With the new movie finally releasing very soon, Transformers fervor is in full swing. To celebrate the release, Activision is releasing the game across consoles and handhelds, including the Nintendo DS. However, the real difference surrounding the DS version is that it is actually two versions. Instead of having one option when picking up the game for their system, DS owners can pick up either a Decepticon version or an Autobot version, depending on their personal preference. While they are essentially very similar in terms of basic mission structures and gameplay, they each have subtle nuances that might determine which version you feel is worth your hard earned cash.

This review will be focused on the Decepticon version, enforcing you with destroying human civilization and taking over the planet for your own means. However, either way you go, Transformers does things a bit better than its console brethren by offering a more polished package and some pretty engaging online play.

Whereas Transformers: The Game on consoles placed you in the role of several key characters from the upcoming film, the DS version put you in control of a brand new robot in disguise. Your role is to destroy as much as you can while taking over the planet and defeat any Autobots foolish enough to get in your way. The benefit of being a new robot is that you are able to take on several different forms instead of only one vehicle.

When you begin, you first have to scan a pickup truck so that you have the ability to transform into it. As you proceed through the game, you’ll be able to scan more vehicles, like faster cars all the way up to a helicopter. Switching between the vehicles that you transform into is a snap, as you just have to go through the menu and select the vehicle you’d like to use.

Transformers: Decepticons is a fairly open-ended game. While your missions are presented to you in a linear fashion, you still have access to side missions that you can find while exploring the world. The side missions let you do things like destroy as much property as you can (appropriate given that you’re a Decepticon). You’ll often run into skirmishes with Autobots trying to stop you on your quest. Oftentimes they’ll look just like any other vehicle until you get close enough to them for them to spring into action and take you down.

Differently than the Autobots version of the game, the Decepticons version primarily deals with missions of destruction and fending off Autobots trying to protect the puny earthlings. While the missions are slightly different in focus, they largely fit into the same mold as the Autobots version. Ultimately, it just boils down to who you'd rather play as, the good guys or the bad guys.

The game uses the DS’s touch screen in a few key ways. It serves as a map, giving you reticules to follow, like new missions or enemies as well as whatever object you happen to currently be targeting. It also displays your of experience and your character’s level for quick reference, as well as how far you have to go until your next level. There are also two touch sensitive areas, one of which controls your transformation, and the other toggles your scanner.

A problem that arises (that was a large problem in the console version) is that the combat can be pretty repetitive and gets tedious after a while. Using long-range weaponry is seldom necessary or effective, leaving you to button mash melee attacks against your foes.

Fortunately, the online play keeps things interesting for DS gamers. Over a WiFi connection, you can get into online deathmatches with your friends, play Allspark Sports, which is a weird soccer game involving an Allspark as the soccer ball.

The most interesting online feature though is the Allspark Wars. Essentially a persistent single-player game, Allspark Wars presents you with a new mission that you download daily and complete for your faction. The better you do, the higher score you get for your faction and the more unlockables you receive. Scores can be compared online at the game’s Web site, allowing you to check out leaderboards and compare your stats to anyone else’s.

Graphically, the game is pretty impressive for the Nintendo DS. The robots are well animated and the fully 3D environments look very nice and move along at a smooth clip.

The sound is quite nice as well. The voice work is pretty impressive, if a little tinny sounding (which actually seems appropriate, given that it’s done by robots). The score also sounds pretty good on the DS.

Transformers works well on the DS, given its unique online features. While the combat can get a bit repetitive, Transformers is still a fairly impressive title for the DS.

Gameplay: 7.0
The open-ended world feels nice on the DS, and the ability to change into several vehicles is a nice added bonus. The game is a little on the short side, but the side missions add some nice content to the title. On the downside, the combat is pretty repetitive.

Graphics: 7.5
The robot models look pretty good, although the vehicle models are a little simplistic. The environment is pretty large, though, and moves at a decent clip, and the animations are nice.

Sound: 7.5
The tinny sounding voices feel appropriate this time around given that it’s talking robots, and the score sounds pretty good through the DS’s small speakers.

Difficulty: Medium

Concept: 7.0
The game is a little short, but the online play extends the value quite a bit.

Multiplayer: 8.0
The inclusion of the deathmatch and Allspark Sports modes is a nice and unexpected touch, but the Allspark Wars is a pretty engaging affair that gives the game some nice replay value.

Overall: 7.5
Whereas the console versions faltered with a repetitive experience, the DS version fares much better with competent online gameplay.