TransBot

From Sega Retro

n/a

Transbot Title.png

TransBot
System(s): Sega Master System, Sega System E
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Number of players: 1-2 (alternating)
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
JP
¥4,3004,300 C-503
Sega Master System
US
4004
Sega Master System
EU
MK-4504-50
Sega Master System
EU
(Card)
4004
Sega Master System
DE
(Card)
DM 6969 41003
Sega Master System
PT
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Master System
BR
021050
Sega Master System
TW
K-305

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

Plot

It seemed like things were finally starting to get back together after the Nuclear War of the solar year 2,000.

People had emerged from their underground shelters. They built new downs. New forms of transportation. An all new society.

But something has gone wrong. DALAUS, an artificial intelligence computer left over from the now defunct regime is creating a dictatorial empire. DALAUS is already gaining control of one city - and it's rumoured that many of the guards are actually working for DALAUS.

The only thing that can stop this treacherous takeover is the new CA-214, a sophisticated transforming combat astro-plane. And the only one who can pilot this high-performance machine is you.

You'll have to destroy the enemy's ARM CARRIER. Then n try to find DALAUS's hidden fortress and destroy ELGRAMZON to rid the earth of evil influence forever.

Gameplay

In TransBot, the player pilots a CA-214 starfighter, which has the ability to transform into a robot through power-up icons. It is a sidescrolling shoot-'em-up with a number of different levels and firing modes.

There is only one power-up in the game; the "Arm Capsule", which if collected (after shooting a ground-based "Arm Carrier") will cycle through seven modes (labeled A to G) until the user tells it to stop. This means the player has very little control over his/her firing method, however the powerup must be collected regularly to replenish ammunition.

The letters correspond to the following attacks:

  • A: "Normal Fire" (default weapon) - simple ">"-shaped projectiles which explode on impact
  • B: "Beam" - larger, circular weapons which behave like the ripple laser from Gradius
  • C: "Sword Fire" - easily the most powerful weapon in-game - an unstoppable beam encompassing a large vertical area
  • D: "Cannon" - similar to A, only projectiles do not explode on impact
  • E: "Diffusion Beam" - a three-way spreadshot mode
  • F: "Two Direction Fire" - allows shooting both forwards and backwards
  • G: Maximises the power of the currently selected weapon.

C, E and F are fired in robot mode, making the player a bigger target for enemy fire.

Enemies

Alapot
Ascule
Barrier
Bifler
Boasite
Elblink
Gealmea
Gelpaar
Hilun
Luvogue
Psyball
Zelnuc
Elgramzon
The "robot embodiment" of Dalaus, which is the closest TransBot gets to a boss. It is likely based on the AT-ST units from the Star Wars franchise.

History

Legacy

Along with a few other Master System/Mark III games of the time, Astro Flash was brought to Sega System E arcade hardware in 1986 in Japan. The arcade game had a Western release as Transformer, rather than Transbot. The arcade version has a number of graphical tweaks, the music is a bit different, and there are slight variants on the gameplay. In the System E version, the player can always change between robot and starfighter at will, and can increase his or her power by destroying more enemies rather than collecting icons.

Arrow Flash may be a sequel to this game due to the similar theme of gameplay and name.

Hints

Physical Scans

Master System Version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
75 №4, p109[3]
70 №77, p120/121[4]
17 №8, p10[5]
20 №23, p60
23 №6, p30[6]
Sega Master System
41
Based on
5 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
75
[3]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
75
[7]
Computer Action (DK)
50
[8]
Console XS (UK) PAL
26
[9]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
70
[4]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
75
[10]
S: The Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
17
[5]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
0
[11]
Sega Pro (UK)
23
[6]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
26
[12]
Soft (DK)
40
[13]
Tilt (FR)
55
[14]
Sega Master System
44
Based on
12 reviews

TransBot

Master System, US
"SM" variant
TransBot US cover.jpg
Cover
Transbot sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, US
® variant
TransBot SMS US R cover.jpg
Cover
Transbot sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
TransBot EU cover.jpg
Cover
TransBot SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
TransBotSMSEUManual2L.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
® variant
TransBot SMS EU R cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, EU
card version
TransBot EU cardcover.jpg
Cover
Transbot Master System EU Card Back.jpgTransbot Master System EU Card Front.jpg
Card
Master System, JP
TransBot SMS JP back.jpgNospine.pngTransBot JP cover.jpg
Cover
AstroFlash SMS JP Cardback.jpgAstroFlash SMS JP Card.jpg
Card
Master System, AU
Transbot SMS AU Cover.jpg
Cover
TransBot SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Transbot Master System AU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, UK
card version
TransBot EU Eng cardcover.jpg
Cover
Master System, DE
card version
TransBot DE cardcover.jpg
Cover
TransBot DE cardback.jpgTransBot DE card.jpg
Card
Master System, PT
TransBot PT cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, BR
TransBot BR cover.jpg
Cover
NuclearCreature SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
50x50px
Manual
Master System, BR (INMETRO sticker)
TransBot SMS BR2 Box.jpg
Cover
NuclearCreature SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
TransBot SMS BR Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, BR (Sega Special sticker)
TransBot SMS BR3 Box.jpg
Cover
NuclearCreature SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
TransBot SMS BR Manual.pdf
Manual

System E Version

System E, JP

References

  1. File:CVG UK 073.pdf, page 132
  2. File:ACE UK 16.pdf, page 167
  3. 3.0 3.1 File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 109 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CGtC UK 04.pdf_p109" defined multiple times with different content
  4. 4.0 4.1 File:CVG UK 077.pdf, page 120 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 077.pdf_p120" defined multiple times with different content
  5. 5.0 5.1 File:StheSegaMagazine UK 08.pdf, page 10 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:StheSegaMagazine UK 08.pdf_p10" defined multiple times with different content
  6. 6.0 6.1 File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf, page 30 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 06.pdf_p30" defined multiple times with different content
  7. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 62
  8. Computer Action, "Juli/August 89" (DK; 1989-0x-xx), page 35
  9. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 146
  10. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136
  11. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 60
  12. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  13. Soft, "" (DK; 1988-04-21), page 30
  14. Tilt, "Décembre 1987" (FR; 1987-1x-xx), page 100