Video Game Review: Transformers Prime

            My son’s love of all things Transformers is well documented on this site.  It therefore absolutely made his day when he received the Transformers Prime video game just after Christmas (thank God for post-Christmas deals at Gamestop).  Transformers Prime comes in four versions; DS, 3DS, WiiU and Wii.  I cannot use the Wii controls because of my hand condition and Goose is not particularly adept at the Wii controls aside from Mario Kart, so that one was out (as was the WiiU because we do not own the system).  The choice came down to DS or 3DS.  Since I don’t let him use the 3D function on the 3DS as it hurts his eyes, the logical (and more cost effective choice) was to go for the DS version.  While I do not have anything to compare it to in terms of the other versions, I am sure that this was the worst of the four. 

            First, let’s talk about graphics.  When you are used to seeing the characters come to life in the excellent 3D animation from the cartoon, you expect a bit more quality than what was delivered here.  I know that they will not be exact in terms of how they look compared to the cartoon, but damn.  The characters here are incredibly flat, looking like sprites from early Mega Man games instead of characters in more modern games, much less the fully realized 3D models from the cartoon itself. 

            The fact that the camera cannot be controlled and you are left up to the whim of the game in terms of camera movement is terrible.  In an age where independent camera movement, or at least the ability for a camera to follow you better, seems pretty standard, taking such a step backward is sad to see. 

            The gameplay itself is relatively boring.  Walk forward.  Shoot until you defeat all the enemies and a door opens.  Lather, rinse, repeat.  There are a couple driving sequences and one or two instances where you have to beat the clock to get somewhere, but the gameplay is neither challenging nor rewarding in any way.  The replayability for anyone used to playing modern videogames is nonexistent.  I have beaten the game and have no desire to touch it again. 

            There is one part of one level that is challenging, and that has more to do with the mechanics of the game itself than anything else.  Other than that, the game is very easy.  It is also incredibly short.  I was surprised that it ended when it did, and only part of my surprise was derived from the fact that the final boss was not Megatron.  Really?  You have a Transformers game and you don’t fight Megatron in the end, regardless of the fact that you match off with him a couple times throughout. 

            That being said, Goose likes it.  It features his favorite characters in his favorite iteration of said characters in a game that he can play.  Hell, we were on the same level for a while and at this point he is up to the final boss already.  He is five years old and he has basically mastered this game.  Sure, he may go back and play it again after he is done, and for what I paid for it, it’s not terrible, especially if it brings him so much joy.  If you do not have kids, or you are just expecting a quality video game experience, stick to the High Moon Transformers titles or even the Transformers Animated game for the DS that came out a few years ago.