Transformers: The Headmasters (video game)
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| トランスフォーマー ザ★ヘッドマースターズ
(Transformer: The Headmasters) | |||||||
| Publisher | Takara | ||||||
| Platform | Famicom Disk System | ||||||
| Release date | 28 August 1987 | ||||||
Transformers: The Headmasters is a video game for the Famicom Disk System, based on the toy line and TV series of the same name. Rodimus Prime, Chromedome, Highbrow, Brainstorm, Hardhead, and Fortress Maximus are all playable characters at various points in the game. The game follows Chromedome on a quest to free his allies and free several planets from the control of several Decepticon warlords. All of the playable characters (except for Fortress Maximus) share the same sprite for their robot modes.
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Gameplay
The game plays similarly to its predecessor, Mystery of Convoy, the biggest differences being that the player now has a health bar, and can no longer transform at will. Instead, each stage is divided into two segments, an above-ground stage played in vehicle form, and an underground maze played in robot form. There are five playable Autobots: Chromedome, Rodimus Prime, Hardhead, Highbrow, and Brainstorm. The player can switch between each one freely, although only Chromedome is available at the start of the game, as the rest are being held captive. Fortress Maximus is also playable, but only in the final stage.
Each Autobot has three separate stats: Energon, Power, and Speed, each of which can be increased by collecting power-ups dropped by fallen foes. Energon measures the character's health from 0-8; if it drops to zero, they go offline. Power measures the strength of the character's weapons from A-E, and each level increases the speed and sometimes number of bullets fired. Speed measures (go figure) how fast a character is, which helps them avoid traps and dodge enemy fire.
Stages
Except for the Last world, each location consists of two levels, one above ground stage (played through in vehicle mode) and an underground maze stage (played through in robot mode).
Above-Ground Stages
During the first part of each stage, the player controls one of the Autobots in his vehicle mode, driving or flying along while avoiding or shooting down enemies. At the end, the player fights against one of the Decepticon bosses. The land-based Autobots (Chromedome, Rodimus Prime, Hardhead, and Fortress Maximus) have two weapons in this stage, a surface-to-air diagonal shot, and a ground weapon that shoots straight forward (Except Hardhead, who, being a tank, lobs shells in an arc). The air-based Autobots (Brainstorm and Highbrow) can only shoot forward, but they can fly, making it easier to dodge enemies. Some Autobot allies are hidden in the above-ground areas, and must be freed by shooting down the vehicles holding them captive.
Underground Segments
In second part of each stage, the Autobots convert to robot mode to assault the Decepticons' base and defeat the boss at the end. In robot mode, the player can now shoot forward, punch, and walk/fly in all directions. Each base consists of a number of rooms with locked doors, which will only open after defeating enough enemies and collecting a Decepticon insignia. Captured Autobots can sometimes be found within the stages: when touched, the freed Autobot becomes instantly playable, but his power levels will be at minimum. At the end of the stage, the player will face one of several boss Decepticons. In the boss rooms, shots now can be angled up or down depending on the player's trajectory, and bullets will bounce off the walls and ceilings like ping-pong balls.
Bonus Stage
After successfully completing both portions of a stage, the player enters a bonus stage, where Chromedome flies through space while the other Autobots trail behind. Asteroids and other objects fly from the top of the screen that will drop power-ups if shot, but deal damage if they hit.
Differences from Mystery of Convoy
The Headmasters takes advantage of the special features of the Famicom Disk System, allowing players to save up to three different games. The game automatically saves each time a planet is cleared. The game also makes use of the extra sound channel made available by the 2C33 sound chip in the FDS RAM card and features a full-length MIDI-esque rendition of The Headmasters' opening theme played over the title screen. The background music in each stage also makes use of the extra channel. In terms of gameplay, The Headmasters is far less punishing to the player. Each Autobot has a dedicated life bar, and in general enemy bullets and attacks are easier to see and avoid.
Story
Characters
| Autobots | Decepticons | ||
|---|---|---|---|
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Notes
- For some reason, Fortress Maximus transforms into Metroplex's vehicle mode instead of his own.
- The game's level selection screen is shown in English. One of the planets here is named "Jail". However, the manual refers to this planet as Jāru (ジャール), which is the Japanese treatment for the planet that in the West is named "Chaar". As such, for the purposes of this article, we're referring to this planet by its Western name.
- The Japanese word hoshi (星) refers to astronomical bodies in general, including planets and stars. Due to this, the stage select screen refers to each planet as "stars" in English.
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