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With Transformers appealing to a new young audience again, it makes sense to see them appear on the youth-leaning Nintendo Switch. This Transformers Battlegrounds review takes a look at the game as we break down the different ways in which it can be played, and try to determine if it’s suitable for younger kids.
Transformers Battlegrounds Review
The game begins from the player’s point of view as you cower outside a bus stop while a Decepticon (bad guy robot) fixes his gun on you. While this may sound a bit too much to begin a kids’ game with, it’s not done in a particularly scary way, and sees the Decepticon sorted out by the good guy, Bumblebee before you even realise what’s going on.
Transformers Battleground’s clever framing then sees Teletraan X (another good guy) take the player to safety high above the battlefield. This is a nice touch which explains away how you’re suddenly now in control of the Autobots. They can’t see around the neighbourhood houses, so need your help to navigate their way through the town.
All the characters on show here should be familiar to those who have watched the Transformers Cyberverse TV show, as it uses the same child-friendly art style and voice actors. That said, all the old favourites such as Optimus Prime, Starscream and Bumblebee are present here, so fans of other iterations of the transforming robots won’t feel out of the loop either.
Is Transformers Battlegrounds Suitable for Young Children?
Transformers Battlegrounds is rated PEGI 7, meaning that it’s suitable for ages seven and above. Despite its name though, the game doesn’t greet players with excessive violence. Sure, there’s ‘blaster fire’ and other attacks, but once an enemy’s health has been completely emptied, they are ‘deactivated’ rather than killed, with vanquished foes often coming back to feature in the cut scenes.
That 7+ rating however, would probably be a good guide for the age of child that would get the most out of the game. Rather than controlling a character to run around and attack mindlessly, Transformers Battlegrounds is a strategy game that requires a degree of consideration before making each move. In practice, this means that each Autobot you control has a limited amount of moves before the other side gets a go, ensuring that players have to take into account how vulnerable their characters are in particular positions to enemy attacks.
Is Transformers Battlegrounds Easy to Get the Hang of?
Transformers Battlegrounds is easy to play, but more difficult to master. Given the strategy element the game boasts, it will take a few sessions to realise the best ways in which to complete each mission, but difficulty can be tweaked so that players can enjoy an easy mode.
In terms of actually getting to grips with the controls and objectives, Transformers Battlegrounds makes it very easy for the player. Information is drip fed in such a way that it allows you to put into practice what you’ve just learnt before you move on to the next aspect. You’ll start with just Bumblebee, and then eventually get access to other Autobots as you become more proficient (though this doesn’t take very long).
Different Game Modes
If you want to take a break from the main adventure mode, there are several arcade modes you can pick up and play instead. Some of these allow for some two-player fun too. Given the turn-based gameplay, you can keep two players occupied for quite some time.
One of my favourite arcade modes is the ‘Capture the Flag’ option, which sees you attempting to invade enemy territory to capture and bring back their flag to your base. Playing this mode forces you to think of defensive tactics as well as offensive, as the other team tries to do the same to you.
Transformers Battlegrounds Review Verdict
Transformers Battlegrounds signifies a change of format from most previous Transformers games. Straight-up action and fighting has been replaced by turn-based strategy. Younger players may find it a little too nuanced to play, but kids at or above the advised age of seven should find plenty to enjoy here.
I played the adventure mode on easy, and got plenty of hours of enjoyment out of it without even progressing that far, so you shouldn’t be at risk of this game being beaten quickly and discarded. The arcade modes also offer added replay value once the main adventure is completed, especially in two-player mode.
This post was written by my husband, who owns paternaldamnation.com. He’s a huge Transformers fan and I probably couldn’t have given it justice.