Welcome to our CHEATfactor Game Review of Transformers Devastation. We review the game and then factor in how the available cheats affect the overall game experience. For better or worse, our reviews will help you decide whether or not to use cheats when playing the game.

Transformers fans are used to disappointment. From Michael Bay's butchery of their passion (really? Megatron becomes a gun?) to the slew of unoriginal and subpar video games, fans of the robots in disguise haven't had much to be proud of in the last few years. Until now. Believe it or not Transformers Devastation is a remarkably fun and well-done action game from standout developers Platinum Games. Perhaps more importantly it's a love letter to an important franchise that desperately needed the attention. It may not be saying much but Devastation is easily the best Transformers game to date - -Autobots; Roll Out!

If anyone was going to restore the faith in the Transformer's franchise, it seemed likely that it would be Platinum Games. The developers are most known for their highly satisfying and well put together action games like Bayonetta and Metal Gear Rising. I'll admit that I had my doubts that the system would translate well to the Transformers world; both Rising and Bayonetta focus on characters that drip with finesse, style and speed and I worried that it would seem weird and unnatural when given to giant robots. I was pleasantly surprised that Platinum Games was able to not only make it work, but make it work really well.

Somehow Platinum Games has managed to not only give the Transformers the same great finesse based combat, they've managed to do so with giving the characters a realistic weight to them at the same time. If you've played any of Platinum's previous games, you'll know pretty much what to expect here; taking on enemies with a combination of ranged and close combat maneuvers that are at their best when chained together for some awesome looking combos. Of course, these are the Transformers and you'll be able to transform with each character almost at will but it's most satisfying when you do so at the end of a combo for an impressive finishing move. The developers have also included (read: pretty much lifted) their own Witch Time mechanic from the Bayonetta series which slows down time to land moves and as strange of an inclusion as it was, it works here.

Devastation boasts a pretty impressive if not predictable cast of Transformers that you can play through different parts of the campaign as and each plays different enough to warrant at least giving each a try. These are pretty basic differences though and you won't want to necessarily play through the game with each. Optimus Prime is more of a brute brawler and Bumblebee packs less of a punch but is quick and effective against multiple enemies at once. I've always been an Optimus Prime fan, so I spent most of my time playing as the leader of the Autobots and wasn't all that worried about missing much but it's a great addition to have for sure.

Devastation is not without it faults though. Though is does future some RPG elements and some exploration that will take you off the beaten path it feels like it's not as well thought out as the rest of the game.  There's a considerable amount of loot to find in the game and weapons to pick up and play with but none of them truly felt like I needed to use them and that caused me to explore less and less and the game went on. I also often felt like I would rather just keep pushing through the game to get to the action parts than deal with the tedious mini games and complicated resource management screens the game makes you deal with.

One look at Devastation though and it's clear just what it's biggest draw is, it looks, plays and feels like an interactive version of the 80s cartoon, and that's completely awesome. The cell-shaded visuals are a great touch and will take any kid from the era back to sitting on their couch in their pajamas and watching the original cartoon. To make things even better most of the important bits of the cast are played by either the original voice actors or did on recasting of them. The plot is so simple it could have been taken  right from a Saturday morning serial; Megatron is up to something bad and it's up to you and your fellow Autobots to roll out and take them down. Transformers has never been known for their dramatic plot points and Devastation is the best recreation of that to date.

In truth, it's the best recreation of the Transformer's formula period. It may have it's issues but none of them are enough to take away from this being not only the best Transformers game to date, but a solid action game in general. If you've been looking for someone to remind you why you have always loved The Transformers, Platinum Games has done it and then some.