Transistor has just been released on Steam for $19.99/€18,99/£14.99 (or $29.98/€28,98/£21.98 in case you buy the edition with the bundled soundtrack) and should be releasing soon for PlayStation 4, and with its release also come the first reviews of the title, the vast majority of which is positive.
We start with IGN, 9.0/10.
Transistor’s the kind of game that made me immediately jump back in to take on New Game Plus. I wanted to continue exploring the excellent combat in new, more challenging scenarios. I wanted to double back on the areas that I’d missed the first time through, and try to fill in the gaps of the fantastic story. But most of all, I wasn’t ready to leave Red or her world behind
Destructoid, 8.5/10.
Supergiant Games hasn’t delivered a wholly new experience with Transistor but it’s still an enjoyable game that’s well made and has wonderful art and sound. The new tactical combat is welcome and there’s some real enjoyment to be had in tinkering around with all of the available Functions. However, if parts of Bastion left you cold, then you may find the similar structure of Transistor and its themes will have a hard time winning you over.
Still, it’s worth trying; the world of Cloudbank is a wonder to behold and the mystery of the Camarata, the Process, and the Transistor itself is something that is really worth exploring.
GameSpot, 8/10.
And Transistor’s artful presentation has some magic of its own. There are a few astounding moments in Transistor, like the moment when you step up to a microphone and press a button to sing, and Red’s haunting voice comes in and carries you back to what had happened the night before, the visuals communicating in shorthand what words would take too much time to say. Or the moment when Red, silhouetted against the city, speeds across Cloudbank on a motorcycle, hunting the people who are responsible for everything that has happened.
Transistor is always a good-looking game, but in these instances, it demonstrates a rare knack for combining its visuals and music to powerfully convey both narrative information and tone, driving the story forward with Red’s own unwavering resolve. So in the end, yes, Transistor is a fun action role-playing game with a neat combat system, but beautiful moments like these make it more than that. They make it a game with a soul.
PC Gamer, 80/100.
The story Transistor does tell is dished out in tantalizing morsels, and I had to spend some time reflecting on the ending to decide what happened. Perhaps because of that vagueness, Transistor’s emotional climax didn’t hit me like Bastion’s did. Supergiant’s games are, in that sense, mirror images the first with shallower combat but a powerfully told story, the second with deep, tactical battles but a story that doesn’t fulfill the promise of its world. Then again, that promise lives on even after the credits roll. I hope Supergiant isn’t done with the world of Transistor, because there’s so much more I want to know.
Ars Technica, scoreless.
I loved Bastion, but Transistor is not the sort of game that inspires love. Transistor is a game that invites respect offered from a distance in order to even start to unlock its potential greatness. That coolest person at the party might have the smartest and most emotional things to say, but she’s still not as approachable as she should be.
Eurogamer, 9/10.
Enjoy the artful approach to science-fiction, enjoy the hoops Supergiant’s jumped through to position you in the right place to engage with its combat, and you can even enjoy the very fact that the game often struggles to get its deeper messages across. After all, if the developer had something straightforward to say, it might not have had to make a game in the first place.
Kotaku, “Yes”.
Was there any doubt, then, that once I’d finished Transistor I would do anything other than start it all over again? I want to go back to the practice room and test out my new stealth power, I told myself.
I’d fallen in love with the sword too.
Polygon, 8.5/10.
Transistor may look like another pretty face favoring style over substance. It’s oozing with style and aesthetic charm, and it drew me into its weird and wonderful world immediately. But its beauty is outshined by combat deep enough to sink into for hours and hours. The game’s vision is intoxicating, and its execution is inspired.
VG247, scoreless.
Do yourself a favour and seek out Transistor to remind yourself that this industry’s imagination isn’t all dried up; you just need to look away from the dizzying shadow of those tired blockbusters to see it.
Joystiq, 3.5/5.
In the end, it’s the unique digital world of Cloudbank and the refreshing combat that drive Transistor. The perfectly executed turn is consistently rewarding, while uncovering the dark side of Cloudbank and untangling the motives of the Camerata proves enticing enough to draw you along, even if the story doesn’t strike all of its intended chords.
PlayStation LifeStyle, 7.3/10.
The entire game has a snowball effect when you play it. Each sparkly new facet knocks you over when you come upon it, and you get hit harder and harder as all the wonderful elements stack up. The art and music, the story, the environment, the gameplay, and the characters all tie back to each other in a way that I did not expect, and left me speechless when it culminated and the credits rolled. Maybe you noticed my review never touched on any detailed specifics regarding the story or the characters and how they fit in with each other, but that’s for good reason. Transistor is such a finely woven creation, I didn’t want to risk giving away any details and detracting from anyone’s personal experience of the game. I hope this fact can justly illustrate how great of a game it really is, and inspires you to want to play it as soon as you add more credits to your PSN wallet (which should be right now). I think just about anyone will enjoy at least some part of this title, if not thoroughly enjoy the whole. Give this game the time and love it deserves, as I can wholeheartedly say that a lot of time and love was put into creating it.
Hardcore Gamer, 4.5/5.
Though it can be vague, strange, and inaccessible, Transistor is one of the strongest games of 2014 so far. Its unique take on standard video game practices make it feel undoubtedly fresh. With strong combat, great enemy design, and a lovely story, Transistor will reward those who put in the time. Its parts are solid, but as a whole, it’s a wonderfully sound, beautiful RPG that will stick with players for a considerable amount of time. More like an effort-intensive relationship than an adrenaline-inducing one-night-stand, Transistor is a must-play for those who are committed to its cause. However, those who are looking for an instantly-gripping cheap thrill should look elsewhere as this is a game that must be seen through to the very last second.
ZTGD, 9.5/10.
Players looking for a very artistic world with unique narration and an amazing soundtrack, you have just found it. Strategy fans will have a great time taking on the combat, and anyone looking for a great game for $20 should not pass this up. Transistor has the style along with the game play that makes this a must own for many.
Only SinglePlayer, 9.5/10.
Transistor is a unique experience. It tells a strong character focused story and has a deep and flexible combat system. But it is also an aesthetic experience, a walk-through art exhibit that feeds your eyes and ears at your leisure. It feels like Transistor was made to look at and listen to, just as much as it was made to tell a story and play. Melding these elements results in a rewarding and affecting five hours of playtime, with a new game plus option to boot. Transistor is not an action filled ARPG, despite its top-down perspective, and those that approach it as a fast-paced slash-.m-up will not get all that is to be appreciated out of it. Transistor is there to be contemplated, to be considered, to be slowly consumed. And it is delicious.
GameRevolution, 5/5.
Taking its name from one of the most seminal technological inventions of the 20th century, Transistor is unequivocally one of the greatest games this year and rivals Journey as one of the best indie titles this decade. That it only costs twenty dollars is astounding since it could easily sell for more, and despite it being short, Transistor begs to be replayed at least once. It may be self-described as just another “sci-fi themed action RPG,” but for once in this industry, that’s severe modesty.
We Got This Covered, 3.5/5.
Transistor is ripe with potential, but in the end, it just doesn’t rise to the occasion, and thus prevents itself from becoming greater than the sum of its parts.
Forbes, 10/10.
At $19.99 on PC and PlayStation 4, Transistor oozes more style, playability, and innovation than the last dozen or so big-budget blockbusters I’ve played. Its art style is nothing short of beautiful. Its music is rich with emotion. Its combat is remarkably adaptive to multiple play styles.
SuperGiant has created a world brimming with sophistication, mysteries, and tech-heavy sci-fi charm. It’s a world with serious staying power should they decide to revisit it. It meets and then promptly blows right past every high watermark you’d expect a digitally downloadable title to reach.
God is a Geek, 10/10.
As the credits rolled and the closing song played out, I felt privileged to have experienced Transistor. It’s only when I sat down to write this, however, that I realised I couldn’t find any real faults. It may not be the longest experience, but it is worthy of absolutely anyone’s time. Supergiant have delivered, and proved that if you really care about something, it will show when it is played.
It may be slightly too complex in parts for the more casual gamers out there, but it’s full of clever ideas, and every area has had attention lavished upon it. Transistor is comfortably one of the best games of 2014 so far, and Supergiant deserve the plaudits yet again for a job well done.
Spawn First, 9.0/10.
All in all Transistor is an excellent game with powerful graphics, sounds, gameplay, and a very addictive battle system. I couldn’t recommend this game more to anyone who owns a PS4 or a PC, especially if you loved Bastion as much as I did.
The Escapist, 3.5/5.
Sometimes frustrating in terms of both gameplay and narrative, Transistor manages to be a redolent title with a ton of imagination. While not quite as clever as its presentation suggests, it’s a pretty little title that ends on a beautifully bittersweet note.
Quarter to Three‘s Tom Chick is the only unequivocally negative voice so far, 2/5.
When I reviewed Bastion, I wrote the review as a list of 15 things all games can learn. For me, the real disappointment of Transistor is that developer Supergiant seems to have forgotten half those things.
