Fans at Sunday's Super Bowl were given an exclusive sneak peek into the new Transformers movie, Age of Extinction, in what was the first public show of scenes from Michael Bay's ultra-cool new space robot action epic. As was previously rumoured, the title refers to the prehistoric creatures that will feature in the new film as opponents to Optimus Prime and Co.

Transformers 4 Age Of Extinction
Name-Based Jokes Aside, All Hopes Are On 'Age Of Extinction' To Revive The 'Transformers' Franchise.

As previous Transformers movies have successively bombed with critics, the name of the new movie alone will lend enough Bay-bashing ammo unless Age of Extinction is truly the turnaround that the director has promised.

"The story makes a very natural transition, and reason as to why we have a whole new cast. This Transformers will feel very different then the last three. We are embarking on a new trilogy," announced Bay, writing on his website earlier this year.

The new film will see Lone Survivor's Mark Wahlberg take on a central role alongside Kelsey Grammer in a lead villain role, as well as Stanley Tucci, Nicola Peltz, Sophia Myles and T.J Millers. Wahlberg plays a mechanic who, with his daughter (Peltz) makes a discovery that brings the Autobots and Decepticons down on them.

The movie will be the first of Bay's franchise to feature the notorious Dinobots, one of which - Grimlock - can be seen in the trailer smashing things with his enormous tail. The beginning of the 40-second long new teaser shows a large alien vessel taking off before we see Optimus Prime battling with a sinister new robo-villain with a gun for a face.

Watch The New 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' Teaser Trailer:

Naturally, there are then many more quick scene flashes of cities being destroyed, robots transforming to battle it out, and humans trying to work out where they fit into all this. The new teaser does look dead cool but awesome special effects only go part of the way to making a good movie. For fans whose excitement isn't fuelled by seat-shaking explosions and half hour-long fight scenes, the usual Transformers formula can be tedious and leave audiences longing for a stronger storyline.

So has Bay given the franchise the shot in the arm it needed to bring it back from the brink? We'll find out when Transformers: Age of Extinction is released on the 27th June in the US and on the 10th July in the UK.