Beast Wars: Transformers (video game)

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Beast Wars: Transformers
Transformers - Beast Wars Coverart.jpg
Developer(s)SCE Cambridge Studio
Publisher(s)Hasbro Interactive
SeriesTransformers
Platform(s)PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
ReleasePlayStation
  • NA: December 5, 1997
  • EU: March 1998
Microsoft Windows
  • NA: May 31, 1998
  • EU: 1998
Genre(s)Third-person shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Beast Wars: Transformers is a third-person shooter developed by SCE Cambridge Studio and published by Hasbro Interactive on December 5, 1997 for PlayStation and May 31, 1998 for Microsoft Windows. It is based on the Beast Wars: Transformers animated series,[1] specifically the first season, after the introduction of Airazor and Inferno.

Gameplay[]

The game allows the player to play as either the Maximals or the Predacons in a series of missions to sabotage the other side's attempts at gaining a tactical advantage in the Beast Wars.[2] There are six playable characters on each side, one unlockable by finding a stasis pod in a specific level and the other only accessible in Rescue missions, each with their own unique strengths and weaknesses. They all have both a health meter and an Energon tolerance meter that slowly goes down while in Robot mode (staying in Beast Mode slowly refills this meter); once this meter is empty, the player takes damage from the ambient Energon radiation in the air. If the player fails in a mission and gets the character killed, the character can be 'revived' by finding a mini game icon in that same level. The mini game allows the player to take control of Airazor or Terrorsaur to recover the fallen ally.

Reception[]

The game was panned by critics, given a mediocre to bad rating by most online reviewers for the game's blocky and textureless graphics, clipping problems, somewhat slippery controls, and poor voice acting. However, the PC version of the game rates a bit higher than its PlayStation counterpart for one specific reason: the support of 8-player LAN or online play (the PlayStation version took out this multi-player function, reducing its playability severely); in fact, for a while, the MSN Gaming Zone had a series of rooms open specifically for multiplayer Beast Wars matches. Although Beast Wars was criticised it is noted as being the first Transformers brand game that allowed the player to choose both Good and Evil playable characters. In the form of both Maximal and Predacon factions, this game mechanic later became a seemingly expected feature in most future transformer game incarnations. Both the Movie series and War for Cybertron/Fall of Cybertron adopted this selection feature, making Beast Wars partially groundbreaking.

References[]

  1. ^ "Protos: Beast Wars". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 97. Ziff Davis. August 1997. p. 46.
  2. ^ "Beast Wars: Transform your PlayStation". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 101. Ziff Davis. December 1997. p. 102.
  3. ^ "Beast Wars: Transformers for PC". GameRankings. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  4. ^ "Beast Wars: Transformers for PlayStation". GameRankings. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  5. ^ "Beast Wars: Transformers (PS)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. 1998.
  6. ^ Tony V (May 1998). "Beast Wars: Transformers Review (PS)". Game Revolution. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  7. ^ Smith, Josh (February 24, 1998). "Beast Wars Review (PS)". GameSpot. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  8. ^ Smith, Josh (July 10, 1998). "Beast Wars: Transformers Review (PC)". GameSpot. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  9. ^ Douglas, Adam (January 16, 1998). "Beast Wars: Transformers (PS)". IGN. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  10. ^ "Beast Wars: Transformers". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. 1998.
  11. ^ Williamson, Colin (September 1998). "Beast Wars: Transformers". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on March 2, 2000. Retrieved June 28, 2014.
  12. ^ "Review: Beast Wars: Transformers". PSM. 1998.

External links[]

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