Transformers: The Game
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the 2007 multi-platform video game based on the live-action film. For other games, see Transformers (game).
| Transformers: The Game | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Developer(s) | Consoles Traveller's Tales Nintendo DS Vicarious Visions PSP Savage Entertainment |
| Publisher(s) | Activision |
| Platform(s) | PS2, X360, PS3, PSP, PC, NDS, Wii |
| Release date | Nintendo DS NA June 19, 2007 Consoles & PSP NA June 26, 2007 EU July 20, 2007 |
| Genre(s) | Adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single player/multi-player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: E10-Teen Depending on Version PEGI: 12+ |
| Media | Blu-ray Disc, Wii Optical Disc, UMD, Nintendo DS Game Card |
| Input methods | Gamepad (Xbox 360,PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3), Wii Remote/Nunchuk attachment (Wii), Stylus/Control Pad (Nintendo DS), Keyboard/Mouse (PC) |
Transformers: The Game is the name of multiple versions of a video game based on the 2007 live action film Transformers, all of which were released in North America in June 2007. Home console and PC versions were developed by Traveller's Tales for the PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation 3 and PC. A different PlayStation Portable version was developed by Savage Entertainment.
Transformers: Autobots and Transformers: Decepticons are the Nintendo DS versions of Transfomers: The Game. Vicarious Visions, who was tasked with bringing Transformers: The Game to the Nintendo DS, chose to adapt the DS version into two separate games.[1] Transformers: Autobots follows the heroes' perspective while Transformers: Decepticons follows the perspective of the villains.
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[edit] Plot
The game allows the player to choose to play as the Heroic Autobots or as the Evil Decepticons. Each faction has its own storyline. The Autobots story follows the original movie's plotline while the Decepticons storyline follows an alternate story.
[edit] Autobots
The Autobot storyline begins with one of the Autobots, Bumblebee, landing on Earth. Bumblebee scans a second-generation Chevrolet Camaro as his alternate mode. While receiving a transmission from Optimus Prime, the Autobot leader, Bumblebee encounters and fights Decepticon drones. After defeating the drones, Optimus explains to Bumblebee that a human named Sam Witwicky is in possession of an artifact which can reveal the location of the Allspark, and it is Bumblebee's mission to find Sam. Sam then buys Bumblebee as his new car while shopping.
In the junkyard, Sam and his girlfriend, Mikaela Banes, are attacked by one of the Decepticons, Barricade, but Bumblebee saves them. Bumblebee fights Barricade, while Sam and Mikaela escape. After defeating the Decepticon, Bumblebee finds Sam and Mikaela, who thank him for saving them. Optimus contacts Bumblebee, telling him that Sam has the artifact that contains the location of the All Spark, and Bumblebee must protect Sam at all cost.
All Autobots, Optimus, Ironhide, Ratchet, and Jazz land on Earth and meet with Bumblebee, Sam and Mikaela. Sam gives the artifact, which turns out to be his grandfather's glasses, to Optimus, who explains to Sam and Mikaela the mission of the Autobots in Earth: they are in the search of the All Spark, a powerful artifact which is the source of life of all Transformers, so they can use it to revitalize Cybertron, the homeworld of the Transformers. Ratchet reveals Sam's grandfather discovered their enemy, the Decepticon leader Megatron, trapped in the Arctic. Megatron burned the information of the All Spark's location in Sam's grandfather's glasses so the Decepticons could find the All Spark. Mikaela sarcastically states that she is struggling with why Bumblebee disguised himself as such a "beater", and in response, Bumblebee scans a new and improved fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro as his new alt-mode.
Ironhide detects Sector 7 helicopters and Prime orders Jazz to create a diversion so that the Autobots, Sam and Mikaela can escape. In doing so, Jazz is cornered by Sector 7 agents. Ironhide rescues Jazz from Sector 7, and manages to defeat several Decepticon drones. After defeating the drones, Ironhide discovers that Sector 7 is trying to capture Bumblebee. Prime tries to rescue Bumblebee but he fails to save his comrade as he is taken away by Sector 7. Optimus defeats the recently arrived Decepticon, Shockwave, and decodes his transmissions, discovering Starscream, Megatron's second-in-command. With their mission clear, the Autobots decide to rescue Bumblebee, Sam and Mikaela from Sector 7. Bumblebee, Sam and Mikaela are captured inside Hoover Dam.
A power outage allows Bumblebee to escape. While exploring Bumblebee finds the frozen Megatron and the All Spark. Bumblebee recovers the All Spark and rescues Sam and Mikaela, but Megatron awakens. Starscream and Blackout fly through the dam and cause several explosions which allow Megatron to escape. Bumblebee, Sam and Mikaela travel to Mission City with the All Spark. The All Spark's power surges transform human machines into feral drones, which attack Bumblebee. However, Ironhide rescues Bumblebee and defeats the drones. Meanwhile, Jazz encounters and fights Starscream and Blackout. Jazz manages to defeat Starscream and Blackout, but Brawl appears behind him and kills him, in front of Ironhide, who defeats Brawl in a "slow death", avenging his fallen comrade. Bumblebee fights Barricade, who is trying to take the All Spark.
Bumblebee defeats Barricade and meets with Sam and Mikaela but Megatron appears behind him and quickly defeats Bumblebee, forcing Sam and Mikaela to run away. Megatron is about to kill Sam and Mikaela, but Optimus knocks Megatron aside, challenging him to a final battle. Optimus defeats Megatron, however, just as Sam is about to give Optimus the All Spark, Megatron jumps up and tries to kill Prime in one last attempt using his flail. However, Optimus catches Megatron's flail and pulls him in closer while crushing the All Spark in his other hand, and plunging it straight into Megatron's chest, presumably uniting with his Spark, killing him. The story ends with Optimus and the Autobots choosing to remain on Earth.
[edit] Decepticons
The Decepticons storyline begins with a MH-53 Pave Low helicopter falling out of the sky, with severe tail rotor damage, presumably caused by Blackout, one of the Decepticons arriving on Earth, who then takes the form of the downed craft by scanning it. He uses the Chopper to destroy SOCCENT Air Base in Qatar, and ejects his companion Scorponok to chase after the survivors who attempt to call for help using mobile communication vehicles, while Blackout searches for data from the remains of SOCCENT through comms terminals. Meanwhile, Frenzy is in the captivity of Sector 7. After a lengthy chase, Barricade recovers Frenzy and they go to hunt down the human called Sam Witwicky who has the glasses with the All Spark's location burned into them. Barricade finds Sam and his girlfriend, Mikaela Banes, and he chases after them, only to be confronted by Bumblebee. Barricade eventually defeats Bumblebee, and Sam gives up the glasses. Barricade contacts Starscream, that they will soon be heading to Mission City with the All Spark, so Starscream decides to round up the other Decepticons Brawl and Bonecrusher and send them to Mission City. However, he is delayed at the airbase, but takes the opportunity to create a 'smoking ruin' out of the Hoover Dam, finding Megatron in the process.
The pair arrive, then help Megatron to escape, destroying a group of Autobot drones in the process, and then the three transform and fly to Mission City. In the city, the rest of the Autobots have arrived and Jazz drops off Sam and Mikaela, and tells them to run and hide. Jazz then meets Barricade, who eventually kills him and leaves his body at the foot of a monument in the Central Park. Barricade then contacts Blackout, when he arrives with Starscream and Megatron, to eject Scorponok, to destroy Energon drones that have spawned from the All Spark. Scorponok destroys them, but has to run away when Ironhide kicks him away just as Sam was preparing to give up the All Spark, but Blackout then arrives, who kills Ironhide.
Megatron goes looking for Optimus Prime by destroying the city, instead finding Sam and Mikeala hiding. Optimus appears and intervenes before Megatron can kill them, to have the last battle. Eventually, Megatron injures Optimus badly, and as he reaches for the Cube, Megatron stands in the way. He lowers his flail, and can tell Optimus knows what happens now. He raises the flail, swings it around his head once, then swings it into Prime. Prime's optical display flickers for second, then goes out, along with his Spark. Sam remains unharmed, as Megatron is seen crushing the All Spark into his chest, then releases a massive shockwave, presumably converting all the electronics in the world into Decepticons, and uses the new army to take over Earth. The story ends one year later, with Megatron ordering all Decepticons to kill the last of Mankind.
[edit] Gameplay
The game (in all its versions) is mainly a third-person shooter. All the robots have at least four attack types: a light weapon, a heavy weapon, a melee attack, and the ability to throw objects such as cars, lampposts, trees, etc.
As its title and characters imply, a robot can transform into a vehicle and viceversa, this gives the game some racing elements, as the player must, in some missions, race to certain point within a time limit or before a character of the opposing faction does.
The cities are freely roamable, and there are also side-missions, Energon cubes and Autobot/Decepticon emblems scattered through the city, if accomplished successfully/collected the player can unlock trailers, production photos and unlock color schemes for certain characters.
[edit] PS3, Xbox 360, PC
The PS3, Xbox 360, and PC versions all have the same features. By completing certain objectives throughout the game G1 versions Optimus Prime and Megatron become available, as well as G1 color schemes for Jazz, Starscream, and Optimus Prime (labeled Robovision Optimus Prime). These options are turned on or off once obtained through the bonus menu, and only appear while playing as the specified character.
[edit] Wii
The Wii is unlike the other consoles, utilizing a different control scheme for movement and attacks that take advantage of its motion sensing controls. With a control in the left and right hand the player can swipe to imitate attacks or throwing objects and point the Wii Remote at the screen to aim and shoot the gun. The Wii graphics are a lower resolution than the PC, Xbox 360, and PS3 , though more detailed than the PS2 version.
[edit] PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 version of Transformers: The Game has the same gameplay and features like all the other console versions with the only difference being graphics. The PlayStation 2 version has G1 Optimus Prime, Robo-Vision Optimus Prime, G1 Megatron, G1 Jazz Repaint, and G1 Starscream Repaint.
[edit] PSP
Transformers: The Game for the PSP is very different than its console counterparts. Whereas the console versions allow the player to choose which side's storyline they wish to play, the PSP version has only one storyline which alternates between the two different dix.[2] Also, the player is able to play a total of 20 characters, including characters from previous generations. Overall the game for PSP has the most playable characters out of all of the console games. It also has a none related story to than the other games.[3]
[edit] Nintendo DS
Unlike games with multiple SKUs such as Pokémon and Mega Man Battle Network, which feature only minor differences between versions, Transformers: Autobots and Transformers: Decepticons are two separate games, sharing some basic similarities, but with unique characters, missions and locations.[4] Most prominently, while the Autobots version has missions in the Arctic, the Decepticons version contain desert missions taking place in a Qatar military base.[5]
The game consists of four large virtual locations, semi-destructible environments and enemies in the form of local law enforcement and opposing Transformers. Only cars and other robots may be destroyed. "Hazard levels" denote the extent of attack the player character comes under based on how much destruction they perpetrate. Glowing spots on the map denote mission markers, which come in two varieties - twenty-three story missions, which further the game storyline, and thirty-four challenge missions, for players to test their skills. The game also features a slight RPG element in the form of XP, gained by destroying enemies and completing missions, which steadily increases players' levels (up to 20), unlocking new abilities and increasing stats.[4] While a select number of missions allow players to take control of five of the Autobots or Decepticons featured in the movie, for the majority of the game, the player will control the "Create-A-Bot," a customizable generic Transformer whose alternate mode the player can determine by scanning any one of over thirty-five vehicles found throughout the game locations.[6]
The games utilizes the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection for the "Battle for the AllSpark" online campaign, which pits players of the two different versions of the game against each other. Players are able to download one new special single player challenge each day and earn points upon its completion. Their score is then uploaded to a server at the end of the challenge and the side with the most points at the end of the day (Autobots or Decepticons) wins the "battle". The first side to win seven battles wins the overall "war" and a new war begins.[4] However, if the Autobots and Decepticons win at least one piece each, a "tiebreaker match" will be played until the whole Allspark is under control of either side Players earn Wi-Fi tokens for their involvement, which will unlock additional vehicles and cheats for use while playing the main game. Despite the aforementioned Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection support, multiplayer death-matches are limited to localized wireless play. Also Skydive is a secret form for the custom character in Transformers Autobots, while countered by G1 Starscream, a somewhat improved Starscream, in the Decepticons version. Both can be obtained by earning 2500 tokens through Wi-Fi play.
[edit] Online community
Transformers: Autobots and Decepticons feature an integrated online community at http://ds.transformersgame.com which is designed by Spiral Design Studio and developed and managed by Agora Games. The site features detailed player profiles, allowing users to view several in-game player stats such as destruction points, deaths, and enemies destroyed.[7]
Community forums allow players to communicate with one another,[8] and also facilitate regular contests in which players compete in various Transformers related activities - both in-game and out - for prizes. An RPG game is played by some players where they make their own bot and play together by writing short parts of stories and actions. The ultimate goal is to claim the Allspark in this game. Only one player has claimed it so far.
[edit] Clans
Like many video games with an online component, Transformers DS promotes a teamwork oriented aspect through the use of clans. Players may choose to become the leader of their own clan or join one of the hundreds of clans already available. While clans were initially restricted to 10 members, this restriction has since been lifted, allowing an unlimited number of players to join a clan.[9] Clans are ranked against other clans on their side based upon their contributions.
[edit] Contests
Transformersgame.com/ds, the site for the game made by Agora games, occasionally holds contests. They hold in game contests which put the best players in a match of skill for a certain period of time (Its gone up to about a week once). While most contests only result in getting a title for the site, some contests hold a prize of a transformers toy. There have been other types of contests revolving around writing, drawing, and photo taking, that prizes will vary in.
[edit] Cybertron Edition
GameStop/EB Games sell Transformers: The Game Cybertron Edition for the Xbox 360. This collector's edition contains exclusive material; codes that unlock the Cybertron level, a making of the game DVD, a Transformers comic book by Simon Furman, and Cybertron Edition box art.
[edit] Characters
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This section does not cite any references or sources. (October 2007) Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
This lists the playable and non-playable characters on the game. Note Skydive is like Trailbreaker and Hound, not playable but appears in the game. Skydive is a Cybertronian Fighter Jet.
[edit] Autobots
| Character | Playable? | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC | X360 | Wii | PS2 | PS3 | PSP | NDS | |
| Optimus Prime | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Bumblebee | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Jazz | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ironhide | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ratchet | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Longarm | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Skydive | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Hound | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Trailbreaker | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
[edit] Decepticons
| Character | Playable? | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC | X360 | Wii | PS2 | PS3 | PSP | NDS | |
| Megatron | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Starscream | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Barricade | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Blackout | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Scorponok | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Frenzy | No | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Bonecrusher | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Swindle | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Dreadwing | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Shockwave | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No |
| Brawl | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
[edit] Reception
Most versions of Transformers: The Game received average to poor reviews upon release. As of July 7, 2007, Metacritic currently gives the Xbox 360 version 57/100,[10] the PS3 version 60/100,[11] the Wii version 59/100,[12] the PS2 version 61/100,[13] and the PSP version 55/100.[14] The Nintendo DS versions have fared better with an average of 72/100.[15][16]
In most reviews, Graphics and sound effects were praised, IGN's review named the graphics of the Wii version in the time of its release as the best on the system while Peter Cullen's voice acting as Optimus Prime, alongside Frank Welker (Megatron's original voice in the 1984 cartoon) were considered strong points also. GameSpot also commented the responsive motion-controls on the Wii.
However, the reviews noted multiple flaws, such as a troublesome camera that tumbled, to give an effect of the walking of the transformers themselves, repetitive missions, and the clunky driving in the vehicle modes, they also commented that the game was too short and it had an unbalanced difficulty, older gamers have found it too easy, while younger players have found it extremely hard to pass certain missions. Though there were not too much complaints about it, the lack of multiplayer in the main console versions (Though there is multiplayer on the DS and PSP versions).
Arguably, the most praise has been given to the DS version, IGN described it as "more than meets the eye" though they have also commented that "maybe too much for the DS to handle".
[edit] Downloadable Content for Xbox 360
On January 9, 2008, downloadable content entitled Transformers Unlockables was made available on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Priced at 500 Microsoft points, it unlocks all bonus characters/skins, items, upgrades, and other unlockable content.[17]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Official Transformers: The Game website
- Official Transformers: Autobots/Decepticons DS Community website
- Transformers: The Game at GameSpot
- Transformers: The Game at MobyGames
[edit] References
- ^ GDC 2007: Transformers Coming in Twos. IGN. Retrieved on 2007-07-06.
- ^ Transformers: The Game preview. IGN. Retrieved on 2007-07-05.
- ^ "Transformers: The Game (Game Features)".
- ^ a b c Transformers Hands-on. IGN. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
- ^ Transformers DS First Details. IGN. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
- ^ CNET's Transformers: DS review. CNET. Retrieved on 2007-07-16.
- ^ Transformers DS online profile. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
- ^ Transformers DS Community About Page. Retrieved on 2007-05-18.
- ^ Clans Limit Removed!. Transformers Autobots and Decepticons official site. Retrieved on 2007-07-30.
- ^ Transformers: The Game Xbox 360 scores. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
- ^ Transformers: The Game PS3 scores. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
- ^ Transformers: The Game Wii scores. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
- ^ Transformers: The Game PS2 scores. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
- ^ Transformers: The Game PSP scores. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
- ^ Transformers: Autobots scores. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
- ^ Transformers: Decepticons scores. Metacritic. Retrieved on 2007-07-07.
- ^ Transformers Unlockables: 500 MS points gets it all. Xbox 360 Fanboy. Retrieved on 2008-01-28.
