Transistor

1. mongolrising

   May 20, 2014

   10

   This is the first game from supergiant done completely on their own (Warner Bros. published Bastion) and it is a testament to what indieThis is the first game from supergiant done completely on their own (Warner Bros. published Bastion) and it is a testament to what indie studios can accomplish when they aren't fettered by a large studio. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect with Transistor and while it is the spiritual successor to Bastion a lot of it is very different and everything that it borrows from Bastion is improved.
   
   The art style, music, and narration are all in the same vein as Bastion, which is to say they are a masterpiece. The artwork is very beautiful especially during cutscenes and found myself taking screen shots constantly for desktop backgrounds, etc. The music is a big part of the experience as well, and just as in Bastion, both the music and the artwork set the scene. I would not say they improved on Bastion because that would be saying Bastion was flawed in those aspects. And Bastion is more of a western feel while Transistor is very much a cyber-punk game. However, the artwork is more detailed, rich, and beautiful, probably due to the fact that this is a newer game. I also feel that the music is a bit more developed and varied. The narration is also wonderful.
   
   The gameplay has changed significantly from Bastion, so if you're expecting the fun but rather simple gameplay of Bastion, you will be pleasantly surprised. In Transistor, you only have one weapon, if you can call it that. Your weapon looks like a sword, but it is more like a computer that you can upload programs to. Those programs are your powers and you pick them up as you progress through the game. The awesome thing about these programs is that they have three different uses. You can use them as active powers, passive powers, or you can use them to alter other active powers. For example, you have an area of effect attack, and an attack that gets enemies to fight for you. You can alter the AOE attack with the conversion attack and you have an AOE attack that converts enemies. This obviously gives you an immense amount of flexibility in combat and very different gameplay styles and approaches to defeating your enemies.
   
   These programs/abilities are then socketed onto your sword, which is the Transistor of the games title. In keeping with the cyberpunk theme, your Transistor has a limited amount of RAM...each program uses different levels of RAM...some only take up one space of RAM, others take up more. Another cool thing about your Transistor is that it is the narrator for your game...I don't want to say too much because I don't want to give away the story, but it all makes sense a little while into the game.
   
   Another thing that makes the gameplay very fun is that you can pause time on the battlefield. While paused, you can move around the battlefield, and choose which powers you want to use and which enemies you want to target. This allows you to escape when surrounded, or flank your enemies (since attacks from behind do more damage). This gives the game a turn-based feel to it. It does not really feel like a hack and slash at all...you can use your powers in real-time as well, but when facing very powerful enemies, you will die very quickly when using that tactic.
   
   I have not actually died yet while playing but I have discovered another thing about the gameplay in almost doing so. When you're health bar gets to zero, you don't immediately die, you simply lose one of the programs you have socketed into your Transistor. My assumption is that you will die after you lose all four programs. This also requires you to carefully plan how you which programs you use and how you have them modified, etc. Just another thing that makes this game awesome.
   
   Finally, the story is very intriguing. You play as Red who is a famous artist and singer. Apparently, there's a group called the Camerati (sounds kind of Mafia-ish) who is angry at you for some reason and they try to kill you. They have also killed the other important people in the city you live in (called Cloudbank). That is all I can say since I don't want to give anything important away. But I can say that the story is very intriguing and every aspect of the game helps tell it.… Expand

   • 30 of 51 users found this helpful
2. flavoristic

   Nov 13, 2016

   10

   I have made an account just to write a review of this Masterpiece. The game has amazing art design, intense story, and music that bringsI have made an account just to write a review of this Masterpiece. The game has amazing art design, intense story, and music that brings chills to your spine. I have played this game for many hours. In fact, I have made 100% trophies progress. This game is absolutely wonderful and deserve a 10/10 period.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
4. TheTwistedKris

   May 24, 2014

   10

   A amazingly well structured game combining hack-and-slash with turn based strategy elements (or just one depending on how you like to play)A amazingly well structured game combining hack-and-slash with turn based strategy elements (or just one depending on how you like to play) simultaneously that may share the same genre as Bastion, but brings a completely new experience with new story, characters, music, and overall breath taking atmosphere as you progress.… Expand

   • 2 of 3 users found this helpful
5. setti7

   Jun 4, 2014

   9

   Really great game, gorgeous artwork, beautiful music (as expected), really interesting story, to be honest, I only didn't like the ending veryReally great game, gorgeous artwork, beautiful music (as expected), really interesting story, to be honest, I only didn't like the ending very much, I just think that it could end differently, or at least have two endings... anyway, even though, I still enjoyed a lot this game, really, really awesome, totally worth the buy… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
6. Vicente_ao

   Apr 13, 2016

   9

   Si te gustó Bastion debes jugar Transistor, si no te gustó Bastion igual debes probar Transistor. Si no has jugado Bastion, pues debes jugarloSi te gustó Bastion debes jugar Transistor, si no te gustó Bastion igual debes probar Transistor. Si no has jugado Bastion, pues debes jugarlo y también jugar Transistor.
   Transistor es un ARPG, con un diseño único, una jugabilidad muy entretenida, con diferentes combinaciones de habilidades, según lo que te acomode más. Sin duda entretiene mucho, siempre podrás probar nuevas combinaciones para ser más letal. La historia es extraña e interesante. La música es GENIAL, realmente genial engancha mucho, crea atmosfera, emociona y eso creo que es parte de la adicción que puede generar. No es muy largo, pero vale la pena rejugarlo y enfrentar retos más duros.
   
   Lo bueno:
   
   - Jugabilidad que entretiene.
   - Varias habilidades y muchas combinaciones.
   - Gráficos hermosos.
   - MÚSICA espectacular.
   - Historia y personajes interesantes.
   
   Lo malo:
   
   - Algo corto lo que se traduce en presentar no una tan alta gama de enemigos.
   - Hubiese sido mejor enfrentar más bosses.
   
   8.9/10… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
7. everin

   Oct 2, 2015

   8

   Tier 2
   + Stunning visuals and a compelling world
   + Excellent voice acting delivered in tandem with the gameplay + Interesting combat systemTier 2
   + Stunning visuals and a compelling world
   + Excellent voice acting delivered in tandem with the gameplay
   + Interesting combat system that has many interweaving components allowing for player freedom
   ? Somewhat confusing story with a lot of extraneous details that don't feel cohesive
   ? Combat can sometimes feel stilted, particularly when losing mechanics through death/respawning
   - Pacing of the main plot feels arbitrary and bizarre… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
8. hypernewbie

   Jun 26, 2017

   1

   It's like an action game except it is terrible at being one. It's also a turn based game except it's terrible at being one. It's anIt's like an action game except it is terrible at being one. It's also a turn based game except it's terrible at being one. It's an atmospheric game except it's terrible at being one. This game manages to be consistent levels of terrible at everything it tries to do at the same time, and that takes some real talent and effort to achieve.… Expand

   • 4 of 10 users found this helpful

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