Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
Ted Kritsonis
Video games based on movies usually fall flat in both the story they try to convey and the excitement of the gameplay. The first Transformers video game was pretty forgettable so I didn't have much hope for the sequel, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen. Surprisingly though, this follow-up, which bears the same name as the current Transformers movie sequel, is a fun mashup of machines featuring frequently entertaining gameplay.
For the most part, Revenge of the Fallen -- which is available for the Xbox 360, Sony Playstation 3, and the Wii -- follows the plot of the film, albeit with extra elements that tie things together. While this is fine for keeping things moving along, your tasks are a little too repetitive the whole way through.
In Tranformers: Revenge of the Fallen, you battle minion Decepticons in repeated skirmishes until you get to someone a lot bigger and tougher. Take him down and you're pretty much ready to move on. Other missions have you protecting human military convoys, rescuing trapped humans and ferrying Sam and Mikaela around. But without a doubt, one of the best missions involves flying as an Autobot jet in protecting an aircraft carrier.
The developers of the game had to make a choice, it would seem. By lowering the detail and texture of the environments around the Transformers, they could pull off the fast fighting sequences that happen over and over again. Just about anything you touch falls prey to your path of destruction. The lack of vibrancy in the environments is pretty obvious, but you will especially notice it when you finally make it to the Egyptian pyramids.
But truly, what will keep you playing Tranformers: Revenge of the Fallen a lot is the multiplayer mode. Playing online against up to seven other gamers can lead to some incredible chaos that is very unique because of the Transformers themselves.
Each robot has its own role such as healer, sniper, support artillery and fast-moving scout, so teamwork is very important to being successful in the battle. Just being able to use all the weapons they have at their disposal — as well as the ability to transform — creates a type of battlefield that is very satisfying to those who like to see some variety.
While the film itself has garnered negative reviews, the game actually seems to be the better of the two. If you're someone who isn't particularly drawn to the universe of the Transformers, then you'll enjoy this for a limited time. But Transformers fans will love being able to destroy each other for a long time.