GameInformer, the games magazine owned by GameStop, was given an exclusive preview of Transformers Devastation, and they've uncovered a lot more information about the game! For more details on the setting, gameplay, and more, keep reading!
The game is directed by Kenji Saito, director of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance, and much of the team is comprised of G1 fans with history on PlatinumGames' Revengeance, Vanquish, and Bayonetta 1 and 2. The game is set in what is officially termed the "Generations" universe - mostly G1 with influences from the toyline and even some touches of IDW's comics.
The article also confirms that in addition to the previously mentioned returns of Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, and Dan Gilvezan as Optimus Prime, Megatron, Soundwave and Bumblebee, more G1 voice actors will be involved with the game. Specifically, Gregg Berger will be returning as Grimlock, and Michael Bell will be back as Sideswipe!
Devastation is set on Earth, and focuses on the Autobots and Decepticons battling over an underground ship that Megatron has found that seems to be the reason why Earth is slowly changing into a copy of Cybertron.
The combat is PlatinumGames' specialty of third-person melee-focused combat, but you can also use your ranged weapons and transform at will, not just as part of a combo but for the sake of travel and exploration as well. Special attacks and the ability to parry are mentioned, as well as the ability to jump and double jump to add aerial combat to the mix.
Up to 150 weapons will be included in the game, and any four of those can be hotkeyed to the D-pad for easy access. Weapons can be melded to obtain the best qualities of both Upgrade items can be either found or crafted in a mini-game that affects the quality of the final item.
The characters' stats are based on the original Tech Specs stats: strength, intelligence, speed, endurance, rank, courage, firepower, and skill. Each characters' ratings improve in a fixed way, with most of the experience of course going to the character you're playing. However, reserve characters will get a share of that experience to keep them viable without a ton of backtracking.
No specific release date is given for Devastation, but it is expected later this year. And from everything we've seen so far it's shaping up to be great. "Everything we've seen so far" is admittedly E3 hype, but this still represents more effort than Activision put into promoting Rise of the Dark Spark.