Perhaps I came into this review with a prejudice against the game because it's based off the Transformers movie (which I didn't like). Or perhaps it was the simple and obviously half-assed graphics. In either case, despite my feelings going into Transformers: Decepticons for the Nintendo DS it has just enough going for it to make me recant my snap judgment.
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Transformers: Decepticons is the counterpart to Transformers: Autobots, also for the DS. The two games are interactive and are essentially the same game, but with a different plotline and missions. This one lets you play the part of a rookie on the Decepticons side of the story shortly before the events of the movie. You work with various Decepticons from the movie to uncover the location of Megatron, the long missing leader of the Decepticons who was chasing the legendary Allspark. However, tensions within the Decepticon ranks are high as some don't want to see Megatron restored to glory, and distrusting comrades are uncertain of your leaning on the situation.
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The gameplay is a mix of beat-em-up, driving and shooter. As a transformer, you can switch between your towering robot form and a vehicle form. As a robot you start out only able to punch, jump and shoot. But in an unusual twist for this type of game, you gain experience for destroying things, which levels you up and grants new abilities such as rockets and wall climbing. Vehicle mode is not to be understated, however. This game's most endearing quality is the ability to scan most vehicles and set them as your transformation. This allows you to turn into anything from a mack truck to a helicopter. The choice defines your character as it sets your stats and abilities for both robot and vehicle form in addition to changing your appearance. I was happy to find that you can even alter your color scheme. An option I haven't found in most console games like this. The ability to transform suits this style of game well as it makes getting around a city easier than in other games. If you're ever in a situation where you can't find the road to where you're going or you're just plain stuck someplace, you can always transform into a helicopter or robot form and make a beeline for your destination.
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While exploring there is always a blip on your radar showing you where the next mission is. The missions are decently varied, some requiring you to simply wreak havoc, others requiring you to hide as a vehicle to surprise foes. I suspect the missions are more fun in this version of the game as you're actually ordered to simply wreak havoc for several missions. Even better is that when there is an escort mission, your job is actually to destroy the thing that needs escorting. The difficulty rises pretty fast, so being sure to level between missions is essential as there isn't much skill in battle.
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Your options in fighting include punching and shooting. While you can at least strafe while shooting, punching something leaves you almost entirely vulnerable. Often, you can pick something up like a tree or an Autobot, but this just adds some damage to your bashing. Throwing your weapon does even more damage, but it's impossible to hit something if it's moving away from you. Dodging is apparently not in your programming as your robot form is slow and cumbersome. There are no rolls or even ways to intercept attacks. You pretty much just have to take it. Vehicle form gives you greater mobility for avoiding damage, but you can only attack in the direction your moving and one strong hit can send you back into your clunky robot form.
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I found the voice acting surprisingly well done. The same actors who voiced the robots in the movie play their characters in the game, including the original Optimus Prime, Peter Cullen. This only pertains to the cut scenes, however. During missions, you'll be forced to repeatedly hear unfunny phrases like "He's turning my car into swiss cheese!" It gets bad enough to make me turn the sound off on my game. The music isn't even really music, just a barely audible, vaguely techno beat.
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The one thing I have no mixed feelings on is the graphics. Simply put: They suck. Only the named transformers look like any work was put into them, and that wasn't even very much. Every car and tank you encounter lacks detail and they barely animate. Environments bring new meaning to the term "bare bones." Some of the maps are just a clustering of houses with out of place cars driving randomly about. Buildings, too, lack detail. The only cool effect is the dents you leave in the ground when you land from a jump, and even that only serves to remind me that there is no environmental damage caused to any other surroundings.
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The online mode is an example of interesting innovation not taken all the way. While I love to see updated missions and a way to affect a large-scale battle, I don't feel I'm really taking part in anything other than some downloadable side missions. If there is some reward for helping your side take over the Allspark, I haven't gotten any yet. Whenever you make a game online compatible, you have to allow some kind of interaction between the players.
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While I have serious issues with this game's graphics and gameplay, the numerous little innovations that are at its core force me to give it a stay of execution. While I think both versions of Transformers could have been great with more work, I wasn't expecting much from it in the first place, so I remain pleasantly surprised.