As I always like to reiterate, I am a mechanically focused gamer.  As long as the gameplay is enjoyable, to me, that is more than enough to warrant a purchase. Gaming is the interactive medium, after all; the degree of interactivity should be at the forefront of any developer’s quota.  And I think, because of that, I was so surprised after playing through Supergiant Games’ Transistor—it made me care about those other things.

Transistor is Supergiant Games’ second foray into the indie space.  Hot off the heels of the multiple game of the year award winner Bastion, Supergiant games had a tough act to follow with Transistor.  Both aesthetically and mechanically, Bastion was a triumph in game design with its unique hand drawn style in conjunction with simple, yet compelling mechanics. While I may not have enjoyed the game as much as others due to the gross oversimplification of the combat and the convoluted nature of the level design, I respect what Supergiant Games was able to create as their first title. And if their second title Transistor is anything to go by, this paradigm not only continues, but sets a new precedent for indie developers to follow.

Transistor is a combination of two games, really. The first is a real-time character action in the vein of its lineage, Bastion, set from an isometric perspective. The second is a XCOM-like turned based strategy. Each of these play styles can be used interchangeably for any combat scenario. Did five enemies show up randomly to ruin your day? You can carefully plan your approach, or go straight into smacking them with your Transistor blade. Each is a viable approach; it’s up to you to discern when it’s most appropriate to use either. This binary combat system, even without a mention of the game’s gorgeous aesthetic or intricacies, is worth the asking price alone. The ability to choose how you want to play within an already visceral and satisfying combat system is utterly compelling. What was once two mutually exclusive mechanics are given a new breath of air within Transistor and can, in fact, coexist in harmony.

The most striking element within Transistor is its art style. Taking cues from Bastion, Transistor continues Supergiant Game’s totemic hand drawn aesthetic but with more emphasis on primary colors. The protagonist’s name is Red, after all.

I’ve played hundreds, maybe even a thousand  games in my lifetime, but I have to say, Transistor is one of the most beautiful games I have ever seen. From the slightest nuances of the world to the songs Red hums when exploring the world, it’s obvious that Supergiant Games dipped their blood, sweat, and tears into Transistor. It’s a game that exudes charm from the most unexpected of places—especially with your sword providing most of the commentary throughout the four-to-five hour experience (yes, your sword talks).

The biggest criticism I have with Transistor is twofold. The first is the game’s utterly convoluted upgrade system. To explain, each power in Transistor can be made either an active or passive ability. Fire, for example, could be used at your own whim or be imbued within another ability, say your sword slash. However – since you first have to click on an ability, then maneuver to a second menu, then place the ability where you wish, click “confirm”, then finally exit the menu – it become awfully tedious really quickly. It’s clunky, slow, and unintuitive—and that’s shame for such a wonderfully polished title.

The second is much more subjective, but for those looking for a longer 10-20 hour experience, you will not find that with Transistor.  I finished the game around the 5-6 hour mark, give or take breaks. I felt it was a genuinely enjoyable experience for the time it lasted, but I could definitely see others being dissuaded by its length.

Overall, Transistor is absolutely fantastic. Both mechanically and aesthetically, Transistor is a magnum opus in game design. While it is sullied by minor design choices, Transistor stands as a remarkably fresh take on the character action genre. You can pick up Transistor on PlayStation 4 and PC for $20 or your regional equivalent, and you most certainly would be doing yourself a favor in doing so.