Transformers: Battlegrounds Preview

A couple of weeks ago I was invited to take a look at the upcoming tactical action game Transformers: Battlegrounds, the first non-mobile Transformers game in half a decade, with Josh Beech from developer Coatsink. We used Parsec, a cloud-based streaming service, so that I could play while Josh could see what I was doing and talk about relevant points.

I played portions of three levels in my short half an hour with the game, and it was hampered by Parsec lagging all over the place. However, I’ll try to give an accurate portrayal of how the game will feel when it comes out in a couple of months.

You’re a human from Central City, and when Bumblebee rescues you from a Decepticon’s blaster you’re conscripted into aiding the Autobots. Hovering above the action, held aloft by Teletran-X, you tell them what to do and where to do it. I’m not sure how that works for later missions, as “I” was never addressed again after the opening tutorial.

You start each of the 20 missions with up to three characters, from a selection of six. Some missions let you choose who to take, others don’t, and each bot has their own uses such as dealing massive damage or healing abilities. Each of your three characters can do three actions. Only one of which can be an attack, but you can use all three as movement to get further, which will make your Autobot transform and roll out. After all of your bots have used up their action points, it’s the end of your turn and you get to see the Decepticons take theirs. One neat thing is using environmental objects, such as kicking a car towards an enemy, or shooting the car to make it explode.

As you use turns your energon meter fills. Each bot can use either 50% or 100% of this meter to do a special attack, which doesn’t use up an action point. These are spectacular attacks, and I mean that in the way that it’s a spectacle. Big, flashy, and it usually transforms them while they do it.

According to Josh, the only real feedback Hasbro (owners of The Transformers license) have given about Transformers: Battlegrounds is that transformations should be used sparingly. That’s why you only see them during long movements or for special moves - to make them feel special. Which is nonsense to me, who wants Transformers that don’t transform? That would be like having a Go-Bot that didn’t go. The most fun parts of past Transformers titles have been changing into your alternate form at will.

The graphics (and in fact most of the game) are based on the Transformers Cyberverse cartoon, so suit this game aimed at a younger audience. Things are bright and chunky, and looked pretty good. There is no ambiguity about what you’re doing or options you’re selecting as the user interface is clear, and enemies are marked clearly.

The voice actors from Cyberverse reprise their roles, adding to the experience. However, the music and sound effects didn’t really make a mark on me. I honestly can’t even remember hearing the “transformation” sound effect, and I played this game less than an hour before I wrote this.

Transformers: Battlegrounds is coming out 23rd October on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch and PC.