Transformers: Devastation Reviews
Solid, but could have been so much more.
Platinum Games isn't interested in tricks. Instead, they expect the player to rise to the occasion.
Controller in hand I can stand up to them with the courage and obstinance of a ten-year-old, drunk on the energy pouring into my consoles from I know not where. I'm pretty sure my kids will deal with it eventually, one way or another.
Superfans, roll out! Everyone else, on the other hand ...
What Transformers Devastation lacks in content and depth, it more than makes up for in pure entertainment with a slick presentation, wonderful fan-service, and hectic gameplay that should please any Transformers fan.
While the combat is undoubtedly satisfying and rewarding, the sense of repetition, the last-gen visuals, and the brevity of the adventure feel more matched for a budget price. We suggest waiting for a sale and a nostalgic craving for Saturday morning cartoons. That's when you have our full permission to transform and roll out!
It's not devastating, just disappointing for what it appeared to be and what it could have been.
Transformers: Devastation isn’t just a good Transformers game, it’s a good game period. More depth and environments would benefit the game tremendously, but as it stands right now, it’s one title for both Transformers and Platinum fans alike.
Overall, the game is great for fans of the early Transformers series...but is only great for them. I don't fall in this demographic, so I found the game to be mostly lackluster and boring. It felt like a chore playing a game about kickass robots simply because I hardly recognized most of the references they tried to make.
Transformers: Devastation fails to fire on all cylinders, as the game is too short, and boasts a small choice of characters to play as.
Transformers: Devastation is a B-tier game that succeeds only by expertly capitalizing on its source material and your nostalgia.
Transformers: Devastation is a very solid installment in the franchise that lends itself to excellent fan-service and strong core gameplay, though its technical and design-based drawbacks do hold its basis back from achieving greatness, rather than hovering in between the upper echelon of decent to good. Combined with the fact that the game does seem a little light on content, Transformers: Devastation remains a solid title, but not one that should be bought at the price its being offered at.
If you're a Transformers fan who grew up with the original 1980s universe, Devastation is gold. Everyone else should take this game under advisement.
Transformers: Devastation is essentially fan-service. Only Transformers fans would have the patience to persevere with the repetitive enemies, the arduous Boss Fights, the fiddly customisation and the levelling system that only really rewards players who stick with one Autobot throughout the campaign. Admittedly it's pretty good fan service – the best since War For Cybertron – but if you neither interested in deep brawlers or someone who can tell their Arcee from their elbow, you might be forgiven for wondering what all of the fuss is about.
Transformers: Devastation is a solid and fanfare-filled beat 'em-up, but repetitive gameplay and a lack of variety keep it from being great.
Transformers: Devastation plays it safe when compared with other Platinum Games titles. It borrows and streamlines gameplay mechanics from other games, but makes the experience satisfying nonetheless.
While it's easy to recommend this title to any die-hard Transformers fan, to more casual players it would be a harder sell. I'd warn you to approach with caution — even though you'll experience a fun and nostalgic game with enjoyable combat, don't expect to avoid a few hiccups along the way.
As with many of Platinum's other game's, Transformers: Devastation can be a challenging experience, even on its lower difficulties, but once you become used to the enemies attack patterns and when to dodge incoming attacks, each fight becomes a rewarding flurry of colour and crunching metal. The cel-shaded graphics and classic voice acting cast make the title great for those looking for some nostalgia. Unfortunately, the short story and the sense of repetition hold the title back from being what it truly could have been.
I'm happy Transformers Devastation exists and thoroughly enjoyed the time I spent with it, but it's not quite the game I imagined as an idealistic child. And it's four hours long.
Platinum Games' take on Transformers is an interesting and welcome change of pace for the property. The developer's brand of polished, fast-paced, flowing combat feels right at home in the Transformers universe. For fans of the original cartoon series, this is a can't miss title even if its beauty is only skin-deep.