Transformers: Mystery of Convoy

Transformers: Mystery of Convoy[lower-alpha 1] is a 1986 video game developed by ISCO and published by Takara in Japan for the Famicom. It is based on the Transformers toyline.[1] The game was made available on the Wii's Virtual Console service on June 10, 2008.[2]

Transformers: Mystery of Convoy
Developer(s)ISCO
Publisher(s)Takara
Programmer(s)Hiroshi Okamoto
SeriesTransformers
Platform(s)Family Computer
Release
  • JP: December 5, 1986 (1986-12-05)
Genre(s)Run and gun
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

The game stars Autobot protagonist Ultra Magnus. The titular Mystery is the identity of Optimus Prime's (referred to in the title as "Convoy") 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.

Gameplay

The player controls Ultra Magnus, who must shoot his way through 10 horizontally and vertically scrolling levels consisting of various Decepticon 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 in different color palettes. The only Deceptions Ultra Magnus actually fights are Megatron, who for unexplained reasons is the penultimate boss, and Trypticon (known in Japan as Dinosaurer), the final boss.[3]

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 media
Other The Transformers: Mystery of Convoy media
Anime television series
Q Transformers: Return of the Mystery of Convoy
Directed byKōtarō Ishidate
Written byKōtarō Ishidate
Music byHajime (from LiLi)
Jiro (from LiLi)
StudioDLE
Original networkTokyo MX, Niconico, YouTube
Original run January 6, 2015 – March 31, 2015
Episodes13
Anime television series
Q Transformers: Saranaru Ninkimono e no Michi
Directed byKōtarō Ishidate
Written byKōtarō Ishidate
Music byHajime (from LiLi)
Jiro (from LiLi)
StudioDLE
Original networkTokyo MX, Niconico, YouTube
Original run July 6, 2015 – October 1, 2015
Episodes13

Anime

In collaboration with the 30th anniversary of Transfomers, as well as the 35th anniversary of Choro-Q, a flash anime adaptation of the game, produced by DLE, titled Q Transformers: Return of the Mystery of Convoy (キュートランスフォーマー 帰ってきたコンボイの謎, Kyū Toransufōmā Kaettekita Konboi no Nazo), began airing in Japan on January 6, 2015. [4] The opening theme is "physical" by Oldcodex.[5] A second season titled Q Transformers: Saranaru Ninkimono e no Michi (キュートランスフォーマー さらなる人気者への道) premiered in Japan on July 6, 2015. The ending themes of the second season are "Destiny ~ 400 Man-nen Mae Kara Itoshi teru" (~DESTINY～400万年前から愛してる～) by Yoshimasa Hosoya and "SHOCK ~ Kono Omoi wa Hikari no Yōni ~" (SHOCK～この想いは光のように～) by Kaito Ishikawa.[6]

Voice actors and characters
Main characters
Supporting characters

Smartphone app

The studio DLE also produced a smartphone app, titled Q Transformers: Return of the Mystery of Convoy (キュートランスフォーマー 帰ってきたコンボイの謎, Kyū Toransufōmā Kaettekita Konboi no Nazo), which was released for iOS and Android devices in August 2014.[4] This was a remake of the original game using Q Transformers Optimus Prime and Bumblebee as playable characters instead of Ultra Magnus and Rodimus Prime. Like the original, it is quite difficult but serves as an endless runner game instead of the platformer style of the original. This was a Japanese app store exclusive, but the servers have been shut down since its release.[7]

Reception

Transformers: Mystery of Convoy is known for its high difficulty level and poor stage design, resulting in a largely negative reception both at release and retrospectively.[8][9][10] 1UP.com called it the "perfect example of a shameless tie-in." They criticized the game for its high level of difficulty, the game's implementation of the transforming ability and how the ninth stage loops infinitely unless a specific pattern is followed.[3]

Notes
  1. Japanese: 戦え! 超ロボット生命体トランスフォーマー コンボイの謎(ナゾ), Hepburn: Tatakae! Chō Robotto Seimeitai Toransufōmā: Konboi no Nazo, lit. "Fight! Super Robot Life-Form Transformers: Mystery of Convoy"

References
  1. 『トランスフォーマー・コンボイの謎』でレッツトラウマ [Let's trauma in Transformers: Mystery of Convoy] (in Japanese). Takara Tomy. June 6, 2008. Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
  2. "VC トランスフォーマー コンボイの謎" [Virtual Console - Transformers: Mystery of Convoy] (in Japanese). Nintendo. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
  3. Oxford, Nadia (March 7, 2007). "Robots in Disgust". 1UP.com. IGN Entertainment. p. 2. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2014.
  4. "1986 Game Transformers: Mystery of Convoy Gets TV Anime". June 5, 2023.
  5. "Q Transformers TV Anime's Opening Sequence Streamed with OLDCODEX". June 5, 2023.
  6. "Animate.tv - animate Resources and Information".
  7. "Transformers NES game returns as Q Transformers: Mystery of the Returned Convoy on iOS and Android".
  8. "5月10日号特別付録 ファミコンロムカセット オールカタログ" (in Japanese). Vol. 7, no. 9. Tokuma Shoten. Family Computer Magazine. May 10, 1991. p. 82.
  9. Lambie, Ryan (February 13, 2018). "Transformers: Mystery of Convoy Might be the Most Cynical Licensed Video Game Ever Made". Den of Geek. Den of Geek World. Archived from the original on June 7, 2020.
  10. Retro Gamer Staff (February 11, 2010). "Transformers: Convoy no Nazo (Transformers: Mystery of Convoy)". Retro Gamer. Imagine Publishing. Archived from the original on September 13, 2015. Retrieved October 26, 2020.
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