Transformers: Devastation is an action game based upon the Transformers franchise and developed by Platinum Games. Therefore, you can expect fast paced action and tight gameplay. The game is rendered in beautiful cel-shaded graphics and it suits the characters very well. All the designs are based off their G1 selves but updated to add in more detailing. For ones that have had recent Generations toys (like Wheeljack), you can see some of the toy's designs influencing their character models.
You play as one of five Autobots: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Grimlock, Sideswipe and Wheeljack. Each one plays a little bit different; Optimus is a well rounded attacker while Bumblebee is fast and nimble. Grimlock is the most unique given that he doesn't have a vehicle mode, so he's slow but very strong. The basic controls are simple: a light attack and a heavy attack, dodge, jump, transform and ranged attacks (aim + fire). Being Transformers, the characters can incorporate their vehicle mode into their attacks. Completing a combo gives you a finisher that has the character transform and smash their enemy. You can also freely transform to traverse the environment quicker.
On the easiest difficulty, you can get away with just button mashing but on normal and above, you cannot be overly aggressive. You need to watch out for your enemy's movements and dodge when required. Dodging slows down time giving you an advantage in counterattacking. The best part of the game is that while you will be fighting a lot of grunts, you will also frequently fight familiar characters as bosses. Bosses start out on the easier side but soon become difficult. They will constantly attack you, zip across the battlefield and in general, give you a hard time pinning them down. The game can get visually confusing thanks to all the gunfire and light effects from the hits.
The game starts off with the Autobots arriving in the city to stop the Decepticons. Conveniently, all the civilians are evacuated and thus the robots can cause as much destruction as they'd like. The city landscape is interesting at first until you realize that there isn't much visual variety. You end up backtracking quite a bit throughout the story, although thankfully, there is an objective marker so you don't waste time getting lost.
The visual design of later levels is even more boring. At least the city had branching paths and was decently sized. You end up going through sci-fi corridors where each one looks similar to the other. You'd also have to contend with platforming segments. There's only so much the cel-shaded graphics can do to alleviate this blandness.
The story is simple. Insecticons have broke out and the Autobots come to investigate. They find the Decepticons and eventually, it becomes a race to obtain an important item. The Autobots will be given the run around, led from place to place. It's not a bad story by any means but it's also one that you don't care about too much. If you play on the easiest difficulty, the game is really short at only around four hours long. However, play on a higher difficulty and it'll drag it out to 7-12 hours. Plus, the game is designed for replay, with each chapter and mission giving you a ranking depending on your performance. It's actually really fun to speed through the story mode using a different character, even more so when you try and do it in the fastest time possible (on the easiest difficulty and skipping all cutscenes and unnecessary enemies, you can finish it within 1.5 hours!).
One of the biggest draws to the game is the fact that you will face the combiner Devastator. Your encounters with this giant Transformer does not disappoint and the game presents a few more pleasant surprises. What's nice is that while we do get to fight Devastator, the developers also give some focus to the individual Constructicons. To be honest, the game has so much of that short and sweet taste that you can't help but crave for more. You'd want to see more of your favorite characters turn up and additional playable characters.
There are some RPG elements and weapons customization. Each character gains experience and levels up. Defeating enemies and finding items around the levels will give you weapons. Weapons can then be combined with others to improve their specs. There are plenty of collectibles scattered around if that is your thing. Completing the story will unlock Challenge Missions. These are standalone missions with an objective. Given that there are 50 of these, it'll take you some to complete them. Some of the challenges are frustrating and will test your patience. You not only have the standard defeat all your enemies but there will be races (not bad) and mazes. The mazes are the absolute worst as they are designed to confuse you thanks to the repetitive and bland environments, as well as no maps of any kind.
Overall, Transformers: Devastation is one of the best Transformers games we've had (to be fair, there isn't much competition given only that the PS2 Armada game, War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron were any decent). The graphical style looks great, the gameplay smooth and the game just oozes with charm. It's not perfect given its shorter length, bland environments and at times, messy camera, but it is definitely worth a play at least once.
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