Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark
About the Game
Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark is a third-person shooter in the Transformers franchise. The game has a new developer and bridges the gap between the Transformers movie universe and the game Transformers: Fall of Cybertron . It acts as a prequel to both Fall of Cybertron and the movie Transformers: Age of Extinction . It takes place before the Ark is launched in the Aligned continuity (after the events of Transformers: War for Cybertron ), but also deals with one of Lockdown's schemes in the Age of Extinction part.
Story & Setting
Through thirteen chapters the story takes various characters through many locations based around the Dark Spark then played largely as a flashback in Cybertron based on the games' storyline instead of the movie. For each chapter the perspective usually switches between Autobots and Decepticons and the game does not offer a choice in transformers or a specific faction side as in the previous games.
Gameplay & Core Systems
players starts as the Autobot Drift, sent to a burning city to investigate the attack. Characters players get to control are Bumblebee, Drift, Grimlock, Jetfire, Optimus Prime, Sharpshot, Sideswipe, Soundwave and Swindle. There are about 20 guns in total, including a regular shotgun, rifle, minigun and semi-automatic gun, but also chaining beams, a slime cannon that slows down and a blade shooter (Gear Shredder). Certain attacks are unique for a specific transformer, such as the ability for Sharpshot to cloak. Weapons can be upgraded with bonuses for specific weapons, faster reload and larger clips.
Standout Features
- By leveling up or completing bonus challenges gear drops can be earned, ranging from bronze to gold in value, and prime for specific milestones.
- These boxes provide new weapons, character unlocks for multiplayer, Tech (single-use power-ups) and Hacks (gameplay modifiers).
- Up to four players work together cooperatively to destroy fifteen waves of progressively more difficult enemies on eight maps in totals, grabbing ammo and reviving each other during games.
- The experience and leveling system with its unlocks is shared between the single-player and multiplayer mode.
- Escalation: The online multiplayer mode is called Escalation.
- Generation: In multiplayer there are over 40 characters to choose from, some with different models based on the movie or the game universe, and also the Generation 1 Optimus Prime.
- The Wii U version does not have the multiplayer mode.
Modes & Ways to Play
Player support includes Internet and Co-Op.
Presentation & Atmosphere
Display support includes HDTV 720p. Audio support includes Dolby Digital.
