Transformers: Shadows Rising

« Transformers: Shadows Rising
Sit comfortably and fight!
Developer	Sega of China
Publisher	Sega
Platform	Sega RingEdge 2
Release date	2018

Transformers: Shadows Rising is an arcade rail shooter based on the live action films and the follow-up to Transformers: Human Alliance. Developed by Sega and released beginning in 2018, the game can be played with one or two players, and is available in a theater cabinet featuring a 55" HD screen.

Gameplay

Gameplay is largely identical to that of Human Alliance, with up to two players using mounted gun turrets to fire at opponents on screen across four stages. The Pacific Ocean, Wales and East China stages can be played in any order before moving on to the final stage, The Moon. New to the game's control interface is the addition of a "Hyperenergy Tech" lever. This can be used to either create a shockwave that damages multiple enemies at once, or to generate a force field to protect the players from enemy attacks. Players can also push this lever in a specified direction at predetermined points to complete Action Sequence events and avoid potential damage. The game also includes an achievement system.

Characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Autobots	Decepticons	Humans
Optimus Prime Bumblebee Sideswipe Dinobots Grimlock Strafe Scorn	Megatron Optimus clone Bumblebee clone Shockwave clone Sideswipe clones Seekers Sports car drones Lensmeter Decepticons Ravage drones Laserbeak drones Motorcycle drones SUV drones M1 Abrams Decepticons	Vanessa Jake NEST soldiers

Quotes

"We never never surrender!"

— Optimus Prime is apparently quick to give up.

"The light rises and shadows are gone. There's a thin line between being a hero, and being a memory. I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots."

— Optimus Prime assembles an ending monologue from fortune cookie quotes.

Notes

Continuity notes

• Much of the cast of Human Alliance returns for Shadows Rising, this time accompanied by (most of) the Dinobots.
• The Decepticon warships and fighters from Dark of the Moon also reappear in the game.
• The M1 Abrams Decepticons from Dark of the Moon appear as enemy units.
• KSI, which was introduced in Age of Extinction, appears during the East China stage.

Transformers references

• The assortment of enemy units are now joined by Seekers. And as is time-worn tradition, the Seekers are (obviously) recolors of Starscream.
• Just like in the previous game, various action scenes emulate those in the movies, such as Sideswipe bisecting one of his clones like he bisected Sideways in Revenge of the Fallen.
• The control room of the Decepticon warship Jake, Vanessa, and the Autobots board resembles that of Lockdown's Knight Ship.
• While never identified as such (the intro tag just labeling him as "Unidentified Unit"), the Optimus clone in the final stage is meant to be a version of Age of Extinction Nemesis Prime, down to the blue flame details.
• Optimus's quote about being a hero or being a memory was said by his G1 counterpart back in "More than Meets the Eye, Part 3".

Errors

• You don't need to be an English major to know "We never never surrender" is both a double-negative and a pretty poor thing to shout when you're trying to encourage your troops.
• Megatron is somehow back to using his Revenge of the Fallen body. And despite utilizing KSI technology to amass himself an army of Decepticons, he still hadn't attempted to fix his head wound from the same film.

External Links

• Official game trailer
• Listing on Sega Arcade