Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark to unite ‘Cybertron’ games and movie universe

Yes you read that headline right, Activision’s latest Transformers title will actually run an adventure across both separate universes as the Autobots and Decepticins search for something called the Dark Spark.

“TRANSFORMERS: RISE OF THE DARK SPARK is an arc between the Cybertron and Earth based worlds of this popular franchise,” remarked Mark Blecher, SVP Digital Gaming & Corporate Development at Hasbro, Inc. “This year marks 30 incredible years of TRANSFORMERS. This game tells another chapter in the TRANSFORMERS story that all fans will love.”

I honestly don’t know how to feel about this one. High Moon Studios’ Transformers: Cybertron series has been nothing short of a revelation for fans who’ve had to wade through crummy games about their favorite Robots in Disguise for years and I was honestly just hoping for a followup to the excellent Fall of Cybertron. Rise of the Dark Spark though, links that universe to the Michael Bay directed series of movies and it’s very… particular take on the characters.

The films haven’t been every fan’s cup of energon, even though they have inarguably been very popular with the public in general and raked in buckets of cash at theaters. It should be extremely interesting to see how the two worlds are merged or crossed-over into one another for Rise of the Dark Spark- especially form the Cybertron side.It looks as though, from the trailer, that Cybertron and the wars across its surface are still raging in the game, yet when we left off at the end of Fall of Cybertron, the Autobots were in full retreat and it looked like events were leading into the start of the original Generation 1 cartoon show on Earth.

What does all that mean for the franchise(s)? I have no idea, but the game sounds pretty solid outside of the story possibilities. Rise of the Dark Spark will feature 40 characters from both universes and you’ll be able to play as both Autobots and Decepticons as you search for a relic that’s the equal of the Matrix of Leadership. Activision promises that gameplay will be similar to the High Moon-developed titles and will be fast-paced gunplay with lots of transforming action, but you probably guessed that.

Also set to return in Fall of Cybertron’s Escalation mode where you can face off against waves of enemies. Escalation will also feature “upgradeable defense systems, recognizable adversaries from the lore, and an expanded roster of playable characters from past and present”. All that sounds pretty great and you’ll also be able to level your character up in Escalation and keep that level in the single-player campaign, complete with awards and load outs earned in the add-on mode, which is pretty terrific.

Whether Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark will be a suitable followup to the Cybertron series or not is still very much up in the air, but so far so good. The game is set to hit the Xbox One/360, PS4/3, Wii U, 3DS and PC sometime this year. The next film in the series, Transformers: Age of Extinction is due to arrive in theaters this June.