TRANSFORMERS: Galactic Trials Review

Initial release date: October 11, 2024

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S

Developer: 3DClouds

Genres: Racing game, Shooter game, Racing, Adventure

Publisher: Outright Games

In the 1980s, I used to like watching Transformers cartoons every morning before school. Regardless of what I was doing, when Transformers came on, I was transported for 10 minutes.

This brings me to the subject of today’s review, TRANSFORMERS: Galactic Trials by 3DClouds and Outright Games. To be honest, I’m shocked I haven’t played a game like this before: with “Auto” in the heroes’ names, why haven’t I played a Transformers racing game?

Well, I finally have, and the question is whether the nearly 40-year wait was worthwhile. Roll out, Autobots!

The Transformers roll out for Galactic Trials.

Now, this story is total garbage. The villain, Nemesis Prime, decided to steal all of the Prime Relics, but his ship was shot down as he fled. Normally, you’d expect to discover the relics among the debris of the spaceship, but they appear to have been scattered to all four winds. “Fair enough,” a smart robot would presumably say, “I’ll just go and gather them up.” But, for some reason, we have a series of races to choose who gets to keep the Relics, and this, to me, is a dreadful setup. Still, we have to work with what we have, so it’s a race.

Presentation-wise, the first thing that struck me when watching the cutscenes was that I was transported back to the 1980s. Optimus and Megatron look fantastic, Soundwave seems like he could turn into a Walkman (remember those?) and the rest of the designs are simply stunning. As the game progresses to the actual races, the graphical quality stays great, with 3D representations of the Transformers appearing on the course. However, Bumblebee does not morph into a Beetle, but I will overlook it.

The courses are well-designed and hard, and when it comes time to fight, the Transformer and enemy models are once again well-realized. The sound is okay as well, with mostly forgettable music, but the actual sound of the robots morphing is straight out of the 1980s, which makes me happy. Even the voices are a respectable imitation of the originals, and the overall presentation is quite good. Better than the tale, however!

Racing with a twist.

TRANSFORMERS: Galactic Trials consists mostly of races, but with a twist: the races are divided into two halves. There are pure driving sequences that function similarly to most other racing games, with the LT and RT buttons acting as the brake and accelerate buttons, respectively. Holding down the LB button while turning allows you to drift, while the X and B buttons are used to crash into opponents.

The tracks are curvy, turny, and fairly tough. The opponents don’t take any prisoners either, but luckily there are various things on the track to pick up to help you, ranging from pads that give you a little boost to purple and green blocks; purple blocks refill your Energon levels, which you can use to give yourself a boost, sort of like a nitrous hit, and green blocks, as expected, refill a little bit of your health, which is depleted by track collisions.

As you enter particular areas of the course, the action alternates between a racing game and a third-person shooter. You must transform back into the robot and run across the zone, shooting opponents along the way. Sometimes you only have to run through the zone to get to the exit, then switch back to driving mode. Other times, you must eliminate a specific item or amount of guards in order to pass through the door.

These sections are acceptable, but the leaping controls are terrible. The Transformers can only leap with the help of a jump pad, but once airborne, they can boost to wherever they need to go. However, this is incredibly random and difficult to target, which frequently leads to your demise. This sets you back a little, and it’s not uncommon to drop three or more places in each category.

An enjoyable and nostalgic Transformers experience.

Each race features a few additional requirements that you can complete to get extra EXP, such as finishing in the top three or crashing into an enemy five times. The worst one, in terms of survivability, is being limited to fire your rifle less than thirty times. As you might expect, trying to count the number of times you’ve shot your gun is a non-starter, and I usually avoid shooting altogether when this is the active task. I did gain an accomplishment the first time I completed it, though, and these challenges do add a little spice to the action.

Overall, TRANSFORMERS: Galactic Trials’ racing elements are effectively integrated, while the shooting aspect is less so. Without a question, the combination of the two is bizarre. Going from driving to sprinting to driving again in a single lap is abrupt, and I can’t help but wonder if the devs should have adhered to one genre or the other.

Review Overview

Gameplay: 85%

Controls: 83%

Aesthetics: 88%

Content: 81%

Accessibility: 79%

Value: 84%

Overall: 83%

SOLID!

Summary:

“TRANSFORMERS: Galactic Trials” immerses players in fierce interplanetary conflicts, combining strategic gameplay with fast-paced action that accurately portrays the Transformers universe. Each character exudes authenticity and power thanks to dynamic transitions and visually stunning animation. Though some missions can feel repetitive, the game’s charm stems from its iconic character roster and engaging battle mechanics. The controls are responsive, although they may need some tweaking for smoother conversions. Overall, it’s a good pick for fans who want to feel the thrill of fighting their favorite Autobots and Decepticons.