Transformers: Fall of Cybertron promised to show us the final, dark hours of the war between the Autobots and Decepticons as they vied for control of their dying home world. The verdict? It’s a very impressive game with lots of surprises that will entice you to separate cash from your wallet.

First surprise: You can play as Optimus Prime, circa the 1980s TV show, complete with original voice. Second surprise: Metroplex, the Autobot city and toy, is also a playable character. Third Surprise: Dynobots. Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Surprise: Bruticus, Combaticons, and Megatron’s Gun can be played if you pre-order the game at GameStop. You’ll get a unique unlock code for the G1 Retro Pack. Other exclusive content lets fans play as the legendary G1 Optimus Prime from the original 1980s version (both in single player and multiplayer mode), and also wield the powerful G1-inspired Megatron Gun and Shockwave Blast Cannon weapons (single player campaign). Over at Amazon, their pre-order offers a unique code for the G2 Bruticus skin. The early bird gets the…

With surprises like these, it looks like you won’t see a ray of sun this summer.

The  Activision game, on Xbox 360 and PS3, is scheduled for release on August 28. It supports a ridiculous amount of character customizations. Our favorite feature, other than the massive scale of the battles, story arc and cast, has to be the story/museum mode where you can explore early Transformer travels and history throughout the universe. The art is gorgeous and more surprises await. But waiting is for losers, pre-ordering is for winners.

MassAppeal