Congratulations to the winner of TFW2005 Transformers: Devestation Contest. We hope that you all are enjoying the new game at the moment. You can check out our review too. But right now, we are here to take you back to the past.
When it comes to a concept like Transformers, anybody would think it’s easy to make a video game. Sadly, it is only very recently that we got to see good Transformers games. With technical limitations and the sudden drop of popularity of the franchise, the late 80s and 90s weren’t kind to the Transformers Video Games.
Video game news website Nintendo Life revealed [via UK’s Retro Gamer Magazine] that there nearly was another Transformers game in development on the [then] newly released SNES with the Super FX chip (which brought you classics like Star Fox).
Programmer Michael Wong-Powell explains the whole story:
There was actually one in development, but it was cancelled. When I first talked to [Argonaut boss] Jez San about the chip they were developing it was one of the games on the cards. I originally thought of moulding my ideas into the Transformers game, but Jez wanted a few games out on Super FX, so kept my game separate.
As suggested, the game did not metamorph into Vortex, which is the main feature of the Retro Gamer article – Vortex was always its own entity. Vortex was not a super-hit but it showed off what Nintendo’s SNES could do. If you want to check out what Vortex looked like, take a look after the jump. Now imagine, a Transformers game made in a similar style, and there is a great “what could have been” there.
Starscream Gaga
Clearly you're playing the wrong games then.
Johntimus Prime
I dunno, Transformers games had a tendency to SUUUUUCK in the old days. We never really got any G1 games because they were all Japanese only and most sucked, the Beast Wars games were bland shooters and fighting games, the PS2 Armada game was one of the first decently fun games…movie games have been a mixed bag…and the Cybertron games were actually enjoyable. Never played the game based on the Prime series…and finally, Devastation is probably the best we've ever had.
So I don't miss the old days of Transformers games at all.
Transfotaku
I remember seeing this game listed in an ad in a video game mag back in the day. I pre-ordered it. Of course, never got it, made me so so sad then. But every so often I think about that game I wanted and never got.
Now we just got games we never want, hah!
MovieGodOptimus
You're implying that Platinum Games doesn't care about their Awesome Soundtrack… Nostalgia Goggles much
Datsun87
That is hardly a new practice, you just didn't notice it as a kid because it was called the "Super Turbo Edition" of Street Fighter II or you just bought a Game Genie.
Also how long did it take Protoman (or any of the original Robot Masters) to become playable again because I don't recall reading about that cheat in Nintendo Power.
Classic games were hardly the perfect little gems people make them out to be, even as a kid I remember everyone chatting about bogus cheats that didn't really exist because everyone wanted to do something that wasn't in the game. Good lord the time spent trying to "unlock" Zero in the original Megaman X…
Autovolt 127
I dunno i think it was kind of blessing that never happened.
Cha Chi
It is shame there is nothing to show of this snes tf game concept. Just an idea…
He is right. I tend to think the majority of good stuff was back around the snes generation and upto the playstation at the begining of 3d. That was the golden age!?! All the companies were still working on new game play and not just ocd detail cramming like we mostly have now. The same game just repeated in higher detail.
Newholl
He is right though.
A lot more effort was being invested into gameplay than today.
Johntimus Prime
Still a crime the West never got a release of Convoy no Nazo.
Starscream Gaga
Careful, honey, your nostalgia goggles are showing.
Autoboty
Someone really needs to get the Angry Video Game Nerd to review this.
PredaConvoy
You're both right.
The original is great, because without it we couldn't have what we have today. And today is great because it has built on what has come before..
For every immersive and compelling game today, there are a dozen lazy pieces of dross, same back then. The Uncharted series are cinematic and fun to play, whilst the Metal Gear games make you wade through hours of cinema and codec chat before you get to sneak a bit (and yet, I love them too)
Just remember, for every Sonic or Mario, there's a Bubsy the Bobcat.. *shudder*
Timothy.R
games these days are far more immersive than anything was way back then. maybe it's your nostalgia talking, but i have to disagree with you.
not all games these days are great, but there are quite a few of them that are.
saying that games back then are better (to me) is like someone trying to convince me that G1 prowl is better than masterpiece prowl.
KaonKoopa
I can't really say I agree with that. Old games had imagination involved in them, even though the technical limitations were great, companies found a way to creatively convey ideas. Today there are very little technical limitations, and instead of focusing on the creation of a great game. You have developers focusing more on how realistic they can make dirt look under fingernails, and how pretty they can make a game look. Gameplay is an after-though while graphics, and creating a "cinematic" experience through hours of cut-scenes are top priority. On top of that games these days are released unfinished, and the later piece-mealed out as "DLC". When they should've just taken the time to actually complete the game, but I guess if a money making scheme of releasing unfinished games works, go with it. Another big problem with modern games are their lack-luster soundtracks that are treated like their just after-thoughts. Can't beat soundtracks like Mega-Man/Legend of Zelda, when they actually cared about the music in games.
PredaConvoy
I believe it is the Predator, Snare. Albeit with a face instead of his mouthplate.
Autovolt 127
Fascinating read to say the least.
who was that supposed to be?
Bass X0
YoungPrime
Would've been better off calling it a Zaxxon sequel.
Nemesis_Apoc
No, SNES Super FX Title Vortex Was Never A Transformers Game – Nintendo Life
mtl79
It's crazy how spoiled we are with video game quality these days… seeing this game gives me the shivers, I can't believe I used to play video games like that when I was younger…
Mind you I can't believe we used to spend hundreds of dollars on systems like Atari to play pong… lol…