This summer everyone had Transformers circled on their calendar. People love big robots. I like big robots, especially ones that I grew up watching when I was a young’un. The inevitable video game sequel is here as well and has thoroughly improved on its predecessor. TF: RotF is better in every way than the first next gen installment. The story is more expansive, there are more characters, there are more missions, the game is just better in almost every way. Almost.

The game picks up at the same time as the movie. Don’t worry, no plot spoilers here.  Anyway, the game is based around the Autobots working with their new human friends to stop the Decepticons from wreaking havoc all over the planet. The missions are not that varied, but the gamer has a lot more choices this time around. You can upgrade your team by spending points accrued by completing the missions in timely manner and by completing secondary objectives. There is a character selection screen which increases replay value. Also, there are two separate campaigns, good and evil. There is a lot to do here which is a big step up from last year.

The only gripes I have with the game is that the missions are not that varied. Go to objective spot, kill other faction, move on. I know there is only so much you can do with huge robots, but it can get a little stale. My biggest issue, and it is huge, is the controls. Last game, transforming on the fly was easy. Just press Y, and you’re off. Now, it is a disaster. On the 360, RT is transform. Okay, easy enough. RT is also shoot. What? To shoot, you need to hold LT to turn the weapons on, the press RT while holding LT. If you release LT, you transform. It is a pain in the ass. Nothing is more frustrating when you are in a firefight and you turn into a hummer while getting shelled. It is way too clunky and very frustrating. Tampering with the shooting part of a game that resolves around shooting is counter-intuitive.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a decent game. The graphics are not the best I have seen and the controls are clunky. Despite that, it is a far improvement over the first TF game. There is a multiplayer mode, but there are other games that you will play online with. The two campaigns, timed missions to earned medals, and playing as all of your favorite Transformers will keep you busy. Any huge fan of the genre should pick this up, but for the rest of us, I would definitely give it a solid rental. There is fun to be had here, just not that much fun.