Video Game / Transformers: The Game (DS)

Create-A-Bot: You Decepticons don't know when to quit! Time to teach you that the bad guys always lose!

Construct-A-Con: You Autobots are no better than we Decepticons. We might be on opposite sides, but we're both playing the same game.

To coincide with the 2007 film, Transformers: The Game (Console) was released in two halves for the Nintendo DS. One follows the plot of the movie, focusing on the Autobots' attempts to reclaim the AllSpark. The other game focuses on the Decepticons, and a power struggle that evolves during their quest for the AllSpark. Woven in amongst both games is a study on how both sides are not all the different from each other. The Decepticons are shown to have a code of honor, and have some sympathetic members in their ranks, while the Autobots make some rather gray moral choices. Both games also star a player-created character, who's a rookie to the cause, be he Autobot or Decepticon, as he learns what it means to be a member of either faction.

The games feature a lengthy campaign and wide open worlds for you to explore. Notably, the player-created character is able to take the alternate form of nearly any vehicle the player wishes at any time.

Considerably Darker and Edgier than the console game, and with a greater focus on plot and characterization, the game is widely considered much better than its console counterpart.

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Both versions provide examples of:

• Adapted Out: Bonecrusher doesn't appear in either version of the game.
• Adaptation Deviation: Both versions of the game adapt the plot of the movie, but make significant changes, and each end up differing over keeping one element of the movie over the other. The most significant one is the removal of the humans' plots, instead telling the story from the perspective of a rookie from each team instead.
• And Now for Someone Completely Different: Missions alternate between each member of the cast, even during the mission. Sometimes they may force the protagonist to pick a specific vehicle for the job.
• Attack Drone: The AllSpark with its power can make these.
• Beating A Dead Player: Enemies will still be locked onto the player and even fire after their health has been depleted. This is complimented by unique voicelines from some bosses reacting to your death.
• Blade Below the Shoulder:
  • Optimus Prime has a massive blade attached to his right hand, as opposed to the retractable blade in the movie. Megatron has a similar structure of his own.
  • Brawl has such a protrusion in his arm, being used at the end of a string of his melee attacks.
  • Ratchet and Barricade have unique additions to their melee animations, where they will sprout a blade from their right arms at the end of a combo. Jazz, who has his own unique set of animations, also gets this.
• Blood Knight: Brawl is shown to be very eager to blow up stuff in both versions and even gets disappointed when he's not allowed to blow up some vehicles due to his team wanting the humans for interrogation in one mission. Ironhide is a more tempered example.
• Bottomless Magazines: It doesn't matter how much a gun is fired, the player and enemies never run out of ammo. This is nerfed with an energy bar limiting how many times the player can fire, though there is a cheat to remove this.
• Canon Foreigner: The Create-A-Bot/Construct-A-Con, an avatar for the player that holds a role in the story.
• Checkpoint Starvation: Almost none of the missions have checkpoints; if you die or fail after a long string of objectives or escorting a target, you have to start right back at the beginning. Sometimes they're short enough to excuse this. That being said, there are still a few times where they exist, such as the Decepticons level where you take the AllSpark as Starscream.
• Depleted Phlebotinum Shells: Voicelines from human enemies note that they use magnesium rounds, allowing them to damage Transformers. Both games also have missions dealing with new Sector 7 defenses with Cybertronian energy in use.
• Every Bullet is a Tracer: For the sake of perception, this is how the human shots are portrayed.
• Evil Is Hammy: Megatron. Starscream can also get pretty energetic in his line deliveries.
• Expy: The vehicle forms that the Create-A-Bot and Construct-A-Con unlock can be based on other Transformers. See Mythology Gag for more details.
• Family-Friendly Firearms: The Transformers use lasers as opposed to the slugs and bullets shown in the films. Human forces Double-Subvert this as they can have either energy blasts or even regular bullets, with their shots leaving trails. Averted with both of them using missiles.
• Foil:
  • The Create-A-Bot and Construct-A-Con, to each other. Both are the latest members of their factions and both are taken less seriously by the rest of the cast, but while Create-A-Bot is a heroic rookie trying his best and is going through the missions as a sort of learning experience, Construct-A-Con is the protege of current-leader Starscream and has enough mental prowess to take the role of a leader for some operations. The latter takes himself very seriously while the former is too eager for his own good.
  • Even their deaths serve as foils to each other. Create-A-Bot dies to cripple Megatron and give Optimus a fighting chance and as he dies Optimus promises to honor his last request and tells Create-A-Bot he will never forget the sacrifice he made. By contrast, Construct-A-Con also sacrifices himself to give his respective leader a fighting chance but Megatron dismisses Construct-A-Con as a weakling and a failure and finishes him off. Both deaths showcase the ultimate difference between the two factions.
• The Hero Dies: Both games end with the main playable characters Create-A-Bot and Construct-A-Con dying. Create-A-Bot dies in a heroic sacrifice to cripple Megatron in Autobots whereas Construct-A-Con is heavily damaged in a similar attempt to cripple a traitorous Starscream and is finished off by Megatron in Decepticons.
• Hello, [Insert Name Here]: The Create-A-Bot and Construct-A-Con can be given various names of up to 7 characters.
• Large and in Charge: Optimus Prime and Megatron are the leaders of both factions and the largest playable characters.
• MacGuffin: The AllSpark, of course.
• Multiform Balance: The player character can access different vehicle modes, which change the type of robot mode they get. The bigger the vehicle, the more the robot mode trades off speed for power.
• My Rules Are Not Your Rules: The boss fights pit you against other characters, but they don't have the vulnerabilities that the player has, i.e. getting thrown off their feet or knocked out of vehicle form when hit with a heavy missile and having a faster and unlimited vehicle boost.
• Mythology Gag:
  • There's a few with the vehicles Create-A-Bot and Construct-A-Con can scan, mostly in the form of Expies.
    • The "News Copter" form is based off of Blazemaster.
    • One utility vehicle has Constructicon colors.
    • The "Notchback" car is based on the Decepticon Swindle.
    • The "Armored Truck" closely resembles the vehicle form of Decepticon Payload.
    • The Pickup Truck and its variants are similar to the Decepticon Dropkick's vehicle form.
    • Two of the cars are patterned after Stunticons Wildrider and Breakdown.
    • The Attack Helicopter and its other variants' designs are Movieverse Shockwave as rendered in the console version of this game.
• "Not So Different" Remark: The page quote is an exchange from both games, where their respective Rookies partially Lampshade the nature of their games.
• Offscreen Villain Dark Matter: In both versions, the opposing faction has access to their entire army of Mooks while your side only consists of the 6 main cast members in the story. There will be no generic goons of your own.
• Player-Exclusive Mechanic: Sort of. The player can pick up objects, bash them, and throw them, which can be done on other Transformers. Not even the bosses can do that. In fact, some cases will allow you to pick up the bosses... at the cost of your energy meter depleting.
• The Power of Trust: This is the primary advantage the Autobots have over the Decepticons in both versions. The Autobots are individually weaker than the Decepticons, but in the Decepticons version, Starscream kills at least 2 out of the 5 other decepticons, and in the Autobots version Starscream seemingly bails on the cons. By contrast, the Autobots are unified from beginning to end.
• Purposely Overpowered: A downloadable cheat lets the player use G1 Starscream in the Decepticons version and Skydive in the Autobots version. Both of these characters have fast, durable, flying vehicle modes in addition to the best stats in the game in robot mode, being maxed out in every area except melee attacks, which are nearly at maximum anyways.
  • As probably expected, Optimus and Megatron are undoubtedly the strongest of the cybertronians besides the player characters.
• Regenerating Health: Secretly unlockable. You get this after reaching the maximum level and staying out of combat for a few seconds. Maximizing your XP from this point will instantly recover all of your health.
• Secret A.I. Moves: Many of the boss fights have unique mechanics, such as firepower that the player can't use when they get access to that character. Barricade uses a string of 3 bombs instead of the player's missiles and Ratchet uses his own unique faster healing factor when his health ends up depleted enough.
• SNK Boss: Boss fights will also give the opposing character techniques that the player will never get their hands on. In the Autobots Version, Starscream and Brawl will not get knocked out of vehicle form when hit with heavy projectiles. On the Decepticons side, Ironhide has a large ground-pound move alongside a spinning missile move in his vehicle form, while Jazz can make long, gravity-defying jumps.
• Super Drowning Skills: Jumping into the water will greatly reduce the player's health as they'll be teleported to the nearest landmass, but will instantly kill any enemy, human vehicle or opposing Transformer. For the Transformers themselves, this is justified as they are machines and water will cause their electronics to short-circuit.
• Unique Protagonist Asset: Both the Create-A-Bot and Construct-A-Con have an upgrade that allows them access to multiple vehicle forms, as well as the ability to change into any of them at will. This is plot-important, allowing them to scan a military helicopter to support their respective operations. Though Create-A-Bot is said to have been given this upgrade by Wheeljack, there is no explanation for how Construct-A-Con can do this.
• Wanted Meter: Both games provide this, known as the Threat Meter, when your character destroys one too many human properties. The icon represented is a symbol of the game's antagonistic faction (Decepticons in Autobots, and vice versa). Destroy enough human authority vehicles when the Threat Level is at 4, and the threat will be neutralized, resetting the meter back to zero.
• You Can't Thwart Stage One: It doesn't matter what you do, you cannot keep the Big Bad from either respective game from getting the AllSpark. In Decepticons, you actually play as Starscream while he takes the AllSpark.

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The Autobot portion contains examples of:

• A Day in the Limelight: Ratchet has the smallest role of the Autobots, but he gets to fight Blackout in Downtown Blackout.
• Antagonistic Offspring: Optimus reveals Megatron to have been this, as he killed their father. It unintentionally foreshadows Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
• Army Scout: "Reconnaissance Officer" Bumblebee has this role. He was the first of the Autobots to arrive on Earth and he has the most experience out of the entire main cast when it comes to relaying information about the planet and its inhabitants.
• Authority Equals Asskicking: Optimus Prime leads the Autobots and has the highest stats of the pre-existing characters.
• Big Bad Ensemble: Though Megatron is the larger threat, he doesn't take a direct role in the story until he's freed late in the game. Sector Seven gives the Autobots a hard time for the majority of the game in his stead.
• Bittersweet Ending: Megatron and the Decepticons are defeated, but Create-A-Bot has died to save the Earth, destroying the AllSpark with him.
• Black-and-Gray Morality: Optimus makes some rather questionable decisions during the game, to the point even Ironhide openly questions him. Meanwhile, the Decepticons are really just there to be villains.
• The Chains of Commanding: Optimus is full of self-doubt and is clearly weary from a long, painful war with the Decepticons.
• Dies Differently in Adaptation: All of The Decepticons who die in the movie;
  • Blackout is killed by Ratchet.
  • Barricade is killed by Bumblebee and Optimus.
  • Brawl is killed by Optimus Prime.
  • Megatron survives having the AllSpark jammed into him, and is instead killed by Optimus.
• Faux Affably Evil: Barricade. He'll chat up his opponent and make offers claiming to be for the greater good, before he drops the act and threatens to turn them into scrapheap.
• Get Out!: After Ironhide's "The Reason You Suck" Speech to Optimus, Jazz intervenes with Tranquil Fury and tells Ironhide that he should leave immediately.
• Heroic Sacrifice: Bumblebee sacrifices himself to Sector Seven when Create-A-Bot brings a horde of them to the two of them. Later, Create-A-Bot sacrifices himself to deal a critical blow to Megatron that allows Optimus to beat him.
• Impersonating an Officer: Barricade does this as a squad car, directing other nearby police cars to fire on Bumblebee during a chase sequence.
• Killed Off for Real: The entire Decepticon cast bar Starscream, and Create-A-Bot.
• Knight of Cerebus: The game has a rather dark tone though bits of humor balance it out, but Megatron's presence is a sign of the stakes getting higher. Ironhide puts it best when he's freed.
  Ironhide: Playtime's over kid. This is as serious as it gets.
• Leeroy Jenkins: Create-A-Bot, who is far too eager to kick some tailpipe. It gets Bumblebee captured and tortured by Sector Seven.
• Mythology Gag: The jet form that you unlock in this version of the game is based off of Aerialbot, Skydive.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Create-A-Bot attempted to help Bumblebee by destroying the Sector 7 and police pursuers at the end of "Driven to Distraction", only for the remaining Sector 7 units to turn their attention to Create-A-Bot instead. What ensues is Bumblebee Taking the Bullet for Create-A-Bot and allowing himself to be captured by Sector 7, leaving behind a guilt-stricken Create-A-Bot.
• No-Sell: Optimus' attacks on Megatron have no effect thanks to Megatron possessing the AllSpark.
• Old Friend: Optimus and Ironhide. This is why Optimus warmly forgives Ironhide for his angry outburst.
  Optimus Prime: You and I have been through too much together to warrant any apologies, old friend.
• "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Ironhide gives one to Create-A-Bot for getting Bumblebee captured... then turns onto Optimus and gives him an absolutely scathing one.
  Ironhide: You don't really care about any of us, do you, Prime?! "Protect the humans, get the AllSpark, Autobots preserve life!" All you really care about is beating your brother!
• Sacrificial Lion: Zigzagged. Bumblebee doesn't die, but Optimus considers him good as dead when he's captured by Sector Seven. Things get far more serious for the plot, even after Bumblebee is found alive and is freed.
• Spared by the Adaptation: Jazz doesn't die like he does in the movie.
• Took a Level in Badass: Create-A-Bot gradually improves in combat until he's willing to take on Megatron alone.
• Tranquil Fury: Jazz is not happy with Ironhide after the latter castigates Optimus, but doesn't raise his voice when he sternly tells him to leave.
• Walking Armory: Downplayed. "Weapons-Specialist" Ironhide has massive cannons on his arms, though their mostly just for show. "Mostly" as he still fires from them and his firepower can be quite powerful.
• What Happened to the Mouse?: Starscream appears to give Ironhide a boss fight, and disappears for parts unknown. Ratchet and Jazz are also absent from the final cutscene.
  • Construct-A-Con appears as the first boss and is seen with a released Megatron, but vanishes from the plot.
• What the Hell, Hero?: See Ironhide's "The Reason You Suck" Speech to Optimus, after the latter decides to leave Bumblebee for dead.

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The Decepticons game features examples of:

• 0% Approval Rating: Starscream actually has 5% approval rating - the 5% coming from Construct-A-Con - but soon the Decepticons go rogue from him, having hated him ever since he took over from Megatron.
• Absurdly Sharp Blade: Starscream and Blackout have melee animations that depict them using the blades of their vehicle forms as weapon strikes. Starscream swings his jet wings, Blackout spins his rotor blades.
• Adapted Out: While the Autobot roster all made it in, a few Decepticons had to be cut. Scorponok couldn't translate over to this game like he could in the console, and Bonecrusher was dropped like he was in every other video game tie in except the PSP. Frenzy isn't playable either, but he at least has a cameo in the intro cutscene.
• Adaptational Badass: Starscream, full stop. Most depictions of the character present his attempts to overthrow Megatron as a nuisance that does little beyond provide unintentional aid to the Autobots. He is the game's main antagonist who actually kills two of the main playable characters, with Optimus Prime being treated as a nuisance while Starscream is the main threat. In terms of in game stats he is almost Megatron's equal, Megatron only beating him in the firepower stat (Megatron's is maxed out).
• Adaptation Expansion: The Decepticons' operations at Qatar are given a bit more focus here.
• Adaptational Villainy: This is easily the darkest incarnation of Starscream in the franchise. Even if in the end he loses to Megatron, he is an enemy that is not to be trifled with and is a threat that Megatron considers greater than Optimus once he gets the AllSpark.
• Artificial Stupidity:
  • In the boss fight with Optimus you can win by having Megatron fly over the water (don't fly too far or you'll get a game over via out of bounds) and Optimus will chase after him and fall in, resulting in instant death.
  • During the final phase of Starscream's boss fight, it's simple enough to leave the platform he's based on and take cover below, and he'll do nothing to stop you. You can mine for health and he'll just shoot at the ground. It's especially grievous as other boss fights like Jazz and Ironhide had special means to try and stop you from getting out of range.
• A Pupil of Mine Until He Turned to Evil: Construct-A-Con, from Starscream's perspective, was his "dear" protégé who he taught everything he needed to thrive as a Decepticon, but then he turned on him upon discovering his treachery. Other Decepticons, however, say otherwise and see Starscream as Construct-A-Con's Eviler than Thou mentor instead.
• Ascended Extra: Barricade was just another Decepticon in the movie, but in this game he presented as the leader of the Decepticons sent to Earth to find the AllSpark, only taking orders from Starscream.
• Asskicking Leads to Leadership: While it's clear all of the Decepticons besides Construct-A-Con hate Starscream, because Starscream is so strong they won't dare make a move against him unless they bring back Megatron first. In actual gameplay, Starscream has the best stats next to Megatron, the one Decepticon who can be counted on to defeat him.
• Bad Boss: Both Megatron and Starscream qualify, destroying their own comrades for being too damaged or going against them.
• Benevolent Boss: Starscream plays up this angle to Construct-A-Con, and actually does treat him well from the start, until his Villainous Breakdown begins to occur. The other Decepticons consider Megatron to be the closest thing to this as they can get.
• Big Bad: Despite the perspective being flipped from the Autobots to the Decepticons, Optimus Prime does not hold this title. It's in fact Starscream whose machinations drive the plot. Optimus comes off more as a Big Bad Wannabe, considering how Megatron only briefly regards him before killing him and moving on to Starscream. That said, see Post-Final Boss.
• Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Starscream is kind to his protégé at first, but let's face it, we all know just what he is.
• Black-and-Gray Morality: The Decepticons loyal to Megatron genuinely believe he's their best hope at restoring their home and making the universe a better place. Starscream, the Big Bad, is truly out for himself and doesn't care who gets in the way, and is far less sympathetic a character than the other Decepticons.
• Book Ends: The first mission has Construct-A-Con arrive at the Casino Strip. The final mission takes place in that same location, even starting near the place where he landed.
• Broken Pedestal: Construct-A-Con saw Starscream as his trustworthy teacher, but upon discovering his treachery... he decides to go up against him.
• Climax Boss: Optimus Prime is fought before the final mission of the game, settling the conflict between the Autobots and Decepticons once and for all.
• Cool Old Guy: Barricade ultimately ends up becoming this to Construct-A-Con.
• Defiant to the End: Starscream when he's about to be executed.
  Starscream: I won't be the last, Megatron! Someone will always be there to challenge your leadership!
• Demoted to Extra: The Autobots, if you played their game first.
• Didn't See That Coming: Barricade and the other Decepticons knew that Starscream was really trying to find Megatron and was also planning to have him killed in his sleep with the help of Construct-A-Con. What they weren't factoring in is why he came to Earth, and they had no idea that Megatron and Starscream are really after the AllSpark. They realize that they need to make their move fast before Starscream secures his power for good with the AllSpark.
• Dirty Coward: It's this trope that fits Starscream to a tee, and it's why Barricade and the Decepticons want him out of power.
• Dies Differently in Adaptation:
  • Blackout is killed by Starscream.
  • Jazz is still killed by Megatron as in the film, but is gunned down rather than torn in half.
• Disc-One Final Boss: Optimus Prime is not the Final Boss, and is far from Megatron's first concern.
• Downer Ending: While it doesn't bother Megatron too much, he ends the game having lost the AllSpark and all of his troops, including Construct-A-Con.
• The Dreaded: Optimus Prime is implied to be this to the Decepticons.
• Dropped a Bridge on Him: After Starscream gets the AllSpark, he kills Blackout with a single shot.
• Even Evil Has Standards:
  • The Decepticons are disgusted by Starscream's treachery. Megatron is of a similar mindset.
  Barricade: Starscream's the type that would kill you in your sleep! Megatron would have ball bearings to do it to your face.
  • After Starscream's defeat, Construct-A-Con mourns the death of the other Decepticons.
• "Everybody Dies" Ending: Only three members of the games' cast are not explicitly seen being killed (see What Happened to the Mouse?).
• Evil Is Easy: Compared to the Autobots Version, where they emphasize protecting the humans, the Decepticons version encourages destruction and extends it to the gameplay. The first mission in Tranquility is about taking out 3 police cars versus the Autobots counterpart of carefully taking out enemies and preventing the wanted meter from rising. The Decepticons Version even gives a new way to earn XP by simply destroying the humans' vehicles in free roam. The Decepticons' first mission in Tranquility also deconstructs this trope as no matter which police car is destroyed, Construct-A-Con will automatically get a 1-Bot Threat Level and other police officers will fight back to protect their property. Barricade also lampshades this deconstruction with this:
  Barricade: By destroying those vehicles, the humans now perceive you as a danger and are retaliating. They'll fight to protect their property so keep that in mind before you start blowing stuff up.
  • Additionally, stat-wise this is also the case, as with the possible exception of Blackout/Jazz and Ironhide/Brawl, every Decepticon is stronger than their Autobot counterpart on the select screen. ^{WARNING: Detailed Explanation}Barricade and Bumblebee have equal agility and endurance, but Barricade is physically stronger and has a higher fireblast stat, and while their vehicle forms are otherwise equal, Barricade has a higher top speed. Blackout and Jazz is a bit less clear-cut, as they have equal strength, while Blackout is slightly tougher, and has firepower, but Jazz is more agile. In terms of their vehicle forms, they have the same energy, but while Jazz has more handling, top speed, and acceleration than Blackout, Blackout's flight is a significant advantage. Ironhide and Brawl is also a bit tougher, as they are just as strong and tough as eachother, but Ironhide is more agile while Brawl has slightly more firepower. In their vehicle forms, they have the same energy reserves, but Ironhide has more mobility, top speed, and acceleration. Megatron and Optimus are nearly equal, but Megatron's firepower stat is at the max while Optimus' is just a bit below, but Megatron's vehicle form has the same energy while having more handling, top speed, and acceleration as well as flight, making him straightforwardly better than Optimus in raw stats. Finally, Ratchet and Starscream have equal strength and agility, but Starscream is tougher and has a much higher firepower stat, and aside from handling, is also superior to Ratchet's vehicle form in top speed, energy, and acceleration
• Evil Mentor: Starscream, then Barricade for Construct-A-Con.
• Faux Affably Evil: Starscream. He plays up the role of a benevolent ruler and mentor for Construct-A-Con in much of the game, but when the Decepticons are coming closer to finding and reviving Megatron, he personally makes an appearance to Construct-A-Con to tell him that he needs to kill Megatron in his frozen state. He physically rams into him before yelling at him to not fail.
• Foreshadowing: Barricade states how Starscream is the sort who'd "kill [his opponent] in [their] sleep" to further emphasize Starscream's incompetence as leader to Construct-A-Con, adding that Megatron (in contrast) would have the "ball-bearings to do it to [his opponent's] face". Sure enough, Starscream arrives moments later and tasks Construct-A-Con with sabotaging Megatron's revival, a request which horrifies Construct-A-Con since, as he puts it, means killing the founder of the Decepticon army "in his sleep".
• Healing Factor: Ratchet will activate "repair systems" when his health gets depleted enough.
• Hero Antagonist: The Autobots give the Decepticons trouble at times. They later ally with Sector 7 and the military.
• Hidden Depths: Brawl is pretty boisterous, but he's shown to be quite intelligent at times and actively participates in discussions regarding the team's next move.
• Killed Off for Real: Construct-A-Con, Barricade, Blackout, Starscream, Jazz, Ironhide, Bumblebee, Create-A-Bot, and Optimus Prime.
• Killed Offscreen: Implied with Brawl and Ratchet. Construct-A-Con implies Brawl is dead when he mentions "Barricade and the others", and it's likely Ratchet perished during the battle in Tranquility before Optimus, as he would have assisted his leader otherwise.
• Mythology Gag: If one scores high enough in the weekly playthroughs or got the download from Target they could unlock Starscream in his G1 colors. It also comes with a laser using the drone sound-effects (which were the Null-Ray SFX from the G1 Cartoon).
• No-Sell: Starscream is completely invulnerable to anything firing at him when he has the AllSpark in his possession.
• Nothing Is Scarier: We never get to see Brawl play with his new friends^note captured human soldiers, but considering how he gleefully asks if it "hurts", we're probably best off not knowing.
• Pint-Sized Powerhouse:
  • Jazz gives Megatron a seriously tough time during his boss fight.
  • Barricade holds nothing back when dealing with Starscream, even though the latter has the AllSpark.
• Psychopathic Manchild: Brawl, who is basically a kid begging his parent to play with his toys, which in this scenario is him begging Barricade to blow stuff up. Best shown through this exchange:
  Barricade: (to Brawl) There's a military convoy heading your way. Grab one of their armored vehicles and bring it to me. We want to interrogate the humans inside, so make sure the vehicle stays in one piece.
  Brawl: Aw, come on. Let me at least shake them up a bit...
  Barricade: (sternly) Don't make me confiscate your weapon chip.
  Brawl: You're no fun.
• Post-Final Boss: After Optimus Prime's defeat (settling the conflict with the Autobots and Decepticons and thus winning the war), you fight Starscream to decide who will lead the cons. While both of the last two bosses can be cheesed (see Artificial Stupidity), if one doesn't exploit that, this trope applies. Starscream is the last boss of the game, but he is significantly easier to defeat than Optimus once the Allspark gets knocked off of (and then into) him.
• Pyrrhic Victory: Megatron has defeated the Autobots and ended Starscream's insurrection, but at the cost of the AllSpark and all of his troops, the last of whom he executed as punishment for being injured. Megatron is still satisfied being the nutjob he is, however, as the strongest has survived to fight another day.
• Rousing Speech: Upon getting freed from the ice, Megatron rallies his troops with a speech declaring their conquest and his intention to defeat Starscream.
  Megatron: My Decepticon brothers, we are united once again. Today we dine on the sparks of all Autobots. Today I reduce Starscream to a pile of scrap metal! Today we reclaim the AllSpark and show the universe what it means to be a DECEPTICON!!!
• Sacrificial Lion: Barricade's death serving Megatron's cause proves to Construct-A-Con what being a Decepticon really means.
• The Social Darwinist: Megatron deems that the weak are only meant to serve the strong. See You Have Outlived Your Usefulness.
• Spotting the Thread: Barricade busts Construct-A-Con's bubble when he reveals he knows that they're on the trail of the frozen Megatron; as Barricade puts it, Starscream wouldn't go through so many hoops just to find any random Decepticon. He'd only go after Megatron since he is the one Decepticon who truly poses a threat to him should he awaken.
• The Starscream: Besides the Trope Namer, Construct-A-Con and Barricade take up the role since they end up working to end his leadership.
• The Stoic: Blackout, who only raises his voice when he's hit during a fight. Or killed.
• Team Dad: Barricade leads and watches out for the Decepticons until Megatron's revival.
• Tutorial Failure: A very minor case, but still somewhat applicable. The game gives you the controls for cars and helicopters, but in the case of Brawl, Starscream and Megatron, they do not have levels that let you get used to the jets or the unique tank form; you have to quickly glance at the menu controls.
• Tyrant Takes the Helm: While all tyrants, Starscream taking over in Megatron's absence is this in the Decepticons' perspective. They'd rather have a Social Darwinist for a leader instead of a slimy, backstabbing coward hungry for power.
• Undignified Death: Construct-A-Con's last moments are spent critically injured, mourning the loss of his comrades and horrified that Megatron is about to kill him as punishment for letting himself get injured.
• Undying Loyalty: Construct-A-Con learns that having this for Megatron is what it truly means to be a Decepticon.
• Ungrateful Bastard: Construct-A-Con stayed loyal to Megatron, and helped him to defeat Starscream. Megatron repays him by killing him for the damage he took fighting Starscream, declaring repairs to be waste for anyone who is too weak to avoid getting hurt.
• Villainous Breakdown: Starscream starts the game pretty slimy and smooth, but as things begin to spiral out of his control, he gradually stops putting up the kindly façade he's been showing his protégé the entire game.
• Villain Episode: Putting aside that you are playing as the villains, Starscream is still the game's main villain. This doesn't stop you from getting a level where you play as him as he kills Bumblebee, takes the AllSpark and even has a boss fight where he kills Barricade, who had been The Mentor to Construct-A-Con.
• Villain Protagonist: The Decepticons are the primary playable characters in this game, aiming to find the AllSpark and defeat the Autobots.
• What Happened to the Mouse?: Brawl disappears after fighting Ironhide, and Ratchet disappears after surviving his boss fight.
• The Worf Effect: A Played With example. Blackout is known to handle himself well enough, but Starscream, with access to the AllSpark, one-shots him. He takes Barricade down not long after, and he even quickly renders Megatron weak before the end of the second-to-last mission.
• You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Construct-A-Con's loyalty to Megatron and his sacrifice to deal a critical blow to Starscream is repaid by his boss... By way of being torn apart for being "weak". Megatron also explicitly feels this way about his other fallen troops.