I recently got my hands on a trade demo for the new Transformers (PS2) game from Atari.
Before I go any further, I must inform you that I was a big (and I mean big) fan of the 80s Transformers cartoon, but I am not familiar with this new version of Transformers. That being said, after playing this impressive demo, I am hoping that Atari gives us some old school Transformers love some time soon.
The demo is pretty short, but gives you a good feel for how the game will play when it ships in mid May. You start the game at Autobot HQ, which serves as main in-game menu system. Here you can select your Autobot, choose your load out of Mini-cons, and decide where you would like to be deployed. In the demo, you control Hotshot, one of the three selectable Autobots (Optimus Prime and Red Alert are the other two). If you are like me and had no idea what Mini-cons are, I'll fill you in. At least in the game, the Mini-cons provide additional weapons and functions to your Autobot. In the demo, I found a Mini-con that gave Hotshot energon seeking missiles and another Mini-con that gives your Autobot a kind of energon thermography system, which makes spotting the Decepticons hiding in the thick jungle much easier.
The game's controls are very straightforward. In robot mode; forward, backward, and strafing movements are handled by the left analog stick and turning/aiming by the right stick. Jumping is done with L1, while weapons and Mini-cons are activated by the other 3 shoulder buttons. Transforming is done by pressing the triangle button and is as satisfying as one would hope. When zipping along in vehicle mode, transforming will send your Autobot up in the air while he transforms, coming to sliding stop when he lands. Steering in vehicle mode is handled by the left analog stick, with R1 & L1 controlling acceleration and braking respectively.
The Amazon is the only available location in the demo and it looks good, very good. The environment is large and detailed, with lush vegetation and ancient ruins. Navigation is handled by large towers of light, which keep you moving in the right direction and act as checkpoints. Optimus Prime will also give you a shout out letting you know what you need to be doing. In this mission, we are told we need to locate some Mini-cons before the Decepticons and their Decepticlone army get them first. Decepticlones are the expendable "Stormtroopers" of this game, as every battle can't have you fighting Starscream or the other Decepticon "stars". Those guys are saved for boss battles, which aren't in the demo as far as I can tell.
Combat is pretty fun as you can run the bad guys down in vehicle mode, or shoot 'em up in robot form. The lighting effects and other nice graphical touches help make the combat more engaging. You will never doubt whether or not you "got him" or not as destroyed robots explode grandly with fire and electricity. Smoking parts will also rain down from the sky. In another nice touch, if a part of a destroyed enemy falls on a hill, it will roll down.
All in all, it seems like an unusually good game for a TV licensed product. If someone would just answer my prayers and re-make this game with the Generation One Transformers, I would be in heaven.
I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Check out a video clip. More screenshots and stuff here.
UPDATE - CheapyD at the Transformers 20th Birthday Party
Pictures
I was invited to the Transformer's 20th Birthday party at a loft on the west side of Manhattan. I had a chance to get a demonstration of the full version of the game from Atari producer Jon Chmura. I was shown a few more parts of the game, including a boss battle against Tidal Wave. It was pretty impressive as Tidal Wave is HUGE. Your Autobot is about the size of his foot, and has to climb a few hills in order for his weapon to be in range of Tidal Wave's head (his weak spot).
I was also shown some of the unlockable extras which include toy models, animated toy transformation diagrams, and public service announcements from the G1 series.
I asked Mr. Chimura about the possibility of a game based on the classic 80s characters and why they decided to go with the new characters in this game. I was told they were looking for a more battle-hardened look to the robots and that was more in-line with the new Transformers. He said he wold love to work on a game based on the classic characters, so lets keep our fingers crossed that he gets his wish.
Pictures
Before I go any further, I must inform you that I was a big (and I mean big) fan of the 80s Transformers cartoon, but I am not familiar with this new version of Transformers. That being said, after playing this impressive demo, I am hoping that Atari gives us some old school Transformers love some time soon.
The demo is pretty short, but gives you a good feel for how the game will play when it ships in mid May. You start the game at Autobot HQ, which serves as main in-game menu system. Here you can select your Autobot, choose your load out of Mini-cons, and decide where you would like to be deployed. In the demo, you control Hotshot, one of the three selectable Autobots (Optimus Prime and Red Alert are the other two). If you are like me and had no idea what Mini-cons are, I'll fill you in. At least in the game, the Mini-cons provide additional weapons and functions to your Autobot. In the demo, I found a Mini-con that gave Hotshot energon seeking missiles and another Mini-con that gives your Autobot a kind of energon thermography system, which makes spotting the Decepticons hiding in the thick jungle much easier.
The game's controls are very straightforward. In robot mode; forward, backward, and strafing movements are handled by the left analog stick and turning/aiming by the right stick. Jumping is done with L1, while weapons and Mini-cons are activated by the other 3 shoulder buttons. Transforming is done by pressing the triangle button and is as satisfying as one would hope. When zipping along in vehicle mode, transforming will send your Autobot up in the air while he transforms, coming to sliding stop when he lands. Steering in vehicle mode is handled by the left analog stick, with R1 & L1 controlling acceleration and braking respectively.
The Amazon is the only available location in the demo and it looks good, very good. The environment is large and detailed, with lush vegetation and ancient ruins. Navigation is handled by large towers of light, which keep you moving in the right direction and act as checkpoints. Optimus Prime will also give you a shout out letting you know what you need to be doing. In this mission, we are told we need to locate some Mini-cons before the Decepticons and their Decepticlone army get them first. Decepticlones are the expendable "Stormtroopers" of this game, as every battle can't have you fighting Starscream or the other Decepticon "stars". Those guys are saved for boss battles, which aren't in the demo as far as I can tell.
Combat is pretty fun as you can run the bad guys down in vehicle mode, or shoot 'em up in robot form. The lighting effects and other nice graphical touches help make the combat more engaging. You will never doubt whether or not you "got him" or not as destroyed robots explode grandly with fire and electricity. Smoking parts will also rain down from the sky. In another nice touch, if a part of a destroyed enemy falls on a hill, it will roll down.
All in all, it seems like an unusually good game for a TV licensed product. If someone would just answer my prayers and re-make this game with the Generation One Transformers, I would be in heaven.
I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.
Check out a video clip. More screenshots and stuff here.
UPDATE - CheapyD at the Transformers 20th Birthday Party
Pictures
I was invited to the Transformer's 20th Birthday party at a loft on the west side of Manhattan. I had a chance to get a demonstration of the full version of the game from Atari producer Jon Chmura. I was shown a few more parts of the game, including a boss battle against Tidal Wave. It was pretty impressive as Tidal Wave is HUGE. Your Autobot is about the size of his foot, and has to climb a few hills in order for his weapon to be in range of Tidal Wave's head (his weak spot).
I was also shown some of the unlockable extras which include toy models, animated toy transformation diagrams, and public service announcements from the G1 series.
I asked Mr. Chimura about the possibility of a game based on the classic 80s characters and why they decided to go with the new characters in this game. I was told they were looking for a more battle-hardened look to the robots and that was more in-line with the new Transformers. He said he wold love to work on a game based on the classic characters, so lets keep our fingers crossed that he gets his wish.
Pictures
. Im looking forward to this game