Transformers: Dark of the Moon: Autobots/Decepticons
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Transformers: Dark of the Moon: Autobots and Transformers: Dark of the Moon: Decepticons were released on June 14, 2011 for the Nintendo DS. Both games were developed by Behaviour Interactive who had previously released Transformers Animated: The Game, and published by Activision. Like the console version, they are prequels to the Dark of the Moon film. They are a third-person, over-the-shoulder shooters, and feature both a campaign and multi-player mode.
Gameplay
For each mission, there is set character, although once the game has been completed you can go back and replay missions with any playable character. The characters have a primary fire, which is more or less a machine gun with unlimited ammo, and secondary fire in the form of rockets, for which have a limited amount of ammo. More rockets can be obtained by defeating certain foes, which are so numerous you will practically never run out anyway. The character's health is divided between energy, which can be replenished by picking up energon cubes dropped by defeated opponents, and "shield", which slowly regenerates over time. While in vehicle mode, Transformers can go into Stealth Force mode, making available machine guns, although given you have to stop to shoot at things, why not just transform?
Additional abilities include hacking—pressing the radar icon and aiming at a satellite dish or turret reveals a randomly flashing faction insignia. Pressing the insignia when it matches your faction hacks the target. Hacked turrets will fire on your enemies, which makes them semi-useful when the game doesn't immediate block you off from them afterwards with a force field. Pressing the A button near certain objects will allow you to pick them up (if the game's feeling charitable) and throw them at enemies. Characters also have special abilities allowing them to reach hidden areas—for instance Mirage can run along walls, while Soundwave can run on overhead wires.
Upgrades are faction-wide and require collecting "upgrade slots" which appear as small spinning objects, and gaining XP. Between levels, a number of upgrades can be bought from the upgrades screen by spending an upgrade slot and 250XP, giving the player more health, shield, or boosting the primary and secondary fire.
Synopsis
Autobot campaign
Chapter 1: Urban Devastation
- Playable character: Bumblebee
Optimus Prime, Ratchet and Bumblebee meet downtown, where they discuss the recent attacks. Believing them to be the work of the Decepticons, Optimus sends Bumblebee to investigate, and the small Autobot quickly discovers that the city is indeed crawling with Decepticons.
Chapter 2: Heavy Industry
- Playable character: Ironhide
Optimus contacts Ironhide with more bad news. The Decepticons are attacking on two fronts: Mixmaster is trying to bring the Constructicons back online, while Starscream is attacking a nearby industrial park. Ironhide goes to the Industrial Park to investigate, and is forced to protect a number of buildings from Decepticon attack.
Chapter 3: The Best Defense...
- Playable character: Optimus Prime
Optimus finds Ratchet on the way to the Stadium to check out a disturbance. Optimus opts to go instead, as Ratchet's services are better utilized back at base, but Ratchet warns him before he leaves that they've intercepted a Decepticon transmission about something called Shockwave. Optimus goes to investigate the Stadium and briefly tangles with Soundwave.
Chapter 4: Strong Foundations
- Playable character: Mirage
Mirage finds Ratchet in a worried state as the Decepticons are up to something at a NEST construction site. Promising to investigate, Mirage finds Lockdown messing up the place, and is force to chase him down.
Chapter 5: Burning Air
- Playable character: Optimus Prime
Ratchet and Wheeljack contact Optimus to warn him that Decepticons are attacking all over NEST's Pacific island base. Wheeljack additionally warns him that Crowbar is a dangerous foe. Optimus drives all over the island bashing Decepticons and protecting the buildings, but fails to encounter Crowbar.
Chapter 6: Into the Fire
- Playable character: Mirage
After Lockdown gets into the NEST base and starts targeting the satellite dishes in an attempt to shut down Autobot communications, Rachet sends Mirage to scour the base and reactivate the dishes.
Chapter 7: Dangerous Experiments
- Playable character: Ironhide
Mirage reports to Ironhide that he's chasing Lockdown within the base. As Ironhide goes to join the hunt, Optimus Prime contacts everyone with the extremely urgent message not to engage Soundwave. Ironhide proceeds to chase Lockdown around the base and finally catches up with him.
Chapter 8: Volcano Overdrive
- Playable character: Bumblebee
As Bumblebee stands ready, Ratchet tells him that Soundwave and Crowbar are in the area. Bumblebee needs to track them down, however, and this is the important part, he has to let Soundwave escape. It's part of Optimus's plan. Bumblebee sets out and quickly finds and attacks Crowbar, however he suddenly runs into Starscream! After pursuing Starscream around the base, Bumblebee eventually manages to chase him off.
Chapter 9: Hunters and Prey
- Playable character: Mirage
Starscream, as it turns out, has stolen a piece of Mechtech, which luckily has a built-in tracking system. The Autobots have traced him to Siberia, and Mirage goes in to stealthily scope the place out by shooting Decepticons.
Chapter 10: Bitter Winds
- Playable character: Ironhide
At the Decepticon base, Ratchet briefs Ironhide on the situation—there are radar stations built all around it which must be taken out. Also Ratchet's decoded a transmission indicating that Shockwave is a deadly Decepticon assassin! Ironhide moves through the valley, hacking the Decepticon computers to clear a way for the Autobots.
Chapter 11: Heart of Ice
- Playable character: Bumblebee
Ironhide, Bumblebee and Ratchet meet up inside the Decepticon base. Ratchet sends Bumblebee to scout ahead, cautioning him that Megatron may be around. Luckily Bumblebee just finds a whole bunch of Decepticons to shoot.
Chapter 12: Cold Machinery
- Playable character: Ironhide
Optimus arrives, and Ironhide tells him that the Decepticons are completely cut off. Megatron and possible Shockwave are there. Optimus decides he must go in alone, and tells the others to follow him when he gives the signal. A short time after Optimus goes in, the Autobots receive a weak transmission from him to say that Megatron and Shockwave have escaped, so Ironhide goes after them. He manages to track Megatron, fighting furiously with the Decepticon leader, but Megatron manages to get away. Optimus announces that they won this battle at least, and will be ready for the next one. Elsewhere Megatron calls a strategic retreat, as he's succeeded in getting what he came for—Shockwave!
Decepticon campaign
Chapter 1: Demolition
- Playable character: Soundwave
Chapter 2: Desperation Play
- Playable character: Crowbar
Chapter 3: Shipping Out
- Playable character: Lockdown
Chapter 4: Deconstruction Site
- Playable character: Lockdown
Chapter 5: Hostile Territory
- Playable character: Crowbar
Chapter 6: Breaking and Entering
- Playable character: Lockdown
Chapter 7: Grand Larceny
- Playable character: Soundwave
Chapter 8: Freedom Run
- Playable character: Crowbar
Chapter 9: Siege Engines
- Playable character: Crowbar
Chapter 10: Lair of the Dragon
- Playable character: Soundwave
Chapter 11: Deep Freeze
- Playable character: Megatron
Chapter 12: Desolate Decisions
- Playable character: Megatron
Featured characters
(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)
| Autobots | Decepticons | Non-Player |
|---|---|---|
|
Autobot
Decepticon
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Quotes
"MIRAGE!"
"Aah! What is it?"
- —Ratchet creeps up on Mirage.
"You'd better stay quiet! If you don't find the Mechtech data in that base, Megatron will be sorely displeased."
"Agreed. Your radio silence is appreciated."
"Oh, I, Ah, yes, of course, radio silence would be best, I... ahem. Starscream out."
- —Starscream and Soundwave
"If you fail to survive this, Megatron, I will dedicate my reign as leader to honoring your name!"
"When I survive this, Starscream, you and I will discuss your treacherous display of ambition."
- —Starscream and Megatron
Multi-player
Multi-player includes five gameplay modes:
- 1-on-1: deathmatch in an arena
- Master of Cybertron: Two players versus infinite waves of enemies. When the time expires, highest score wins.
- Marathon: Two players versus infinite waves of enemies. Player that survives longest wins.
- Free-for-All: deathmatch versus more than one opponent.
- Team Deathmatch: two-on-two combat.
Reception
Notes
- Certain editions of the game came with a redecoed Speed Stars Bumblebee or Lockdown.
- Megatron sports his Revenge of the Fallen body rather than his Dark of the Moon form.
- The words "Checkpoint reached" appear to be code for "You are about to be attacked by the enemy".
