Most people know that summer is the official season of Kicking It, but what a lot of folks don't realize is that it is also the best time to Kick It Old-School. Seriously--go watch a Hey Arnold! and tell me this isn't the perfect weather to revisit an old favorite. Why do you think they do so many TV Land marathons as soon as school gets out? Surely summer is the ideal time for happy pop-culture reunions, and the world of video gaming is no exception. Soon, nostalgic 80s kids will have a chance to reconnect with their robot roots, courtesy of High Moon Studios via Activision. That chance is Transformers: War for Cybertron, and it's one of the Things I'm Looking Forward To this summer.
Can you identify the robots in the pic above? If so, High Moon Studios made their upcoming Transformers game just for you. War for Cybertron, a multiplayer shooter a la Gears of War, is by the fans, for the fans. With a massive roster stretching across the original series' continuity, T:WfC serves as a prelude to the first cartoon episodes. At this point in the story, the Transformers' home planet is still a battleground for the conquering Autobots and dissident Decepticons. The war played out in the games' twin campaigns will decide whose ideology carries forward as the storyline veers closer to Earth.
It's clear just from the list of characters (Trypticon? Ironhide?) that High Moon Studios has done its homework. The sheer geek cred that went into this project is staggering. Most important to me, though, are the gameplay innovations that will support this tribute to all things Transformers. These crucial decisions include...
A class system
I know he's a little blurry, but any Geekologist worth his or her memory cards ought to be able to identify the Autobot pictured above. You got it--it's Optimus Prime. In War for Cybertron, Optimus is the archetypal Leader--one of the game's four classes. As you might expect, he rolls through the battlefield buffing his teammates and inspiring fellow warriors to acts of heroism. The game features three other classes: the Scout, the Solider and the Scientist. Why they couldn't come up with an S-name for the leader (Sergeant?) I have no idea. The classes are tied to the Transformers' vehicle forms: Leaders are trucks, Scouts are cars, Soldiers are tanks and Scientists are jets. Class-based gameplay is a great element of shooters like Team Fortress 2--the strategic decisions involved in choosing a class can sometimes decide a game before it even starts. I enjoy the sense of pride and niche fulfillment I get from playing a much-needed support character when everybody wants to roll out and deal damage. That alone is reason enough to check out War for Cybertron, but true to form, this one's more than meets the eye...
Transforming gameplay
In War for Cybertron, you'll definitely spend some time stomping around as a two-story robot warrior. To borrow another 80s catchphrase, however, that's only half the battle. You can transform into a vehicle at any time during the battle, with the press of a single button. Whether you have wheels or wings, your new form will grant increased mobility, higher speed and more complex tactical options. Enemy Scout chasing down your Scientist? Go jet, wheel around a building and deal out some classic death-from-above. The transforming mechanic makes War for Cybertron different from other interchangeable, shoot-from-cover Gears clones. It will necessitate new strategies and new ways of playing familiar game modes. You won't want to venture out onto the battlefield alone, and thankfully, you won't have to--because this game is packing...
Co-op campaigns!
If you haven't figured it out by now, I am an Autobots kinda guy.
Cooperative game modes are a deal-maker for me. I've played sub-par games many, many times just for the chance to tackle them with a friend at my side. There's nothing quite like going back to back with a fellow gamer and taking on all challengers. War for Cybertron understands this. In both of its campaigns as well as multiplayer versus modes, the Transformers brawler allows you to team up and fight for your chosen side.
I can't wait for this 80s classic to get the game it has always deserved on June 22nd. Dibs on Ratchet!
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