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The Transformers IP may have enjoyed a newfound popularity in recent years thanks to Michael Bay’s cinematic adaptations, but Fall of Cybertron is pure 1980s.
From the outset, this game is squarely aimed at fans of the G1 animated series and the movie that it spawned – which, imaginatively, was called Transformers: The Movie.
Peter Cullen, the famous voice of Optimus Prime, is present and correct along with a host of the original G1 voice cast (including Grimlock’s Gregg Berger). Oh, and Nolan North, who plays plucky Autobot Cliffjumper.
Where High Moon Studios’ latest outing differs, however, is in the character designs, which carry on the sterling work of 2010’s War for Cybertron in establishing a brand new, Cybertronian pre-Earth aesthetic.
The models have all been altered from the last game, though – presumably to allow Hasbro to market its soon to arrive Fall of Cybertron toy line. The first examples of these (Optimus Prime, Jazz and Shockwave) are due at UK retail any day now. The second wave constitutes five Decepticons that merge to form the infamous combiner Bruticus.
The list of characters in Fall of Cybertron is superb fan service – alongside your Optimus Primes and Megatrons we also have towering Autobot goliath Metroplex, the rebellious Insecticons and even, for the first time in a 3D Transformers game, the Dinobots.
As well as a rich single player mode plenty of effort has been put into the multiplayer, which offers a vast arrange of customisation options far beyond what was seen last time out.
As one of the first games to herald the end of the summer break, Fall of Cybertron has a great shot at reaching an audience that’s far wider than simply Transformers enthusiasts alone. It will be interesting to see whether it can beat THQ’s Darksiders II to next week’s UK No.1.
