I think I was about 11 or 12 when the Transformers reached their heyday in the mid-80s so I was slightly too old to be swept up by the ‘more than meets the eye’ phenomenon.
Besides, computer games and football were what I was into during my pre-teen years.
It’s a shame Transformers didn’t appear earlier because seven or eight-year-old me would have really dug these supercool toy figures and accompanying cartoon series featuring giant robots which converted into machines, vehicles and animals.
It’s lucky then that Glu has released its Transformers G1: Awakening game for iPhone and iPod Touch, giving me a second chance to get in on some Autobots versus Decepticons action.
The title matches up its retro source material with a pretty old-school gaming format – turn-based strategy.
Story mode includes 17 missions giving you the chance to control the Autobots defending mankind against an evil Decepticons’ plot.
The levels serve up a mix of combat and strategy. Each stage has objectives to be met using a small group of bots.
Tapping on a unit bring up a number of nearby squares it can be moved to. It can also perform tasks such as attacking enemy forces and capturing buildings.
Another option is to transform your unit into its vehicle which allows for greater range of movement.
When you have carried out actions with each of your units your turn ends and the AI then has its go.
All of your Transformers have their own strengths and weaknesses, as do the opposition’s.
When a unit comes under attack the game switches to animated sequences showing the effects of the attack and subsequent defence.
Bear in mind if one of your Autobots is in vehicle mode it will not be able to defend itself.
The game is entirely touch-controlled, and for the most part the interface works fine. There are a few fiddly moments when it’s difficult to tap on the right machine or square, although a zoom feature helps a bit.
Fans will no doubt be sent into a state of nostalgic delirium by the array of Generation 1 Transformers present in this game, including Bumblebee, Optimus Prime, Ratchet and Ironhide.
There are 23 of them altogether, although you only get a small number to use on each mission.
Unlike other turn-based strategy games you can’t have multiples of the same units. These are Transformers and as clever as they might be they can’t duplicate themselves!
During levels you can activate new units using earned Energon power, but obviously with the fixed cast of characters you are limited on who you can call upon.
This game doesn’t feel as deep as some other turn-based battle games I’ve played on iPhone/iPod such as UniWar and Mecho Wars, but the Transformers-specific features do add some twists to the standard formula.
There are two extra ways to play the game in addition to the story mode.
Showdown mode provides some further head-to-head missions against the Decepticons.
Meanwhile, Cybertron Arena lets you plays as Autobots or Decepticons in pass ‘n’ play multiplayer battles.
The graphics in this game have good and bad points.
The animated combat scenes feature bold colours and cartoony images, giving the game a Saturday morning kids TV sort of feel, which is of course very fitting considering the subject matter.
The visuals on the map screen are not so great. It’s this area where Transformers lets its mask slip and reveals itself to be a port of a 2008 mobile phone game.
The optimisation for iPhone/iPod is adequate enough but not perfect. The graphics on the map screen are kind of 8-bit and unrefined, while some of the text is very small.
It lacks a little of the slickness I’ve come to expect from games on the platform but in a way this slightly rough-round-the-edge aesthetic style complements the 80s theme.
Overall, Transformers G1: Awakening is one of the more accessible and enjoyable turn-based strategy games available for iPhone and iPod Touch.
If you happen to fondly remember the original Transformers toys and cartoon from your childhood then that will be all the incentive you need to get this game.
For everyone else it’s a decent tactical game with some fun features to distinguish it from the crowd.
Verdict: 7 out of 10 – A slightly simplified but nonetheless satisfying turn-based strategy title which will appeal to fans of battle games and especially to kids of the 80s who want to relive some of their childhood.
Watch a trailer for Transformers G1: Awakening:
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