Transformers: DOTM isn't what you would expect from High Moon Studios, but do well enough to deliver something fun.
On the back of their successful Transformers War for Cybertron, High Moon studio's (now charged with developing Activisions Transformers games) were tasked with creating the next movie tie in, the only draw back this team has had to go from one project to the next with limited amount of time. To their credit the team attempted to fill the game with the same passion and love for the Transformers Universe by adding additional characters and attempting to give justice to their respective personalities, however ultimately deliver a somewhat sub par game.
Unlike the previous movie tie in, Transformers DOTM offers an original story-line which sets up the events of the film of the same name. It explores the Autobots efforts to hunt down the remaining Decepticons, who are attempting to release the dreaded Shockwave from his cryostatis in a Siberian military base.
At point of writing this review I am unsure if this was an original script penned by the team at High Moon or by the screenwriters on the film (however the credits of the game suggests the former), though as a Transformers story based within the "Bayuniverse" personally I felt it was rather enjoyable. Although it did have its narrative flaws at the beginning it weaves itself quite nicely towards the end.
Unlike previous Transformers games, which presents two seperate campaigns for both Autobot's and Decepitcon's, Dark of the Moon bucks that trend and instead offers up 7 missions that casts you in the role of seven different Transformers from both sides. This of course is one of the biggest drawbacks of this game, which is mostly due to the limited development time High Moon were stung with, as the team were unable to flesh out two seperate stories from both sides.
In terms of gameplay DOTM plays very much like WFC though without the polish. This results in the characters handling very much the same, although there can be sensitivity issues with controls not being as responsive as they need to be in a gun-fight. I have an issue with the 'stealth mode' when you transform into vehicle mode, which is basically an expanded version of Bumblee's half car/half well armed tank seen in trailers of the film. I don't know who decided on the inclusion of this gameplay feature though I think it could had been limited to driving only sections. It has a direct impact on the usefullness of the vehicle mode as you now need to hold down a trigger button in order to manoeuvre easily (though at most times you don't want to since the vehicle controls are incredibly fickle). Although I lay some hate towards the stealth mode in the game, I do see it's uses and would like it expanded on further in future Transformers games.
Multiplayer makes a comback in a big way. High Moon have lifted the same structure they establish in WFC and applied it here with new maps and character models. Although it offers more or less the same experience this time around, it makes for a fun and entertaining way of smashing other Transformers
Dark of the Moon again employs the Unreal Engine, but you wouldn't know it. Although character models are detailed and look relatively good, when compared to War for Cybertron it downright looks horrid. This is not a good looking game. The environments are empty and devoid of life, and although the scenery is changed up with some vista's and locations that seem visually appealing, they lack the detail Unreal could grant it.
I suppose if you know Dark of the Moon is going to be nothing more than what it is, a completely rushed and flawed movie tie in game, then you may have some fun with it. In this day and age we shouldn't expect more from these sorts of games.
Given more time High Moon could have developed something a little more special, but what is on offer is something that even the most fleeting Transformer fan could enjoy.