andPOP » Transformers

Outer Panel Haven. 18a

sarge-ak47 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:44:30 +0000

Remember how awesome the first Transformers movie was? I’m not talking about the 80’s cartoon movie, I mean the Michael Bay blockbuster from 2007.
Yea well let’s just say I wasn’t too amazed by the sequel. Just felt a tad bit hollow even for a transformers movie and there is just something wrong with how cool source material is handled by Bay.
But if you own a BluRay player or a PS3 you gotta see this baby in hi def.

Game Review: Transformers – Revenge of the Fallen

Aaron Cappe — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:06:31 +0000

Less Than Meets The Eye

Normally, video game tie-ins to blockbuster movies suffer rush-to-release, loosely-based-on, terribly-voiced products. In all of these categories, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen excels. Once the disc starts spinning up, you get the standard “voice-over to bring you up to speed” cinematics. Which would be tolerable, except Peter Cullen sounds completely bored out of his mind, and is just waiting to see the recording light in the studio shut off so he can go home. Not the best way to get the player into the mood for what follows. Although, it is an honest measure of things to come.

From a technical standpoint, Revenge builds on the original Transformers game, itself a tie-in to the 2007 film. There were numerous issues with the original, from poor environment detailing, shoddy controls, boring missions and a general lack of feeling like you are controlling a 30 foot mechanical behemoth. In Revenge, you have much better looking character models, almost identical in scale and detail as their movie counterparts, and you have decent enough environments to play around in. The most inconvenient thing is that you are always forced to remain within the confines of a pre-determined “action zone”, and there is simply no way to escape it. See a neat skyline in the background of Shanghai? Forget it – you’re stuck in the same quarter-mile block of identical buildings, fighting identical looking robot drones.

Controls haven’t improved much either. In fact, they’ve taken a few evolutionary steps backwards from the original. You are now forced to use the right trigger to transform – and hold it down to remain transformed. This wouldn’t be such a big issue, except that this is also your acceleration function. So once you transform, you’re always moving. And if you want to brake? Well, don’t take your finger off the trigger, or else you change back to your robot form. Sure, you’re saying, that’s not so bad. Okay – but the same button also controls you’re primary weapon in robot mode. I lost track of the number of times I would fight to target an enemy, lock on, and then ….. change into a truck and drive straight into a wall. All the while taking potshots from enemies the camera refused to allow me to focus on.

Now, I’m all for head-scratching controls. But combined with boring, tedious, and worst of all, repetitive missions, it feels like the game was specifically designed so you would scream at the top of your lungs “Yes, I actually like the movie better!”. Escort missions where characters fail to appear where you need them, or appear and disappear once you arrive at their destination; Protection missions where your allies are completely useless and will head straight for new enemy fire while you are still attempting to recover from the last blitz of generated enemies; pointless race missions where you never feel like you can control your vehicle, mostly because when you need to take a quick turn, you’ll inadvertently transform into your robot mode.

Bumblebee, Flame on!

To add even more salt to this wound is the atrocious voice acting. Megatron and Optimus Prime are voiced fairly well, although both Peter Cullen and Frank Welker seem to have had a lot less fun with this round of studio time than the last outing. The rest of the Autobots and Decepticons however, leave a lot to be desired. For the most part it seems as if their volume controls were somehow lost during post-production, or their robotic sound effects modules are cranked past eleven. The human voice-overs are even less tolerable, which is good because they only show up every now and then.

Something very odd, and very off-putting, I found during the cutscenes between missions where your current leader will tally up your bonuses and mission objectives, was that Optimus Prime seemed to be a lot harder on his troops than Megatron ever was. I’m not afraid to say that I actually felt put down when I was told I needed to start finishing more secondary objectives or we would lose the war. And then I felt mad for the designers thinking that they could ever force people to keep playing this disaster of a game.

The only time this game has a chance to actually shine is in the multiplayer component. This is quite simply, the games most redeeming quality. It’s not amazing, but it’s much more fun to fight against actual people than the shoddy A.I., and the modes are all generally fun. There’s classic Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch, along with a Transformers version of Capture the Flag, where you need to capture five pieces of the All-Spark. There’s also One Shall Stand mode, where the goal is to take out the other team’s leader; and Control Points, which is something very similar to what you find in Unreal Tournament III. Working together with other people to take down the enemy leader is actually quite a rewarding experience – as long as the game doesn’t freeze mid-session.

Don't forget the DLC packs for new Transformer skins.

Overall, I have to say that this is a game only the most die-hard of die-hard fans can enjoy. There are a number of unlockables, such as classic Generation 1 television episodes (S.O.S. Dinobots, Fire on the Mountain), as well as G1 single- and multi-player skins for some of the robots, and you can start accumulating enough points to unlock things within the first few missions. However, the presentation, controls, repetitiveness and general lack of polish simply make this another quick-release money-printing vehicle – wait until this one ends up in the bargain bin.

Gameplay: 2/5

Graphics: 3/5

Sound: 3/5

Replay: 2/5

Shia LeBeouf Rides Dangerously

Vanessa Baker — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:24:48 +0000

Shia LeBeouf was spotted Friday riding his motorcycle in Sherman Oaks, California Friday without a helmet, reports TMZ. Not only is riding helmet-less dangerous, it’s illegal in California.

A year ago Monday, the Transformers star hurt his hand in an accident. His license was suspended for a year after he refused to take a chemical test following the crash.

Transformers fans prepare yourself for a little DLC

Josh Salem — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 20:53:05 +0000

With Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen only recently being released, Luxoflux is already spoiling us with a huge list of downloadable content on it’s way later this summer for Xbox 360 and PS3.

By far one of the largest sounding DLC’s I have ever witnessed, this addition will provide something for oldschool fans as well as fans of the new movie.

This coming pack will include over ten new multiplayer characters including oldschool favourites like G1 Starscream and new additions like Sideswipe. As well there will be three all new multiplayer maps to use these characters (and your older favourites) on. In addition, these new characters can be played in both the Autobot as well as Decepticon single player campaigns and bring with them new achievements for Xbox 360, and trophies for the PS3.

Finally for those who have beaten both campaigns and whined about this game being too easy, this add-on will include a new expert difficulty mode complete with a fresh set of leader boards to challenge expert gamers in single player campaigns.

While we still aren’t sure as to how much this DLC will cost gamers, one thing is for certain. This DLC has more than meets the eye.

Sorry about that last sentence…

Sequel To Transformers Hits $300 Million Mark

Ilan Mester — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:39:01 +0000

Critics may have given thumbs down to “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” but that sure isn’t stopping fans from watching the action flick on the silver screen.

After just 14 days in theatres, the sequel to the highly successful “Transformers” raked in an impressive $300 million in U.S. ticket sales, making it second to last summers blockbuster hit “The Dark Knight” in terms of box office figures.

The first film — starring Shia LaBeouf and Megan Fox — grossed $319.2 million domestically during its entire time in theatres and $700 million worldwide.

Meanwhile, “Revenge of the Fallen” has already raked in $600 million internationally since its June 24 release, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com.

Needless to say director Michael Bay is ecstatic over his movie that’s explosive both on screen and with the audience.

New Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen Game Rolls Out

Brett.Caron — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:22:46 +0000

The newest blockbuster movie of 2009 now has it’s companion game being released for a multitude of consoles. Gamers can now play as their favorite Autobot or Decepticon to champion or destroy the human race across a number of levels spanning the Cairo desert to Shanghai cityscapes.

The ability to instantly transform from vehicle to juggernaut of destruction remains from the original game, with the new addition of brutal online play. The next-gen consoles and PC versions of this game include a great selection of characters, with equipment and weapons unique to each. They also will have several modes to experience online multiplayer action.

The game is being released for the XBox 360 and PS3 consoles along with PC. A less impressive version is being released for the Wii, PSP, Nintendo DS and Ps2 consoles, that retains a single-player mode with over 15 missions and limited multiplayer action. Interestingly, the DS version has a customizable character selection.

Well, I’m looking forward to running through this game, and causing massive amounts of collateral damage along the way. Like a bull in a china shop.

Shia LaBeouf’s Hand ‘Crushed’ in Collision

Irene Ogrodnik — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 13:54:50 +0000

Shia LaBeouf’s left hand was “crushed” in a weekend traffic accident and possibly runs the risk of infection, reports People Magazine.

“The force of (the) impact immediately flipped Shia’s vehicle over, and, as a result, Shia’s left hand was crushed,” said the actor’s attorney Michael Norris in a statement.

“Shia underwent four hours of surgery on Sunday and has been recovering since then. His doctors remain hopeful that he will fully recover, but due to extensive surgery and the nature of the injuries, there remains a substantial risk of both infection and other complications.”

A week ago, LeBeouf, 22, suffered the injuries when his truck collided with another vehicle.

“We have also received information that suggests that the other driver may have been traveling upwards of 50 mph, and that said driver may not have been looking forward at the time of the accident,” the lawyer says.

A Los Angeles County sheriff spokesman said the actor may have not been at fault for the crash.

“We have strong evidence that the other driver ran a red light,” sheriff’s spokesman Steve Whitmore said. “The case is still under investigation.”

Shia LaBeouf in Hospital after DUI Crash

Irene Ogrodnik — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 08:03:18 +0000

Shia LaBeouf is recovering in a Los Angeles hospital after an early morning car crash Sunday, reports E! News.

The 22-year-old actor was allegedly making a left turn when his Ford F-150 pickup struck another car and rolled over twice. The accident left the “Indiana Jones” and “Transformers” star with an injury to his left hand, head and knee.

L.A. County Sheriff’s deputies came to the scene of the accident involving the two-vehicle collision at around 2:30 a.m. LaBeouf had to undergo surgery for his hand injury while his female passenger and the woman driving the other vehicle suffered minor injuries. Although all three were taken to the hospital, both women were treated and released while LaBeouf remains at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

LaBeouf was booked on suspicion of DUI but was released from sheriff’s custody to get medical attention.

Megan Fox: Teenage Shoplifter

andPOP Staff — Tue, 06 May 2008 02:59:48 +0000

“Transformers” star Megan Fox may be able to get into a lot of exclusive clubs now, but there’s one place she’s definitely not welcome: Wal-Mart.

The 21-year-old is banned from a Florida branch in her hometown, after she was caught shoplifting a $7 tube of lip gloss during her rebellious teenage years.

A source close to the starlet told the National Enquirer that Fox “was quite a rebel growing up. She thought she could get away with anything, and definitely had sticky fingers.”

Fox denied taking the lip gloss even after security told her she was caught on video, and tried to talk her way out of it. “But when they threatened to call the police, Megan broke down in tears and confessed,” claims the friend.

Fox’s spokesperson refused to comment.

They Attacked Earth, Now They’re Coming For Your Home

andPOP Staff — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 12:38:24 +0000

The leaves may be changing colour, but next Tuesday, October 16, you can enjoy this summer’s biggest blockbuster all over again.

Drive out to the nearest video store and take Tranformers, starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, and Jon Voight, home with you!

And don’t worry, this flick is for everyone! Even if you didn’t spend most of your childhood days glued to your television set watching Megatron battle it out with Optimus Prime, this robotic rendition of War of the Worlds is still time well spent — guaranteed!

In Transformers, Earth suffers a great amount of chaos as cyber aliens decide to make human turf their final battleground. The planet’s only true hope for survival lies in the hands of a less-than-popular high school student. As the evil forces leave destruction in their wake as they search for the key to ultimate power, Sam Witwicky comes to the rescue. Although he doesn’t exactly seem like the guy for the job, being the grandson of a little-known but very bright inventor allows him to muster up just the right amount of creativity and courage to rid the world of ruin.

With smattering explosions, good humour, clever scripting, and just a sprinkle of romance, this film is just what you need to get your adrenaline pumping as the weather starts to cool down.