Review: Transistor

G'day there guys and gals!
*PLEASE NOTE: This review is 100% spoiler free! Read freely!*

Supergiant Games has made its mark in history with their very first game Bastion, to which won several awards and yours truly is a massive fan and supporter of the game and company. Fans continue to beg for a sequel but were however greeted with Transistor, a brand new game and setting for players to enjoy. While not exactly what I was expecting, only Supergiant Games could have produced a game such of the likes as this. I promise you this now, it is worth your time and money.
Players will find themselves as Red, a young woman in the city of Cloudbank, an almost futuristic city filled with computers. She is a popular singer for the city and is suddenly attacked by a group called the Camerata. Just as she is attacked, a man throws himself in harms way and dies on an odd looking sword. The Camerata have released a robotic plague called the Process which is wiping out the citizens and city itself, only you with the sword, known as the Transistor, can stop them. They have taken her voice and she seeks retribution.

Let me remark on the beautiful looking graphics and scenery of the game before anything else. High up on platforms, you can take notice of many smaller details such as the markings on buildings, from the lowest parts of the city all the way up towards the towers that reach high up towards the sky. The look of the characters, especially Red and the citizens, look smooth and clean, the 3D rendering looks gorgeous in the flat world. The Process themselves vary in clear distinct areas, even as they progress in levels. Armor will become more transparent and abilities will become ever more troublesome for gamers to overtake, with such enemies as the Jerk, Young Lady, Creep and so on. Gameplay is simplistic but extremely well done. A nod towards Bastion, players can set limitations to make fights harder upon themselves with a set amount of four abilities at once, with each ability able to be used with others or to help your attacks or regenerate your health. With the Transistor, you have the ability to stop time and tactically approach your enemies as your battlefield shrinks for the time being. Freeroam is limited to corridors but there is enough lore of the city to keep you searching around the area, for news updates, private messages and even ordering pizza back to your home, with the options to either respond, choose an action, vote or do nothing depending on the situation. If that still isn't enough, there is a small test simulator room that will activate at random points in the game where Red can mull over thoughts, improve stats in situations, play with a friendly Process called Luna or kick around a beach ball and relax for a while.
The soundtrack. What can I truly say about the soundtrack that hasn't been said? Once again Supergiant has made a truly beautiful and engaging soundtrack that differs between areas, with Red humming a saddeningly beautiful tune or tense electronic dubstep as a mass amount of enemies swarm towards you. I would highly suggest purchasing the soundtrack of this game, as before long you'll be singing the songs yourself.

Finally, story. I can't say much without revealing too much so I'll keep this brief. As Red sets down with the Transistor, the voice of the Man who sacrificed himself will accompany you throughout the gameplay, revealing options, commentary or simply chatting away to fill in the quieter moments of the game. The game will take you about 5-6 hours to complete but there is plenty of replay value-all of which will be truly forced by the last hour of gameplay, the game does offer players to go back and start it again but whether or not the game's story changes through this I don't know just as yet. But I know that I will be going back to Cloudbank in the very close future.

While I did experience a few dropped frame rates and some weird moments (Especially in the last mission in regards to abilities either not functioning properly or the AI having pinpoint timing) Transistor is  another defining moment in the history of Supergiant Games. Once again they have shown that a large company with a massive budget isn't needed to make a heartfelt, meaningful and fun game. Supergiant and Transistor is a true inspiration to indie developers and the asking price is almost shocking that the developers ask for so little. If you have the time and money, I would highly recommend putting this game on your list.

Out of 10, I give Transistor a 9/10

+Utterly beautiful scenary/character design
+Gameplay is simple but incredibly fun
+Soundtrack is a masterpiece
+Sound effects are beautiful and vary
+Story is engaging and meaningful
+Characters fleshed out and ever changing
-Few minor gamebreaking glitches

Transistor is out now for the standard price of $15