine on its own as an enjoyable action game with the same action and adrenaline seen in the bombastic Michael Bay movies.

More than meets the eye

Transformers: Dark of the Moon could’ve gone the easy way and adapted the movie’s plot into the game, but developers High Moon Studios went the extra mile to deliver a unique experience for fans of the Transformers franchise.

The game takes place before the events of the third Transformers film. Unlike the first two games, this time there’s only one campaign mode that alternates between the Autobots and Decepticons. Narratively speaking, this provides players with a greater understanding of the game’s overall plot, and it’s also a great way to connect with the characters.

Of course, it wouldn’t be a Transformers game without transforming robots, and Dark of the Moon has got you covered there. Not only will players be able to pilot giant robots and their vehicle forms, but there’s also a new Stealth Force mode that takes the best of both worlds. Now, you’ll be able to blaze through the levels with an armed vehicle, enjoying the game’s many adrenaline-filled set pieces.

A look under the hood

Dark of the Moon uses the Unreal Engine, and that can be a blessing and a curse. While games like Gears of War and Bulletstorm have shown that the engine is capable of gorgeous graphics, there’s something about the controls that just isn’t quite there yet, especially when it comes to driving vehicles.

Driving in Dark of the Moon feels clunky and laggy, and that’s terrible in a game where you have to spend half the time controlling a car robot. Luckily, the pure driving sections are few and far between, and the robot controls are fast and responsive.

One for the fans

The story of Dark of the Moon is arguably better than that of its film counterpart. The plot takes Bumblebee and his allies from Central America to the city of Detroit. The varied settings let the Unreal Engine shine, delivering beautifully rendered environments for your Transformers to destroy.

There’s little exploration to be had, which makes these environments feel a bit shallow. That said, there are also few collectibles, meaning that Dark of the Moon is a decidedly linear experience.

Roll out the multiplayer

Aside from the game’s campaign, there are also a few multiplayer modes to enjoy in Dark of the Moon, and these modes are unexpectedly complex. The multiplayer consists of Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and Conquest modes, each of them featuring a class-based system similar to the Star Wars: Battlefront series.

Depending on your faction, the class you choose will determine which Transformer you get. Players have to choose between the Hunter, Commander, Scout, and Warrior classes, each one with a distinct role on the battlefield.

Transformers: Dark of the Moon achieves more than your standard movie tie-in game, but it still falls prey to the stigma of such games. An interesting but shallow campaign just isn’t enough to justify a second playthrough, that is if the repetitive objectives can keep your attention the first time you play the game.

Pros:

• Exciting gameplay
• Solid performance and well-rendered characters
• Interesting plot for fans of the series

Cons:

• Iffy driving controls
• Lackluster campaign
• Lifeless environments

The Transformers series is now in playable form thanks to Transformers Dark of the Moon, based on the blockbuster movie! Containing just as much action and chaos as the films, Transformers Dark of the Moon puts you behind the wheel of dozens of iconic characters. At a moment's notice, you can switch between your vehicle form or transform into a towering robot, utilizing all of the weapons at your disposal. With two story campaigns and multiplayer modes to test your skills, Transformers Dark of the Moon has more than meets the eye!

Main Game Features

• Intense third-person shooting
• Battle in both vehicle and robot forms
• Non-linear story mode and multiplayer

Story

Transformers Dark of the Moon is a follow-up to the previous game, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, and takes place three years afterwards. Having failed to stop the Decepticon's plans, the Earth is now continuously destroyed by an ongoing war. The noble Transformer, Optimus Prime, leads his army of Autobots against the Decepticons, looking to root out their operations and remove them from the planet. However, Megatron, the leader of the Decepticons, begins to formulate a plan known as Operation: Pillar. While Operation: Pillar promises to revitalize the Transformer homeworld of Cybertron, it will destroy the Earth to do so.

In the same way that games like Resident Evil 2 break up their story with multiple viewpoints, Transformers Dark of the Moon does the same. Instead of playing through one complete story mode, this game features two separate faction stories: The Autobots and Decepticons. Together, the factions tell the overall story, but you get to play on both sides of the feud. This tale of two rivaling robot factions spread across the globe, taking players to the jungles of South America, cities in the United States, and even outer space!

Gameplay

It doesn't matter if you are playing the single player story campaigns or battling in multiplayer, Transformers Dark of the Moon provides some awesome explosive action. There are over a dozen different Transformers to play as, each with a distinct vehicle form and robot form. That means you can tear through enemies in Optimus Prime's semi-truck, or blast down enemies with heavy third-person shooting. A new feature, called Stealth Force, lets you use two special abilities depending on your form. These abilities include grenade tosses, increased boost, extra defense, and much more. In each level, you'll mostly be destroying other Transformers as you fight your way to the end, but there are some vehicle sections to race through too.

Transformers Dark of the Moon also contains multiplayer arena matches, where you can battle your friends or AI-controlled enemies. There are five maps to choose from with different themes, such as the fiery Volcano Road, or the industrial Scrapyard. Unfortunately, the mode selections are pretty slim, with only Team Deathmatch, Free-for-All Deathmatch, and Conquest modes available. It's still lots of fun to speed around the arena and blast your foes into bits, but the minimal amount of modes and maps can become boring after a while.

Conclusion

Transformers Dark of the Moon is a serviceable game that brings the crazy action of the Transformers movies directly to your gaming console. The story campaigns are brief and will only take you a few hours to beat, but it's fun to see the war on Earth from both sides.

Pros

• Swapping between vehicle and weapon is cool
• Autobot and Decepticon story modes
• Decent graphics and voice acting

Cons

• Multiplayer mode feels rushed
• Campaigns are short
• Vehicles have floaty controls