Activision's Transformers: The Game sounds exciting. With the ability to play both the Autobot and Decepticon campaigns, players tear through destructible environments to obtain hidden goodies; it seems like a fan's dream. In practice, however, this game makes the dance sequence in the 1986 Transformers movie look like a smart idea. Dare to be stupid, indeed.

Gamers will toss their controllers in disgust after playing the second Decepticon mission, a timed challenge in which they, as Scorponok, destroy communications vehicles in two minutes; the goal to prevent the military from calling reinforcements. Aside from the mission being woefully linear, it takes too long to destroy one of these vehicles, let alone several. Even worse, all of them split up, forcing players to waste precious seconds reaching them.

In addition, the driving controls will frustrate even the most patient gamer. In vehicle form, the Autobots swerve all over the place, moving like trains instead of cars and trucks. Mapping the accelerator to X doesn't help matters, as pressing and holding the button while firing with the right trigger or right bumper feels unnatural. Because of these awful controls, gamers will fail missions prematurely, forcing them to restart, only to walk right into the same, painful experience.

Combat proves equally frustrating. Despite carrying machine guns, missiles and other destructive toys, battles become boxing matches, with Transformers punching each other instead of turning adversaries into scrap metal. This usually occurs while fighting a boss that raises its shields when it faces the opposite direction.

The linear missions (find this person, grab this object, destroy these robots before time runs out) lessen the game's appeal, though players will somewhat enjoy busting up Decepticons as Optimus Prime and Bumblebee or blowing up buildings as Starscream, among other Transformers. Decimating entire cities and tracking down hidden goodies will keep them busy, and developer Traveller's Tales did a nice job with the transforming animations, so at least gamers have eye candy to gawk at.

Cut scenes look attractive but do a poor job of telling the story. Not only do they end abruptly, but they showcase Transformers pulling off maneuvers impossible to do in the game, teasing players hoping for more than simple jumps and lame looking melee attacks.

Despite Transformers issues, Activision will no doubt capitalize on the upcoming film (which hits theaters July 4) and sell over a million copies, but once again, it fails to deliver a quality, movie-based game. Hardcore fans will derive some amusement from destroying things and collecting Achievements. Everyone else should just see the movie and forget this game exists.

Final Score: 5 (out of 10)

Related Links

Transformers: The Game Xbox 360 Game Guide

Transformers: The Game PlayStation 3 Game Guide

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