Game director Matt Tieger summed it up nicely after walking us through the multiplayer in Transformers: War for Cybertron. On the heels of detailing this third-person shooter's rather extensive competitive online offerings--ranging from unique classes to experience points to unlockable abilities--he clearly wasn't trying to trick anyone into thinking this game hasn't drawn some inspiration from Modern Warfare, that oft-imitated benchmark of online shooters. "The way we're really different from some of those other games," remarked Tieger, "is you can turn into a jet whenever you want."

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　　Transformers: War for Cybertron Multiplayer Interview: Matt Tieger

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　　Transformers: War for Cybertron is a reboot of sorts for the Transformers license. Without a hugely successful film franchise dominating the game's creative direction, the team at High Moon Studios has been free to play around with the Transformers canon in ways recent games haven't had the privilege of doing. The shadow of Michael Bay is nowhere to be found, and that has enabled High Moon to set its sights on creating what Tieger describes as a good shooter first and a good Transformers game second. Our first glimpse of that mantra in action came a couple of months back with an introduction focused on the story campaign. We learned that the game uses a highly stylized art direction that paints Cybertron as a crumbling deep-space dystopia and shows what each character might look like had their vehicle forms been designed by concept car artists who don't have to play nice with road safety laws. Meanwhile, the narrative explores Optimus Prime as a reluctant hero unsure of his place among the Autobots, and Starscream's initial decision to join the Decepticons.

　　That relatively unconstrained approach to dealing with Transformers lore has worked itself into multiplayer in a few interesting ways. For one, you're not dealing with named characters during these online matches. There's no Optimus, no Megatron, nor any of their underlings--those familiar faces are for the story campaign only. Instead, you're essentially building your own robot with a leveling system that borrows heavily from the Modern Warfare school of multiplayer game design. Each kill nets you experience points, which go toward unlocking new weapons, abilities, and kill streak rewards. It's a system that's not terribly new to anyone who has played an online shooter in recent years, but when those unlockables include things like arm-mounted fusion cannons, EMP shotguns, and customizable robot and vehicle chassis, you can begin to see how the Transformers theme adds some new appeal to an otherwise familiar setup.

　　The type of character you craft--and really, the way multiplayer feels as a whole--depends largely on your class of choice. There are four options: scout, scientist, leader, and soldier. The scout is quick and nimble and capable of transforming into a car; the scientist can morph into a jet at will and fly or hover all around the map; the leader is the all-purpose truck class whose abilities most benefit the entire team; and the soldier is literally the tank of the battlefield, a lumbering but sturdy class who can wield the most destructive weapons. The classes feel quite distinct from one another, from the way the scientist darts through the air, to the way the soldier in robot form saunters along with all that extra armor guarding him.

　　These aren’t some knockoff Transmorphers you’re dealing with.

　　Adding more proverbial space between each of these classes is the ability system. You’re able to unlock and assign new skills to your Transformer that are unique to your preferred class. As one example, the scientist can supplement his air attacks by dropping a sentry drone on the ground that automatically attacks any passersby. But our favorite is the soldier’s whirlwind ability, where you suddenly pull out a giant hammer and start swiveling your torso around independent of your legs like a great big metallic tornado of mayhem. Befitting of the soldier’s focus on brute force, this one can really clear out a crowded room in a hurry.

　　Our cautious optimism after getting a first look at War for Cybertron back in February has only grown with this latest glimpse at the game's multiplayer offerings. The overarching idea of earning experience points for doing well in matches and putting them toward unlockables isn't anything new, but the Transformers technology and distinct classes add an interesting twist to that familiar setup. If you're a Transformers fan who has been let down by the most recent wave of movie tie-ins, this may very well be one to keep an eye on. You can expect to see it released on June 22.