Transformers: Cybertron Adventures
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 Like Time Crisis, but sometimes you drive yourself around. | |||||||
| Developer | Next Level Games | ||||||
| Publisher | Activision | ||||||
| Platform | Wii | ||||||
| Release date | June 22, 2010 | ||||||
| Ratings | ESRB: T | ||||||
Transformers: Cybertron Adventures is the Wii-platform game that serves as a companion to (and is distinctly different from) Transformers: War for Cybertron. It was published by Activision, and developed by Next Level Games.
Gameplay
The game is linear and level-based. Each mission has one default playable character. Unlike the Third-Person Shooter gameplay system established in the Next-Gen and PC Version, this version is a rail shooter. Players do not control the movement of the character, instead the character will be moved by AI from cover to cover, then players can start shooting enemies from that 'cover zone' (Making the game much like arcade shooter Time Crisis). Players are given four weapons of choice: Blaster/Cannon (depending on the character), Missile Launcher, Gatling Gun, and Sniper Rifle, which can be switched easily in mid-game.
In some points in the game, the character will transform into vehicle mode. In this 'Driving Section', players must control the vehicle while from one point to another. Obstacles will appear in the way, and the player must destroy them using the weapons available in the vehicle mode (including Blaster and Missile Launcher) in order to progress.
The game also features offline co-op mode.
Synopsis
Autobots Campaign
Mission I: Damage Report
- Location: Iacon—Blast Site
- Playable Character: Sideswipe
- Following an orbital blast from Trypticon, Optimus Prime sends out a call for search-and-rescue operations, which is answered by the nearby Sideswipe. He races to the scene in vehicle mode, clearing the falling debris in his way. Entering a building, he finds several Autobots pinned down by Decepticon forces. Sideswipe gets the drop on them, taking them out one by one. As the last Decepticon falls and the Autobots make their escape, Sideswipe receives a radio broadcast from Ratchet that is suddenly cut off. Sideswipe races to Ratchet's location, rescuing another platoon of Autobots along the way. He intercepts a transmission from the Decepticons that orders troops to home in on Ratchet and bring him down. Sideswipe gets the drop on the strike force, and fights his way to Ratchet's location. The medic is pinned down by debris, but comes to. The two Autobots then make a break for it, Ratchet saying he has important information he must get to Optimus right away.
Mission II: Destination Datacore
- Location: Kaon
- Playable Character: Bumblebee
- In order to learn more about Trypticon, Bumblebee and Ironhide are sent to Kaon to break into its datacore and steal the information they need. The initial route turns out to be a little too narrow for Ironhide to go through, so Bumblebee must go it alone for a bit. As he sneaks through the tunnels, he comes across laser sensors, forcing Bumblebee to take them out with expert sniping so they can't call for reinforcements. Once through the tunnel, a short drive gets him to the datacore's exterior, and he reunites with Ironhide... who is being chased by a squad of Seekers. After clearing out the pursuers, they head for the south access, clearing out debris and Dark Energon growths along the way. The two sneak into the increasingly-heavily-guarded core, and Ironhide begins downloading Trypticon's specs from the central terminal. He is forced to stay attached to the terminal to complete his task though as swarms of Decepticons fill the hall. Bumblebee takes out the attackers with a hail of missiles, but Ironhide's hacking attempt is soon scrambled. The pair make their escape... only to be intercepted by Soundwave and blasted by Megatron before they can get very far. Megatron gloats that they shall see just what the Decepticons can take from the two thieves...
Mission III: Ironhide's Run
- Location: Kaon—Prison
- Playable Character: Ironhide
- Ironhide fumes in his holding cell, energy shackles keeping him well in place. Suddenly, the entire building shakes with the force of an Autobot attack, and the energy bars and shackles dissipate. Ironhide knows he has to get to Bumblebee and fast before they can hook him up to a neural scanner! He makes his way through the prison, releasing Autobot prisoners by shooting the control panels to their cells. After a drive through various debris-strewn access tunnels, he enters the central interrogation chamber. Taking out a few sensor turrets, he finds Bumblebee is already being scanned. After clearing out the guards, he blasts the scanner, freeing Bee, but it's too late; they got the information they wanted. Both Autobots make their escape, taking to vehicle mode. Air Raid comes in over the comm, offering air support once the two get into the open road. The two are cut off by a dropship full of Decepticons, but a timely carpet-bombing from Air Raid clears the way. All three hit the highway, and return to Optimus with the intel they've recovered.
Mission IV: Pulling the Plug
- Location: Core
- Playable Character: Air Raid
- Air Raid is sent to the Geosynchronous Energon Bridge in order to shut down the power supply feeding Trypticon. The flier is forced to go underground, navigating narrow tunnels and bladed traps while shooting down Seeker patrols. Making his way through the sensors in the security station, Air Raid thinks he's got clean break, but a squad of Decepticons prove him wrong. Air Raid makes a break for it in jet mode, shooting down his pursuers and the anti-aircraft guns blocking his path. Losing them Air Raid enters a disused sewer-like region, which he quickly finds to be crawling with spiders. Ironhide informs him over the comm that they're giving off Dark Energon signatures. Gatling fire clears out the swarms, and he makes his way to the security terminal. With the security disabled, Air Raid flies through another access tunnel leading to a magma-filled chamber crawling not only with spiders, but giant robotic serpents! Missiles blow the armor off the serpents, and with the wildlife out of the way, Air Raid has access to the bridge controls... except for that squad of Decepticons, led by a massive Destroyer unit. After it falls, Air Raid finally makes his way to the controls, shutting down the flow of energon to the orbiting Decepticon superweapon.
Mission V: Paving The Way
- Location: Iacon State
- Playable Character: Bumblebee
- Now that Trypticon has been neutralized, the Autobots begin moving supplies to the evacuation site in preparation for their exodus. Bumblebee is sent ahead of the supply convoy to scout for Decepticon attacks. Sneaking into a high building, he follows a pair of Decepticons to a whole group of them waiting in ambush. He clears them out, but Optimus radios back, alerting him that the convoy is under assault. Bee races along the highway, taking out as many Seekers as he can en-route to the convoy. Once reunited with the supply convoy, he finds it stalled by a roadblock and Optimus taking heavy fire. Once the Decepticons attacking from the rear are cleared out, the others fall back. Bee continues his pursuit, making his way into the roadblock's interior and deactivating the gate.
- With the convoy now free to advance, Bee takes point again, and discovers another Decepticon ambush lying in wait. The combination of sniper rifle and explosive energy crates nearby clears out most of the force easily, but additional Sniper units and Seekers make Bee's job a bit more difficult than it appears at first. Another obstacle clear, Bumblebee moves on, only to witness a huge Decepticon warship setting up another assault. Racing ahead, he finds an anti-aircraft gun that's not only annihilating the Autobots' air support, but the blasts are so powerful that each bolt causes the area to shake, throwing off his aim as he tries to clear out the guards. A good blaster-bolt to the control panel causes an overload that shuts down the gun. Advancing Autobots report that there's a second gun up ahead, and Bee makes his way there at speed in order to hit the second gun's reactor before the first blows. Once there, expert sniping hits the panel, but more troops swarm in, including a Destroyer. Bee and the Autobots take out enough Decepticons to make their escape in vehicle mode before the guns go critical.
Mission VI: Countdown to Hope
- Location: Iacon State
- Playable Character: Air Raid
- As the Autobots load up their escape ships, the Decepticons Skywarp and Thundercracker make a strike. Air Raid takes to the skies to defend the ship. Bumblebee reports a massive Decepticon strike force at Point Epsilon, and the two Autobots take out the advancing forces. With Bumblebee able to hold the front, Air Raid teams up with Jetfire in the skies. After a bit of friendly rivalry shooting down Decepticon air troops, Air Raid once again hits the ground to handle more incoming fighters, and is forced to keep moving to dodge and destroy particularly persistent nest of Snipers. Air Raid and Jetfire re-team up to destroy an incoming Decepticon cruiser; a hail of gatling cannon fire rips through its armor and sends it into the ground. The two lead Seekers rejoin the fray, with Air Raid tackling Thundercracker as Jetfire handles Skywarp. Air Raid gives chase through a large tunnel teeming with huge fan-blades, following Thundercracker to a power complex. Air Raid lands and gets in a close-quarters shootout with the Seeker, driving him away from the complex with charged-up blaster fire before Thundercracker can properly plant explosives. The Autobots chase the retreating Seekers through the air, pelting them and the other retreating Decepticons with missiles until they're far enough away from the launch site.
Mission VII: Severing the Cord
- Location: Orbital Debris
- Playable Character: Jetfire
- Three Autobot ships have launched, but a sudden series of orbital blasts rips through two; Trypticon is back online! Jetfire takes to the debris field surrounding Cybertron to disconnect the energon relay satellites feeding the superweapon. Strreaking through the debris and swarms of mine-dropping Seekers, Jetfire infiltrates the first relay, making his way to the engeron stabilizer, only to face down a Destroyer unit. Once it's down, Jetfire plants a charge and hoofs it clear of the blast. With one relay down, he streaks to the next as the Autobots push through Trypticon's weakening defenses. Once inside, Jetfire accidentally blasts a huge cache of energon crates, which triggers multiple explosions throughout the ship. With little time to escape, Jetfire is forced to fight his way through another Destroyer before the relay goes critical (though he gets to take some potshots at fleeing Decepticons through the hellfire erupting all around them). Making his way to the biggest of the relays, Jetfire flies through its superstructure until it's safe to land. The Autobots' attacks are already tearing the outer hull apart, making Jetfire's journey harder, but he makes his way to the stabilizer. Both land and air Destroyers are waiting for him, as well as a large squad of troops. Jetfire is forced to destroy the defenses and plant the charge quickly, taking out the final relay and giving the Autobots temporary safety from Trypticon's cannon.
Mission VIII: Battle to Extinction
- Location: Iacon—Blast Crater
- Playable Character: Optimus
- Its power cut off, Trypticon plummets to the surface of Cybertron. After the earth-shaking impact, the Autobots think it may finally be over... but a monstrous mechanical roar says otherwise! Optimus, Ironhide and Bumblebee race to the impact zone, blasting their way through the falling debris. Ironhide splits off from the others, and Optimus and Bumblebeee make for an access tunnel to advance without having to worry about pieces of flaming death raining down on their heads. Unfortunately, several Decepticon troops have the same idea, leading to a close-quarters firefight. The two slowly advance, taking out a rapid-cannon Destroyer in the process, only to be flanked by a squad led by a missile-launching Destroyer.
- Once the way is clear to the surface, there's a nasty surprise ahead... Trypticon in robot mode! Optimus and Bumblebee race to the behemoth, blasting their way through debris and a few Decepticon fliers. A squad of land troops intercept them, and Bumblebee draws the gatling-Destroyer's fire, allowing Prime to flank the Decepticons. A warship comes onto the scene as well, spraying missiles through the battlefield. After taking out the ship's underside guns, more Snipers and Destroyers swarm the area. Unable to wait for Air Raid to clear the path ahead, Optimus races through the barricade, ramping a massive gap in the bridge. Trypticon in sight, he tears through the rubble-strewn wastes, while avoiding the monster's energy beams. Joined by a huge squad of Autobots, they begin their assault, discovering that they must concentrate their fire on the inside of Trypticon's mouth to truly damage him. Unfortunately, that's when he unleashes his devastating energy blast, capable of obliterating even Optimus with ease.
- Using missile locks and well-timed launches, repeated salvos finally begin to damage the beast. Optimus is forced to move to a new vantage point as Trypticon changes tactics, unleashing a hail of missiles from pods on his main body. Missile locks eventually destroy the pods, injuring—and angering—him even more. He belches out a hail of mortars, but Optimus continues to focus on his mouth with missile fire. The monster soon lunges, destroying the structure Prime was using as cover. Prime is injured but functional, and is forced to race back across a rubble-strewn road to Trypticon's position to take another shot and bringing him down. Though Trypticon mixes his kill-beam with the missile swarms, repeated blaster fire to his vulnerable mouth finally brings the behemoth crashing down. Though Trypticon's threat has ended, Optimus knows the war is far from over...
Decepticons Campaign
Mission I: The Ending Begins
Location: Iacon - Blast Site
- Playable Character: Megatron
Megatron watches eagerly as his hated enemies, the Autobots, crumble before the might of Trypticon--the ultimate Decepticon weapon. He knows the Autobot leader, Optimus, shall soon bow before him.
Mission II: Ire in the Sky
Location: Orbital Debris
- Playable Character: Starscream
Insulted that Megatron shows such disdain for his prowess as a warrior, Starscream bides his time… waiting to claim his rightful place - as leader of the Decepticons.
Mission III: Datacore Denial
Location: Kaon
- Playable Character: Soundwave
Distracted by the fallout from Trypticon's powerful blast, Megatron has turned his eye away from Kaon, the Decepticon home-territory.
Mission IV: Clean Sweep
Location: Iacon State
- Playable Character: Skywarp
Using data extracted by the Autobot prisoner, Megatron sets into motion his plan to extinguish the last hope of the Autobots.
Mission V: Core Experience
Location: Core - Energon Access Tunnel
- Playable Character: Starscream
Learning of the Autobot's sabotage of the Energon Bridge, Megatron sends Starscream deep into the Core of Cybertron, and out of his way.
Mission VI: Race for Iacon
Location: Iacon City
- Playable Character: Barricade
Cornered by the spread of Dark Energon, The Autobots have retreated to Iacon, their last sanctuary. Megatron eagerly pushes ahead… toward the final assault.
Mission VII: A Means to The End
Location: Core - Orbital Debris
- Playable Character: Thundercracker
Enraged that the Autobots have escaped his grasp again, Megatron takes even greater pleasure in unveiling the surprise he has in store for them.
Mission I: The Tyranny Within
Location: Trypticon
- Playable Character: Megatron
Megatron knows the Autobots will never surrender now… and sets in motion a plan to stop them from ever gaining the upper hand.
Featured Characters
| Autobots | Decepticons | Non-Player |
|---|---|---|
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Autobots
Decepticons
Other
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Reception
The game received many negative reviews, from critics and fans alike. It scores 3.5 out of 10 in IGN, citing the game has bad textures, poor animations, boring environments, miserable gameplay experience that even 'co-op cannot save', however praises the music and in particular, Peter Cullen's performance as Optimus Prime which is said to be 'the single saving grace of Cybertron Adventures'.[1]
Notes
- During a panel at BotCon 2010, the developers of the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Windows PC versions of War for Cybertron stated that they did not work on the Wii version because the Unreal Engine 3 was not capable of running on the Wii and that they lacked the in-house facilities to develop a Wii game.
- The game's "co-op" setting is very odd in that one player controls the character while the other only controls the weapon.
