Transformers Autobots for Nintendo DS

[BumblebeeZ3]

Honestly, I'm not even sure whether I'm supposed to be able to have got it or not, as Target has it on a street date of 6-27-07, but Gamestop gave me an automated call on Tuesday saying I could pick it up Wednesday, which I did after work.  Having played it some now here are some of my impressions.
It is quite fun, although the one thing that bugs me is that you cant look up and down.
I am thrilled that in addition to the "generic" Autobot that you play, there is at least one mission where you play as Bumblebee(I just beat that one)
I like the ability to scan different vehicles for your Autobot, that way you can change it up a bit, although I'd like it even more if I could change the color scheme of each vehicle as opposed to it being whatever color it is that I scanned(although I think there have been one or two vehicles where I've seen different color ones of the same make, and scanning those yeilded an already scanned or no results.
The manual is really a bare bones manual, nothing very useful was revealed in it, as the game gives you a walkthrough of the controls and whenever you gain a new ability.  The credits aren't even in the manual.  Speaking of which, I was suprised by the amount of voice work in the game so far, I guess I'm just not used to having voice on my portable gaming system aside from the occasional "Objection!" or "Hold it!"
I like the voice of the Autobot, and there is one moment listening to Bumblebee that is what I would call a "Wreck-Gar moment", although most of it is just generic radio noise while you read what he is transmitting.  Barricades voice is nice as is Primes and Ironhide(although I don't think it is Cullen, but I haven't bothered to view the credits on it yet.
Two save slots are on it, but as there is a multicard multiplayer option as opposed to download play, multiple copies of the game would be preferred anyways.  I really prefer when there is at least a nerfed download play option.  Although I understand they want your friends to get their own copy, it still stinks.

Oh, and while not as bad as Jump Superstars, I still find myself touching the screen with my thumb for scanning and transforming as opposed to pulling out the stylus to use it, or keeping the nub on the strap wrapped around my thumb while I'm playing.

I really ought to get one of those wifi adapter things so I can try the online component.

[crazyjaco]

You SCAN new vehicle modes?!

That is awesome! This was released this week so was the Decepticon version. I really need to pick this up. I think I might get the Decepticon one.

[Zero]

I saw both versions of the DS game at Walmart last night, as well as the PSP game.  I *ALMOST* got the PSP game, but opted to hold out for the Xbox 360 version next week.

[raistlin]

Oddly enough i only saw them at Kmart of all places. Gonna wait on it. spending too much with conventions a coming up

[Firebird1]

Is this comming out for the PC as well. I do not have a DS yet.... I was trying to save up for a 360.

[FakeTrout]

PC version is exclusive to target and is identical to the PS2 one.

DS and PSP games are completely different from consoles.

[Tigerpaw28]

Picked both versions up Thursday night. I agree that they are really cool. The intro FMV just blew me away. I shot video footage from both versions, should be up sometime tomorrow.

[Firebird1]

Might be worth it then to check this game out. Even if I have to get a DS or a 360 a little early.

[Chopper Face 69]

I can't believe how much the various Transformers games are being plugged in flyers and such. It's the one they put on all the TVs in the Future Shop and Best Buy flyers.

And I thought all the KMarts went out of business years ago when my one friend got shit canned and they all became Zellers stores.

[Zero]

I caved and bought the Autobots version for the DS tonight.  Holy shit, this is actually a good game!  For a DS title, the production values and the solid controls are really impressive. 

All the voice acting is good (you get Steve Blum as your generic Autobot, who you play most of the game as) and Prime is a real treat to hear each time he gives you orders.  Bumblebee sounds really...odd...as he uses radio gibberish (he sounds like a loading screen from Jet Set/Grind Radio) but it is explained that he's "text messaging" you whenever he needs to communicate.

The graphics engine is actually decent, I'd say it looks better than Metroid Prime Hunters, there is expected pop-in and such and no humans anywhere to be seen (which is kinda awkward when the police cars start shooting at you), but I understand their technical limitations...albeit the Driver games on the PS1 did have blocky humans, then again the game probably couldn't have gotten an E rating if you could run folks over.  Anyway, it doesn't really effect the game at all when your goal is to fuck up other robots.

The gameplay is really varied, which is nice.  You're not just traveling somewhere to kill other robots all the time, your first real mission you're actually scanning transmission towers to access the internet and find the Allspark.  Pretty neat, actually.  In another, Bumblebee has you scan a mess of cars to capture new vehicle modes.  By the way, your Autobot has been modified by Wheeljack to be able to store multiple vehicle modes.  You also have to watch your collateral damage, as destroying too much of anything will alert police and S.W.A.T. forces to take you out.  You cannot change your form in while in pursuit, you have to evade them entirely.

Well, I better stop typing and get back to playing.  I could probably wind up writing a book again...

[BumblebeeZ3]

I feel somewhat guilty for blasting away humans in this latest mission, but they keep firing on me, and they only stop if I blow them away.

And not being able to look up is really getting to me with some of these helicopters getting directly overhead.
As much as I like being able to play as Bumblebee, I think a helicopter would have been a more useful form for this mission.

[BumblebeeZ3]

I stand corrected, you can change colors.  There are dots in the upper left and right corners that you can tap to change colors when selecting your vehicle mode.  I'm enjoying the game(currently at 43%), but that really is a skimpy manual.  I just discovered that today, and my brother apparently had discovered it earlier.

[Tigerpaw28]

I'm enjoying the game(currently at 43%), but that really is a skimpy manual.

Yeah, it isn't very thorough. Tried to find out at what points your game will save, but it doesn't say. I still haven't figured it out completely but I think I can at least count on it to save when I get moved to a different map.

[spooie]

I nabbed both DS games at Circuit City last week, thanks to their "$20 off when you buy both" sale.

Haven't actually played them yet.

[Phil Bond]

I just started the Decepticon game. The DS can do better graphics than this, but the little bit of extra Decepticon development beyond the movie is nice.

Goliath the gargoyle does not sound like Barricade to me, though.