TransBot

For the Sega System E arcade game, see Transformer.

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TransBot

System(s): Sega Master System

Publisher: Sega Enterprises, Ltd. (JP, EU), Sega of America (US)

Developer: Sega R&D 2

Distributor: Ariolasoft (DE), Zegetron (GR), Tec Toy (BR)

Genre: Shooting^[1]

Number of players: 1-2 (alternating)

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP (Card)	1985-12-22^[1]	¥4,3004,300	C-503
US (Card)	1986-10^[2]	$34.9534.95^[3]	4004
EU	1987		MK-4504-50
EU (Card)	1987		4004
DE (Card)	1987	DM 6969	41003
PT	1996
UK (Card)	1987-08^[4]^[5]	£14.9514.95^[6]^[5]^[7]
GR	19xx
AU	19xx
MX	19xx
BR	1992-08		021050
TW	19xx		K-305

TransBot, known as Astro Flash (アストロフラッシュ) in Japan and Nuclear Creature in Brazil, is a commonly found Sega Master System game first released in 1985. It was one of the first titles to be released on Sega Card, though was later re-released on cartridge. It is a spiritual sequel to the SG-1000 game Orguss.

Story

The planet is devastated by a nuclear war in the year 2000. People are finally beginning to emerge from underground to rebuild society. However, an artificial intelligence named DALAUS, a leftover computer from the defunct regime, is creating its own empire. Only the CA-214, a transforming aircraft, can stop it.

Gameplay

The game is a side-scrolling shoot-'em-up in which the player pilots the CA-214 starfighter, which has the ability to transform into a robot. There are only two levels, with a boss at the end of the second level. Beating the boss loops the game back to the beginning with increased difficulty, which continues until the player loses or decides to stop playing. There is a two-player mode where players take turns playing.

The CA-214 moves in any direction using the D-Pad. It shoots by pressing . The game features a selection of weapons that the ship can equip, which are changed by collecting a "?" power-up. There are six choices that are cycled through on the top of the screen, which the player can stop by pressing , equipping whichever weapon is selected at that time. This means the player has limited control over the equipped weapon. Powered-up weapons only last until their energy is exhausted, in which case the ship reverts to its base weapon. The "Arm" meter in the top-right corner of the screen indicates how much energy is remaining.

The CA-214 transforms between its spaceship and robot forms depending on which weapon is equipped. The robot form is larger and thus a bigger target for enemy fire, but its weapons all do area damage to compensate.

The "Power" meter indicates how much shielding the CA-214 has left. It decreases as the ship takes damage from enemies. If it is emptied, the ship is destroyed, but it respawns in place with the default weapon equipped if the player has extra lives remaining. An extra life is awarded at 40,000 points, then every 80,000 points after that. The game ends if the player runs out of lives.

Weapons

Weapons A, B, and D are fired in spaceship mode.

Weapons C, E, and F are fired in robot mode.

	Normal Fire (A)
	The starting weapon. Shoots small, V-shaped projectiles that explode on impact. This is the only weapon that does not cost "Arm" energy, and it is re-equipped whenever the CA-214 runs out of energy with any of the other weapons.
	Beam (B)
	Shoots larger, ring-shaped projectiles rapidly.
	Sword Fire (C)
	Shoots a tall, unstoppable beam that encompasses a large vertical area.
	Cannon (D)
	Shoots small, pill-shaped projectiles that can penetrate through multiple targets. This is the only weapon that can destroy the Hiluns, which is necessary to enter the second level.
	Diffusion Beam (E)
	Shoots small, wave-like projectiles in a three-way spreadshot.
	Two Direction Fire (F)
	Shoots small, shuriken-shaped projectiles both forwards and backwards.

Items

	Arm Capsule
	When collected, a row of letters in the top of the screen cycles through seven modes (labeled A to G) until the player stops it by pressing . If it stops on a letter between A and F, the weapon corresponding to that letter is equipped. If it stops on G, the "Power" and "Arm" meters are refilled, restoring the CA-214's shielding and the energy for the currently equipped weapon.

Enemies

	Arm Carrier
	Points: 1,000
	These trucks periodically move across the ground and can be destroyed to release an Arm Capsule.
	Alapot
	Points: 120

	Ascule
	Points: 120

	Bifler
	Points: 80 (slow) or 100 (quick)

	Boasite
	Points: 240

	Elblink
	Points: 120

	Gealmea
	Points: 240

	Gelpaar
	Points: 180

	Hilun
	Points: 500
	Cross-shaped enemies that can only be destroyed by the Cannon (D) weapon. They are indestructible and respond by firing a spray of bullets when hit by any other weapon.
	Luvogue
	Points: 120

	Psyball
	Points: 100

	Zelnuc
	Points: 200

	Elgramzon
	Points: 20,000
	The "robot embodiment" of DELAUS and the only boss in the game. It is likely based on the AT-ST units from the Star Wars franchise. It is destroyed by shooting the red part of its head ten times.

Levels

	Level 1
	This stage loops indefinitely, gradually increasing in difficulty (including introducing new enemies), until the player finds the underground entrance. To do this, the player must equip the CA-214 with the Cannon (D) weapon, then use it destroy the four Hilun enemies that subsequently appear.
	Level 2