View source for Transformers: Mystery of Convoy

{{short description|1986 video game}}
{{Expand Japanese|トランスフォーマー コンボイの謎|topic=vg|date=September 2015}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox video game
| title        = Transformers: Mystery of Convoy
| image        = Transformers Mystery of Comvoy Famicom box.png
| developer    = [[ISCO (videogame developer)|ISCO]]
| publisher    = [[Takara]]
| programmer   = Hiroshi Okamoto
| released     = {{vgrelease|JP|{{start date|1986|12|5}}}}
| genre        = [[Shoot 'em up#Run and gun|Run and gun]]
| series       = ''[[List of Transformers video games|Transformers]]''
| modes        = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]]
| platforms    = [[Family Computer]]
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Transformers: Mystery of Convoy'''''|戦え! 超ロボット生命体トランスフォーマー コンボイの謎(ナゾ)|Tatakae! Chō Robotto Seimeitai Toransufōmā: Konboi no Nazo|lit. "Fight! Super Robot Life-Form Transformers: Mystery of Convoy"|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1986 video game developed by [[ISCO (videogame developer)|ISCO]] and published by [[Takara]] in Japan for the [[Famicom]]. It is based on the ''[[Transformers (toy line)|Transformers]]'' toyline.<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/gamesoft/blog/i0300/post_46.html|script-title=ja:『トランスフォーマー・コンボイの謎』でレッツトラウマ|trans-title=Let's trauma in ''Transformers: Mystery of Convoy''|date= 2008-06-06|access-date= 2009-02-27|publisher= [[Takara Tomy]]|language= ja|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120217095202/http://www.takaratomy.co.jp/products/gamesoft/blog/i0300/post_46.html|archive-date=2012-02-17 }}</ref> The game was made available on the [[Wii]]'s [[Virtual Console]] service on June 10, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/vc_tf/index.html|title= VC トランスフォーマー コンボイの謎|trans-title=Virtual Console - ''Transformers: Mystery of Convoy''|access-date= 2009-02-27|publisher= Nintendo|language= ja}}</ref>

The game stars [[Autobot]] protagonist [[Ultra Magnus]]. The titular ''Mystery'' is the identity of Optimus Prime's (known as "Convoy" in Japan, and misspelled as "Comvoy" in the game) killer, as the [[The Transformers: The Movie|1986 film]] did not see a Japanese release for another four years.{{fact|date=December 2023}} Thus, Optimus Prime's death was not adequately explained to the Japanese audience; this game was intended to capitalize on that gap.

==Gameplay==
The player controls Ultra Magnus, who must shoot his way through 10 horizontally and vertically scrolling levels consisting of various [[Decepticon]] enemies, with a [[Boss (video gaming)|boss]] fight at the end of each level. He can transform into a car carrier, which makes it easier for him to avoid enemy attacks, drive through narrow entrances and shoot enemies that are flying above him. Along the way, he can also pick up various [[power-up]]s which can give him wider ranging firepower or even the ability to fly. There are two [[Warp (video games)|Warp Zones]] within the game; they can be found by rescuing [[Bumblebee (Transformers)|Bumblebee]] from the Decepticons.

The bosses for each level consist of mostly large Decepticon symbols in different color palettes. The only Deceptions Ultra Magnus actually fights are Menasor, Bruticus, Megatron (who for unexplained reasons is the penultimate boss), and [[Trypticon]] (known in Japan as Dinosaurer), the final boss.<ref name=1up>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=1&cId=3160736 |title=Robots in Disgust |last=Oxford |first=Nadia |page=2 |date=2007-03-07 |work=[[1UP.com]] |publisher=[[IGN Entertainment]] |access-date=2014-06-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305062613/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=1&cId=3160736 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

Another playable character in the game is [[Rodimus|Rodimus Prime]], who can be unlocked by collecting the letters that spell 'RODIMUS'. One letter is hidden in each level except 3, 6, and 10. However, though his vehicle mode has its own graphics, his robot-mode [[sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]] is Ultra Magnus in Rodimus's palette.

==Other media==
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name            = Other The Transformers: Mystery of Convoy media
| image           = 
| caption         =
| ja_kanji        = 
| ja_romaji       = 
| genre           = 
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = tv series
| title           = Q Transformers: Mystery of Convoy Returns
| director        = Kōtarō Ishidate
| producer        = 
| writer          = Kōtarō Ishidate
| music           = Hajime (from LiLi)<br>Jiro (from LiLi)
| studio          = [[DLE (company)|DLE]]
| licensee        = 
| network         = [[Tokyo MX]], [[Niconico]], [[YouTube]]
| first           = January 6, 2015
| last            = March 31, 2015
| episodes        = 13
| episode_list    =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
| type            = tv series
| title           = Q Transformers: The Road to Additional Popularity
| director        = Kōtarō Ishidate
| producer        = 
| writer          = Kōtarō Ishidate
| music           = Hajime (from LiLi)<br>Jiro (from LiLi)
| studio          = [[DLE (company)|DLE]]
| licensee        = 
| network         = [[Tokyo MX]], [[Niconico]], [[YouTube]]
| first           = July 6, 2015
| last            = October 1, 2015
| episodes        = 13
| episode_list    =
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}

===Anime===
In collaboration with the 30th anniversary of ''Transfomers'' - as well as the 35th anniversary of ''[[Choro-Q]]'' - a [[flash cartoon|flash]] [[anime]] adaptation of the game, produced by [[DLE (company)|DLE]], titled {{nihongo|''Q Transformers: Mystery of Convoy Returns''|キュートランスフォーマー 帰ってきたコンボイの謎|Kyū Toransufōmā Kaettekita Konboi no Nazo}}, began airing in Japan on January 6, 2015.<ref name="animenewsnetwork.com">{{Cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-08-07/1986-game-transformers-mystery-of-convoy-gets-tv-anime/.77393 |title = 1986 Game Transformers: Mystery of Convoy Gets TV Anime| date=June 5, 2023 }}</ref> The opening theme is "physical" by [[Oldcodex]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-12-27/q-transformers-tv-anime-opening-sequence-streamed-with-oldcodex/.82663 |title = Q Transformers TV Anime's Opening Sequence Streamed with OLDCODEX| date=June 5, 2023 }}</ref> A second season titled {{nihongo|''Q Transformers: The Road to Additional Popularity''|キュートランスフォーマー さらなる人気者への道|Kyū Toransufōmā Saranaru Ninkimono e no Michi}} premiered in Japan on July 6, 2015. The ending themes of the second season are {{nihongo|"Destiny ~ 400 Man-nen Mae Kara Itoshi teru"|~DESTINY～400万年前から愛してる～}} by [[Yoshimasa Hosoya]] and {{nihongo|"SHOCK ~ Kono Omoi wa Hikari no Yōni ~"|SHOCK～この想いは光のように～}} by [[Kaito Ishikawa]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.animate.tv/news/details.php?id=1435920825.2015-07-03 | title=Animate.tv - animate Resources and Information}}</ref>

;Voice actors and characters
;Main characters
*[[Yoshimasa Hosoya]] as Optimus Prime / GTR Optimus Prime / Convoy 
*[[Ryohei Kimura]] as Bumblebee / Bumble
*[[Tatsuhisa Suzuki]] as Lockdown
;Supporting characters
*[[Yuichi Nakamura (voice actor)|Yuichi Nakamura]] as Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, Rumble
*Go Inoue as Prowl 
*[[Kenshō Ono]] as Hot Rod (Rodimus Convoy)
*[[Jun Fukushima]] as Wheeljack
*[[Kōji Yusa]] as Jazz (Meister)
*[[Kousuke Toriumi]] as Red Alert
*[[Kōki Uchiyama]] as Smokescreen 
*Fukujuro Katayama as Bluestreak
*[[Sōichirō Hoshi]] as Tracks and Sanada Yukimura (from [[Sengoku Basara 4|Sengoku BASARA 4]])
*[[Akira Ishida]] as Ultra Magnus
*[[Keiji Fujiwara]] as Megatron
*[[Tomokazu Sugita]] as Starscream
*[[Kaito Ishikawa]] as Shockwave
*[[Nobuhiko Okamoto]] as Soundwave
*[[Tomoaki Maeno]] as Drift
*[[Tesshō Genda]] as Kazumi Araiwa (from [[Cooking Papa]])
*[[Sumire Uesaka]] as Arcee
*[[Shouta Aoi]] as Cliff
*[[Kentarō Itō]] as Skywarp
*[[Kenjiro Tsuda]] as Thundercracker

===Smartphone app===
The studio [[DLE (company)|DLE]] also produced a smartphone app, titled {{nihongo|''Q Transformers: Mystery of Convoy Returns''|キュートランスフォーマー 帰ってきたコンボイの謎|Kyū Toransufōmā Kaettekita Konboi no Nazo}}, which was released for [[iOS]] and [[Android (operating system)|Android]] devices in August 2014.<ref name="animenewsnetwork.com"/> This was a remake of the original game using Q Transformers [[Optimus Prime]] and [[Bumblebee (Transformers)|Bumblebee]] as playable characters instead of [[Ultra Magnus]] and [[Rodimus Prime]]. Like the original, it is quite difficult but serves as an endless runner game instead of the platformer style of the original. This was a Japanese app store exclusive, but the servers have been shut down since its release.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.appspy.com/news/8947/transformers-nes-game-returns-as-q-transformers-mystery-of-the-returned-convoy-on-ios-and-android | title=Transformers NES game returns as Q Transformers: Mystery of the Returned Convoy on iOS and Android}}</ref>

==Reception==
''Transformers: Mystery of Convoy'' is known for its high difficulty level and poor stage design, resulting in a largely negative reception both at release and retrospectively.<ref name="FCM">{{cite news |title=5月10日号特別付録 ファミコンロムカセット オールカタログ |agency=Family Computer Magazine |issue=9 |publisher=[[Tokuma Shoten]] |date=May 10, 1991 |volume=7 |page=82 |language=ja}}</ref><ref name="Lambie">{{cite web |last1=Lambie |first1=Ryan |title=Transformers: Mystery of Convoy Might be the Most Cynical Licensed Video Game Ever Made |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/transformers-mystery-of-convoy-might-be-the-most-cynical-licensed-video-game-ever-made/ |website=[[Den of Geek]] |publisher=Den of Geek World |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607202834/https://www.denofgeek.com/games/transformers-mystery-of-convoy-might-be-the-most-cynical-licensed-video-game-ever-made/ |archive-date=June 7, 2020 |date=February 13, 2018}}</ref><ref name="RGamer">{{cite web |author1=Retro Gamer Staff |title=Transformers: Convoy no Nazo (Transformers: Mystery of Convoy) |url=https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games80/transformers-convoy-no-nazo-transformers-mystery-of-convoy/ |website=[[Retro Gamer]] |publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]] |access-date=October 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150913083230/https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games80/transformers-convoy-no-nazo-transformers-mystery-of-convoy/ |archive-date=September 13, 2015 |date=February 11, 2010}}</ref> ''[[1UP.com]]'' called it the "perfect example of a shameless tie-in." They criticized the game for its high level of difficulty, the game's implementation of the transforming ability and how the ninth stage loops infinitely unless a specific pattern is followed.<ref name=1up/>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.qtransformers.com/animation/index.html Official anime website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150111111000/http://www.qtransformers.com/animation/index.html |date=January 11, 2015 }} {{in lang|ja}}
{{Portal|Japan|Video games|1980s}}

{{Transformers video games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transformers: Convoy No Nazo}}
[[Category:Transformers: Generation 1 video games|Mystery Of Convoy]]
[[Category:1986 video games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Japan-exclusive video games]]
[[Category:Run and gun games]]
[[Category:Takara video games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games set in the United States]]
[[Category:Virtual Console games]]
[[Category:2015 anime television series debuts]]
[[Category:Transformers animated television series|Mystery Of Convoy]]
[[Category:Tokyo MX original programming]]
[[Category:Video games adapted into television shows]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]