Transform Your Game

Published July 31, 2007

Whether you're fighting righteously as an Autobot for humanity's continued existence, or enjoying a life of villainous destruction as a Decepticon in TRANSFORMERS: THE GAME, your challenges are varied and formidable. It can be daunting, but a bit of practice and a few helpful tips should allow you to transform your play into a successful gaming experience.

Scale walls just by leaping against them.

Hurling
Picking up and throwing objects such as cars and trees does quality damage to enemies. It's also a great way to break down defenses. For example, the Decepticon Barricade twirls his mace-like arms furiously, effectively creating a dangerous and impenetrable shield around him. Knock him in the head by tossing a lightpole at him, and an opportunity is opened for melee attacks. Burning objects can also be used to great effect. Toss a burning truck at an enemy and the ensuing explosion should increase damage.

Road Trash
Transformers can get caught up on objects when in vehicle mode, so make absolutely sure—even if it costs you speed—to avoid any chunks of debris littering the roadway when following an enemy. Many missions require you to beat a Decepticon (or Autocon if you're playing the villains) to a designated spot, so you can ill afford to waste precious seconds getting enmeshed in road trash.

Cars equal ammunition.

Direct Route
Chasing after enemies to beat them to an objective is a routine element of the game, but don't be tempted to always follow them. The routes they take are often unnecessarily lengthy. Pay attention to your minimap, and easily beat them by taking the obvious path.

Jump the Escapee
Some missions require you to destroy enemies before they reach an objective. Keep a sharp eye out for enemies that flee the scene mid-combat. It's not uncommon to engage three Decepticons, only to have one drive off while the other two deal with you. Don't stick around to fight it out. Instead, rush off after the enemy that's making a beeline to the objective.

Double-Tap Dodge
Holding the Left Trigger blocks incoming attacks fine when facing just a couple of opponents, but when you're surrounded, it's time to break out the rolls. Double-tap the left control stick in any direction to leap, somersaulting out of the way. This gets you out of the way of flanking opponents, and is useful for evading ranged attacks.

Check Those Achievements
For those hoping to give their Gamerscore a healthy boost, it would be wise to check the achievements list in the Guide Button menu from time to time. Unlike many single-player action games, TRANSFORMERS requires much more than simple level completion to net the full 1,000 Gamerscore, so make sure you know what's required.

Toss, fire, leap and strike.

Heart Awareness
Big battles—especially with bosses—can mean big damage, but the friendly folks at Activision know this. Look out for heart containers to boost your health. Look behind buildings, in courtyards, lying in alleyways, and on rooftops. In short, if an area is slightly obscured, it's worth checking for health.

Exploration Time
Though the fate of the world may seem to rest on how quickly you hurry to the next mission, feel free to explore the world a bit between missions. Instead of racing off to the green objective marker, try collecting items and taking the time out to max-out skill chains like high speed, long jump, and power slides. Check your collecting/skill progress by hitting the Back button. Remember, you unlock different content by maxing your skills in each level, so don't be content with getting it done just once.

These tips should help you perform better in the game, whether you're an Autobot or Decepticon. Stay calm, use the destructible environment to your advantage, and watch your back!

Article by Ryan Treit