| Transformers | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Melbourne House (PS2) Midway Games (Unpublished PC Version) |
| Publisher(s) | Atari |
| Distributor(s) | Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment (Uncredited) |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation 2, PC (Unpublished PC Version by Midway Games) |
| Release date(s) |
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| Genre(s) | Third-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: T PEGI: 7+ |
Transformers is a PlayStation 2 video game based on the Transformers: Armada animated series. Originally entitled Transformers Armada: Prelude to Energon, the title was shortened before release.[1]
The game diverges from the anime and comic in terms of storyline. In the opening sequence Megatron, in a final assault against the Autobot Headquarters on Cybertron, surprises Optimus Prime with his Decepticlones, a massive powerful drone army. With numbers on his side, Megatron is able to overcome the resistance and fight Optimus Prime one-on-one.
Megatron is about to kill Optimus Prime, and in an homage to the original movie, he says: "I would have waited an eternity for this. It's over, Prime". When a Mini-Con beacon activates on Earth. Megatron, well-aware of what this means, heads to Earth to claim the Mini-Cons.
The Autobots Optimus Prime, Red Alert, and Hot Shot arrive on Earth as well to rescue the Mini-Cons, knowing that their combined power is the only way to overcome Megatron's new army.
Contents |
Players control either Optimus Prime, Red Alert or Hot Shot, who are able to transform between robot and vehicle modes at the push of a button. The game revolves around the collection of Mini-cons, which can be equipped to the Transformer. These include weapons, such as a pistol, support items, such as glider wings, and stat-enhancement, such as an armor boost, and, with the exception of the latter, can be controlled using the shoulder buttons. There is a limit to what Mini-cons can be equipped, which more powerful Mini-cons taking up a lot of space. The more of the same color Mini-cons equipped the stronger your character will be. This is referred to as Mini-con linking.
Garry Chalk, voice of Optimus Prime in Transformers Armada as well as in Transformers Energon, reprises the role. Daran Norris, voice of Heavy Load in Transformers: Robots in Disguise, voices Red Alert and Cyclonus. Dublin James (Matthew Mungle in Code Blue) voices Hot Shot. David Kaye, voice of Megatron in Beast Wars: Transformers as well as in Beast Machines, Transformers Armada and Transformers Energon, also reprises the role. Matt Hetherington voices Starscream. Matthew Yang King (Charlie in Hercules Returns) voices Unicron.
There are several references to Generation 1 in the game, including the core chamber in Unicron (Final Boss) which closely resembles the one from The Transformers: The Movie, he also says his line from the end of the film which is "My destiny...You cannot destroy my destiny." Later levels also feature remixed versions of the Transformers theme music (though without lyrics) as background music.
Another similarity is the choice of lines for the characters, such as Starscream's "I'll rip out your optics" (although this line was spoken by Megatron in the 1986 movie) and Optimus's quotes when selected as the playable character such as "Til all are one!" and "Transform, and roll out.", these are just a few quotes and similarities to Transformers G1. Unlockable bonus content also includes PSAs from the original TV series. Optimus Prime's mouthplate moves up and down like it does in the original series.
The worldwide debut of the Transformers PlayStation 2 demo occurred at TransformersCon on March 12–13, 2004.
In September 2005, Atari released a Directors Cut of the game exclusively in the EU. The only difference between this and the original was a bonus DVD containing a "Making Of Documentary". A playable demo was included on the disc for Driv3r.
Australian band Regurgitator provided the soundtrack to the game.