History VideoGame / Transformers2004

** Optimus's words that "Unicron must be stopped, no matter the cost!" are a direct reference to what G1 Optimus said before fighting Megatron the animated movie.

Despite a few bugging criticisms, like somewhat repetitive game-play, the small roster of characters and sometimes high difficulty level, the game was very well received by both fans and critics alike and, until ''VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron'' was released, was often considered to be the best Transformers game made. It also became one of the highest-selling games on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, ranking as the 6th highest selling game at the time.

* CloningBlues: The new army the Decepticons use in the game are called Decepticlones.

A {{video game}} based on the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' franchise, originally promoted under the title ''Transformers Armada: Prelude to Energon''. Released in 2004 and developed by the UsefulNotes/{{Australia}}n UsefulNotes/{{Melbourne}} House team, the game is a third-person shooter, specifically based upon the ''Anime/TransformersArmada'' series, but not taking place within the same continuity. The basic premise is quite simple and not that different from the show; after fleeing the Autobot/Decepticon war on Cybertron, the Mini-cons are located one million years later. Knowing that they could help turn the tide of the war, both factions head to Earth in order to retrieve them. The player has the opportunity to take control of one of three Autobots; Optimus Prime, Hot Shot and Red Alert, as they explore the many environments across the world searching for Mini-cons. Along the way, they meet opposition from the Decepticons. Once found, the Mini-cons can upgrade the abilities of the Autobots and be manually assigned by the player to mix-and-match a whole set of firepower or defensive capabilities.

A {{video game}} based on the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' franchise, originally promoted under the title ''Transformers Armada: Prelude to Energon''. Released in 2004 and developed by the UsefulNotes/{{Australia}}n UsefulNotes/{{Melbourne}} House team, the game is a third-person shooter, specifically based upon the ''Anime/TransformersArmada'' series, but not taking place within the same continuity. The basic premise is quite simple and not that indifferent from the show; after fleeing the Autobot/Decepticon war on Cybertron, the Mini-cons are located one million years later. Knowing that they could help turn the tide of the war, both factions head to Earth in order to retrieve them. The player has the opportunity to take control of one of three Autobots; Optimus Prime, Hot Shot and Red Alert, as they explore the many environments across the world searching for Mini-cons. Along the way, they meet opposition from the Decepticons. Once found, the Mini-cons can upgrade the abilities of the Autobots and be manually assigned by the player to mix-and-match a whole set of firepower or defensive capabilities.

Despite a few bugging criticisms, like somewhat repetitive game-play, the small roster of characters and sometimes high difficulty level, the game was very well received by both fans and critics alike and until ''[[VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'' was released, was often considered to be the best Transformers game made. It also became one of the highest-selling games on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, ranking as the 6th highest selling game at the time.

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent:
** Alaska and [[spoiler:Starscream's ship]] ditch the WideOpenSandbox approach of the previous levels and are instead fairly linear, maze-like levels where it takes some effort to figure out where you're even going. They also focus more on platforming elements than the other levels. That said, Alaska still has some free-roaming aspects with one large explorable area at the start of the level.
** [[spoiler:Cybertron ''completely'' ditches the gameplay mechanics of the main campaign and is instead a TimedMission where you fly around on Cybertron's orbit and attack Unicron's weak point]].

* AdaptationDistillation

** Unicron's FamousLastWords in the game upon being destroyed are the exact same words he uttered upon being destroyed in the original film; "Destiny... You cannot... Destroy... my destiny!"

-->'''Megatron''': [[FamousLastWords Oh Prime, you don’t even know when you’ve won.]]

[[caption-width-right:300:''[[Creator/GaryChalk Yeah, that's me.]] [[HowWeGotHere You may be wondering how I got here,]] [[InterestingSituationDuel receiving a flying pile-driver from three miles up into an active volcano from my nemesis.]] [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQq1XSjo7_Y Well, I'd like to think it all started back in high school...]]'']]

* FrickinLaserBeams: One of Tidal Wave's attacks.

A video game based on the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' franchise, originally promoted under the title ''Transformers Armada: Prelude to Energon''. Released in 2004 and developed by the UsefulNotes/{{Australia}}n UsefulNotes/{{Melbourne}} House team, the game is a third-person shooter, specifically based upon the ''Anime/TransformersArmada'' series, but not taking place within the same continuity. The basic premise is quite simple and not that indifferent from the show; after fleeing the Autobot/Decepticon war on Cybertron, the Mini-cons are located one million years later. Knowing that they could help turn the tide of the war, both factions head to Earth in order to retrieve them. The player has the opportunity to take control of one of three Autobots; Optimus Prime, Hot Shot and Red Alert, as they explore the many environments across the world searching for Mini-cons. Along the way, they meet opposition from the Decepticons. Once found, the Mini-cons can upgrade the abilities of the Autobots and be manually assigned by the player to mix-and-match a whole set of firepower or defensive capabilities.

Despite a few bugging criticisms, like somewhat repetitive gameplay, the small roster of characters and sometimes high difficulty level, the game was very well received by both fans and critics alike and until ''[[VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron Transformers: War for Cybertron]]'' was released, was often considered to be the best Transformers game made. It also became one of the highest-selling games on the UsefulNotes/PlayStation2, ranking as the 6th highest selling game at the time.

* AndKnowingIsHalfTheBattle: You can actually unlock un-aired [=PSAs=] from the G1 series, complete with the Trope Naming CatchPhrase.

** In one of the opening cut scenes, upon Optimus Prime's seeming defeat and the Decepticon victory over conquering Cybertron, Megatron gloats to a helpless Optimus "I would have waited an eternity for this. It's over, Prime!" - The same line [[Franchise/TransformersGeneration1 the original Megatron]] uttered when he seemingly defeated his Optimus.
** When he first shows up, Starscream tells you to "Prepare for extermination!" - A line most famously used by G1 Devastator.

* Anti-FrustrationFeatures: Before being allowed to fight Unicron, the player will need to have rescued a certain amount of minicons on Earth. If the player simply drove past every encounter to speed-run through levels without picking up many minicons, this obviously would suck pretty badly when you look back and see you only have about 10 out of a necessary 30 (40 on the highest difficulty). Thankfully, the last level on Earth has a minicon that helps you find the rest much more easily.

* Anti-Frustration Features: Before being allowed to fight Unicron, the player will need to have rescued a certain amount of minicons on Earth. If the player simply drove past every encounter to speed-run through levels without picking up many minicons, this obviously would suck pretty badly when you look back and see you only have about 10 out of a necessary 30 (40 on the highest difficulty). Thankfully, the last level on Earth has a minicon that helps you find the rest much more easily.

* Unexpected Gameplay Change: The final boss of the game involves the player flying all over Cybertron trying to blast Unicron from within: nothing like the rest of the game which was a grounded third-person shooter.

A video game based on the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' franchise, simply known as '''''Transformers'''''. Released in 2004 and developed by the UsefulNotes/{{Australia}}n UsefulNotes/{{Melbourne}} House team, the game is a third-person shooter, specifically based upon the ''Anime/TransformersArmada'' series, but not taking place within the same continuity. The basic premise is quite simple and not that indifferent from the show; after fleeing the Autobot/Decepticon war on Cybertron, the Mini-cons are located one million years later. Knowing that they could help turn the tide of the war, both factions head to Earth in order to retrieve them. The player has the opportunity to take control of one of three Autobots; Optimus Prime, Hot Shot and Red Alert, as they explore the many environments across the world searching for Mini-cons. Along the way, they meet opposition from the Decepticons. Once found, the Mini-cons can upgrade the abilities of the Autobots and be manually assigned by the player to mix-and-match a whole set of firepower or defensive capabilities.

* DegradedBoss: The Heavy Unit is the FirstBoss of the game, and a GiantMook thereafter.

[[redirect:VideoGame/TransformersPreludeToEnergon]]