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Post by Jazzman Crothers on Aug 22, 2012 5:52:28 GMT -5
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Post by Onix Solo on Aug 22, 2012 7:11:04 GMT -5
Which will be coming soon
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Post by Onix Solo on Aug 22, 2012 10:15:21 GMT -5
Well, since multiplayer is currently broken in the PC version, I'll write up my campaign review.
Fall of Cybertron
When War for Cybertron came out in 2010, we were finally given a properly epic game for the Transformers franchise. Attempts before it had varying degrees of success and failure, but there were only a few passably decent games. WFC changed that, basing itself somewhere outside of any series, but paying homage to G1 and other Transformers series. It gave us a much desired look into the war that took place on Cybertron before their arrival on Earth, and has become the base fiction for Hasbro's new aligned continuity.
War for Cybertron wasn't without it's flaws, however. A relatively uninspired Decepticon campaign, dark, muted and dull environments, and repetitive enemies made the campaign drag on for some. Fall of Cybertron aims to alleviate most, if not all of those concerns, and mostly it has.
We Aren't in Kansas Anymore
First thing you will notice as soon as you begin playing Fall of Cybertron is the color. It is vibrant, rich, and it is everywhere. Fall of Cybertron lacks the 'unreal syndrome' of it's predecessor, and every environment is brighter and more colorful for a truly beautiful Cybertron.
The art direction from WFC to Fall of Cybertron is a step up. Newer metals glimmer with a metallic sheen, as corroded metals have duller, rusted appearance. There is a lot of variation, especially between levels. One of WFC's biggest complaints was that each level looked the same. Muted golds and browns, long corridors, and a general sense of claustrophobia. The variation in level design this time around is magnificent. When you change to a different location, you know it, because everything looks different. The sea of rust looks nothing like Shockwave's lab. Each level is rich and diverse in it's appearance, making each level feel like a new experience.
Variety is the Spice of Life
Visual variety isn't the only kind of variety you will have in Fall of Cybertron to keep the campaign from monotony. The direction and flow of each level is different from the next, and enemies are just as diverse. Unlike War for Cybertron, which threw the same handful of enemies at you, in the same fashion, every time, you will find a health mix of enemy types. From your basic canon fodder, to shot gunners, to leapers, to Insecticons, you will find that you have many more enemy types to tear into. Not only are they different in how you must approach them, they are different in how they approach you.
AI this time around is much smarter. Enemies will try and flank you. They will move behind cover when you advance on them. They will try and out maneuver you, and they will succeed, and you will probably die more than a few times. The AI made game-play interesting. They didn't just hang around, predictably, waiting for you to kill them.
The lack of AI/cooperative partners also makes the game more challenging and fun. It really works to focus and streamline combat and the narrative at large. It also give the ability to mix up the way each character can tackle a level. This adds even more to the variety of the levels. Moving around the field as Jazz isn't the same as playing as Optimus. While the base game-play stays consistent, the abilities each character gets and the designs of the levels makes the game-play feel different. Even when 2 characters have the same ability, like Cliffjumper and Starscream, who both have the ability to cloak, their levels make them feel unique.
We Need Guns, Lots of Guns
War for Cybetron had a small selection of weapons. They weren't anything special, but they did the trick, and fit whatever play style you wanted to adopt. Fall of Cybertron, however, has a mass of weapons for you to use, and most likely, you won't even try them all out in one play through. The guns add even more variety to the game. This time around there are 2 classes of weapons. You have primary weapons, and heavy weapons, and you can carry 1 of each. Each weapon can be upgraded in various ways throughout the campaign via Teletran terminals. Upgrading is what might keep you from using all the weapons, as your credits will be limited, and you are going to want to focus your upgrades.
Throughout the entire campaign, I upgraded maybe 4 primary weapons to their fullest. This isn't a bad thing, not at all, as the next time I play through, I will be focusing on other weapons I didn't even try.
Dinobots, Combiners, and Giant City Transformers, Oh My!
Both Trypticon and Omega Supreme were memorable from war for Cybertron because they changed up the flow of the game. Omega pursued you with emotionless determination, and Trypticon tried to swat you out of the sky during free-fall through Cybertrons atmosphere. It was different, and exciting. High Moon knew this, and so they decided to do a lot more of that, and then some by putting you into the seat of the titans.
The level in which Optimus summons Metroplex to help him is bound to be one of the memorable levels of this game. Think of it like the Omega Supreme level in WFC where he is tearing through Iacon in pursuit of Megatron. The difference, Metroplex is aiding you, not trying to destroy you, There are many moments in this level that were truly exciting, and Metroplex isn't just there to call in artillery.
Playing as Grimlock, and that whole level also had the same appeal. As you and your Dinobots move through the level, you feel like unstoppable titans. Decepticon cower in fear, and tossing them around like toys never gets old.
Other parts of the campaign offer the same kind of variety and excitement, in different ways. Even simple sections that turn what might have once been dealt as a cut-scene into a playable, interactive part of a level mixes it up to make the game truly amazing.
Till All are One
There is a lot I've not covered, but that is because they need to be experienced for yourself. On the hardest difficulty, the game clocked in at 13 hours. It did take me some time on a few difficult parts, so I'd say anywhere from 10-12 hours is probably what most will experience. There are some gripes with the game, mainly in the form of shotgun troops, when on the hardest difficulty can be very frustrating, especially at parts when they through them at you in large numbers. The final level is absolutely amazing, though the final battle was painfully frustrating. Decepticon levels are still uninspired compared to Autobot levels. All in all, I'd give it a 8/10 as a gamer, 9/10 as a Transformers fan.
Review at a Glance
Things You'll Enjoy
- Vibrant Colors - Variety in Everything - Playing Many Characters - The Easter Eggs - Amazing Final Level
Things You Won't
- Shotgun Troops - Final Fight - Optimus Redesign Unexplained - Absence of some WFC Characters
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Post by Jazzman Crothers on Aug 27, 2012 11:18:09 GMT -5
I'm only going to mention a few of my favorite things, I don't want to give away anything for anyone who hasn't tried the game.
Cliffjumper and Jazz are awesome. The banter they trade back and forth between their levels are awesome. The bantering in the last game was great and Cliffjumper and Jazz are funny as hell. Plus, Jazz's voice in so on. He sounds like the origin G1 show voice. The voice actor Troy Baker did a great job!
Grimlock and the Dinobots are a lot of fun too. Grimlock's dialog is cool as is Slag's and Swoop's and you'll have fun listening to them nip at each other. This level steals the spotlight as High Moon hinted it would.
I generally like the way you move and fight. The switching of weapons from hand to hand is good. I don't mind that certain abilities are missing, like double jump or vehicle abilities. Actually I find melee easier to use this time and I'm glad bad guys don't die right away when you hit them.
The weapons are awesome! I like that you can upgrade them and I have already raised all the levels. Personal favs are the glass cannon, the sub-sonic repeater and pulse rifle. And there is tons of ammo this time!
The amount of action seems to take a step back and paces it's self out this time while the game allows the story to come out at certain place. Where WoC felt like most levels had a ton of action to deal with, FoC has the action but it makes space for those special moments or to tell a large part of the story. If this was Star Wars and not Transformers, then Fall of Cybertron is definitely The Empire Strikes Back.
Now Onix mentioned that the last level was something you may not like. I actually liked the idea behind it but I won't get in to details as I don't want to give away any spoilers.
The things that bothered me was the snipers. The reason why is that both Autobot and Decepticon snipers look the same, which is kind of weird and they look like Shockwave. So I get that if Shockwave designed them that he might make them look like him but why do the Autobots have them? (Unless Whirl made them) I think High Moon got a little lazy there and decided that making them different colors would be ok. And whats weird to is they remind me a lot of the flying drones in the PS2 Transformers game! Going to have a look for some videos of that game and compare.
I agree with Onix that I do miss some of the characters from WoC, especially the Aeiralbots. You get a little bit of Jetfire and just some cameos from Air Raid and Silverbolt but I really wanted more even though FoC gives us Vortex and Starscream. And considering we have Perceptor, Wheeljack and Hound and even more character skins for the online action, I would love to see them in action in the campaign. But I got Jazz this time around so I can't complain.
Now character creation is fun! Oh so fun! You can use parts from most of the characters in the game and from what I understand we'll get more. Don't waste your points on the decals, the decals are a waste and the only disappointment in the character creation section, they don't really do anything. The colors could be a little better as you don't have complete control, but you'll still love it.
I don't think I can really rate the game because I'm not a big gamer at all. But do I want to replay the campaign? I do only to find everything and gain more trophies but I wish I could change characters. Like WoC you could chose between three characters, here you can't and have to still use the featured character. All I can do is try different weapons against your opponents.
I haven't played Escalation as much but I was in a room as Wheeljack and me and my team tore it up, crazy fun. I find Escalation way better this time around.
And Multi-player is fun but I'm not entirely sure about it. Its good like the last one if not better, I find it easier to use and this time around I find the big guys harder to use this time. They are slow as hell! I'm having success with the infiltrator and surprising with the scientist. While they have taken away the 'side-step' I'm got his levels up in no time.
So to everyone else, hurry up and play this game! So we can talk some more and compare notes.
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Post by Onix Solo on Aug 27, 2012 12:06:21 GMT -5
It's not the entire last level that I think they wont like, just the very last battle.
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Post by Hoist on Aug 28, 2012 2:34:26 GMT -5
So I finally caved and bought it last night for my PS3, after what was hours of downloading, (I bought it direct over the PS3 Network) I finally got to try it this morning!
Early into the campain so far, haven't played any escalation... yet. What do you think of the Decepticon leapers? The traditional bg bosses where you have to hit them on the back, pretty fun when you've got two of them on you at once using the boosters to get up to higher levels..
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Post by Jazzman Crothers on Aug 28, 2012 6:32:30 GMT -5
Yeah, love dealing with them. Blast them from behind and then jump in with a melee to finish them off. Wait to you see what Grimlock does to them.
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Post by Hoist on Aug 28, 2012 19:48:28 GMT -5
I'm exhausted already! Taking on Multiple leapers, helping Metroplexs. I knew when Metroplex was about to reveal himself, I was squealing like a little fan-girl! (Metroplex! Squeeeeel!) Currently taking on more cons using the targeting system taking down maurauders and big groups of cons on the battle field!
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Post by Jazzman Crothers on Aug 28, 2012 22:53:55 GMT -5
We have to team up for Escalation again!
I'll bring the M.O.P. CDs if you bring the Redman & Method Man CDs.
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Post by Jazzman Crothers on Aug 29, 2012 9:51:29 GMT -5
Its too bad one can't take screen shots on the PS3. Apparently some games allow you to do so but not FoC. Considering FoC allows you to make your own characters, you'd think they make it easy for people to show them off.
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Post by Hoist on Sept 2, 2012 18:24:04 GMT -5
Up to stealthing around as Cliffjumper, after the gruelling advance to take the foinal warp cannon off line. Like playing as Cliffjumper and cloaking! Had a bit of am awe moment when Metroplex went offline (Also starting to really warn to Metroplex as a character now, neve was bothered about G1 Metroplex).
Had a "Metroplex NOOOoooooo!" moment and then another for Prime when Starscream did a suprise appearance and shot him! I hesitate at making metroplex continuinally destroy Megatron. it kinda felt cruel! XD So much fun, challemnging at times. *By the way to do a spolier click the blank ubbc space under the UBBC Tags drop down box and insert text.
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Post by Jazzman Crothers on Sept 2, 2012 23:39:51 GMT -5
That little Metroplex vs Megatron bit is awesome. I lost it when I realized what I was able to do. When I replay it I don't hesitate in the least. ;D
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