TF: G1 Awkening Review

Kotaku.com has posted a quick review of the iPhone game Transformers: G1 Awakening that was released a few weeks ago. Main reason for bringing this back up though is Glu has released a free demo version of the game to give you a chance to decide if its worth your $5. Click here to learn more about the free version.

Loved
Fan Service – Anyone who holds the original Transformers as the pinnacle of the franchise is in for a treat here. The game looks and sounds like it fell right out of 1985, with the transforming sound, original character designs, even the bios you used to find on the back of the toy boxes. Best of all? The battle animations, which render the opposing characters in full 3D, and for an iPhone game, look great.

Autobot Strategist – This insistence on being a true Transformers experience carries over into the game design, and actually works in the title's favour. You're only ever in control of a handful of units at any given time, and each unit is normally a specialist, so it really pushes your tactical thinking. Ratchet is the game's only medic, for example, so you need to think carefully where you're going to send him, as you can't just build another one to complement him. And if you do need to call in reinforcements to swell your ranks a little? Well, Autobot city Metroplex is always on-hand to serve as a mobile base, able to call in reinforcements like Ironhide, Sideswipe, Prowl and Grimlock.

Hated
It's A Mobile Game – Awakening is a port of a 2008 mobile phone game, and it shows. Glorious battle sequences aside, the game's presentation is poor, especially the animation of units on the main battle screen, where in robot mode the characters don't even move. They just shuffle around, legs immobile. For a license like this on a more powerful platform like the iPhone, it could have done with a little extra work.