TransBot
From Sega Retro
- For the Sega System E arcade game, see Transformer.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TransBot | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
System(s): Sega Master System | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Sega | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: Sega R&D 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributor: Ariolasoft (DE), Zegetron (GR), Tec Toy (BR) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: Shooting[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of players: 1-2 (alternating) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
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.
Contents
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
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 | |
History
Legacy
Arrow Flash may be a sequel to this game due to the similar theme of gameplay and name.
Versions
Localised names
Language | Localised Name | English Translation |
---|---|---|
English | TransBot | TransBot |
English (US) | TransBot | TransBot |
Japanese | アストロフラッシュ | Astro Flash |
Portuguese (Brazil) | Nuclear Creature |
Production credits
Hints
Master System US hints (with Rambo: First Blood Part II)
Magazine articles
- Main article: TransBot/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
Physical scans
Sega Retro Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
44 | |
---|---|
Based on 12 reviews |
Master System, GR (Zegetron newer) |
---|
Master System, BX† |
---|
Technical information
ROM dump status
System | Hash | Size | Build Date | Source | Comments | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
? |
|
32kB | Cartridge (EU/US) | |||||||||||
? |
|
32kB | Cartridge (JP) |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/segamark3/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-11-14 21:32)
- ↑ Computer Entertainer, "December 1986" (US; 1986-12-xx), page 14
- ↑ Computer Entertainer, "October 1986" (US; 1986-10-xx), page 12
- ↑ File:SMSGameCatalog1EU.pdf, page 3
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Computer & Video Games, "November 1987" (UK; 1987-10-15), page 132
- ↑ ACE, "January 1989" (UK; 1989-xx-xx), page 167
- ↑ The Mastertronic Catalogue (UK; 1988), page 2
- ↑ http://sega.jp/fb/album/04_alex/02.html (Wayback Machine: 2022-05-28 00:55)
- ↑ Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 109
- ↑ The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 62
- ↑ Computer Action, "Juli/August 89" (DK; 1989-0x-xx), page 35
- ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 146
- ↑ Computer & Video Games, "March 1988" (UK; 1988-02-15), page 120
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136
- ↑ S: The Sega Magazine, "July 1990" (UK; 1990-06-07), page 10
- ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1992" (UK; 1992-03-19), page 30
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
- ↑ Soft, "" (DK; 1988-04-21), page 30
- ↑ Tilt, "Décembre 1987" (FR; 1987-1x-xx), page 100
TransBot | |
---|---|
Main page | Comparisons | Hidden content | Bugs | Magazine articles | Reception |
- 1-2 player games
- JP Master System games
- All JP games
- US Master System games
- All US games
- EU Master System games
- All EU games
- DE Master System games
- All DE games
- PT Master System games
- All PT games
- UK Master System games
- All UK games
- GR Master System games
- All GR games
- AU Master System games
- All AU games
- MX Master System games
- All MX games
- BR Master System games
- All BR games
- TW Master System games
- All TW games
- Master System games
- 1985 Master System games
- All 1985 games
- Master System shoot-'em-up games
- All shoot-'em-up games
- All games
- Credits without reference
- Old technical information
- TransBot