'Transformers' game a sensory blast

— -- If you thought Disneyland was sensory overload, wait until you boot up Transformers: Fall of Cybertron, a new video game for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and Windows PC.

With a non-stop blast to the senses, the game delivers the goods for the most part — you really do feel like you're in control of powerful, transformable machines — but the interactive adventure also has some issues that can mar the overall experience.

You don't need to be a fan of Hasbro's Transformers franchise — which includes toys, comics, TV shows and movies — to dive into this action-heavy video game, but you'll appreciate the story sequences focusing on the drawn-out war between the Autobots and Decepticons. In fact, you'll play as both sides as they vie for control of their dying home world, Cybertron.

Changing from giant 'mech fighter to a vehicle (or other object), you'll play as a number of familiar Autobots including Bumblebee and Optimus Prime, as well as lesser-known characters that make their video game debut — Grimlock, for instance, who changes into a fire-breathing T-Rex Dinobot. Each character has its own abilities, like Jazz's grappling hook or Cliffjumper's invisibility cloak to sneak up on unsuspecting enemies. You can even fly in some levels. Playable Decepticons include Brawl, Megatron, Kickback and Shockwave, to name a few.

The third-person sci-fi action is in a word, intense. While fighting with weapons and massive fists through huge indoor and outdoor locations, laser fire whizzes past your head and explosions rock the environment. It's as if Activision said "let's add a little more Call of Duty to our next Transformers game." You'll also perform moves like dashing forward, jumping over abysses, reloading ammo and racing through wreckage — in many cases, all at the same time.

This chaotic excitement works — but the game is not without its problems. For one, because both allies and enemies are transforming alien robots, it could be difficult to see the difference between friend and foe (hint: look for the red reticle when aiming at baddies). Secondly, the game feels like everything has been scripted for you and as long as you press the correct buttons at the right time, you'll advance to the next section; contrast this with other games that make you feel like you're the one in charge, such as the recent Sleeping Dogs. Finally, the enemy difficulty is not consistent — in one memorable scene you're using cover to take down tough enemies, but while it builds up to a climactic "boss battle" you just need to tap a button on the controller when instructed and the epic showdown is over before you know it.

In all fairness, the game does have a lot going for it — a single-player campaign and online multiplayer matches, numerous playable characters and impressive visuals and sound — but it's hard to ignore these varied shortcomings, too. In other words, there's a bit "more than meets the eye" with this Transformers game, but not by much.

Speaking of multiplayer, up to eight people can play head-to-head over the Internet, including the option to first create and customize your very own Transformers before entering the battle arena. Whether you want to fight on the side of the Autobots or Decepticons, you can pick body parts, weapons and abilities, vehicle shapes, size and color, and much more. Playing online should help add some longevity and replayability to the "Teen"-rated game.

Overall, Transformers: Fall of Cybertron might not be one of the year's best, but it should excite fans of the franchise.

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Transformers: Fall of Cybertron

Platform: Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3, Windows PC

Genre: Action

Developer: High Moon Studios

Publisher: Activision Publishing, Inc.

Web site: activision.com

Price: $59.99

Rating: Teen

Score: 3.0 stars (out of 4)

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Contact Saltzman at techcomments@usatoday.com. Follow him on Twitter: @marc_saltzman.