Transformers: Convoy no Nazo
Encyclopedia
is a Family Computer video game developed by ISCO and published by Takara
exclusively in Japan. It is based on the popular toyline Transformers. The game was made available on the Virtual Console
on June 10, 2008.
The game stars Autobot
protagonist Ultra Magnus. The box and cartridge label for the game reads Mystery of Comvoy. This would be a mis-romanization
of Convoy, the Japanese name for Optimus Prime. The titular Mystery is the identity of Optimus Prime's killer, as the 1986 film
did not see a Japanese release for another four years. Thus, Optimus Prime's death was not adequately explained to the Japanese audience; this game was intended to capitalize on that gap.
It was also highly requested by many people to be featured in a DVD Special episode of the hit Japanese television show GameCenter CX (known outside of Japan as Retro Game Master
), which was seriously accepted by the show's staff. Tele Tele TV Magazine ran a contest in their December 1986 issue to win an exclusive limited edition silver plated cart of the game. Only 50 were made and given to the first of those 50 who sent in a postcard with their name, address and favorite Transformer. The only change to the game itself was an extra ® Registration to Takara 1987 over of the 1986 one.
enemies, with a boss
fight at the end of each level. He can transform into a car carrier, which makes it easier for him to avoid enemy attacks, drive through narrow entrances and shoot enemies that are flying above him. Along the way, he can also pick up various power-ups which can give him wider ranging firepower or even the ability to fly. There are two Warp Zones
within the game; they can be found by rescuing Bumblebee
from the Decepticons.
The bosses for each level consist of mostly large Decepticon symbols, along with Megatron and Trypticon
(known in Japan as Dinosaurer).
Another playable character in the game is Rodimus Prime
, who can be unlocked by collecting the letters that spell Rodimus. One is hidden, sequentially, in levels 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9. However, though his vehicle mode has its own graphics, his robot-mode sprite
is Ultra Magnus in Rodimus's palette.
Other criticisms addressed the primary character's shot pattern missing common enemies, not being able to crouch and shoot, and the time duration for transforming into Ultra Magnus's car carrier mode (many claiming that it left the player far too open to enemy fire). Because of these oversights, many gamers have trouble completing the first stage.
Along with poor graphics and level design, the game was poorly received and failed to see a Western release.
It is also notorious for being incredibly difficult to finish, as the 9th stage is a maze that must be completed in an unintuitive and specific pattern. If the player fails to follow the set pattern, the stage will loop infinitely. Because of this seemingly random element, many ROM sites erroneously state that their version of the ROM is corrupt.
Takara
Takara Co., Ltd. was a Japanese toy company founded in 1955, that merged with another prominent Japanese toy company, Tomy Co., Ltd., on March 1, 2006 to form Takara Tomy, also known in English as TOMY Company Ltd....
exclusively in Japan. It is based on the popular toyline Transformers. The game was made available on the Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
on June 10, 2008.
The game stars Autobot
Autobot
Autobot, a faction of sentient robots from the planet Cybertron, are usually the main protagonists in the fictional universe of the Transformers, a collection of various toys, graphic novels, paperback books, cartoons and movies first introduced in 1984. In all but one Transformer story, the...
protagonist Ultra Magnus. The box and cartridge label for the game reads Mystery of Comvoy. This would be a mis-romanization
Romanization
In linguistics, romanization or latinization is the representation of a written word or spoken speech with the Roman script, or a system for doing so, where the original word or language uses a different writing system . Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written...
of Convoy, the Japanese name for Optimus Prime. The titular Mystery is the identity of Optimus Prime's killer, as the 1986 film
The Transformers: The Movie
The Transformers: The Movie is a 1986 animated feature film based on the animated series of the same name. It was released in North America on August 8, 1986 and in the UK on December 5, 1986....
did not see a Japanese release for another four years. Thus, Optimus Prime's death was not adequately explained to the Japanese audience; this game was intended to capitalize on that gap.
It was also highly requested by many people to be featured in a DVD Special episode of the hit Japanese television show GameCenter CX (known outside of Japan as Retro Game Master
Retro Game Master
Retro Game Master, known in Japan as , is a Japanese television series where Shinya Arino, a member of comedy duo Yoiko, plays Japan's most popular video games and records his progress as he works through a time limit, usually lasting up to one day...
), which was seriously accepted by the show's staff. Tele Tele TV Magazine ran a contest in their December 1986 issue to win an exclusive limited edition silver plated cart of the game. Only 50 were made and given to the first of those 50 who sent in a postcard with their name, address and favorite Transformer. The only change to the game itself was an extra ® Registration to Takara 1987 over of the 1986 one.
Plot
Ironically, The Transformers: The Movie was initially released only in the Western market. The movie details the final epic battle between Optimus Prime and Megatron, during which Optimus sustained fatal injuries. As a result, he passes the Autobot Matrix of Leadership on to Ultra Magnus before passing away. The third season of the animated series picked up where the movie left off, and was aired in both the United States and Japan (where it was retitled Transformers 2010). However, since the movie was not yet released in Japan, the Japanese audience was left to wonder about the fate of Optimus Prime. This is the premise of the game, in which Ultra Magnus goes on a solo mission through various Decepticon strongholds to find out exactly what happened to Optimus.Gameplay
The player controls Ultra Magnus, who must shoot his way through 10 horizontally and vertically scrolling levels consisting of various DecepticonDecepticon
The Decepticons are usually depicted as the antagonists in the fictional universes of the Transformers stoyline and related comics and cartoons, and the enemies of the Autobots and the University of California Davis Aggies...
enemies, with a boss
Boss (video games)
A boss is an enemy-based challenge which is found in video games. A fight with a boss character is commonly referred to as a boss battle or boss fight...
fight at the end of each level. He can transform into a car carrier, which makes it easier for him to avoid enemy attacks, drive through narrow entrances and shoot enemies that are flying above him. Along the way, he can also pick up various power-ups which can give him wider ranging firepower or even the ability to fly. There are two Warp Zones
Warp zone
A warp zone is usually an area in a video game where players can go from one place or level to another. They are sometimes used as cheats and sometimes as ways to avoid too much walking...
within the game; they can be found by rescuing Bumblebee
Bumblebee (Transformers)
Bumblebee is the name of several fictional characters from the various Transformers universes. In most incarnations, Bumblebee is a small, yellow Autobot with the altmode of a compact car.- Transformers: Generation 1 :...
from the Decepticons.
The bosses for each level consist of mostly large Decepticon symbols, along with Megatron and Trypticon
Trypticon
Trypticon is a fictional character in the Transformers toyline.-Transformers: Generation 1:Trypticon is the Decepticons' principal command base. He has three modes: a city, a mobile battle station, and a Tyrannosaurus rex. In each mode, he has a variety of weapons...
(known in Japan as Dinosaurer).
Another playable character in the game is Rodimus Prime
Rodimus
Rodimus is the name of a fictional character from the various Transformers universes. Rodimus is a young Autobot and succesor to Optimus Prime. He was formerly known as Hot Rod, but was reformatted as Rodimus Prime by the Matrix of Leadership and became the leader of the Autobots...
, who can be unlocked by collecting the letters that spell Rodimus. One is hidden, sequentially, in levels 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 9. However, though his vehicle mode has its own graphics, his robot-mode sprite
Sprite (computer graphics)
In computer graphics, a sprite is a two-dimensional image or animation that is integrated into a larger scene...
is Ultra Magnus in Rodimus's palette.
Reception
Players noted that enemy projectiles moved rather quickly and often blended in with the background due to their small size. This resulted in frequent deaths and game overs because the game did not feature a life bar, checkpoints, or continues of any kind, other than a hidden input command on the game over screen before it reverts back to the title screen. The primary character (Ultra Magnus) dies after only a single hit or touch from enemy characters. The earliest enemies in the game are transforming Decepticon planes whose sprites measure shorter than the sprite used for Ultra Magnus' robot mode.Other criticisms addressed the primary character's shot pattern missing common enemies, not being able to crouch and shoot, and the time duration for transforming into Ultra Magnus's car carrier mode (many claiming that it left the player far too open to enemy fire). Because of these oversights, many gamers have trouble completing the first stage.
Along with poor graphics and level design, the game was poorly received and failed to see a Western release.
It is also notorious for being incredibly difficult to finish, as the 9th stage is a maze that must be completed in an unintuitive and specific pattern. If the player fails to follow the set pattern, the stage will loop infinitely. Because of this seemingly random element, many ROM sites erroneously state that their version of the ROM is corrupt.