Transformers Animated: The Game
{{Short description|2008 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Transformers Animated: The Game
| image = frameless
| caption = North American box art
| developer = Artificial Mind and Movement
| publisher = Activision
| designer =
| engine =
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|October 21, 2008{{cite web |last=Magrino |first=Tom |date=October 20, 2008 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/shippin-out-oct-19-25-far-cry-2-fable-ii-wii-music/1100-6199629/ |title=Shippin' Out Oct. 19-25: Far Cry 2, Fable II, Wii Music [author mislabeled as "Gamespot Staff [sic]; date mislabeled as "October 22, 2008"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213210937/http://www.gamespot.com/ds/action/transformersanimated/news.html?tag=tabs;news |archive-date=February 13, 2009 |url-status=live |access-date=January 2, 2025}}|EU|October 24, 2008|AUS|November 26, 2008{{cite web |last=Kozanecki |first=James |date=November 23, 2008 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-shippin-out-november-24-28-resistance-2/1100-6201581/ |title=AU Shippin' Out November 24-28: Resistance 2 |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019100319/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-shippin-out-november-24-28-resistance-2/1100-6201581/ |archive-date=October 19, 2014 |url-status=live |access-date=January 2, 2025}}}}
| genre = Action
| modes = Single-player
| platforms = Nintendo DS
}}
Transformers Animated: The Game is a 2008 video game for the Nintendo DS handheld based on Transformers: Animated, a television series in the Transformers franchise.{{cite web |last=Harris |first=Craig |date=July 23, 2008 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/07/23/first-look-transformers-animated |title=First Look: Transformers Animated |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230409215212/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/07/23/first-look-transformers-animated |archive-date=April 9, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=January 2, 2025}}
Plot
The story is centered on the rogue factory robots and Space Bridge episodes that can be found in the animated series. The first half would have the player fighting the rogue security bots running amok in the Sumdac factories while the second half would have the Autobots follow Megatron through the Space Bridge and into Cybertron. The voice actors in the animated series also lent their voices to the characters in the video game.
Gameplay
Image:Transformers Animated Gameplay.PNGWhile this game features three-dimensional characters and environments, it mostly plays on a two-dimensional plane where the characters move from left to right or up and down. Unlike other games based on the Transformers franchise, this one is mainly a puzzle game.
There are 25 levels in total that can be found in the game, and it has two main modes: race mode and mission mode. In race mode, the player can use either Bumblebee, Optimus Prime or Prowl to race against the enemies or transform to robot mode in order to throw projectiles into an enemy to destroy them.
= Mission mode =
There are the standard four Autobots that the player can use: Optimus Prime, Bulkhead, Prowl and Bumblebee. The player will guide them through several different stages while solving puzzles along the way. Each Autobot has a special skill that is only unique to them. Optimus Prime can use his axe to throw at his enemies and can use his grappling hook to climb the red steel girders scattered around the game. Bumblebee has his stingers that shoots electric bolts against enemies as well charge up generators to activate certain devices. He is also the only one among them that can jump and scale walls on his own. Bulkhead has his wrecking ball that he uses to throw against enemies and, being the heaviest of the three, is the only one heavy enough to step onto platform switches that open doors and turn on other devices. Using their own unique skills to solve the different puzzle rooms is the core gameplay, which is similar to The Lost Vikings. There are boss fights in this game where the player is sent to stop Lockdown and Megatron. Stopping Megatron however involves a bit of puzzle solving as well wherein the player needs to utilize all three Autobots to defeat him.
= Playable characters =
For the most part, the Autobots Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Prowl are fully playable.
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 69/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/transformers-animated-the-game/ |title=Transformers Animated: The Game |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231208102513/https://www.metacritic.com/game/transformers-animated-the-game/ |archive-date=December 8, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=January 2, 2025}}
| GRadar = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Kim |first=Alan |date=November 14, 2008 |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/transformers-animated-the-game-review/ |title=Transformers Animated review |website=GamesRadar+ |publisher=Future plc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408221342/https://www.gamesradar.com/transformers-animated-the-game-review/ |archive-date=April 8, 2023 |url-status=live |access-date=January 2, 2025}}
| JXV = 12/20{{cite web |author=hiro |date=December 10, 2008 |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00010114-transformers-animated-le-jeu-test.htm |title=Transformers Animated : Le Jeu |language=fr |website=Jeuxvideo.com |publisher=Webedia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501234456/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00010114-transformers-animated-le-jeu-test.htm |archive-date=May 1, 2021 |url-status=live |access-date=January 2, 2025}}
| NP = 7/10{{cite magazine |title=Transformers Animated: The Game |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Future US |volume=235 |date=December 2008 |page=102}}
| PG = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |last=Hargreaves |first=Roger |date=November 3, 2008 |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/transformers-animated/transformers-animated-the-game/ |title=Transformers Animated: The Game |website=Pocket Gamer |publisher=Steel Media Ltd |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250102030028/https://www.pocketgamer.com/transformers-animated/transformers-animated-the-game/ |archive-date=January 2, 2025 |url-status=live |access-date=January 2, 2025}}
}}
The game received "average" reviews according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.
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References
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External links
- {{moby game|id=/90461/transformers-animated-the-game/}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers Animated (Video Game)}}
Category:Behaviour Interactive games
Category:Cartoon Network video games
Category:Nintendo DS-only games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games based on animated television series
Category:Video games developed in Canada
Category:Video games scored by Rod Abernethy