History VideoGame / TransformersFallOfCybertron

* OminousLatinChanting: Heard in the main menu and throughout the game. It pumps up the epicness UpToEleven.

* SoulBrotha: As usual, Jazz speaks like an African-American man, similar to Creator/ScatmanCrothers in [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers the original cartoon]].

* TheStarscream: Starscream as usual, [[spoiler:after Megatron is seemingly killed by Metroplex]]. There's also an achievement and chapter called 'Starscream's Betrayal'.

* SuicidalOverconfidence:
** [[spoiler:Yes, Megatron, stand and fight the city-sized Autobot under the command of the guy you just insulted and berated. See how well that works. You at least went for bigger weapons when fighting Omega Supreme.]]
** Starscream doesn't think much of the Combaticons' reports on the carrier's weaponry and orders a full assault regardless. This ends badly for his air forces and the Combaticons are forced to bail them out.
* SummonBiggerFish: With the Autobots in very limited numbers, Optimus has one chance to hold off the Decepticons and thus activates Metroplex, a city-sized Autobot that single-handily balances out the battle.

* TakingTheBullet: [[spoiler:Bumblebee takes a blast from Megatron that was meant for Optimus. Cue Optimus going to town on Megatron.]]

** [[spoiler:Metroplex killing Megatron. Megatron was still alive after the first punch, but the third and fourth seem a bit much, which is not to say that he didn't deserve it. And despite that, Soundwave still managed to fix him, though he did say he had to use a bunch of new parts.]]

* TookALevelInDumbass: Brawl was an effective field commander in the previous game, to the point where he had more in common with Onslaught than the typical dumb killing machine his incarnations usually are. However, probably because of the actual Onslaught's debut, Brawl is demoted to being a simple bruiser, if one who's very good at warfare, back in line with how he's always portrayed.
* TooPowerfulToLive: [[spoiler: Metroplex, literally. With Energon in such short supply, just activating him leaves the Ark without enough power to be launched, much less make it to another world. In the end, he gives up his Energon to power the Ark.]]

* UnstoppableRage:
** Grimlock is this by default. [[spoiler:Also, Optimus does not take Megatron nearly killing Bumblebee very well.]]
** When Megatron [[spoiler:is rebuilt]] and discovers that Starscream has taken over, he is ''not'' amused.

* VocalEvolution: Creator/GreggBerger reprises his role of Grimlock from G1. The main difference is that Grimlock's characterization is more along the line of the "Shrewd mind behind brutish mannerisms" comics characterization.

* WeCanRebuildHim: Both [[spoiler: Megatron and Trypticon]].

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: In-universe; [[spoiler:Shockwave did have designs for Sludge's Dinobot form. But he probably perished during the Insecticon attack. So we only get to see his new form in the ending credits and official artwork]].

** If you fire at Metroplex, it prompts him to say this:
--->'''Metroplex:''' Why do you fire at me?
** Alternatively, he says, "If you want my attention, Optimus, simply ask."

* YouHaveFailedMe: [[spoiler:Megatron states that a combination of this and failing to stop the Autobots despite his immense power is why he salvages Trypticon to build the ''Nemesis''.]]

* ZergRush: The Insecticons' main attack strategy.

* OminousWalk: Rare case from a non-villain, Grimlock, in dino form, does this, slowly walking towards a terrified [[spoiler:Sharpshot]] before dismembering him.

* OneManArmy:
** Metroplex, who takes on the entire Decepticon army and hands them their skidplates on a silver platter. Definitely justified, this being a rare case in which the one man is ''literally'' the size of an army.
** More traditionally, Grimlock proves to be next to unstoppable in his missions. Especially when he shifts into [[SuperMode beast mode]]. When Cliffjumper and Jazz find a huge room littered with Decepticon parts and debris, they immediately recognize it as Grimlock's doing.
** Bruticus, who is probably the strongest playable character in the game.

* OnlySaneMan: Onslaught, and to a lesser extent the other Combaticons, take this role during Starscream's reign.

* PointyHairedBoss: When Starscream takes charge, he leads a mission to recapture Energon the Autobots jacked from the Sea of Rust. Onslaught devises most of the plan and the Combaticons put it into motion. Then, Onslaught discovers the transport system has too many air defenses for an air assault to do anything, and advises calling off the attack. Starscream calls him a coward and sends in the troops, who promptly get slaughtered. Onslaught salvages the mission with just his 5-bot team and manages to get away with at least half of the Energon. Starscream blames him for the "failure", [[ItMakesSenseInContext as half the Energon was destroyed when they brought down the transport]], and Onslaught [[CaptainObvious points out the Autobots would have gotten all of it if his team followed Starscream's orders]]. Starscream has him and the other Combaticons arrested for insulting him. (In comparison, Megatron would have likely executed them on the spot for such insubordination, but then Megatron probably wouldn't have found himself in that situation to begin with.)
* PressXToNotDie: At the end of Chapter 3. [[spoiler: Metroplex walks up behind Megatron's apparent triumph. The entire back wall is torn out, and the METROPLEX ONLINE message appears. A few moments later, Megatron is flattened by Metroplex's massive fist, and a QTE prompt comes up, allowing you to continue the pounding]]:

** Certain members indeed. In the second trailer, Swoop and Slug have blue eyes. The latter case is ''very'' interesting, since he's traditionally one of the most aggressive. (Grimlock has red in both modes, as if his sheer size wasn't enough.)
** Not to mention Metroplex's eyes glow red. But with him, that's not so much the real warning. Him transforming at ''all'' is the real warning in and of itself.

* RememberTheNewGuy:
** All of the new Transformers introduced are treated as if they've been in the war since the beginning of the first game despite not being mentioned at all. Justified, as it's a planet-wide war that's been going on for generations and they would've most likely seen a lot of fight somewhere off-screen.
** Metroplex is the exception, seeing as he spent all of his time before this game as a city with no one the wiser. The Autobots are just as surprised by and in awe of him as the Decepticons - probably even a little afraid of him at first, as a few of them express relief that he's on their side.
* ReplacementScrappy: Starscream is this in-universe for the Decepticons [[spoiler: after Megatron is killed by Metroplex]], with them getting sick of him after literally ''less than a week'' (between the first mission and the final mission, in-game calendar advances only 6 Earth days). During chapter 9 [[spoiler:after Megatron sends him running scared]], talking to the other Decepticons (notably the Combaticons), they'll go into how much they hated him, with Brawl saying he wanted to smash Starscream's statue the moment he saw it built.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: Aside from rescuing his fellow Dinobots, this is pretty much the gist of Grimlock's missions. His targets? Shockwave and the Insecticons.

* SceneryGorn: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-huDrDiMwJU The World Premiere]] trailer.
** And the 2nd cinematic trailer, and Iacon.
** Iacon is all this since the Autobots lack the ability to maintain it and the Decepticon attacks have leveled most it.

* SequelHook: The game ends [[spoiler: with both the Ark and the Nemesis falling into the portal, with a line from Optimus' opening dialogue with Bumblebee being repeated: "Whatever lies beyond that portal is our best - and last - hope."]]

* ShapeShifterBaggage: The Combaticons get at least twice as large when they combine into Bruticus. [[spoiler:Trypticon is slightly smaller than the Ark when he is turned into the Nemesis. Oddly enough, it's his dinosaur mode that is the one that removes baggage, as his station form in ''War'' was that size.]]
** Most of the Dinobots are a good deal bigger in dino mode than robot mode. You can actually see Slug grow bigger when transforms.

* ItsAllAboutMe:
** Megatron has an ego the size of a mountain. He seems totally convinced that he and only he can restore Cybertron and lead the Decepticons. Given Starscream's rule, he might be right about the latter at least.
** Starscream manages to be a bigger case. He doesn't even bother to hide that doesn't care about the fate of Cybertron, or indeed anything but himself.

* LargeHam:
** Megatron, as usual.
** Starscream, to a lesser extent.
** Grimlock especially. His method of transformation? First, he roars at the sky, then he pounds his fists into the ground. This is after he makes slag out of his opponents.
** '''"Metroplex heeds the call of the last Prime!"'''
* LeeroyJenkins:
** A minor example, as they never actually mess anything up (aside from getting captured by Shockwave), but the Dinobots, sans Grimlock, have a tendency to charge forward without much regard for the dangers ahead (though to be fair, they are capable of handling a lot) while Grimlock yells at them to wait up.
** Cliffjumper displays a few shades of this when playing as Jazz, [[spoiler:most notably when trying to off Shockwave in the middle of his conversation with Megatron with no plan whatsoever]].
** Starscream refuses to listen to Onslaught's warning about the Energon transport being armed with heavy artillery, and charges headlong into battle with the rest of the Decepticons forces. They get their skidplates handed to them, leaving Onslaught and the Combaticons to salvage the mission.

* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe:
** Grimlock is seen with a ''huge'' one that's as tall as him, which renders most attacks harmless.
** Bruticus uses the rotor of Vortex's alt-mode as one. Doubles as a HelicopterBlender. And this will protect him from anything that hits him.
** During the last boss fight, Optimus and Megatron will both use one, which can break, but they can pull out a new one if that happens.

* MadScientist: Shockwave, who's responsible for giving the Dinobots their dinosaur alt-modes and mutating the subterranean Insecticon creatures to make them even deadlier.

* MilkingTheGiantCow: Megatron curls his fingers while telling [[spoiler:Trypticon]] his fate.
* MookHorrorShow:
** Starscream's level has him taking out Shockwave's minions while cloaked. To some extent, Cliffjumper's as well. You can also hear the absolute terror the Autobots have when it turns out that Megatron [[spoiler:is alive again, which he takes much joy from]] and when playing as Bruticus. Some of Grimlock's enemies simply cut and run while trying to avoid him likes he's a mechanical mini-Godzilla.
** Not only do some of Grimlock's enemies run in fear of him, or even cower in place, [[spoiler:his revenge on Sharpshot plays out like something out of ''Franchise/JurassicPark''. Not that Sharpshot didn't deserve it.]]

* NeverMyFault:
** Despite being the main reason for the loss of a large amount of Decepticon forces and the failure of a huge operation, Starscream doesn't take the blame for doing so and blames the Combaticons (who were the ones who bailed said operation out and clean up after Starscream) by tossing them into jail for insubordination.
** Megatron considers Cybertron's state of shutdown all Optimus's fault, saying that he's stopped him from returning Cybertron to its natural state when he stopped the Core's corruption from Dark Energon. Already an absurd statement [[spoiler:which is even more absurd when Dark Energon literally is Unicron's blood]].
* NiceJobFixingItVillain:
** Starscream [[spoiler: is the one responsible for freeing Grimlock from Shockwave's restraints]].
** [[spoiler: Arguably, Shockwave for turning Grimlock and his team into Dinobots in the first place.]]

* BigCreepyCrawlies: The Insecticons make an appearance in hordes. They're bigger than scout sized characters and creepy as hell.
** There's one variety called Bruisers that's bigger than Grimlock's robot mode.

* BreathWeapon: Grimlock breaths fire in his T-rex mode.

** [[spoiler: When Megatron is BackFromTheDead and crashes Starscream's coronation, some of the attending Decepticons are stupid enough to actually try and fight him. Eventually they take a hint and leave Starscream when they see him for the coward he is.]]
** Also, just about anyone trying to fight Metroplex is effectively performing this trope. It takes an enormous cannon to take him down, and even then only temporarily.

* TheChainsOfCommanding: Optimus Prime clearly feels the weight of the responsibility on his shoulders. His refusal to yield to Megatron was the right choice, but one can't help but hear the weariness in his voice when he walks through Autobase and other Autobots speak to him. He even has to put one of his badly wounded soldiers into involuntary stasis, despite the soldier pleading that he can still fight.

* InMediasRes[=/=]ColdOpen: The game begins at the very end, when the Decepticons aboard the Nemesis attack the Ark, as seen from the eyes of Bumblebee. The rest of the game shows the events building up to that point; the events Final Chapter shows what was happening on the Ark while Bumblebee was trying to get to Optimus.

* CombatPragmatist: Possibly in reference to his ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' incarnation, Starscream can stick a bomb onto enemies when they aren't looking. Or [[GroinAttack kick them in the robo-nads]] while they aren't looking, then stick a bomb onto them once they ''are'' looking.

* ConservationOfNinjutsu: Grimlock and his team (pre-Dinobot forms) vs the Insecticons; they got thrashed, though we don't know how many of them there were or what the other parts of the battle were like. Later, while searching for his team, he tore them a new one. Jazz and Cliffjumper can fight off the Insecticons that captured Grimlock's team. Justified because they were partly informed by Sludge's memory banks, and Grimlock was made a lot stronger by Shockwave, and Jazz and Cliffjumper just made a run for it.
** And of course when the player takes control of Grimlock, he single-handedly lays waste to a small army of them.

* CruelMercy: [[spoiler:Megatron recovers Trypticon, only to berate him for his failures and convert him into the ''Nemesis'' as "atonement". It's noted by Soundwave that with the damage Trypticon's taken, the change would be permanent. Keep in mind, in Megatron's opinion, this is actually an act of compassion, because he's giving Trypticon a chance to atone, considering what he usually does if somebody displeases him.]]

** [[spoiler:Shortly before the final battle, Optimus Prime briefly [[OOCIsSeriousBusiness loses his temper and threatens to kill Megatron]], after the latter almost kills Bumblebee.]]
** [[spoiler:It has an outright DownerEnding that leaves the fates of several characters deliberately ambiguous.]]

* DisneyDeath: [[spoiler:Megatron, who gets pummeled by Metroplex early on in the game. A few levels later, he's rebuilt by Soundwave.]]

** Both Megatron and Grimlock instil fear on all they see. Megatron, for instance, is resurrected and stalks past some prison cells under Kaon's gladiatorial pits and the Autobots imprisoned there panic upon seeing him alive, one even tells his comrades that they need to inform Optimus. Grimlock's sheer strength terrifies the 'cons working at Shockwave's new tower. You can even make sure they remember the terror Grimlock brings, by having him slaughter as many as you see.

* DumbMuscle: Grimlock, although it's specified that it's mostly just a difficulty with talking. Due to Shockwave's modifications, 98.7% of his power is dedicated to his combat systems, leaving very little for other functions. He's certainly filled with rage, though Optimus implies he's always like that, but he proves to be fairly clever at times.

* EmergencyTransformation: [[spoiler:Megatron starts out with his design from the previous game, but after Metroplex wrecks him, Soundwave and his minions rebuild him, taking the liberty of making some improvements in the process.]]

* GameplayAndStorySegregation: Megatron when used the FinalBoss fight pulls his [[{{BFG}} Riot Cannon]] out during a QuickTimeEvent, which during actual gameplay in the fight he can't use.

* GeneralFailure: Starscream can't come up with any strategy other than "AttackAttackAttack", which nearly costs them the mission to recapture Energon. Even worse, he doesn't even have a long term plan to defeat the Autobots beyond trying to hold onto a supply of Energon that, according to Megatron, he wasted most of. He also thought that using the space bridge was a waste of time and energy, even after he found out that it would lead to another energy-rich planet. He uses resources to fill Kaon with statues of himself and constantly broadcast needlessly long speeches where he admires himself that the {{mooks}} imply happen routinely. Even Megatron considers this a waste, though that's arguably hypocritical (though ''his'' propaganda in ''[[VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron War For Cybertron]]'' was intended to demoralize and bully the Autobots into surrender).

* GrievousHarmWithABody: Grimlock's only projectile attack is to grab enemies or objects, then throw them.
* GroinAttack: One of Starscream's animations for stealth-killing an enemy is to kick them between the legs and attach a bomb to them.
* {{Hammerspace}}:
** Grimlock's transformation into a T-Rex borrows from his G1 transformation, with his arms turning into the T-rex's legs and his legs in robot mode forming the tail. However, he has some bits of this with his tail, head and T-rex body. Partially RuleOfCool, but mostly because the designers wanted to make sure the design doesn't block the player's view during gameplay (they noted that if they copied the G1 design too much, all the player would see of Grimlock while controlling him is his back).
** Several levels have places where playable characters plant "detpaks" about the size of their torso. They were not previously visible anywhere on the character's person. In the final battle Megatron and Optimus will pull out a shield, which can be destroyed by damage, but for each "round" of the fight they'll pull another one out of nowhere.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Metroplex willingly transfers all the power he had left so that the Autobots can power the Ark and try to beat the Decepticons to the space portal to Earth.]]
* HoistByHisOwnPetard: The one getting hoisted? [[spoiler: Shockwave.]] The petard? [[spoiler: Grimlock]], whom he personally rebuilt.
* HorrorHunger: The Insecticons. Shockwave's logs say they can eat nearly anything, audio logs from an anonymous Decepticon outright terrified of them because of it thinking they'll turn on them, and come chapter XII, they do, going wild and attacking the Decepticons as well as Grimlock. During that chapter a bit chatter coming from them can heard, all of it regarding Grimlock as a meal.

* AdvertisedExtra: Bumblebee appears on the cover, but he has an extremely minor, non-speaking role in the game.
* AFatherToHisMen: As always with Optimus. It shows with Bumblebee in the first trailer and hinted at in-game with the other Autobot soldiers.

* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler:Shockwave loses his left arm, courtesy of Grimlock ripping it out and ''eating it'']].
* ArmCannon: As a nod to ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', Optimus shifts his hand into a gun similar in appearance to what he uses in the series, only [[{{BFG}} much larger]].

* AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever:
** Bruticus is much bigger than he should be, meaning, as Matt Tieger put it, enemies that are your size before are just a minor hindrance.
** On the Autobots' side, we have Metroplex, a transforming ''city''. Optimus Prime's special ability is to call down attacks from Metroplex, who can often be seen walking around in the background of stages.
* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking:
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXCI791NxOc&feature=g-u-u This interview]] pretty much says that some level designing was devoted specifically to making Optimus this and is why calling on Metroplex is his special ability. If a huge, immensely powerful city-sized Transformer will obey Optimus Prime's every command, he must be badass.
** On the Decepticon side, Megatron has a healthy dose of this. [[spoiler: He kicks the ass of the half of his army that thought it was a good idea to stick with Starscream after Megatron is rebuilt.]]
* AxCrazy:
** Grimlock is implied to be a borderline case at the very least, even before he became a Dinobot. Specifically in the first mission after the prologue, if you go into Grimlock's room, you can open his locker to find a cache of severed Decepticon heads. After that little reveal, Optimus states that Grimlock's anger issues make him a danger to his fellow Autobots as well as the Decepticons.
** Kickback and Sharpshot, the latter devolving into outright sadism.

* {{BFS}}: Grimlock's main weapon.
* BerserkButton: Don't hurt Grimlock's team, especially right in front of him. It'll be the last thing you ever do.
* TheBerserker: Grimlock, after his...operations...is very angry with a lot of things and his ability to use his T-Rex mode is, plotwise, triggered by him getting ''very'' angry.
* BigBadWannabe: Starscream wants to be leader not because he's a better leader or commander, but just for the sake of being the leader. At first, Onslaught puts up with him, devising the plans, but letting Starscream take credit for them. Later on, when Starscream proves just how incompetent he is not only as a commander, but as a leader, Onslaught calls him out on it in complete and utter disgust.

* ExtremeMeleeRevenge: Grimlock killing Sharpshot, where he bites but doesn't completely crush him, thrashes him around breaking his left leg off, slams him into the ground, and then stomps on him. This was after he had been taunting him the whole level, then tortured and nearly killed Grimlock's teammate Snarl right in front of him. [[spoiler: There's also his attack on Shockwave, where he tears Shockwave's arm off and then smashes him with his tail.]]

*** Right before Grimlock kills Sharpshot, we also get a shot from the inside of Grimlock's mouth like during one shot from the movie. Difference here is that the Sharkticon he tried biting ran away, Sharpshot doesn't get away.

* OminousWalk: Rare case from a non-villain, Grimlock, in dino form, does this, slowly walking towards a terrified Sharpshot before dismembering him.

* AnArmAndALeg: [[spoiler:Shockwave, courtesy of Grimlock]].

%%* AutobotsRockOut

%%* BadassCrew: The Combaticons and the Dinobots.

%%* DarkestHour: Pretty much where the game starts off.

%%** Both Megatron and Grimlock.

%%** Cliffjumper displays a few shades of this when playing as Jazz.

* MadScientist: Shockwave, who's responsible for giving the Dinobots their dinosaur altmodes and mutating the subterranean Insecticon creatures to make them even deadlier.

-->'''Optimus Prime''': "After eons of conflict, I finally see the truth of your words, Megatron."
-->'''Megatron''': "And what might that be, Optimus?"
-->'''Optimus Prime''': "This universe, no matter how vast, will never be big enough for you and I to coexist!"

%%* SoulBrotha: As usual, Jazz.

--->'''Mook 1:''' "Hey- you hear about Starscream?"\\
'''Mook 2:''' "Hah! That idiot finally got what's coming to him!"\\
'''Starscream:''' "Do tell."

** Subverted with Omega Supreme. While there is no mention of him in the game, collecting an audio log reveals that [[spoiler: he was so heavily damaged from his last battle that he was in permanent stasis]].

* MoralDissonance: Jazz finds [[spoiler:Sludge still alive, but in stasis lock]]. He indicates that he'll come back for him once his mission is complete. Later, he [[spoiler:floods the area, leaving no survivors left inside; later dialog with Swoop implies Sludge was, in fact, left behind and died]]. What's really odd about it is that neither Jazz ''nor'' Cliffjumper seemed all that bothered by leaving one of there own behind to die. They don't even mention his name after the section where they find him in stasis.

[[caption-width-right:250:The Beginning of the Fall.]]

** Look closely in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1N91LyATF0 Metroplex trailer]] towards the end. While most of the Decepticons are [[OhCrap running for their lives]], a couple simply stand there in awe of Metroplex before being obliterated.

* BottomlessPitRescueService: If Jazz or Swindle fall into a pit in robot mode, the use their GrapplingHookPistol to get back up on the ledge.

* BottomlessPitRescueService: If Jazz or Swindle fall into a pit in robot mode, they uses they're GrapplingHookPistol to get back up on the ledge.

* AttackDrone: You can use these to attack your foes and draw their attention away from you.

* AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever: Bruticus is much bigger than he should be, meaning, as Matt Tieger put it, enemies that are your size before are just a minor hindrance.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXCI791NxOc&feature=g-u-u This interview]] pretty much says that some level designing was devoted specifically to making Optimus this and is why calling on Metroplex is his special ability. If a huge, immensely powerful city-sized Transformer will obey Optimus Prime's every command, he must be badass.

* AutobotsRockOut
* AxCrazy: Grimlock is implied to be a borderline case at the very least, even before he became a Dinobot. Specifically in the first mission after the prologue, if you go into Grimlock's room, you can open his locker to find a cache of severed Decepticon heads. After that little reveal, Optimus states that Grimlock's anger issues make him a danger to his fellow Autobots as well as the Decepticons.

* BadassBoast: When Optimus and Megatron come face to face for the first time.
-->'''Megatron''': No one leaves without my permission!
-->'''Optimus''': ''I wasn't asking''.

-->'''Grimlock''': '''NO ONE CONTROLS GRIMLOCK!!!'''
* BadassCrew: The Combaticons and the Dinobots.

* {{Berserker}}: Grimlock, after his...operations...is very angry with a lot of things and his ability to use his T-Rex mode is, plotwise, triggered by him getting ''very'' angry.

** BadBoss: For reference, Starscream started backing out of his own op, while Megatron leads from the front. Megatron executes his soldiers, but generally in response to ''actual'' incompetence and failure, or for questioning his orders when he needs everyone to do their jobs; Starscream ended up jailing the Combaticons for salvaging a mission that ''he'' screwed up. And all round, he manages to be an even bigger jerk to the point where Onslaught can't hide how much he hates Screamer's guts anymore.
** EpicFail: The Decepticons have more weaponry, soldiers, and Energon. Yet his leadership has been a "complete disaster" according to several Decepticon mooks, and as far the player can tell, Starscream was only in charge for a few days.
** GeneralFailure: Can't come up with any strategy other than "AttackAttackAttack", which nearly costs them the mission to recapture Energon.
*** Even worse, he doesn't even have a long term plan to defeat the Autobots beyond trying to hold onto a supply of Energon that, according to Megatron, he wasted most of. He also thought that using the space bridge was a waste of time and energy, even after he found out that it would lead to another energy-rich planet. He uses resources to fill Kaon with statues of himself and constantly broadcast needlessly long speeches where he admires himself that the {{mooks}} imply happen routinely. Even Megatron considers this a waste, though that's arguably hypocritical (though ''his'' propaganda in ''[[VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron War For Cybertron]]'' was intended to demoralize and bully the Autobots into surrender).
** PointyHairedBoss: When Starscream takes charge, he leads a mission to recapture Energon the Autobots jacked from the Sea of Rust. Onslaught devises most of the plan and the Combaticons put it into motion. Then, Onslaught discovers the transport system has too many air defenses for an air assault to do anything, and advises calling off the attack. Starscream calls him a coward and sends in the troops, who promptly get slaughtered. Onslaught salvages the mission with just his 5-bot team and manages to get away with at least half of the Energon. Starscream blames him for the "failure", [[ItMakesSenseInContext as half the Energon was destroyed when they brought down the transport]], and Onslaught [[CaptainObvious points out the Autobots would have gotten all of it if his team followed Starscream's orders]]. Starscream has him and the other Combaticons arrested for insulting him. (In comparison, Megatron would have likely executed them on the spot for such insubordination, but then Megatron probably wouldn't have found himself in that situation to begin with.)

* BookEnds: Optimus words to Bumblebee are some of the first lines in the game, and the last during the credits.

* BullyingADragon: [[spoiler: When Megatron is BackFromTheDead and crashes Starscream's coronation, some of the Decepticons willingly attending are stupid enough to actually to try and fight him. Eventually they take a hint and leave Starscream when they see him for the coward he is.]]

* CanonWelding: While part of the Franchise/TransformersAlignedUniverse, the stories were intended to be fairly distinct from each other and within their own "bubble" of continuity. Possibly following some strong fandom reactions to the idea they are in the same universe despite such major differences, this game is intending to bridge some key elements with ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime.'' Specifically, the opening level shows Bumblebee has lost his voice, a key characteristic of Prime!Bumblebee.

* CharacterCustomization: Improved over the previous game and the DOTM tie-in. Previously, multiplayer characters would be identical to other characters save for their weapons, abilities and color schemes. This time around, various pieces are available to further customize your character.

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: As with the first game, Autobots and their equipment tend to have red running lights while Decepticon lights tend to be purple, just like the traditional colors of their logos.

* CombatPragmatist: Possibly in reference to his ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'' incarnation, Starscream can stick a bomb onto enemies when they aren't looking.
** Or [[GroinAttack kick them in the robo-nads]] while they aren't looking, then stick a bomb onto them once they ''are'' looking.

* CurbStompBattle: Metroplex delivers a truly epic one to [[spoiler:Megatron]].

** [[spoiler:The game has no qualms about showing both Autobots and Decepticons dying in horrific ways. Not to mention that some sections of the game are littered with Autobot and Decepticon corpses.]]

* DarkestHour: Pretty much where the game starts off.
* DavidVersusGoliath: Jazz vs. Bruticus.

* DisneyVillainDeath: What (presumably) happens to [[spoiler:Shockwave and Grimlock]]. Though the tower's destruction looks a little suspect and given [[spoiler:Shockwave]]'s appearance in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'', it may not have really been the case.

* TheDreaded: Both Megatron and Grimlock.

* {{Foil}}: Optimus and Megatron both do nearly opposite actions at the same crossroads in the war. Their use of the City-bots being the most notable. Both use them to change the flow of the war and both ordered theirs to attack the other. But where Megatron attacked fleeing civilians, Optimus gave the Decepticons and their leaders the option to flee when he could have ended the war right then. Both have parallel achievements in the missions involving their city-bots [[spoiler:and both sacrificed them to reach the portal in different ways, with Megatron sacrificing his as a KickTheDog only finding him for his power, and Optimus sacrificing his only because he insisted.]]

* GiantMook: The Autobots have the Titans, massive (around the size of Grimlock), well-armored warriors packing tons of firepower and plenty of repair drones. Use SplashDamage to take care of both drones quickly.

** Both sides have four legged artillery platform units that can take loads of punishment and fire out painful arcing [[ShockandAwe DoT electric mortars]] and a continuous beam if enemies get too close. The Decepticon version is called a "Marauder" and the Autobot version is called a "Enforcer". [[CosmeticallyDifferentSides The only difference is the paint job and what color the lasers it shoot are.]]

* {{Hammerspace}}: Grimlock's transformation into a T-Rex borrows from his G1 transformation, with his arms turning into the T-rex's legs and his legs in robot mode forming the tail. However, he has some bits of this with his tail, head and T-rex body. Partially RuleOfCool, but mostly because the designers wanted to make sure the design doesn't block the player's view during gameplay (they noted that if they copied the G1 design too much, all the player would see of Grimlock while controlling him is his back).

* ItsAllAboutMe: Megatron has an ego the size of a mountain. He seems totally convinced that he and only he can restore Cybertron and lead the Decepticons. Given Starscream's rule, he might be right about the latter at least.

* LargeHam: Megatron, as usual.

* LeeroyJenkins: A minor example, as they never actually mess anything up (aside from getting captured by Shockwave), but the Dinobots, sans Grimlock, have a tendency to charge forward without much regard for the dangers ahead (though to be fair, they are capable of handling a lot) while Grimlock yells at them to wait up.
** Cliffjumper displays a few shades of this when playing as Jazz.

* LuckilyMyShieldWillProtectMe: Grimlock is seen with a ''huge'' one that's as tall as him, which renders most attacks harmless.

* MachineBlood: There's some pretty graphic depictions of robot dismemberment. Also, when you get melee kills, like in War for Cybertron, your screen gets blue-ish fluid splattered on the screen. That's Energon, folks; literal blood of the Transformers.

* MookHorrorShow: Starscream's level has him taking out Shockwave's minions while cloaked. To some extent, Cliffjumper's as well. You can also hear the absolute terror the Autobots have when it turns out that Megatron [[spoiler:is alive again, which he takes much joy from]] and when playing as Bruticus. Some of Grimlock's enemies simply cut and run while trying to avoid him likes he's a mechanical mini-Godzilla.

* NeverMyFault: Despite being the main reason for the loss of a large amount of Decepticon forces and the failure of a huge operation, Starscream doesn't take the blame for doing so and blames the Combaticons (who were the ones who bailed said operation out and clean up after Starscream) by tossing them into jail for insubordination.

* NiceJobFixingItVillain: Starscream [[spoiler: is the one responsible for freeing Grimlock from Shockwave's restraints]].

* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Pick Optimus for the final boss fight and his button pressing sequences can be summed as these in a nutshell. In more detail, the first one has him pin Megatron against a large object and pummel him before tossing him across the area, and the second has him pin Megatron to the ground and impale him through the arm, then grab Megatron by the head and repeatedly slam his face into the ground before Megatron throws him off.

* OhCrap: When the Decepticon troops see Metroplex in the E3 trailer, they wisely begin to retreat.

** The general reaction of the Decepticons to seeing Grimlock break out.
*** Even the TheSpock Shockwave has one (seen in slow motion thanks to the game's quick time events) when Grimlocks breaks his restraints by transforming.

** OneWomanWail: Some tracks feature this, then some tracks combine both OminousLatinChanting AND OneWomanWail.

* OneManArmy: Metroplex, who takes on the entire Decepticon army and hands them their skidplates on a silver platter.
** Definitely justified, this being a rare case in which the one man is literally the size of an army.

* PetTheDog: Both Soundwave and Megatron have options to pet Laserbeak. While Laserbeak snaps at Megatron, it says alot that Megatron doesn't blow him away. He actually seems rather amused by it.

* RememberTheNewGuy: All of the new Transformers introduced are treated as if they've been in the war since the beginning of the first game despite not being mentioned at all. Justified, as it's a planet-wide war that's been going on for generations and they would've most likely seen a lot of fight somewhere off-screen.

* SoulBrotha: As usual, Jazz.

-->'''Autobot Mook:''' Optimus! There are reports on the battlefield that Megatron is alive!\\

'''Megatron:''' Here's your confirmation! *Blasts the Autobot mooks to bits*

-->'''Mook 1:''' "Hey- you hear about Starscream?"\\

* SuicidalOverconfidence / ShootingSuperman: [[spoiler:Yes, Megatron, stand and fight the city-sized Autobot under the command of the guy you just insulted and berated. See how well that works. You at least went for bigger weapons when fighting Omega Supreme.]]

* ThereIsNoKillLikeOverkill: Grimlock's executions in robot mode. For Insecticon Swarmers, he impales them with his sword, tears them off it (which rips them in half) and then slams their top half into the ground. For normal Decepticons, he impales them, then stabs them repeatedly. From the [[HeavilyArmoredMook Shotgunners]], he lops off their heads and stabs them. In Dino mode, he bites things in half, or if you're a [[BossinMookClothing Leaper]], spears you on his tail and roasts you.

* TransformationIsAFreeAction: Metroplex, quite easily. Not that anyone could have stopped him, and most people watching were probably scared or shocked witless. [[spoiler:Meanwhile, Trypticon is reformatted into the ''Nemesis'' without trouble despite being in the middle of one of the few remaining places under Autobot control.]]

* UnstoppableRage: Grimlock is this by default. [[spoiler:Also, Optimus does not take Megatron nearly killing Bumblebee very well.]]

* VillainousBSOD: Look closely in the [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1N91LyATF0 Metroplex trailer]] towards the end. While most of the Decepticons are [[OhCrap running for their lives]], a couple simply stand there in awe of Metroplex before being obliterated.

* WhamEpisode: Chapter III: [[spoiler:Megatron has been killed by Metroplex, but the Autobots' Energon reserves are exhausted.]]

* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: [[spoiler:Starscream's fate is ambiguous. We see him try to talk Grimlock into joining him, after which he gets too close and Grimlock grabs and throws him at the control panel that powered his restraints. After this, he's not mentioned for the rest of the story.]]

*** The rest of the Dinobots are last seen watching Grimlock's fate. They are a safe distance from the tower, but it seems unlikely they could have made it back to the Ark in time for its launch. Later IDW comics show that they all managed to survive (even Sludge, [[SeriesContinuityError despite dying before they're even made into Dinobots]]), but remained on Cybertron all the way until Prime's team restored it.

* WhatTheHellPlayer: If you fire at Metroplex, it prompts him to say this:
-->'''Metroplex:''' Why do you fire at me?

* TheWorfEffect: The Insecticons make their debut in the war taking out and capturing Grimlock's team, the heavy combat team of the Autobots. Cliffjumper actually notes this before Jazz has to go a round with them.

* SymbolicBlood: There's some pretty graphic depictions of robot dismemberment. Also, when you get melee kills, like in War for Cybertron, your screen gets blue-ish fluid splattered on the screen. That's Energon, folks; literal blood of the Transformers.

*** Right before Grimlock kills Sharpshot, we also get a shot from the inside of Grimlock's mouth like during one shot from the movie. Difference here is that the Sharticon he tried biting ran away, Sharpshot doesn't get away.

* VocalEvolution: Creator/GreggBerger [[RoleReprisal reprises his role of Grimlock]] from G1. The main difference is that Grimlock's characterization is more along the line of the "Shrewd mind behind brutish mannerisms" comics characterization.

The sequel to 2010's ''VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron'', this game shows the [[AfterTheEnd tailend]] of the war before it left for Earth. Technically the Decepticons have won, but it's something of a PyrrhicVictory since the war used up so much Energon and tore up most of Cybertron. Now it's a race for both factions to gather what Energon and survivors they can and get off the planet with a side order of trying to stop the other guys from getting off the planet. Because of this, it's DarkerAndEdgier than any other {{Transformers}} game.

* ShieldBash: Both Grimlock and Bruticus can do this with their respective shields. Optimus Prime and Megatron can do this as well during the final boss battle.

** A few scenes are a direct homage to WesternAnimation/TransformersTheMovie, specifically, [[spoiler:Starscream's coronation]].

*** Slug knocks a door down on top of Kickback and says "Excuse me" to the Insecticon as he enters. The same thing happened to a Quintesson in [[WesternAnimation/TransformersTheMovie the movie]], only the context in which the line was spoken appears to be more self-aware and sarcastic in the game.

** And Rumble [[WesternAnimation/TransformersTheMovie once]] [[VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron again]] says "Get ready to crumble, before Rumble!" and "First we crack the shell, then we crack the nuts inside!".

* WarIsHell: Not since ''WesternAnimation/TransformersTheMovie'' (aside from its prequel, ''VideoGame/TransformersWarForCybertron'') has warfare between robots been so heartbreaking and ''horrifying'' to watch. This trend is continued in ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime''.

* BottomlessPitRescueService: If Jazz falls into a pit in robot mode, he uses his GrapplingHookPistol to get back up on the ledge.

* MoralDissonance: Jazz finds [[spoiler:Sludge still alive, but in stasis lock]]. He indicates that he'll come back for him once his mission is complete. Later, he [[spoiler:floods the area, leaving no survivors left inside; later dialog with Swoop implies Slug was, in fact, left behind and died]]. What's really odd about it is that neither Jazz ''nor'' Cliffjumper seemed all that bothered by leaving one of there own behind to die. They don't even mention his name after the section where they find him in stasis.

* [[OhCrap Oh Scrap!]]: When the Decepticon troops see Metroplex in the E3 trailer, they wisely begin to retreat.

* [[spoiler:TooPowerfulToLive: Metroplex, literally. With Energon in such short supply, just activating him leaves the Ark without enough power to be launched, much less make it to another world. In the end, he gives up his Energon to power the Ark.]]

* TheBadGuyWins: [[Downplayed]]; the Decepticons have more or less won the war and conquered Cybertron, but with the planet having been rendered a husk incapable of sustaining life, it's a PyrrhicVictory at best.

* WhatMeasureIsAMook: A lot of work seems to have been put into making the autobot soldiers seem more like actual soldiers, rather than just a gameplay feature. Often times you'll see two soldiers having conversations about the war, and there are several audio logs made by normal autobot troops that really help to personalize them.