Transistor Preview

WarpZoned has published a hands-on preview for Supergiant’s recently announced Transistor, a sci-fi action-RPG that seems to take more than a few cues from its predecessor Bastion. Here’s a snip:

Bastion wasn’t big on explanation right out of the gate. The story of The Kid, Rucks, The Stranger, The Singer, and The Calamity was parceled out in dribs and drabs. The same is true of Transistor. The game stars Red, a voiceless singer who has been attacked and nearly killed by a group of assassins. In a previous life, she sounded like Ashley Barrett (who voiced The Singer in Bastion), and her songs appear throughout the demo.

Somehow, Red survives the attack on her life and she comes into possession of the titular Transistor, a sword-like, sentient piece of computer equipment. The Transistor can talk to the essence of other people who have been murdered by the assassins (a collection of mysterious robots known as (The Process)). These unheard discussions add a quartet of special moves to Red’s arsenal, including a downward strike, a strong blast, an explosive attack, and a teleport trick known as (Jaunt.)

Like Bastion, the game is again narrated by Logan Cunningham. As the voice of the Transistor, he fills you in on the game’s plot as well as outlines the nature and weaknesses of the Creeps and the Jerks (two styles of robot assassins that follow Bastion’s lead of naming enemies after insults).

Unlike Bastion, Transistor augments the action RPG sword-swinging with (Turns.) Pressing the Right Trigger stops time and allows Red to map out a plan of attack that can include multiple strikes and plenty of movement. You might say its similar to Fallout 3’²s VATS system. if Fallout 3 were played from an isometric perspective (I might be opening some old wounds with that comparison).