New on Steam: Transistor, a Stylish Cyberpunk Action Game With a Fabulous Female Lead

Janine "Iris Ophelia" Hawkins' ongoing review of gaming and virtual world style

I have a soft-spot for stylish games, even when they aren't necessarily my genre of choice. Such is the case with Transistor, the newest release from Bastion developer Supergiant Games. Even with minimal interest in the game's isometric combat-focussed gameplay, I just can't look away from the vivid world (and characters) it presents. 

I haven't had a chance to play it for myself yet, but one of my favorite reviewers over on Polygon, Danielle Riendeau, has -- and she had plenty to say about it. Here's the part of her review that sold me:

Cloudbank is a rich, beautiful place, brimming with detail and mystery. I scoured the world for clues at crime scenes and terminals that displayed the day's news or had personal messages for me — whatever details I could find to expand on the intriguing story. These collectibles aren't just passive bits of plot either; Transistor let me interact with many of these elements. I was able to leave comments on news stories, vote in polls, even order gourmet flatbread from an automated restaurant. 

As silly and superficial as it might seem, small details like this go a long way in immersing the player in a game's world, and perhaps more importantly getting them invested in it. It doesn't do much if the rest of the game can't back it up, of course, but from the sounds of Riendeau's review it absolutely does.

You can read the rest of her piece over on Polygon, watch the game trailer on YouTube, or check out Transistor on Steam. 

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Iris Ophelia (@bleatingheart, Janine Hawkins IRL) has been featured in the New York Times, and has spoken about SL-based design at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan and with pop culture/fashion maven Johanna Blakley.</

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Check out Transistor on PSN for PS4!

https://store.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/#!/en-us/games/transistor/cid=UP2125-CUSA00502_00-TRANSISTORGAME00