Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (3DS)

This article is about the Nintendo 3DS game version. For the home console/PC version, see Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (console).

« Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark (3DS) « Portable console games
USA cover
Developer	WayForward Technologies
Publisher	ActiVision
Platform	Nintendo 3DS
Release date	June 24, 2014
Continuity	Aligned continuity family Movie continuity
Chronology	Between War for Cybertron and Fall of Cybertron Alternate version of Age of Extinction
Rating	ESRB: Everyone 10+ PEGI: 7
Standard Retail Price	US: $29.99 UK: £24.99

Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark is the Nintendo 3DS version of the Rise of the Dark Spark console game, a stategy RPG rather than the action/shooter of the console version, developed by WayForward Technologies. As with the console version, the game is a crossover between the Movie continuity and the Aligned continuity begun with War for Cybertron, and features over fifty Transformers characters, slightly more than the console version. . The game was released on June 24, 2014.

Gameplay

The standard gameplay is similar to that of Transformers G1: Awakening - there is a flat map, broken into squares, around which the player and computer take turns moving their characters. For story sections, an image of the character appears on-screen along with their dialog in both written and spoken form.

When the characters attack each other, the battle mode uses three-dimensional graphics to display the turn-based combat. The battle takes place according to the following rules: each turn in combat gains points that can be spent on one of seven different attacks, which from requiring one point to punch to super-attacks that need to accumulate points over a few turn. You can also block the attack of the enemy. During the fighting the characters gain experience, and Transformers' stats increase with their level.

Synopsis

Signs of Trouble

• Playable units: Drift

Lockdown mounts an attack on an Earth city, which Optimus Prime suspects may be related to a mysterious object that the Autobots had recently detected. Drift deals with the mercenaries at his position before heading to regroup with his comrades.

Procuring Firepower

• Playable units: Optimus Prime, Drift, Bumblebee, Crosshairs

The reunited Autobots break the attackers' line of defense to recover three weapons caches, allowing them to step up their counterattack. They subsequently make their way towards the impact crater of the unknown artifact.

Divide and Conquer

• Playable units: Heavy Soldier ×2, Assault Soldier
• Bosses: Bumblebee

At the Dark Spark's location, Lockdown's troops activate turrets to defend against the incoming Autobots. Bumblebee joins the fight, but the mercenaries retreat to Lockdown's ship with the artifact before they are overrun.

The Dark Spark

• Playable units: Lockdown, Heavy Soldier ×2, Assault Soldier
• Bosses: Optimus Prime, Drift, Bumblebee

Unable to take off due to heavy fire, Lockdown and his troops are forced to defend their ship against an Autobot assault that includes Prime, Bumblebee and Drift. Optimus pleads with the mercenary not to use the Dark Spark, having learned of its nature through the Matrix of Leadership, but Lockdown successfully escapes with the dangerous object.

Entering the Ancient Tombs

• Playable units: Starscream, Soundwave, Shockwave

On another universe's Cybertron, Megatron has dispatched his Decepticons to track down the Dark Spark, seeking to use the artifact to end the war. Entering tombs believed to hold the Dark Spark, Starscream, Soundwave and Shockwave are attacked by primitive insect creatures, but fight their way through.

A Plague of Insecticons

• Playable units: Starscream, Soundwave, Shockwave
• Bosses: Kickback

Moving further into the ruins, the Decepticons are forced to fight off more Insecticons, including the more powerful Kickback, whilst waiting for a large door to open. With the threat ended, they reach the Dark Spark's vault.

Unsealing the Vault

• Playable units: Starscream, Soundwave, Shockwave
• Bosses: Sharpshot

The vault's entrance is blocked by an acid jet, so the trio activate four control panels whilst fending off further Insecticons. Beyond the deactivated acid, however, is Sharpshot, another powerful Insecticon. He is defeated in battle, but Shockwave proposes an alliance, as Sharpshot, Kickback and Hardshell can influence the lower Insecticons. Sharpshot agrees, and the new allies proceed.

Turning the Tables

• Playable units: Cliffjumper, Arcee, Hound
• Bosses: Starscream, Soundwave, Shockwave

Whilst the Decepticons are occupied with the Insecticons, Cliffjumper, Arcee and Hound sneak into the opened vault and take the Dark Spark. As the Autobots fight Insecticons on their way out, Starscream, Soundwave and Shockwave arrive, but Arcee's team fight their way through to make an escape.

The Great Train Escape

• Playable units: Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Jazz, Cliffjumper, Arcee, Hound

The Autobots regroup with Optimus Prime's team at a train station, but a swarm of Insecticons arrive before they can flee with the Dark Spark. The team holds its own until a train arrives, but as they leave aboard, the Decepticons detonate explosives on the line.

After the Crash

• Playable units: Starscream, Soundwave, Shockwave
• Bosses: Bumblebee, Arcee, Hound

Arriving at the site of the train crash, the Decepticons recover the Dark Spark, but encounter resistance from the Autobots. They make short work of their enemies, before heading out to return the artifact to Megatron.

The Outskirts of Kaon

• Playable units: Soundwave, Shockwave, Swindle, Sharpshot

The Decepticons rendezvous with Swindle at the gates to Kaon, which are heavily guarded by Autobot troops. They overrun the position and blast their way through the first gate.

Kaon City Rumble

• Playable units: Soundwave, Shockwave, Swindle, Sharpshot, Kickback, Slipstream

Arriving at the inner gates, the Decepticons battle their way through more Autobot forces before blowing their way into Kaon.

The Combaticons Reunite

• Playable units: Soundwave, Shockwave, Swindle, Kickback, Slipstream

The Decepticons approach the location of the other Combaticons, and, following orders from Megatron relayed by Slipstream, they protect the elite team as they prepare to combine into Bruticus. The combiner is successfully formed, and the Decepticons prepare to sit back and watch as the giant tears away the Autobots.

Bruticus Awakens

• Playable units: Soundwave, Shockwave, Kickback, Slipstream
• Bosses: Cliffjumper, Optimus Prime, Arcee, Hound

The Decepticons protect and fight alongside Bruticus against waves of incoming Autobots. Eventually the combiner is able to take Cliffjumper hostage, allowing the Decepticons to bargain their opponents into submission and head for Megatron.

Characters

Movie Autobots	Movie Mercenaries	Aligned Autobots	Aligned Decepticons	Other
Optimus Prime Bumblebee Ratchet Drift Landmine Longarm Crosshairs Dune Runner Grimlock	Lockdown Mercenaries Stinger Dreadwing Bludgeon Payload Swindle	Optimus Prime Cliffjumper Bumblebee Jetfire Arcee Hound Steeljaw Eject Jazz Rewind Windcharger Gears	Megatron Scavenger Ramjet Starscream Soundwave Shockwave Kickback Sharpshot Hardshell Hook Slipstream Frenzy Skywarp Thundercracker Dirge Rumble Bruticus Onslaught Brawl Swindle Vortex Blast Off Insecticon	Generation 1 Optimus Prime

Notes

Continuity notes

• The game takes place both on the Cybertron of the War for Cybertron universe and Earth of the Movie and G1 universes.