Trivia / Transformers (2004)

• No Export for You: Despite being based on a Japanese-developed anime series and developed by an Australian studio, Takara had zero interest in distributing the game in Japan, partially due to the flop of their previous game on same platform.
• The Other Darrin: Despite being based on Transformers: Armada, Gary Chalk and David Kaye are the only ones to reprise their respective roles as Optimus and Megatron.
• What Could Have Been:
  • The original plans as seen in the in-game extras, had a very different version of the game. Firstly, Amazon and Deep Amazon were the same level, as were Antarctica and Alaska; Demolishor would have controlled the starship instead of Starscream. In addition to that, Mid Atlantic and Pacific Island base were also the same level, with Tidal Wave's minicon Ramjet harassing players throughout the level.
  • The same unlockable storyboards also show that changing characters was meant to be much more important, and that each character's weight actually affected the gameplay; "Light" character(s) would be the only ones to be able to jump certain gaps, cross damaged ruins and bridges, and collect Mini-cons blocked by quicksand (a mechanic completely ditched at some point). Meanwhile, "Heavy" character(s) could ram into pillars to create a makeshift bridges. Slippery driving surfaces only traversable by traction-heavy bots were also considered. In the final game, the three bots' weight only affects how heavy their movement is, and the game can be beaten without ever changing characters.
  • A prototype version of the game was discovered in September 2018. It includes a fully playable early version of Amazon with only minor changes and an extremely glitchy version of Antarctica. The Amazon level includes armed hoverbikes, usable by both the player and enemies. It's files include unused music such as this ^note This piece of music is taken straight from Activision's "Heavy Gear" game and this and brief introductions to each level (sans Alaska and Cybertron, which are just static). What's cool about these is that Amazon and Deep Amazon were indeed the same level, as the camera flies around the first level before suddenly heading into the wilderness, only to reach the temple where you fight Cyclonus in the final game. Tidal Wave is seen in a sunny setting used in the final game's Pacific island, although the prototype PI level itself was to take place in sunset. Alaska is called "Green" in the files of both the final game and the prototype, leading some to speculate that it was Greenland in some versions of the game.
  • An even earlier version of the game was even more different, as can be seen here. Noticeably, Hot Shot can use Jolt to glide and boost, implying that the powerlinx system was actually useful.
  • The game was also planned to have had a sequel based upon Transformers: Cybertron, which was a few months into development, but then Atari moved the studio onto another project, which cancelled the sequel.
  • Scavenger and Smokescreen were supposed to be playable but were cut before much work was done with them. Jetfire was planned as well but his ability to turn into a jet would have made levels too easy and he was cut.
  • Scrapped Mini-Cons including Bug-Out who would have summoned an Emergency Warp Gate and Endgame who can shoot a chargeable black hole and nameless ones who had abilities like an upgraded Energon boost and others like "Energon Whip" and "Cold Projector".
  • A series of transmissions:
  • The first ones detail where the other Autobots (Scavenger, Smokescreen, Jetfire, Blurr, and Side Swipe) were. They were investigating where Megatron got the cloning technology from, discovering Megatron cut a deal with the Junkions to get "Hyper Cloning Power Technology". Smokescreen, Jetfire and Side Swipe would have headed to Junkion to investigate, discovering the Decepticons had destroyed the planet and the three Autobots barely escape when Unicron arrives and tears the place to shreds.
  • Megatron bantering with his troops and Sideways would have made an audio cameo to threaten an unconcerned Megatron on behalf of Unicron.
  • A stinger of Megatron declaring "I still function!" as a Sequel Hook.
  • The disc has hidden files depicting an earlier story. This one is an alternate version of the cartoon but the writers hadn't seen the cartoon, leading to a lot of different things like Scavenger being a Decepticon who defected to the Autobots after being mistreated by Megatron one too many times and includes the Autobots who show up in the deleted transmissions and Rad, Carlos and Alexis Thi Dang. This game would have had more of a focus on story and many more levels with different goals. In addition, Megatron is the final boss. It was cut once the staff found out more about the cartoon and it would have been very expensive to make in CGI.
  • Easy and Turbo modes were cut with specific things planned to be unlocked via completing the game through Turbo mode.
  • The ability to select a pre-made Mini-Con team to swap to via pause menu consisting of "Standard Team", "Vision Team", "Stealth Team", "Double Dash Team" and "Electric Team".
• Working Title: Early promotional material referred to the game as "Prelude To Energon", but the game was ultimately released as just "Transformers".

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