Transformers The Game on the PlayStation 3 isn't exactly the success that the summer blockbuster film on which it is based has been, but there's probably something appealing for hardcore fans of the long running toy line from Hasbro and the popular television franchise. Unfortunately it just barely pulls that part off, and most Transformers aficionados will quickly fall out of love with the idea of taking control of either the Autobots or the Decepticons in this game.

Transformers the Game lets you play out plotlines of either the Autobots or the Decepticons, which are both loosely based on the plot paths from the feature length film. After you decide which side you want to be on, it's off on a film-inspired storyline mission on the ground as an Autobot or in the air as a Decepticons.

During these story-driven missions you'll find yourself driving (or flying), beating up generic enemy Transformers, driving some more, fighting some more Transformers, racing to the next checkpoint, and so on and so forth. Most of the missions feel the same as you plow through them and many of them are pretty easily beat. Many of these missions are just too short, which makes completing the whole game in a handful of hours very easy. In between these missions you can go back and take on missions you have already completed or take on the myriad of challenges that unlock some interesting fan focused extras like concept art, movie clips and even some unlockable characters. On a positive note, playing as the Decepticons is slightly more rewarding because you get to fly instead of drive - and flying Transformers are easier to handle and control. The in-between stuff would be great if there weren't so many problems with controlling your Transformer..

One of the biggest problems with the game is the sloppy driving controls and the targeting system that just feels utterly broken. Sure you can hold down the trigger and focus on one guy but there's not even a mechanic for cycling through targets so you'll find yourself having to target something else manually most of the time. Shooting and driving also is problematic because of the target system, which makes it more difficult than it ought to be to lock on to a target. When the game gets busy with enemies, the difficulty is artificially inflated by these awful mechanics.

But beyond that, the driving controls are just as sloppy. Maneuvering your Transformer on the road is just frustrating, though some vehicles handle better than others. The game is also very linear in that your choices are made for you at every turn. You'll start out with Bumblebee and eventually gain the ability to handle Optimus Prime. While Optimus Prime certainly looks awesome in this game, his handling sucks. It's sort of like driving a bus or an 18 wheeler in a Grand Theft Auto game.. Did I mention that handling sucks? It is important to emphasize this fact because this game is supposed to be about driving and fighting and do either feels more like work than it should.

From a presentation stand-point, Transformers looks great on the PS3 and the transformation animation from vehicle to Transformer is certainly well done. The game world itself isn't very pretty but it gets the job done. These graphics are simply average, and would look more at home on the PS2 than the PS3. And the voice acting goes along with the rest of the game's presentation. From Shila Lebuff's lousy performance as Sam Witwicky to the rest of the voice casts that deliver each line with all the enthusiasm of a Ben Stein Clear Eyes commercial. The only real decent voice acting comes from the cast of Autobots and Decepticons - with special kudos to Peter Cullen and Frank Welker, who reprise their roles as Optimus Prime and Megatron from the film . The other part of the presentation that really agitated me was how the human characters were portrayed. Both Sam and his emo girl pal were a little peppier than they ever were in the film, with Sam coming across as a complete moron. These performances put a bad light on the film, which is leaps and bounds above all these Transformers games.