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Click on the picture for specifications Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (PC) RM 139.90 Price Updated 06 Aug 2009

I´M a big fan of the 1980s cartoon Transformers -- just to let you know how biased I am in advance.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, the sequel to the first Transformers game, loosely follows the movie it is based on -- which we all know was a fan service to mid-teens with all the sexual jokes. Thankfully, from what I´ve played in the single player campaign, there aren´t any.

The game lets you play the Decepticons or Autobots. The campaigns have minor variations such as escort or repair, but the bulk remains firmly on wiping out your enemies in the most destructive manner possible.

There is a tutorial section that you can´t skip -- it teaches you what you need to know about the PC controls. And believe me, there´s a lot to know.

Unlike other PC games, most of the grunt work of Revenge of the Fallen is done not by your left hand on the keyboard, but your right hand on the mouse using a combination of the three famous mouse buttons.

Let me give you an idea.

The left mouse button controls transformation. Hold it down to transform to vehicle mode. Pressing the middle button fires your weapon. Press right to slide/slow down to turn.

In default robot mode, the middle button is melee. Pressing and holding the right mouse button put you in weapon mode. The left button fires your weapon and the middle button lets you melee.

Combine that with Left-Ctrl to climb, Spacebar to jump, Left-Shift to lock on, "F" to use special and "T" to select weapons and you get a thorough workout on all your pinkies.

But there are a few problems. There seems to be a lighting issue with the PC version. In some dark missions, you have a heck of a time spotting the Decepti-creeps until they open fire on you.

Then you have the muddled menu system -- there is just way too much text and data squeezed in one window.

In a nutshell, Revenge of the Fallen is a pleasant service to the original 1980s cartoon fans. There are even episodes of Generation 1 Transformers to watch.

You can play the Aerialbot and Protectobot in multi-player. Whether they combine to their larger form is left to be seen, and since I had cable issues last week I didn´t want to test the multi-player part of the game on a bad connection.

Fans of the original and re-imagined Transformers should give Revenge of the Fallen a try -- it may be just the thing you need to let out all the pent-up combustion in your cylinder valves.

by Bruno Dieter Chan

Published Date : 03 August 2009  

Source : Tech & U, New Straits Times