Transformers: Shadows Rising
From Transformers Wiki
| This article is about the 2018 arcade game. For the 2014 mobile game, see Transformers Rising. |
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 Sit comfortably and fight! | |||||||
| Developer | Sega of China | ||||||
| Publisher | Sega | ||||||
| Platform | Sega RingEdge 2 | ||||||
| Release date | 2018 | ||||||
Transformers: Shadows Rising is an arcade rail shooter based on the live action films and the follow-up to Transformers: Human Alliance. Developed by Sega and released beginning in 2018, the game can be played with one or two players, and is available in a theater cabinet featuring a 55" HD screen.
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Gameplay
Gameplay is largely identical to that of Human Alliance, with up to two players using mounted gun turrets to fire at opponents on screen across four stages. The Pacific Ocean, Wales and East China stages can be played in any order before moving on to the final stage, The Moon. New to the game's control interface is the addition of a "Hyperenergy Tech" lever. This can be used to either create a shockwave that damages multiple enemies at once, or to generate a force field to protect the players from enemy attacks. Players can also push this lever in a specified direction or repeatedly press the start button at predetermined points to complete Action Sequence events and avoid potential damage. The game also includes an achievement system.
Synopsis
Pacific Ocean
Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, Sideswipe, Vanessa, Jay and a group of NEST soldiers headed to the Pacific Ocean to infiltrate a mysterious base under the sea. They battle their way against the Decepticon forces until three Decepticon Drones who resemble Starscream, Skywarp and Thundercracker appear to engage Optimus. Thanks to Vanessa and Jay's help, Optimus kills Thundercracker and throws Starscream into the sea. Skywarp attempts to bring them with him and explodes, causing an explosive shockwave, but they all jump to the sea. After killing Starscream they find the base. Upon infiltrating it, both Jay and Vanessa are anchored and dragged through the corridors by an unidentified Decepticon, another Decepticon who resembles Sideswipe appears and they both engage him. After getting themselves free from the anchor and being picked up by Bumblebee, the Decepticon who anchored them is revealed to be identical to the one they are facing. After both of them are killed, Optimus realizes that all the unique Decepticons they killed are drones who resemble the originals, and that the humans couldn't have developed them.
Wales
Their next objective is to find out the source of an energy signal in Wales, where they encounter Scorn and Strafe wreaking havoc. They're attacked by three Decepticon drones who all resemble Brawl, and they destroy all of them. After reaching the source, they are ambushed by Grimlock, who was being controlled by a device installed on his neck. After the device was destroyed, Grimlock recovered from what happened to him. Optimus then questions himself, who did that? And what for?
East China
Their next objective is to liberate KSI HQ on East China, since workers were missing and the Decepticons have took control of the HQ for themselves. After reaching the rooftop, they're ambushed by an Decepticon Drone who resembles Shockwave, Sideswipe notes that he senses no spark in it. After helping Sideswipe kill him, both Jay and Vanessa used sniper guns to take out the remaining 'Cons in the area. Upon returning to the ground, they're all confronted by an Decepticon Drone who resembles Stinger, after destroying the drone, they access it's memories and discovered there was a huge ship flying to the moon and the missing workers were trapped inside as hostages. Optimus Prime then decided they must investigate.
The Moon
Their final mission is to rescue the hostages inside the ship on the moon and prevent its data from being transferred, since it could be used to create an army powerful enough to decimate all life on Earth. While trying to find a way inside, Optimus Prime is ambushed by Nemesis Prime, Optimus then faces him with Vanessa and Jay's help, and assumingly triumphs over his doppelganger. After entering the ship, Optimus' clone returned, but he is soon killed by one who is behind all this: Megatron. Optimus questions how is this possible, since the last time they met, he killed him, Megatron then revealed that KSI tried to analyze his corpse, but his brain was still functional, and so he used their resources to build a new body and all the hostages were no longer alive. After this revelation, both Optimus and Megatron fight and with the help of Jay, Vanessa and the other Autobots. Megatron is launched into space, before dying however, Megatron screams that he will be reborn. With everything done the data transfer is interrupted and so they go to an escape pod to return to their home.
Characters
Quotes
"We never never surrender!"
- — Optimus Prime is apparently quick to give up.
"The light rises and shadows are gone. There's a thin line between being a hero, and being a memory. I am Optimus Prime, leader of the Autobots."
- — Optimus Prime assembles an ending monologue from fortune cookie quotes.
Notes
Continuity notes
- The game is set after Dark of the Moon but ignores Age of Extinction.
- Much of the cast of Human Alliance returns for Shadows Rising, this time accompanied by (most of) the Dinobots.
- The Decepticon warships and fighters from Dark of the Moon also reappear in the game.
- The M1 Abrams Decepticons from Dark of the Moon appear as enemy units.
- KSI, which was introduced in Age of Extinction, appears during the East China stage.
Transformers references
- The assortment of enemy units are now joined by Seekers. And as is time-worn tradition, the Seekers are (obviously) recolors of Starscream.
- Just like in the previous game, various action scenes emulate those in the movies, such as Sideswipe bisecting one of his clones like he bisected Sideways in Revenge of the Fallen.
- The control room of the Decepticon warship Jake, Vanessa, and the Autobots board resembles that of Lockdown's Knight Ship.
- While never identified as such (the intro tag just labeling him as "Unidentified Unit"), the Optimus clone in the final stage is meant to be a version of Age of Extinction Nemesis Prime, down to the blue flame details.
- Optimus's quote about being a hero or being a memory was said by his G1 counterpart back in "More than Meets the Eye, Part 3".
Real-life references
Errors
- You don't need to be an English major to know "We never never surrender" is both a double-negative and a pretty poor thing to shout when you're trying to encourage your troops.
- Megatron is somehow back to using his Revenge of the Fallen body. And despite utilizing KSI technology to amass himself an army of Decepticons, he still hasn't attempted to fix his head wound from the same film.
Trivia
- During the credits, a voice will play advertising other contemporary Sega arcade titles, such as Hoopla and Daytona Championship USA.
