Transformers: Devastation Reviews
Short and sweet, Transformers: Devastation wears its nostalgia proudly and has plenty of charm packed into those few hours of high-energy action. But it might be worth a wait to scope it out when it goes on sale, instead of paying full price.
After the failings of our last Transformers outing; Rise of the Dark Spark, it was only natural for Activision to be a little low-key with this latest instalment. But while you won't find an in-depth story or gameplay, Platinum Games have brought back the fun factor with Transformers: Devastation with added nostalgia to boot.
Transformers Devastation's nostalgia-fueled fisticuffs are a fun way to revisit the classic TV show. Sophisticated combo-based combat delivers a fast and furious barrage of action, but the gear and perks systems left me wondering why they were there at all in a game all about over-the-top boss fights and robot dinosaur beatdowns.
Transformers Devastation is not quite Platinum's A-game material, but it's more than we could've ever possibly expected from a franchise tie-in. A tad anemic and weighed down with extraneous systems, but a damn fine experience nonetheless.
[D]espite the somewhat shallow story, lack of game modes, and the annoying difficult level, Transformers: Devastation is a fun, action-packed game
Like a robot in disguise, Transformers: Devastation is a really good game that could have been potentially great. Sadly, there isn't more than meets the eye to Platinum's effort, but what is included is superb. It's just too bad there isn't a little bit more of it.
With all of this thrown in, the game still only clocks in at around 5 - 6 hours - which is short considering there is no multiplayer to back it up. It does include a number of Challenge missions, where players can revisit scenarios and take on waves of enemies to best their time and high score, but overall the game is short-lived. It is action-packed however, and combined with the amount of 80's Transformers fanfare added in, it's a decent experience for anyone who still remembers Soundwave as a retro cassette tape deck.
As a simple, no frills beat-em-up there's not really anything to fault Transformers Devastation, but those after greater depths may come away disappointed. This is magnified by the short running time. Transformers Devastation is slight in the extreme. I wasn't exactly blazing through but my playthrough took roughly five hours, which is remarkably short for a £32 title. If you're into chasing better ranks or tackling the challenge mode then I don't hesitate to recommend Transformers Devastation, but if any of those points set off alarm bells then I'd definitely wait and pick it up in a sale. At £32 it's okay, but at £10 it would practically be a must-buy.
If you're a fan of Transformers or even a Platinum games fan, I'd recommend picking it up. If you're looking for something with more complexity to it, you might want to wait for a sale to come up before you consider buying it.
Transformers: Devastation may not be a perfect game, but its nostalgia factor is significant enough to make it a must-buy for old school fans of the franchise.
Transformer's Devastation is a fun beat 'em up that properly utilizes nostalgia to enhance the experience. It's hampered by a mediocre-to-boring story and repetitive environments, though.
This is Bayonetta dressed up in robot clothes, which is a Very Good Thing. Brilliantly playable, and full of Transformers fan-service, only its brevity and simplistic level design let it down.
Devastation leverages the Transformers license masterfully and delivers tight, satisfying action with incredible flair. Honestly, I had fun just driving around trying to do donuts, and at one point, I randomly picked up a taxi and threw it over a building just for laughs. That's pretty great. And when that perfect rockin' soundtrack kicks in as you face off against Megatron, that's even better.
Transformers Devastation is short, lacks depth, and can be a bit repetitive, but Platinum's tight combat paired with the old-school aesthetics keeps it fun. It may not be the dream Transformers game that some imagined, but it's worth a play, perhaps after it goes on sale.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Transformers: Devastation is a solid and fanfare-filled beat 'em-up, but repetitive gameplay and a lack of variety keep it from being great.