Transformers Review Roundup: A Solid 'Meh'

Filed in archive Reviews on June 29, 2007

Whether or not the upcoming live-action Transformers movie will delight or disappoint is yet to be decided -- but the critics seem to be united in their opinion of the licensed game: it's just about as bad as any other licensed game. Here's a roundup of their collective sighs:

Gamespot (6/10)

Transformers: The Game is very much the archetypal movie-licensed game. It's got all the hallmark problems of the genre, including short length, overly simplistic mechanics, a barely-there story, and a bit of a sloppy feel...If you were hoping for something more, Transformers will probably just disappoint you.

Gamespy (2.5/5)

It's hard to recommend Transformers: The Movie on its own merits, but those looking to simply stomp around a city as Optimus Prime will have some fun with it. It has some very noticeable flaws, but none of them were severe enough that I shut the game off in disgust. Instead, I began adapting to them and found myself enjoying the game in spite of the problems. Still, I can't imagine anyone but diehard fans going to these lengths.

IGN (5.7/10)

While it's not a complete disaster, Transformers is a cluttered mess. Despite reminding me of Hulk's Ultimate Destruction with its "obliterate everything" motto and open world design, its quality isn't anywhere near as comparable. Structures crumble and blow up, yes, but they'll do so from even the slightest touch. I can't tell you how many times I walked past buildings with Prime or Ironhide, only to watch those environments fall apart in a fiery heap because I happened to brush against them. Wreaking havoc is nowhere near as fun when it happens by accident just as frequently as it does on purpose.