Movie-based video games are kind of like movie sequels: You hope for the best but brace for the worst. The good news about Activision's Transformers: The Game is that it will exceed expectations among jaded gamers who bought horrible movie tie-ins such as Ghost Rider or Shrek the Third. The bad news? It's quite short, meaning you might just want to rent it for the weekend.

Transformers: The Game tells the story of warring robots -- the Autobots (good guys) and Decepticons (bad guys) -- trying to find a powerful artifact, the AllSpark, which is responsible for giving them life. The fight has come to Earth, where these dueling robotic races scramble to find the AllSpark first. These so-called "transformer" robots can manipulate their metallic body into various vehicles, such as cars, jets and helicopters.

This single-player game lets you choose between an Autobot or a Decepticon, each with unique environments and missions. The Autobot missions begin in a suburban neighborhood, where you assume the role of Bumblebee and must fight Decepticons, transform into a car and race around an open-ended city, protecting a teenager who holds the key to finding the AllSpark. The Decepticon missions, on the other hand, begin with your robot, Blackout, as an attack helicopter, and you must destroy an army base before the clock runs out. Throughout these campaigns you'll also step into the metal bodies of Optimus Prime, Starscream, Megatron, Jazz, Ironhide and others.

Transformers: The Game does a good job making the gamer feel like a 50-foot tall machine, and it also features gorgeous graphics -- especially with the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions. More than meets the eye? Sort of. The game is only about seven hours long. But fans of the comic book and/or the film looking for a gratifying -- albeit short-lived -- adventure might not be disappointed.