From our first official eyes-on with the game today at Activision HQ, it was pretty easy to tell where the design inspiration for Transformers came from. Take one part Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, one part Grand Theft Auto, and one part Transformers remake, throw it in a pot and let it simmer on high for 20-25 minutes. Players can kick off the game by selecting either Autobot or Decepticon affiliation, and from there work through missions that run somewhat parallel to the main movie. We'll avoid any spoilers for die-hard fans out there (the 12 of you that haven't already read the script, that is), but basically the game builds off the key pops of the movie, recreating the battles, areas, and characters you'll be seeing on the big screen. On the Autobot side, the game is pretty much comparable to the movie, since the Autobots are the focus in the main story. With the Decepticons, however, you're getting more of a "what if" scenario, as you try to topple the Autobot warriors and take over earth for yourself.
Once you select your allegiance you're dropped right into the action. The game is laid out in the oh-so-familiar sandbox atmosphere of titles like GTA, Crackdown, or True Crime, where you've got a top-view map with destination blips, red dots for enemies, and green areas for objective sections. Along with the familiar map system is a integrated "good/evil" meter that works along the lines of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Just because you're an Autobot doesn't mean you can rampage through the city without the cops, military, and CIA noticing, and if you select Starscream and start helping little old ladies across the street instead of trying to become the Decepticon's "New LEADER!" you'll be sure to lose some alliance points as well. It's a pretty cool feeling to see Optimus rampage through the city knocking over police stations and Burger King buildings (it's like the old 80's episode where he turned evil, minus the red eyes), and while it's a bit out of character for the Autobots to be destroying everything, there's something to be said for taking into account the amount of collateral damage you cause during battles.
