Transformers (2004 video game)


Transformers is a video game based on the animated series, itself part of the Transformers franchise. It was developed by Atari Melbourne House, published by Atari, Inc. and released exclusively for the PlayStation 2 in 2004. The game follows a different storyline than the series, though it also sees both the Autobots and the Decepticons searching for the recently discovered Mini-Cons on Earth, whose combined powers will grant either faction victory in their deadly civil war.

Gameplay

Transformers is a third-person shooter game, where players assume the role of one of three Autobots: Optimus Prime, Red Alert or Hot Shot, who are all able to transform between robot and vehicle modes at the push of the triangle 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-enhancements, such as an armour boost. Up to four can be equipped at once, and with the exception of stat-enhancements, they can be controlled using the shoulder buttons. The 'R1' primary weapon will always be assigned, and if none are chosen, the default rifle is used in its stead. There is a limit to what Mini-cons can be equipped with respect to the power game mechanic, with more powerful Mini-cons taking up a lot of space. The more of the same colour/suit Mini-cons equipped, the stronger one's character will be. This is referred to as "Mini-con linking." For the most part, the Mini-cons do not change the aesthetics of the transformer.

Plot

The game doesn't follow the already established storyline of the animated series, although it still mostly revolves around Mini-Cons - miniature Transformers who fled their home planet of Cybertron and crash-landed on Earth millions of years ago, going into statis. In the present, the Autobots, led by Optimus Prime, and the Decepticons, led by the villainous Megatron, are engaged in a deadly war for Cybertron. The game's opening sequence shows Megatron launching a final assault on the Autobot Headquarters on Cybertron, alongside his Decepticlones, a powerful army of Decepticon drones. Having the numeric advantage, Megatron is able to overcome the Autobot resistance, before engaging Optimus in a one-on-one fight. Before the winner can be decided, a Mini-Con distress beacon activates on Earth. Well-aware of what this means, Megatron and his Decepticlone forces head to Earth to claim the Mini-Cons, while Optimus and his fellow Autobots and return to their headquarters, from where they operate a Space Bridge to travel to various locations around the planet one at a time, and attempt to retrieve the Mini-Cons before the Decepticons do.
They first travel to the Amazon and proceed to retrieve any Mini-Con they find and destroy the Decepticlone patrols, before encountering the Decepticon Cyclonus at some ancient ruins, who dispatches several Decepticlone Heavy Units to attack them. After destroying them and chasing Cyclonus away, the Autobots find the Mini-Cons Sparkplug, Jolt and Longarm, who send out a call to the other Mini-Cons on Earth and join the Autobots. The Autobots next go to Antartica, making their way past icy canyons, an open glacial area, and a crashed human plane in order to reach a research facility, where the Decepticons have already found a Mini-Con. They defeat the Decepticlones guards and Starscream, before learning that Cyclonus is still at the Amazon, meaning that there are still Mini-Cons left there. The Autobots depart with the Mini-Con, unaware that Starscream is still online.
Back at the Amazon, the Autobots fight their way through the jungle and then an ancient pyramid, ultimately reaching the Decepticon base, where they defeat Cyclonus, causing him to crash and explode. Afterwards, the Autobots spot several Decepticon Dropships heading to the Atlantic Ocean and follow them. There, they find Tidal Wave in his massive warship mode, and fight their way across multiple small islands, ultimately finding the Mini-Con Slipstream, who grants them the ability to glide. They use this to board the ship and make their way to its control room, learning it is headed to Alaska. Tidal Wave then transforms into his robot mode, but the Autobots target his head, ultimately destroying him and causing him to plunge into the ocean.
The Autobots travel to Alaska, believing it to be the location of Megatron's base on Earth, and make their way through the snowy mountains and a cave system, before Starscream crashes a ship on purpose in an attempt to stop them. Fighting their way through the crashed ship, the Autobots confront Starscream on the bridge, but the scuffle causes the ship to fall off a cliff and into a valley down below. After making their way out of the ship, the Autobots defeat Starscream, who is knocked out by Optimus after a failed interrogation. Hacking into his warp transponder, Red Alert learns that Megatron's base is actually located on a volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean, so the Autobots head there next. They fight their way to the island's center, which is an active volcano, where they battle and defeat Megatron, before the volcano erupts. Optimus attempts to save Megatron, but he refuses his help and allows himself to fall into the lava. Escaping from the volcano, the Autobots believe they won, unaware that the planet-sized Transformer Unicron has arrived on Cybertron.
As Unicron begins destroying Cybertron, Optimus, Red Alert and Hot Shot return home alongside all the rescued Mini-Cons, whose combined powers give the three Autobots the means to stop Unicron. Equipped with jetpacks, they fly into Unicron and destroy his core, causing him to explode, not before the Autobots get a safe distance away. Afterwards, the Autobots and Mini-Cons celebrate their victory and that Cybertron is finally at peace.

Development

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. This version includes several "Making of" movie clips and commercials on the game disc. A playable demo was included on the disc for Driv3r. Australian band Regurgitator provided the soundtrack to the game. The song "Wishbone" by the band Dropbox was used to promote the game.

Reception

The game received "generally favorable" reviews, according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.