The Clickbait Top Ten: The Best Transformers Things of 2015

Well, its that time of year again. Or it would be, if I ever bothered with awards type things before. But you know, I never brought enough Transformers in a single year to justify one before. Bloody Combiner Wars, making me spend money. A few ground rules. This list largely derives from things I've brought this year. Combiners are treated as a single release, but their individual parts can be recognised too. Here we go, but first, the honourable mentions.

Honourable Mention: Ultra Magnus And Minimus Ambus

One of the few collector slanted releases without a combination focus, this represents the first truly good toy in the modern leader class. A great rendering of the character with lots of play value, whom is suitably big, and has an Animated inspired hammer gimmick. This writer is particularly pleased that Hasbro bit the bullet, and created a Minimus Ambus toy, despite the predictable and extensive complaints from G1 purists, and disappointed that Takara chickened out and made it Alpha Trion. The pair don't make the top ten proper due to the hollow construction, and the well-intentioned, but regrettably loose, opening hands. 

Honourable Mention: Devastator

When it comes to being a colossal big green and purple robot, Devastator was no equal. Seriously, if you want a big bloody thing to step on people, he's your guy. His presence is commanding, and there's a strong 80's feel to events. Unfortunately, that 80's feel is also a weakness, individual Constructicons having patchy articulation and proportions, which means they don't make it into the top ten, fun as the set undeniably is. Takara's version may made have the cut though, with its improvements.

Number Ten: Silverbolt

Combiner Wars toys have often have simple yet elegant engineering, doing exactly what they must do in each form, but Silverbolt demands recognition. While having a solid robot form, and a characteristically flawed Concorde mode, his transformation into Superion's torso via a handstand was pure genius. This is easily the most innovative engineering this year, and possibly for the last three. That's not his only strength though, as the robot form nails the character, looking nicely heroic. This is definitely one of those toys you don't mind seeing remoulded, although maybe Scattorshot was a step too far.

Number Nine: Air Raid

The Aerialbots are the archetypal Wave 1 releases, big names highlighting what the toy line is about, but not the best of that line overall, as the bugs are being worked out. While still the best toys these characters have ever got, the Aerialbots are associated with unconvincing altmodes, articulation weaknesses, and Powerglide being a nuisance in gun mode. Coming out in Wave 2 however, Air Raid shows a sudden up-tick in refinement, so much so that had the rest of the team been of a similar standard, they'd be making a bigger showing today. His joints are tighter, 5mm ports are plentiful, and the overall appearance is great. The jet is about as convincing as it can be given the largely white robot mode, and you can have five different guns on it at once. Its a crying shame, given the rampant recycling that characterises Combiner Wars, we are only seeing this mould again in exclusive boxsets. And its an even bigger shame that UK fans had to import this guy to complete Superion.

Number Eight: Blackjack

While both literally and figuratively overshadowed by other toys on this list, Blackjack makes the cut for being exactly what he needs to be for his price point. He's a nice little car. His transformation is new and interesting, but familiar. His robot mode is effectively articulated, and he has a hand weapon, unlike so many of his kin. With so many of the Legend pricepoint being inferior remoulds from 2013/14, or of questionable use in the combination thing, Blackjack's only real competition is the juuuuusssssst-released Shockwave, which I don't have. Blackjack only fails due to a fault in Motormaster's design, preventing a secure connection in chestplate form, but let's not hold this against him. They took a single piece plastic accessory, and made it into a showstopper.

Number Seven: Transformers: Devastation

As an 80's original fan whom actually likes new things, I often feel that G1 fans get pandered to far too much. Rose tinted glasses aside, the 80's cartoon was a poorly made toy advert, and we've had much better fiction since. But, applying that style to a video game? One made by Platinum Games, masters of the spectacle fighter? Even I was interested. Overcoming obvious time and money restrictions, captures all that was great about the cartoon, and applies to a frenetic combat system with loads of 80's hair metal. A heady cocktail of nostalgia and bone-crunching gameplay, TF: D's only sin is that there is not more. Sequel please. DLC please. Game inspired redecos please.

Number Six: More Than Meets The Eye #47

Now for some Mood Whiplash. Some things aren't worthwhile because they are fun. Some things aren't nice. Some things are worthwhile because they are are challenging reads that go to dark places. Some things....some things, make you cry. This is one of those things. As compelling as it is tragic, this issue breaks new ground for transformers media.

Joint Number Five: Dead End And Protectobot Streetwise

I knew both of these toys would have to appear in this list somewhere, but separating them proved impossible. On the one hand, wehave the best deluxe of wave two, with possibly the most gorgeous car mode this year, and works well in all four modes. On the other, Streetwise completely changes the toy visually, and address the two common complaints of Dead End, by avoiding the “grey biceps” flaw and replacing the club with a triple barrelled shotgun. He's not as nice to look at Dead End, but he's not ugly at all. The aggressive recycling of moulds mean its probably you'll have either version or both in some form, and while familiarity breeds contempt, these are still great toys.

Number Three: Protectobot Rook

The best deluxe toy in all of Combiner Wars, bar none, and probably its singular break-out character. Strong enough to be a worthwhile purchase even if you never touch the rest of the line, Rook's main selling point is play value, backed by competence in all other things. He's big, he's visually interesting, and very functional in all four modes. But that all pales in comparison to his party piece, the ability to use combiner accessories as hulk hands. If you like your toys to be fun, Rook is your man. G1 purists? Come on. Get over it.

Number Two: More Than Meets The Eye Omnibus Volume 7 “Elegant Chaos”

I could fill this list with individual issues of MTMTE, and I'd have no trouble defending it. Its just that consistently good a series. Comics Alliance just gave it two awards, for flip's sake. This omnibus however is notably highpoint for the invested fan. The conclusion to plot threads that James Roberts started as far back as 2011, this sees an epic time travel plot that goes back to pre-war Cybertron, and the very conception of the Decepticon cause. With horrific parallel universes, betrayals, political commentary, temporal paradoxes, intense character scenes, and sheer WTFery like Megatron's fear of needles, this volume is an exercise in excellence. If you are new to the series, maybe pick an earlier volume, but if you like what you see here, you won't regret working through the back catalogue.

Number One: Defensor And The Protectobots

I had almost no interest in the Protectobots prior to Combiner Wars, excluding First Aid's place in the MTMTE cast, but this team have found a place in my heart on merit. Simply put, wave 3 and the Protectobots was the best bit of Combiner Wars, and its looking doubtful that its last few releases are going to change that. While heavily based on retools, like much of the line, the retools were great, and the new moulds were real nice too. You just read why two of them were good, as for the rest? Well, Hot Spot arguably has the best individual robot mode of the line, and a classy torso mode, only just missing out from a Honourable Mention today. Blades is a nice variation on Wave 1's best Autobot. First Aid, despite my initial impressions, is a solid reworking of Wave 2's Off Road, and is holding together a fair bit better than that toy. Groove meanwhile attempts to bring some scale sanity to the team, works well enough by himself, and pulls off a chestplate mode. And most importantly for us Brits, this got a UK release, with all six members found in shops. Go get them.

Bad photography by me, other images Copyright Hasbro, and variously IDW, Activision, and Platinum Games.

The Transformers: Devastation Review (PS3)

The Transformers brand has a somewhat chequered history in video games. We've had a lot of shovelware over the years, but with also had some honestly good ones, ones which tend to be well-regarded, rather than merely “okay for a license”. The High Moon Studios games were notably fine, as was the PS2 vintage Armada game by Melbourne House. The rest? Especially games based on then contemporary films or cartoons? Not so much. Then this game came along. It was published by Activision, whom don't have an especially good reputation with most “serious” gamers, ask Tony Hawk's fans about the last game, and developed by the usually awesome Platinum Games, but their last licensed title was poorly-received. Still, I was optimistic, and only became more so as time went on. I mean, a Transformers game made by the guys who did Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising: Revengance? Even if they phoned it in, it was probably going to be worth a look. But is it any good? Well, its very good in places, but there's probably a better sequel on the way.

First an apology: while I played this on PS3, I don't have the technical set-up to capture images from the game, so I've been forced to use promotional images sourced from the related facebook page. Take the images with a pinch of salt, but I don't think there's a vast difference between versions.

So, the obvious first. Presentation is very nice although I did note the occasional clipping error and some energon cubes changing colour in a cut scene. Superficially, its the Generation 1 cartoon, although running at a much higher framerate and with lots of 80's style rock music(1). Obviously getting a bunch of the original voice talent helped, but they didn't rely on that, and there's a startling attention to detail. The weapon models for example are drawn from not only the original cartoon, but also the Prime cartoon, the movies, the 1986 movie, the actual 1984 toys, and there's a class of missile launchers seemingly based off G2 Dreadwind's distinctive rotary launcher. I was also impressed by the generic baddies invented for the game, which fit so well its almost as if they were always there. I would buy a ground soldier in voyager class. I expect to see a Conehead in game colours immediately. Its not pure G1 though. Its something you'll realise almost immediately if you are paying attention, Megatron is a tank, but there's an aspect of the plot that owes a lot to IDW, not to mention the sequel hook. I'm not bothered by this, but one criticism I would make however is the depiction of the Stunticons, of which only Motormaster displays a robot mode and personality. Given that the modern toys feature bladed weapons, this is a missed opportunity in a game about close combat.

But is all this gloss actually meaningful? Has Platinum actually made a Transformers game? Or is it a Baynonetta with a different form of fan service? Well, its true that fans of this games developer will notice many similarities to their other games, and the library of moves is comparatively light. Past a certain point, playable characters are interchangeable, although Grimlock clearly isn't(2). That said, Platinum have succeed in working transformation in some visually wonderful and mechanically nuanced ways. Combat is exactly as awesome as the trailers make it out to be, with enough behind it to make mastery rewarding. Combos involve punches, kicks, sudden transformation, vehicular homicide, more punches, dramatic bullet time, drifting truck trailers, stabbings, an angry T-Rex, bludgeoning, chopping, more kicks and pointblank fire all with millisecond precision. And your foes demonstrate exactly the same level of visual flair and combat prowess. Jetformers happily stay of out reach, making bombing runs before charging you, while tanks try to knock you down with their gun barrels, and bosses being even more creative. And there's even a rough and ready third person shooter in here too, Wheeljack specialising in ranged combat. All this is enhanced by a surprisingly comprehensive loot system(3), like something out of Diablo and Torchlight. Weapons, of which there are many, can be levelled up and merged, and given various status effects, which routinely effect bosses. There's also a mini-game driven set of passive upgrades called T.E.C.H. Mechanically speaking, there's plenty to this.

Speaking of boss battles, these are obviously a highlight. The 80's rock soundtrack goes into overdrive, and the cut scenes make it an event. There's none of that “learn my pattern to beat me” stuff, its more “find the weaknesses in my technique”. The boss battles do however demonstrate a key flaw with game though, as they get reused, making things repetitive. Which is a fair word to use in reference to this game, to be blunt. You do a lot of backtracking, and there's really only two locations. You face the Constructicons in some form 7 times. Its not a long game either and there's two reasons for that. The first is that it is, with a story mode that you can complete in an evening. The second is that you will want to complete it very quickly. In an experience I can only recall having with other Platinum Games, where I was overcome with bloodlust and frustration at more than one boss, to the effect of "You going down! Tonight! No matter how many tries this takes! I will feed you your own sword WHILE YOUR CHILDREN WATCH!"

Ahem.

TF:D is a hard and demanding game at first(4), but one that is harsh but fair. If you loose, its because you made mistakes, not because the game did something cheap, at least in my experience. And with each fight you get better, both personally and via its loot system. Fighting is its own reward, but chasing that double S rank is an even greater thrill. Once that clicks in your brain, you can find yourself with the game for a while. I write this review having it completed twice, so it seems to hold my attention. I just started getting A and S ranked weapons, and I'm playing the game with Bumblebee, who just makes things super fast. And there's a decent chunk of challenge rooms and side missions. Replay value is definitely present.

Conclusion

Transformers: Devastation is a good game, one that treats its licence well, and benefits from an extremely talented studio. Fans of both Transformers and Platinum Games will find much to recommend, although in terms of sheer content and variety there's criticisms to be made. The story mode is short, and it relies very heavily on its combat, with only a few undeveloped diversions. Granted, the combat is excellent, but its not exceptional, and there's a general feeling that maybe development time was short. This is partially excused by the fact this game is comparatively cheap for a Triple A release, my example being £20 new, which is fair. I do hope they do another. If spectacle fighters aren't your thing, I don't think this game will convert you to the genre, and I'd still say Fall of Cybertron was the best Transformers game, but this is still very enjoyable. Shop around, or rent it first.

Foot notes

1. TFNation will use this game's soundtrack as background music. I'm calling it now.
2. He kind of alternates between being a mechanically different brawler and comic relief due to his animation and dialogue.
3. If you get the additional character skins, you get some bonus weapons too, which was definitely a boon on my first play-through. However, their characteristics seem based on your own performance rating in missions, so its not game breaking, and I found them obsolete in later plays.
4. Assuming you didn't put it on easy.

Images copyright Hasbro and Activision.

Blog Watch: Month 3

Well, I hope we all enjoyed the big Unicron uber review. It took a while, and hopefully excuses a lighter article today. Plus, its the end of the month, its time for another look back at the blog. The good news is that viewing figures continue to be on the upswing, crossing that all important 1000 page views milestone, although the rate of improvement is beginning to level off. Of course, I've only had about 2 and half months of data, so its not wise to put too much stock in the numbers. On the flip side, my surplus of articles has largely dried up, so I am devoting some of my time off to rebuilding that reserve. This is at least partially due to the good time I've been having with Transformers: Devastation, which is holding my attention rather well for such a short game. I also got these.

Yes, long term readers may recognise that as a Warhammer 40,000 product, a frequent topic of my old blog, and the first I've brought in about a year and a half. For newer readers: well, I liked that miniatures game a lot, but a succession of disappointing releases and PR disaster that was Age of Sigmar put me off Games Workshop as a company. Happily though, this is a Fantasy Flight game, and one extremely well received, so I took a chance on it. An article of some description is pencilled in, to be completed once I've played a few games.

On the subject of pending articles, here's a short list of what's on the chopping block, in no particular order. All of this is subject to change, as real life and new shiny things can get in the way.

Fall Of Cybertron Ultra Magnus.

Beast Machines Mirage.

The little fellow in the above picture.

A Transformers: Devastation review.

An editorial on Combiner Wars and its reception so far.

Energon Cruellock.

ROTF Depthcharge.

Hope to see you back soon.

My First Impressions Of Transformers Devastation

Well, I caved in and got the game, and I intend to do a more formal review later, but I thought I'd use my currently fluctuating Sunday slot to give my initial opinions.

Short answer: this game is probably awesome.

When playing the game I was immediately reminded of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, Platinum Games' spin off from the Metal Gear franchise. It was intense. It was kicking my arse. But it was doing it fair and square. Given my fondness for Revengeance, I had high hopes for this game, and so far its living up to those hopes. I am not a gifted player when it comes to spectacle fighters, but there does seem to be nuance there, even if a lot of it has reportedly been copied from their back catalogue. It also makes very good use of transformation as part of the experience, probably the best game to do so, because you transform at the end of a combo and run people over.

This looks fricking amazing, by the way.

Presentation and fidelity to the original cartoon series, the game's main selling point before and/or after being made by Platinum, is also impressive. The game looks and sounds exactly like the cartoon. Only with a much higher framerate, 300% more action, 1000 times the amount of rock music, and at most, 1% of the suck. I have noticed a few glitches, and an energon cube changing colour for a cutscene, but its otherwise highly-refined and well-executed nostalgia. Its not purely G1 though, as evidenced by some altmodes being changed, such as Megatron being a tank, and there's big chunks of the plot that are drawing from other sources. Let's just say there's a name that will be said, and you will recognise it if you've kept up with Transformers media in last decade or so.

Longevity is not an issue I'm confident in talking about just yet. Platinum Games tend to encourage replays, but I can see how you could speed run this. I am also however pleasantly surprised by the weaponry and loot systems, which give the game a kind of Diablo/Torchlight/MMORPG vibe. There is a certain degree of repetition to things, and maybe there's gonna be a superior sequel to this if we are lucky.

All the above is of course subject to change, but if you see this game for £20, you could do a lot worse.