Activision Game Preview - Tuesday May 19th 2009

The Activision Game Event held in Las Vegas on Tuesday the 19th previewed the upcoming Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Video Game. Attendees were able to get a hands on interaction with the game on all the different platforms it will be available in. The 360 and PS3 versions will be their own this time, utilizing the power of said systems to the fullest. For the other platforms, alternate games were produced, each with their own engine, style, and focus. PSP will have it's own top down arcade style shooter. The DS will have a massively upgraded version in the same style as the "Autobots and Decepticons" titles from last round. And the Wii gets its own game this time as well, with a PS2 Transformers Armada style offering.


Let it be known that Activision is pulling out all the stops with this game. One of the key points drilled home to us by associate producer Adrian Murphy was the fact that they listened to the fans, both gaming and Transformer fan alike - to get this game right. And from first impressions, it seems they did.

Transforming now has a purpose. In order to perform certain moves, you must launch out of your alternate mode to do so. It is also more fluid in the game play. Instead of pressing a button, waiting, the pressing the button again to transform back - it's done by holding one of the top trigger buttons in. Held in - alt mode, release, back to robot mode. It seems like so simple a thing when typed out here, but it really worked well while playing. Being in alt mode is a conscious decision for the player.

Multiplayer - The game will have an in depth multiplayer aspect to it. You can form teams with various characters from each side, maximizing strengths and strategy based on who you choose. Each character has a set of Tech Specs so to speak, so Long Haul (giant dump truck) has firepower but is low on speed, where as "Seeker" (G1 Skywarp homage) can fly and zoom pretty quick. Pairing these guys up among others who are stronger in other areas will maximize your ability to get things done while kicking Autobot ass. In the multiplayer level we tested, the goal was to capture Allspark shards and get them to a checkpoint, before being blasted by the opposing team.


My stint at the Multiplayer was brief, 1 because I generally suck, 2 because I was on a 360 controller I hadn't learned yet (and I’m a big fan of tutorial levels), 3 I had several beers in me, and 4 I was a jet and didn't turn on reverse axis. So that and the beer really had be flipped around in WTF I was doing. Once I got the hang of things, the round ended. But, it was fun, as I was constantly capturing, running to a checkpoint, and there were players and things popping in all over the place. Really felt like you needed to be doing something now. I got absolutely devastated by Megatron. And even though it was me getting my ass handed to me, knowing I just got pwned by Megs was cool. One cool move I actually got off revolved around me transforming to jet mode, swooping down while firing, quickly going to robot mode, blast off a special, back to jet mode, fly off. Kinda like the moment in the first movie with Starscream, Ratchet, Ironhide in the city. But me in video game form :). I can see some TFW2005 clans forming up on this beast real easy, so get ready.


Single player - Mission based. You can choose your campaign at the start, Autobot or Decepticon. So the game has at least 2 solid play-throughs. Adding to that, you can choose your character at the start of each mission, so technically you could play through the game with each character on each side, furthering replay value. Objectives pop up on the screen; you scour throughout the city using your radar going point to point. Controls felt good. GUNS. You have short range blasters, special blasts, and of course melee attacks. Using your weapon too much can and will cause overheating. This isn't just hold down the 0 button and run. Everything was fluid, going back and forth to alt mode made sense. Transforming to vehicle mode, building up some speed, then boosting out into a jump to reach farther rooftops and points is necessary, furthering the need for vehicle modes. Throughout the game, you will interact with other team members in each level, using your specific characters ability to help them do things. Ratchet is a healer, Prime's a brawler, Bumblebee is a scout, you get the point. I'm a big single player mode type guy, not a big fan of any multiplayer, online stuff (so far, this game may change things) - so seeing the single player mode have some life in it was a treat.


DLC - Coming. They stated that depending on the success of the game, DLC will be big and plenty. Characters, skins, and a whole lot more. They have things in the works and ready to go, so expect at least a token offering for round one, and if the fans want it, more down the road. They are willing and prepared to support this long term, it won't just be a flash in the pan summer game blitz then done.

Voice Talent - many folks from the movie reprised their roles. As we've seen before this event, Frank Welker will be doing Soundwave. Soundwave wasn't seen in the initial line up, but he is someone who communicates to you while using Starscream, since he can't be giving objectives and intel to himself. Will he be in the game eventually - who knows (DLC anyone)?


Transformers Fan Wank - Tis in there. The developers are also fans. We hear that a lot lately, who would have thought there were so many closet TF fans out there? :) But, after speaking with these guys I do believe it. The creative director Chris Tremmel actually said his favorite TF is now Battle Unicorn, which removes any doubt for me. Or does it? :) The first round of wanky stuff is the 3 multiplayer-exclusive characters - Protectobot based off of the Protectobots in general, Airelbot - based off the Airelbots Fireflight skin, and Seeker - based off G1 Skywarp. They want to and plan to incorporate representations of all the sub-factions in Transformers lore, so here's hoping we get some Dinobot action as DLC down the road! I'd love to smash up a city as Grimlock, that's for sure.



Alternate versions:

PSP - Top down arcade style shooter. Very Smash TV, Contra style. I was very surprised about how much I liked this game. This IS hold down the 0 button and run, done well. Transforming isn't an option most of the time, but there are specials you can pick up along the way which will give you a super move involving your alt mode. For pick up and play style games, this is good stuff. And the fact it's all Transformer-y made it that much better for me. Those 30 somethings who fell out of gaming hardcore, but still dig TF and an occasional time wasting session, this is for you.

NDS - The original Autobots/Decepticons release for the 2007 movie did very well, and there are still thousands of players connecting and playing online today. So this round of DS games takes that and builds on it exponentially. More levels, more customizing of characters, larger environments, and of course multiplayer. If you dug the first round of DS games, this is your Christmas wish.

Wii - This was designed specifically for the Wii, and will most likely be ported to the PS2. This game is done by the folks who did Transformers Armada for PS2. It features a co-op mode which allows players to work through a level together. A little easier and less involved than the PS3/360 version, so good for the kiddies or those that dig Wii styled games.

Overall the games for the secondary platforms perform well at what they do and are above and beyond a normal movie-game release. All have love and attention put into them that TF fans will appreciate and gamers will dig.

We would like to thank Activision for inviting us out to Vegas to play the game first hand. It was a fun time, and well worth it. Bottom line, this is the best Transformers game to date. Make sure to check it out when it hits the street on June 23rd 2009.

Here is some additional info on the game:

Multiplayer Modes:

Deathmatch – Each Transformer for himself. Destroy as many other players as you can in the time allotted. The player with the most points (not kills) at the end of the round wins.

Team Deathmatch – Autobots versus Decepticons! Eliminate as many members of the opposing faction as possible within the allotted time. The team with the highest combined kill count wins.

One Shall Stand – This is a team leader mode, where one Autobot will be Optimus Prime and one Decepticon will be Megatron. The object is to kill the opposing leader.

• If you are not the team leader, you will continue to respawn as long as your leader is alive. Protect your leader and attack the opposing leader!
• If you are the leader, you will not respawn! But you can see the position of the enemy leader at all times, so guide your teammates.
• If a leader dies, that team has 60 seconds to defeat the opposing leader, or they lose.
• The player who kills the enemy leader will become his team’s new leader the next round.

Control Points – Players split into teams. Fight for control by taking over all five of the control points on the map.

• Capture the 5 control points in order.
• The middle points start neutral and must be captured first.
• Color-coded beacons indicate which points should be captured or defended.
• Control points are also indicated on the radar.
• Once a point is captured, it cannot be re-taken for 10 seconds

Battle for the Shards – This is a ‘capture the flag’ mode where both teams race to acquire the parts of the AllSpark. There are AllSpark Shards spread across the level. You grab them and take them back to your base. You can only walk with the Shards. If you transform, or get killed, you drop the Shard.

Full Playable Character list:

Autobots:

• OPTIMUS PRIME
• IRONHIDE
• BREAKAWAY
• BUMBLEBEE
• RATCHET
• [character based off of] AERIALBOT (Multiplayer-exclusive)
• [character based off of] PROTECTOBOT (Multiplayer-exclusive)

Decepticons:

• STARSCREAM
• SIDEWAYS
• GRINDOR
• LONG HAUL
• MEGATRON
• [character based off of Skywarp] SEEKER (Multiplayer-exclusive)

Check out these links for more Transformers Game images and news:

• Official Images from Transformers Revenge of the Fallen Game
• Revenge of the Fallen Game Info from TFW2005
• Transformers Video Game News @ TFW2005.com

Amazon.com have announced a preorder bonus for the Transformers Revenge of the Fallen game - preorder the game, and you will receive a bonus Ironhide skin for in game use that changes Ironhide into his classic Generation 1 colors. You can check out the promotional model of Ironhide's robot mode to the left of this story.

XBox360Achievements.org has put up the full list of achievements for Transformers Revenge of the Fallen: The Game. There's no major revelations or surprises on the achievement list, and only three "secret" achievements (which are not listed). Click on the link above to check out the full list of achievements.

Activision has issued a press release announcing the voice talent for the upcoming Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen video game. Reprising their roles from the movies will be Shia LeBeouf (Sam Witwikcy), Megan Fox (Mikaela Banes), Peter Cullen (Optimus Prime), Mark Ryan (Bumblebee), Jess Harnell (Ironhide), Charles Adler (Starscream) and Robert Foxworth (Ratchet). Frank Welker will also reprise his video game role as the voice of Megatron. In addition to the previously listed voice talent, Activision has announced that veteran voice actors John Di Maggio and James Arnold Taylor will voice the characters of Sideways and The Fallen, respectively.

John Di Maggio is well known for his role as Bender on Futurama, while James Arnold Taylor has recently voiced Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: Clone Wars. Both are well known voice actors with a very long resume. Given said resumes, can this be an indication that they have been hired for the same roles in the movie? No official word has been given.

Thanks to Activision we now have some official images from the forthcoming Transformers Revenge of the Fallen game.

In these pics we see Bumblebee,Ironhide, Longhaul, Sideways Vs. a generic Protectobot, and Starscream in action.

We also have character renders for Breakaway, Long Haul (3) and "Seeker" (3) - who sports a Skywarpish deco.

Check the full story to see some high-res pictures.

Also, here is a complete playable character list:

Autobots:

• OPTIMUS PRIME
• IRONHIDE
• BREAKAWAY
• BUMBLEBEE
• RATCHET
• AERIALBOT (Multiplayer-exclusive)
• PROTECTOBOT (Multiplayer-exclusive)

Decepticons:

• STARSCREAM
• SIDEWAYS
• GRINDOR
• LONG HAUL
• MEGATRON
• SEEKER (Multiplayer-exclusive)

Yahoo Movies have updated with a new preview trailer of the Transformers Revenge of the Fallen videogame. There are a few surprises in there, as well as a clip of Frank Welker as Soundwave - Generation 1 style! Click on the link above to check it out, then sound off with what you think of it on our 2005 Baords!

IGN has posted some further information on the Nintendo DS Transformers Revenge of the Fallen video games. They state that downloadable challenge missions, pitting players worldwide against one another will make a return appearance, in addition to head-to-head deathmatch battles. There are also stated to be 25 diverse locations to "drive, fly and fight" your way through. Most interesting of all, though, is the possibility to fully customize your characters -

For the first time, players can customize their own TRANSFORMERS robot with a modular body part system. Throughout the game, players will have the ability to scan objects to unlock new parts and upgrade their character by installing new unlockable parts in the Medical Bay as they progress through the game.

The covers for the various format versions of the Transformers Revenge of the Fallen game have begun to go up on Gamestop and other retailer websites. The cover art for most versions depicts Optimus Prime in an action hero pose with the ominous gaze of The Fallen in the background. With the exception of the Nintendo DS versions - each version shows the portrait of either Optimus or Megatron, for the Autobot and Decepticon versions respectively.