Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark Reviews

Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark is ranked in the 3rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
3 / 10
Aug 6, 2014

Rise Of The Dark Spark feels rushed: a mess of half-baked ideas and sloppy execution that's put Transformers on the same track as the Spider-Man games, approaching the point of no return. We can't be certain as to why Activision seems so intent with steering these wonderful properties so deeply into the dirt, but we hope it realises the value in the brands before it's too late. passable co-operative mode aside, there's very little to recommend out of Rise Of The Dark Spark.

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3.5 / 10.0
Jul 28, 2014

Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark tries to coast on the goodwill established by the previous two games, but mishandles their gameplay concepts with a badly rushed execution. Boring level design, an awful framerate and a confusing story make this game a slog from start to finish.

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5 / 10.0
Jul 27, 2014

Although it feels like more than a mere movie tie-in, Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark still isn't a good enough game to stand on its own. Those who buy it will likely be most interested in seeing giant robots doing battle with other giant robots, and though it will deliver on this it won't do so with sufficient fun to make it particularly interesting. Add to that the lacklustre nature of its other elements, and it is barely worth investing the six or seven hours required to complete it.

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4.5 / 10.0
Jul 21, 2014

The absence of the practiced creative hands of previous Transformers developer, High Moon Studios, is keenly felt as Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark has sadly turned out to be both the weakest Transformers licensed title and the most uninspired third-person shooter in sometime.

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Jul 12, 2014

With a dull campaign that likes to stab you in the eye with difficulty spikes, the online team survival mode just about saves this latest tie-in effort from being a complete write-off. But you'll probably have to be a (slightly nuts) hardcore fan to pay full whack for it. It's ok, I don't think Michael Bay makes any money on this one.

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1.5 / 5.0
Jul 11, 2014

As a next-gen title, Transformers Rise of the Dark Spark is an embarrassment

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2 / 5.0
Jul 9, 2014

 If you've just gone to see Age of Extinction and really want to play an awesome Transformers game, High Moon's past efforts are all you should even consider going for. Leave this pile of scrap out to rust until someone comes along to polish the franchise up again.

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Jul 9, 2014

High Moon Studios has proved that a good Transformers game is very much within grasp, something that makes Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark's flaws harder to accept. The storytelling is sloppy, the set-pieces are repetitive - and in some cases stolen from past games - while the visuals are dated. It's redeemed only by enjoyable third-person shooter action, which comes alive in co-op multiplayer when there's no story holding players back.

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Digitally Downloaded
Matt S.
Top Critic
Jul 8, 2014

There's fun to be had in Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark, but it's a dialed-in action shooter game, which is a mistake since there was never a chance that this game would compete with the big budget games in the genre. Titles such as Destiny, Call of Duty, or Titanfall will all trounce this game and ensure that no one but the most dedicated fan will care about it in the near future. It would be to the benefit of the franchise if future games stopped trying to swim with the sharks.

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55 / 100
Jul 7, 2014

Still, there's something to be said for small pleasures. Clicking the left joystick to make my teenage rave robot transform filled me with the same sense of glee I felt when playing with these toys as a kid. Inasmuch as a game might be an exercise in nostalgia, Dark Spark brought those toys to life. Being a robot that can transform into different shapes and use cartoony weapons to blow up other robots is fun, and maybe story is unnecessary for this kind of play. Sometimes, all you need is for neon strobes, dry ice machines and deep house bass to blast your senses into joyful oblivion.

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5 / 10.0
Jul 7, 2014

Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark isn't an awful game, but it's a long way short of the bar set by High Moon.

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GameGrin
Top Critic
5 / 10.0
Jul 6, 2014

The combination of repetitive gameplay, pacing and story issues in relation to the Earth/Cybertron dynamic and the absence of almost any new ideas will result in Rise of the Dark Spark finding itself being forgotten in the not too distant future. In the vocally distorted words of Bumblebee… "[Sad bleeps]". Sad Bleeps indeed.

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4.6 / 10.0
Jul 6, 2014

Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark may not follow the plot of the movie Age of Extinction, but this is a game clearly rushed to coincide with the movie release.

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3 / 10.0
Jul 4, 2014

I actually came into Rise of the Dark Spark with relatively high hopes. The "Cybertron" games have actually been quite good, and with the dawn of new console hardware, I was looking forward to seeing what was possible for my favourite robots in disguise. Sadly, what we got was a half-baked offering that was clearly put out to meet the movie's release date. As a long term fan, Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark is about as fun as having unnecessary surgery. The only thing that poses any form of saving grace is Peter Cullen's voice work, but if you're after that, there's plenty more Transformers content that you could be watching.

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Ken McKown
Top Critic
6 / 10.0
Jul 3, 2014

Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark is not a great game, but for those like me who still dream of reliving my childhood, Escalation scratches that itch. The collection of characters make it worthwhile, but not at $60. I suggest holding out until the price comes down, grabbing three friends, and having a blast. Just be sure to stay as far away from the campaign mode as possible.

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Polygon
Top Critic
4.5 / 10.0
Jul 2, 2014

Rise of the Dark Spark is a colossal failure

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5 / 10.0
Jul 2, 2014

A shameless cash-in attempt is only redeemed by passable cooperative multipayer

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6 / 10.0
Jul 1, 2014

Rise of the Dark Spark is a fun but flawed third-person shooter that ultimately fails to live up to its lineage.

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Jul 1, 2014

'Rise of the Dark Spark' might not reinvent the wheel in terms of third-person 'Transformers' action, in fact, in some cases it regresses, but it does offer up moments of sheer bliss, most notably its final act. Sadly, that's a very short portion of a game that feels much longer than the five to six hours I invested in my first campaign run-through. Add to that mediocre graphics and a wasted opportunity in multiplayer territory, and you have a game only for the most loyal Autobot or Decepticon supporter. Let us hope the battle surrounding Cybertron picks up where it left off and the next title restores the Transformers videogame legacy to its mark of high praise.

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Ray Carsillo
Top Critic
5 / 10.0
Jul 1, 2014

Some solid action can't cover up the fact that Rise of the Dark Spark feels horribly rushed, with massive splotches of shoddy design and a poor plot evident from the opening cinematic to the end credits.

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