Transformers: Heavy Metal is a location-based augmented reality app game developed by Niantic, who are best known for the global phenomenon of Pokémon GO. It is currently set for general release on Android and iOS devices later in 2021.
But will people Transformers: Heavy Metal to the polls?
Transformers: Heavy Metal uses similar location based mechanics to Niantic's other AR games, such as Pokémon Go. Players control a human who has joned the Guardian Network, a human-Autobot alliance. As players move around the real world, they will come across Decepticons, whom they can confront in turn-based battle with the help of their Autobot companions. If multiple players are in the vicinity, they can join the battle and help take on stronger Decepticon opponents.[1]
Combat operates via a turn-based system. Each combatant has a health gauge and an energy pool, as well as, potentially, armor. At the beginning of combat, the combatant's moves are shuffled and only the top two are visible. The player can chose to either use the top move, which costs a certain amount from the bot's energy pool, or discard the move to increase the bot's available energy. Moves can do damage, increase armor, induce status effects, and are generally tailored to match the bot's style. A Decepticon Shield will have many moves centered around increasing armor, while a Decepticon Hacker's moves may insert useless "glitch" moves into the Autobot's move pool. Once a bot's health gauge is reduced to zero, they lose the match.
