Review: TRANSFORMERS G1: AWAKENING
March 3, 2010
Overview
Transformers G1: Awakening is a turn based strategy game that employs the original Transformers characters from the 1980s cartoon. You play as the Autobots battling against Decepticons for Energon which works much like mana. The game has reasonable graphics but the controls will take a while to learn. Any fan of Transformers will be delighted to see all their favorite characters in this title. The challenge of this game is using your character's abilities effectively against the enemy and controlling the Energon on the map. The overall feeling is that of a puzzle.Features
There are three available slots to save different games. There are three play modes including Story Mode, Showdown, and Cybertron Arena. Story Mode includes most of the game play in Transformers G1: Awakening. Showdown mode features a single Autobot vs. a single Decepticon. Cybertron Arena allows you to play as the Decepticons in a 4 vs. 4 battle. Story mode features 17 levels and you begin after awaking from a 4 million year slumber, in need of energy from the humans now inhabiting the planet which we call Energon. Your goal is to grab Energon before the Decepticons. Energon allows you to use the skills of your various transformers which include healing and producing new
units. To gain Energon, you capture the power structures by occupying the square and touching the capture button. You will know it is captured when the power lines change from blue to red.
Your Autobots can change from transformer to vehicle in order to move more spaces but be careful because you cannot attack in vehicle form and cannot change back until your next turn yet you can still be damaged by adjacent Decepticons. You are allowed to move each of your characters one time per turn and you may fight a Decepticon even if he is in range after your farthest move. You end your turn by clicking the icon on the top middle area of the screen.
The fighting range is 0 squares, that is to say you need to be next to your enemy to fight them. The battles play out by themselves, you can't do anything but watch the pretty graphics during the battle. The battle is determined by your Autobot's stats which are viewable by pressing the transformers icon on the left.
Another factor is your proximity to your teammates which can give you % bonuses to attack and defense. Here lies much of the strategy, you need to surround your enemy for a guaranteed win. Generally each team gets one high defense slow moving transformer that can create units by using Energon. The stronger transformers cost more Energon than the weaker ones to create.
The Good
You are allowed a redo before end your turn. The graphics during the battle scene cuts are beautiful and are very reminiscent of the 80's cartoon, allowing you a close up rotating camera view of both of the involved Transformers. The battle cuts are also skippable which is good because they become time consuming after a while. The sound is reminiscent of the original cartoon. There are a number of variables in this turned based strategy game which allow for changes in gameplay such as the buff from near by transformers, self buffs, healing, and which team has gained more Energon during the battle. Transformers G1: Awakening is a long game with 17 levels in story mode, and will give you hours of new maps and new challenges.The Bad
The squares are quite small and the zoom features only allows for two modes, very close and very far. The squares can become hard to select usually seeing you clicking on the square above the one you were aiming for. The map at times gets confusing when all of the transformers are battling in the same area.
The gameplay is quite similar in all three modes and after a while is just the same thing over and over. You will need a lot of time each round making this app hard to play on the go. The battle scenes do not allow for any interaction and do not allow you to choose which move to make, leaving all of the gameplay to be decided based on your movements.
