I feel so privileged to say that it was the very first game I 100% as a kid. The first time you get to tidal wave especially for that time truly is the best.
That was also my fav boss in the game, that one and the Cyclonus fight. Also, me and my cousin were putting mad hours into this game and once he found a funny bug in which he hid behind a mountain and tidal wave went around to search for you but went so far away that he was literally up to his neck deep into the water. We were laughing at it for days, best thing ever
I personally missed Beast Wars. I was into Transformers in the early 90s, then was into other things. I returned to Transformers in the early 2000s, pretty much just in time for Armada and Energon. I'd like to talk more about this, so let's hope the video is well received. Thank you for your kind words mate, glad you enjoyed :)
Absolutely loved this game as a kid. Seeing the yellow glow in the distance was always so exciting, and the disappointment was so palpable when it turned out to be just a data disc.
I’m honestly still shocked on how good it’s aesthetic holds up today. I don’t even think ‘it looks dated’. It just looks fun with its animations and designs carrying the toy feel over.
The toy designs absolutely shine through. And it has a great chonky aesthetic that I always preferred to the more greebly, detailed Transformers designs which came shortly after.
A great style can last forever. "Graphical fidelity" gets outmoded quickly and suffers from diminishing returns, which is pretty much what we see now in modern releases.
I’ve never been a big Transformers guy, but I’ll be damned if your enthusiasm isn’t infectious as hell in this video. I could listen to you talk about Transformers for an endless amount of videos.
Thank you so much! This one was so easy to make, because I just love big ol' robots! And it seems to be doing okay, so perhaps I'll make a couple more in the future :D
Didn’t know what to expect but I really appreciate your “toyetic” perspective on how you’ve experienced the game. It’s a great way of describing how I’ve felt about its unique movement for a long time. I’ve been actively speedrunning the game for almost 5 years, as way back in childhood I felt the magic of the movement and wanted to recapture that and see how far I could take it. “Toy like” is actually a great way to describe how the game feels, and I think most would agree, no matter how in tune with the physics you are. Since then I’ve never looked back and it’s my favourite game of all time. Thank you for this review :)
That's so awesome. I don't think I ended up using footage of it, but one of my favourite things in this game is to gun it off a ramp in car mode, transform into a robot in mid-air and then deploy the glide wings. You can get some really good distance and it feels like a great way of using the game's toolset to have fun and explore the possibilities the game gives you.
@@MattyStoked Yes! I am playing it again after years and the gliding physics are seriously way better than they have any right to! You can turn all of your speed into altitude using this method just like in real life.
This is exactly the Transformers era I was into as a kid, from here to the first couple films. Didn't have a PS2 back then, so I'll definitely have to pick up a copy and give it a go now. Great video!
What I love about talking about this stuff is having things in common with people younger than me really showcases that I was way too old to still be into those things. If you liked the toys or the cartoon, I think you'd get something out of this game. It has a great soundtrack too 🥳
Thanks so much @@SuperMcSteel! I've been a collector for longer than I care to admit. I had a nearly complete G1 UK collection and have had collections from most lines since. I had a lovely Prime collection until the 2010s when it became too difficult to collect them all! I enjoy something about every line. I'm not one for the MP or the big expensive 3P toys. I like them cheap! Absolutely loving Kingdom and Legacy lately. Picked up WAY more than I expected to! Thank you for the sub. I saw Rise of the Beasts this weekend and it's spurred me on to try doing more Transformers videos
I liked Armada but was big into Cybertron. Unfortunately the shows graphics has aged as well as Beast Wars in relation to what we have no. Loved this game growing up though, as a kid I thought they reused assets from Battlefront 1 because the forest reminded me of Yavin
oh my god... thank you!!! I cannot tell you how much it means to me knowing that my favorite game is getting the recognition it rightfully disserves! I'm a huge Transformers fan myself, and watching this really made my day... thank you for making this video! Transformers Armada: the Game, is and will always be my favorite game! ^v^
I poured an insane amount of time into this game back in the day! Would love to hear your thoughts about other Transformers games like WfC and Devastation,
Still one of my favorite games of all time. I’ve beaten this game countless times throughout my childhood although it’s difficulty gave me an early life crisis at times, and always find time to revisit it when I can. One can appreciate the time you took reanalyzing the often delayed and frustratedly uncooperative movement system as more than just the clunky and demanding system that it is, but rather spinning it brilliantly as a sensational feeling because of that nostalgic sense that it illustrates from it having an authentic toylike aesthetic and functionality. Being present and going back to re-examine the game, the intricacies developed in the each playable character’s movements were unique to their design and represent every Transformers fan’s collective joy and satisfaction they earned from learning how to play with Transformers as a kid. This game was a fantasy and this video was so well made. Keep making content! 🫶🏻❤️
The Unicron Trilogy stuff isn't as easy to find in the wild - the really old toys are the ones you tend to find more of, weirdly. But they're usually pretty affordable to pick up.
You'll be okay. Blurr, Sideswipe, Demolishor, Cylonus and those more basic Super-Con Class toys are still really cheap and easy to find. Let me know how you get on 😁😁
This was one of my favorite games when I was a kid. I only saw one brief commercial for it. But when I got it, I got many many many hours of playtime out of it. It was a REALLY fun game.
I think that fun, unique level design is something that really helps a transformers game. When you’re a transformer, you’ve got way more mobility, so you want to explore more. War for Cybertron’s levels left a lot to be desired with how dark and samey looking they were
I *really* liked the High Noon games. But that era of Unreal games were all so drab! I streamed WfC recently and I used ReShade to pump up the colours. It's WAY more fun when it's not so grey...
This brings back so many great memories. I absolutely love this game even tried to recreate it in Unreal Engine, but it was a pretty big project so I put it on hold. Great videos btw
0:20 "a level of consideration nobody would expect to what's basically a toy comercial" is a phrase that could be used to a lot of Transformers media tbh. WFC and FOC are other shining examples too.
@@MattyStoked True! But I would argue they are still commercials for the IP. People started reading IDW comics because they liked the story, and then went on to become overall Transformers fans, and then collect the toys.
Bought this recently as I’ve been collecting ps2 games and I never had the chance to try this one out as a kid. I’m genuinely impressed by the work the devs put into this game, even as someone who didn’t get to play it before I’m having so much fun with it! You did an incredible job explaining what makes this game so effective, it deserves so much more praise than what it seems to get
this game is pure nostalgia for me, this was one of the games that grew my love for transformers, i never actually played it tho, only watched a playthrough
I remember playing this game. It was amazing. Sad you could only play as Hotshot, Red-Alert, and Optimus Prime. Although it's pretty easy to see how these guys clearly influenced the movie versions of Bumblebee, Ratchet, and Optimus Prime. Interestingly, the main villains, Starscream, Cyclonus, and Megatron, clearly influenced the movie versions of Starscream, Blackout, and Megatron. Anyway. I wish I could have this game back.
This vid popped up on my recommended and I’m sold. Subscribed! I’ve been a Transformers fan all my life and this was a great watch. I’ve been trying to rewatch The Unicron Trilogy for a while now! This series is a soft spot for me too.
Thank you so much! Thanks for the sub, mate. I am also a life-ling fan. You can expect more Transformers stuff, based on the reaction this one is getting :D
Thank you so much for the kind words! Always very pleasing to have someone say such lovely things. The key for us small UA-cam channels is to get the word out. If you know anyone who would enjoy this, please share 🙏
To me that early 2000s was the first introduction to a lot of these properties. Especially TMNT 2003 holds a deep and beloved place in my heart. It is also actually a really good series up until fastforward.
Awesome video review :) This game is a favorite of mine, if it wasn't obvious from the profile photo. Quite happy that a dedicated Discord community interested in this game sprung up over a decade after its release. Small correction, the game was released worldwide as Transformers, the Prelude to Energon subtitle was dropped prior to release for all regions.
Nothing gives me more "rumamging through the toybox" vibes than playing a game which actively encourages you to change out your Autobot, switch up your Minicon loadout and use your skills to track down more guys for your toy collection.
Yes. I have this and it's good. I had played the demo way back then. But I never had the chance to play it properly until recently, when I seriously started collecting for the PS2.
It's a banger game! I got this pretty close to release. Here in the UK we got a cool collector's edition with a die cut slipcase and a making of documentary on the disc. Which I've used in the video :D
I remember this game and being really excited for it, one of the few that went past my expectations given it was a franchise tie in. I remember feeling weirded out with the control scheme initially, more so with the fire buttons being on the R buttons and yet that became the accepted scheme for all modern shooters now! I'm sure I have a copy of the game somewhere but if I were to play it now, I reckon the controls alone would be the thing that's aged like wine!
I'm so happy I just saw this in my recommended, the moment I saw the thumbnail it was like a crack formed in a wall I made to forget this game, and the more I watched the more I just couldn't help but tear up. I had forgotten this game I had forgotten my first game after Diablo 2, and I forgot the game that probably gave me insomnia that I still suffer from to this day, this game I would play nonstop it was so fun and the reason why I put up that wall to forget it was cause I knew the moment I remembered it I would be right back in my childhood wanting to play it nonstop again. I always unintentionally lied about my first console game, or my favorite game I've ever played, and it's cause of that wall, this has always been my first and favorite console game. The only Transformers Games that held a candle to my joy playing this were the Cybertron games, but they never fully gave me the long term joy I had playing this game and everytime I saw that Atari load up logo I knew I was about to have fun and I eventually associated it with Transformers purely based on this game. I know this is a long comment and it might sound cringe or a little gushy, but I can't stress enough how happy I was to remember this game, and how that thumbnail made me NEED to click this cause I already knew what game it was. This is an amazing game and the best Transformers games, I genuinely think more games should look at how this game felt to play.
This might be the best comment on this video. Thank you for your open, gushy, cringey, awesome enthusiasm. I don't believe that being passionate or positive about something in such a wholesome way can ever be truly cringe. I loved this comment and I sincerely thank you for posting it.
This game was my favorite Transformers game growing up. The more 'realistic' ones were cool too, but this one just captured the awesome feeling of being a kid, playing giant robots that transformed!
Good fuckin video. I have no doubt if it weren't such an obscure topic this would blow up. Keep it up, man. Well researched, well narrated, well edited.
What a delightful video. Transformers: Armada was my introduction to Transformers as a kid and while I had a lot of the figures, I never had any video game consoles at that time and was never able to play this game so it's cool to see such an in-depth look at it.
Thank you for such a lovely comment :) Armada was such a cool point in the toyline's history. I plan to talk about the comics and the cartoon one day, too. Maybe even the toys!
Bless you man, it’s so nice to see someone finally praise this game. I remembered when I first played it, I was legitimately surprised how fun and how faithful it was. I didn’t hollow Armada myself as Cybertron was my jam but you can tell who ever made this really loved that series. This to me kind of reminds me of a game like Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, a love letter to fans more than anything else. Between this and Devastation Tranformers genuinely has some great gems. Legit didn’t know this game was based on Armada, in the UK it was just called Transformers and there’s a nice directors cut version with some extras too.
I dunno how or why UA-cam recommended me this video, but I do thank you. I remember playing this on a PS2 demo disk way back in the day and I thought it was a fun time. Glad I got to see this in action after so long!
I remember after I gained sentience, this was the game that my brother, Dad and I would all gather around the tv to play. Looking at it now is nostalgic, yet I can’t even say I view this game through rose colored glasses. It was simply good.
Like I've been saying for years, this game should be regarded as the golden standard of a good transformers game. I grew up on Armada and I remember seeing this game on a shelf a couple years after armada was over and was SUPER STOKED for it.
Complete set of unbroken Turbomasters and Predator jets. I have the Motorvators, too. I'm only a few bits from a complete Euro G1 collection. I have had them since before they were considered rare and valuable, too.
Honestly, I love this game so much. Granted, for a long time, it was one of only 2 games I had on the PS2 but I spent so much time going through it. The environments are genuinely beautiful to see and the sound design is amazing, especially the snow crunching during the Antarctica level. I never watched the show until nearly ten years later (largely because when it aired, the only channel that we had that was airing it was Sky 1 who aired it at midnight) but you never feel put of the loop even not knowing the show. I genuinely feel that this game is one that could truly do well with a remaster, maybe clean up some of the more polygonal models, update some of the textures, add some options for lighting and effects and that's about it. The controls generally work well despite being unconventional at first so I wouldn't say they even need changing. I really hope that this game could be at least reissued on PlayStation plus and maybe even Gamepass. It would have been nice given that it's the anniversary of Armada this year
Wow bringing back memories of a different time in my life. I remember loving this game and I’m pretty sure I still have it might have to dig it out and play it again after all this time.
I have so much nostalgia for this game. It was the subject of one of the first let's plays I had ever seen on UA-cam and it introduced me to Armada itself. Plus, it made me wanna go out and try the game myself! It might have even been my first exposure to ragdoll physics in games. Tragically I never had a PS2, but I did get to play War for Cybertron not too long afterwards. Would really love a remaster of all these some day...
Great review. I was a huge fan of Armada back in the day. Mainly because I grew up loving the Headmasters and Targetmasters in G1, so this felt like a natural evolution of that pattern. I liked seeing you showing off Makeshift as well, one of my favorites. Him linking to a transformer's forearm to be a pair of miniguns was a cool idea. And Prowl had a great gun form as well. I do wish the show or comic could have gone more into the idea of Mini-cons having wider applications like in the game.
Earned a sub man! This game was legit my intro into the shooter genre (was already a massive Transformers fan, still am, but that’s a story for a different day). Without this I wouldn’t have gotten into Halo
I saw this game being featured in a magazine when I was a kid. I was a huge Armada fan and I was stoked to see that there was a video game where you could play as Optimus and the crew. I read that article so many times I still vividly remember how it looked and what it said. My folks were really strict when it came to us playing video games so a PS2 was impossible to get. I lamented on not being able to play my favorite shows game so all I had was that one magazine and my imagination wondering how it would play. Thanks for unlocking a core memory dude, gonna find this game and finally fulfill a childhood dream.
It is a real good game. Played through it a bunch when it came out. Gave it a go little while back and got decimated on the first level. Might need to practice before I do a video on this. It's been on the list for ages.
Thank you for the info sir, I grew up a g1 fan in the 80s and never got into the armada series. You have peaked my interest now and will give it a try.
Amazing video! Proud to say I still have my physical copy and a functioning ps2 that I still go back to about once a year. Truly a game ahead of its time.
It's still my favorite transomformers game. I just can't shake that nostalgia. Me and my dad absolutely loved transformers, and this game was both our favorites.
Huzzah, a man of quality!...I did actually enjoy the Cybertron games a bit more, for being more well made games, but I can't deny, this was a fun, well done experience that nailed the vibe it was going for, and even included a cool hidden boss that fit well within he design ethos it had. Also, good cheat codes. Infinite use of the minicons(Damage up plus bullet time effects) was fun.
When the G1 cartoon came out in 1984, I was 5, I was of the target audience for Transformers. When Armada came out, I bought into the Toyline and got this game as well. This game being a Tie-In game I wasn't expecting much, but turned out to be Awesome. I Would Absolutely Love to see this game Remastered!
Daaaaamn, I forgot about this game completely! I got this for my 10th birthday in 2004. I remember the starscream boss battle being so difficult and the first levels in the jungle was soo long but overall enjoyed it really well
I loved this game so much. I always played it at my grandmas house because she bought a PS2 just for me to play there. She passed away and now this game means even more to me now than it did when I was a kid with my Optimus Prime toy next to me while mashing buttons in the guest room of me grandmas house.
This was my favorite game as a kid and it’s probably still there. I would spend hours playing with the ragdoll physics or exploring the levels. I thought games would never get better than this-in a way, I was right
The fact that this is locked to PS2 is why I've kept my childhood Fat PS2 alive! I remember discovering this game through a demo of the first level and falling in love while I explored to see how far up the river side I could go and finding a Minicon out there :)
This game was absolutely awesome. I was 25 when it came out and I played it with my jaw hanging open because of how fun it was. I remember one of my personal achievements was flying my character into the open bay door on one of the flying drop ships. The bay door closed with me inside and the drop ship flew around the level with me inside until it vanished and dropped me out. It was something you weren't supposed to be able to do, but I did it and felt like I had done something illegal lol. Silly I know, but a ton of fun.
That's rad! I have landed on top of one, on the Easter Island level. I just blasted it until it exploded then flew away. That was already cool enough, but your story tops it.
Amazing video! I grew up playing this game and, although I really had a lot of fun with the WfC/FoC and late Universe games, this game has such unique gameplay that it keeps bringing me back. I actually didn't know about the Unicron fight until last year when I actually beat him for the first time. The minicon collection, even though it is the same every time, is just so enjoyable.
I couldn't agree more! I like some of the movie games, I like the High Noon games. But there's something about this game that keeps me coming back. I'm glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for the kind comment 😘
Good video! Legit found a physical copy of this game last week And as I am writing this comment I completed the game! I honestly had a blast playing this game and I was blown away on how good this actually was The fact that this game had me engaged was actually shocking😂. I’m probably gonna go back and find the rest of the mini cons so I can make it worth while. But other than that. Really good video m8!!
Ngl, this Transformers's game kinda scared me back in my childhood. Because the atmosphere and the gameplay felt like punishing me to the core even though I'm playing on the easy difficulty. Maybe because I was a massive noob back in the day, but still, I liked the vibes on it till these days.
Day 1 TF fan here… While I wasn’t an Armada fan, this game was a *real* surprise… AWESOME. So much so, I never sold my copy; I have it to this day. Cheers! \m/, 😊 ,\m/
Loved this game as a kid, still one of the best Transformers games. This deserves a remake treatment in some shape to show u can have awesome Transformers games…🖖🖖🖖
"Oh yeah, I'm playing a giant forty-foot ambulance" 🤣 Love hearing how much you enjoy and appreciate this game. Nostalgia was really xtreme in the 2000s
This is one of the best games ever made. The one day I went out looking for a copy in a store in Toronto, and I found it, it was sitting behind the counter at the store. I asked the guy there if he had a copy and he was like "No we don't" without even thinking about it. I was like "isn't that it behind the counter there?" it was so weird It's SUCH a good game.
I remember seeing the Cardboard Cutout advertising the game at EBGames. I asked mom if I could have it. She said no. The game was rated T for Teen (I was ten) and the realistic render of Optimus Prime and his "ION Blaster" didn't help. I did get the 2007 Movie game. The missions were alright. Much like how you described in your video, the most fun I had was using the world as a sandbox and playing as various transformers in Sam's Suburbs or City levels, exploring to find the collectables like the 100 energon cubes. Sometimes I'd be friendly and blend in with the humans, driving around on the roads and highways. What if your cover is blown? Do you engage or do you run away and hide? And sometimes I destroyed the buildings. It's just a shame you can't choose which transformer you want to play as after beating each mission in a level.
@@MattyStoked i used to drive away - fall through cliiffs and fly away when i was outgunned. Really good game. Never noticed they were the "toys". I always thought it was just a simplification of the cartoon
What a gem of a game, i still have my copy and a functioning fat PS2 (somehow). Armada was my introduction to Transformers so It holds a special place for me. Starscream was a hero, change my mind.
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron was the "playing with toys" for me. It was just so darn good as a video game by itself, and definitely the best Transformers game ever.
Transformers was one of the most gorgeous games on PS2. And could be quite challenging too. The minicons giving you different abilities really gave you flexibility to find formidable loadouts. I still have a copy of this game.. I might have to break out the old PS2 and give it another whirl.
The one thing I clearly remember about this game is the insane difficulty spike when you got to Tidal Wave. And no one other than Optimus was viable. Even then, it took multiple attempts and was VERY frustrating.
I remember being a little kid and playing the demo version of this game on my dads ps2 for hours on end just trying to see how long I could get before it reset my progress, some of the best memories I have.
This is why I bought it on ps2 again. I also bought the naval commander remake of the Optimus toy. I’m happy I got it. Now with the armada toys being re released again I’m getting those as well.
Dude this hits really hard, remember being a kid when a box could become a fortress for your toys and a carpet could be a racing track? Those were the days. Robots in Disguise was the last Transformers cartoon I watched and I've just rediscovered the franchise with Bumblebee (2018). Really looking forward to Rise of the Beasts. You've convinced me, I'm definitely checking this game out.
Yeah, exactly! My brother and I would clamber all over our parents sofa, pretending it was a rock face, or we'd stack the cushions up to make a cave. That's what I'm talking about ☺️ I don't think we got RiD over here. I certainly didn't see it. I am really looking forward to RotB though. I hope they make is as fun as I am imagining it!
As a kid I remember using the ramps to launch myself into the dropships around the maps, I was so pleasantly surprised that the game let's me do that and actually used them to fly through levels.
Armada and Beast Wars are the series I watched as a kid, and this game is one of my all time favorites. Funny thing is, I got it by accident. I played one of the movie games at my cousin's house and I wanted that game. My dad got this one for me instead. It was so, so much better. I love the gameplay with the minicons, the level design and bosses, finding all the minicons and extras. I replay it from time to time.
you are so underated, this is super good video!
I feel so privileged to say that it was the very first game I 100% as a kid. The first time you get to tidal wave especially for that time truly is the best.
Still one of the coolest boss fights, I think. It would be rad if you climb up / move through him as part of the fight. But he's great the way he is
That was also my fav boss in the game, that one and the Cyclonus fight. Also, me and my cousin were putting mad hours into this game and once he found a funny bug in which he hid behind a mountain and tidal wave went around to search for you but went so far away that he was literally up to his neck deep into the water. We were laughing at it for days, best thing ever
Same bro I was stuck on Tidal Wave for years!
It's was my 1st game as well and I literally got my older cousin to come over and clock it for me
Best Boss battle in the game!
I’m a longtime Transformers fan but I was out of the loop around the Armada era. LOVED hearing your thoughts, this was fantastic!
I personally missed Beast Wars. I was into Transformers in the early 90s, then was into other things. I returned to Transformers in the early 2000s, pretty much just in time for Armada and Energon. I'd like to talk more about this, so let's hope the video is well received. Thank you for your kind words mate, glad you enjoyed :)
I would highly recommend toys from the Unicron trilogy as there sipal fun is gust grate they don't try to impress anyone and that's why I love them
I didn’t get into the franchise till the 2007 Movie. So I haven’t watched Beast Wars fully or the Unicron Trilogy. I’ve seen G1, Prime, and Animated.
I loved Megatron Armada Design (not Galvatron...color scheme is meh...), also the story does stands up good.
Absolutely loved this game as a kid. Seeing the yellow glow in the distance was always so exciting, and the disappointment was so palpable when it turned out to be just a data disc.
Hahaha truth!
I’m honestly still shocked on how good it’s aesthetic holds up today.
I don’t even think ‘it looks dated’. It just looks fun with its animations and designs carrying the toy feel over.
The toy designs absolutely shine through. And it has a great chonky aesthetic that I always preferred to the more greebly, detailed Transformers designs which came shortly after.
A great style can last forever. "Graphical fidelity" gets outmoded quickly and suffers from diminishing returns, which is pretty much what we see now in modern releases.
I’ve never been a big Transformers guy, but I’ll be damned if your enthusiasm isn’t infectious as hell in this video.
I could listen to you talk about Transformers for an endless amount of videos.
Thank you so much! This one was so easy to make, because I just love big ol' robots! And it seems to be doing okay, so perhaps I'll make a couple more in the future :D
Didn’t know what to expect but I really appreciate your “toyetic” perspective on how you’ve experienced the game. It’s a great way of describing how I’ve felt about its unique movement for a long time. I’ve been actively speedrunning the game for almost 5 years, as way back in childhood I felt the magic of the movement and wanted to recapture that and see how far I could take it. “Toy like” is actually a great way to describe how the game feels, and I think most would agree, no matter how in tune with the physics you are. Since then I’ve never looked back and it’s my favourite game of all time. Thank you for this review :)
That's so awesome. I don't think I ended up using footage of it, but one of my favourite things in this game is to gun it off a ramp in car mode, transform into a robot in mid-air and then deploy the glide wings. You can get some really good distance and it feels like a great way of using the game's toolset to have fun and explore the possibilities the game gives you.
@@MattyStoked Yes! I am playing it again after years and the gliding physics are seriously way better than they have any right to! You can turn all of your speed into altitude using this method just like in real life.
@@Domi39 exactly! 💗
This is exactly the Transformers era I was into as a kid, from here to the first couple films. Didn't have a PS2 back then, so I'll definitely have to pick up a copy and give it a go now. Great video!
What I love about talking about this stuff is having things in common with people younger than me really showcases that I was way too old to still be into those things. If you liked the toys or the cartoon, I think you'd get something out of this game. It has a great soundtrack too 🥳
Did anyone play with Transformers toys back in the day? I loved the Armada toys, especially the chonky trucks and the strange Beast Wars repaints!
Only got into transformers during dotm but i just bought a used Demolishor at a flee market last year.
@@anonymoustroll2432 Armada Demolishor? An absolute classic.
Thanks so much @@SuperMcSteel! I've been a collector for longer than I care to admit. I had a nearly complete G1 UK collection and have had collections from most lines since. I had a lovely Prime collection until the 2010s when it became too difficult to collect them all!
I enjoy something about every line. I'm not one for the MP or the big expensive 3P toys. I like them cheap! Absolutely loving Kingdom and Legacy lately. Picked up WAY more than I expected to!
Thank you for the sub. I saw Rise of the Beasts this weekend and it's spurred me on to try doing more Transformers videos
@@SuperMcSteel It's really good! Highly recommended. And thanks for that comment, that's exactly the saying I love to see!
I liked Armada but was big into Cybertron. Unfortunately the shows graphics has aged as well as Beast Wars in relation to what we have no. Loved this game growing up though, as a kid I thought they reused assets from Battlefront 1 because the forest reminded me of Yavin
oh my god... thank you!!!
I cannot tell you how much it means to me knowing that my favorite game is getting the recognition it rightfully disserves!
I'm a huge Transformers fan myself, and watching this really made my day...
thank you for making this video!
Transformers Armada: the Game, is and will always be my favorite game! ^v^
Glad you enjoyed the video and thank you for your positive comment ❤️
Great video! Armada was my first Transformers and this game absolutely blew my mind as a kid. Also worth noting that the soundtrack absolutely slaps.
Oh the soundtrack rocks! So glad there's Armada love out there.
true
I poured an insane amount of time into this game back in the day! Would love to hear your thoughts about other Transformers games like WfC and Devastation,
You'll get them! Especially after this video doing so well 🥲
me too kid
@@MattyStoked after thoroughly enjoying this I’m super keen to see you cover WFC and FOC. Keep up the great work!
From the gravity gun to fighting Tidal Wave to racing around in Hotshots car. This game was sooo good for its time period
Still one of my favorite games of all time. I’ve beaten this game countless times throughout my childhood although it’s difficulty gave me an early life crisis at times, and always find time to revisit it when I can. One can appreciate the time you took reanalyzing the often delayed and frustratedly uncooperative movement system as more than just the clunky and demanding system that it is, but rather spinning it brilliantly as a sensational feeling because of that nostalgic sense that it illustrates from it having an authentic toylike aesthetic and functionality. Being present and going back to re-examine the game, the intricacies developed in the each playable character’s movements were unique to their design and represent every Transformers fan’s collective joy and satisfaction they earned from learning how to play with Transformers as a kid. This game was a fantasy and this video was so well made. Keep making content! 🫶🏻❤️
Thank you so much for your high effort comment. It's always great to see an impassioned response. I'll keep making it if you keep watching it 😎
The soundtrack as well is so so good. BTW, so jealous of that armada collection..!
The Unicron Trilogy stuff isn't as easy to find in the wild - the really old toys are the ones you tend to find more of, weirdly. But they're usually pretty affordable to pick up.
@@MattyStoked Unfortunately I'm fixated on Armada only, so I'll have to dump a lot of money into it :( started with Starscream w/ Swindle
You'll be okay. Blurr, Sideswipe, Demolishor, Cylonus and those more basic Super-Con Class toys are still really cheap and easy to find. Let me know how you get on 😁😁
This was one of my favorite games when I was a kid. I only saw one brief commercial for it. But when I got it, I got many many many hours of playtime out of it. It was a REALLY fun game.
I think that fun, unique level design is something that really helps a transformers game. When you’re a transformer, you’ve got way more mobility, so you want to explore more. War for Cybertron’s levels left a lot to be desired with how dark and samey looking they were
I *really* liked the High Noon games. But that era of Unreal games were all so drab! I streamed WfC recently and I used ReShade to pump up the colours. It's WAY more fun when it's not so grey...
This brings back so many great memories. I absolutely love this game even tried to recreate it in Unreal Engine, but it was a pretty big project so I put it on hold.
Great videos btw
Thank you so much. I'd like to cover more Transformers topics in future. I'd really like to dig into the Armada comics and toyline again.
@@MattyStoked I would definitely join you for that. Really loved the Armada and Energon series and toyline so keen to see the content.
0:20 "a level of consideration nobody would expect to what's basically a toy comercial" is a phrase that could be used to a lot of Transformers media tbh. WFC and FOC are other shining examples too.
But they weren't toy commercials! A lot of TF properties existed without toys. I mean, that's not true now. But it was then :)
@@MattyStoked True! But I would argue they are still commercials for the IP. People started reading IDW comics because they liked the story, and then went on to become overall Transformers fans, and then collect the toys.
Bought this recently as I’ve been collecting ps2 games and I never had the chance to try this one out as a kid. I’m genuinely impressed by the work the devs put into this game, even as someone who didn’t get to play it before I’m having so much fun with it!
You did an incredible job explaining what makes this game so effective, it deserves so much more praise than what it seems to get
Thank you so much for your kind words. More people getting eyes onto this game is always awesome :)
this game is pure nostalgia for me, this was one of the games that grew my love for transformers, i never actually played it tho, only watched a playthrough
I remember playing this game. It was amazing. Sad you could only play as Hotshot, Red-Alert, and Optimus Prime. Although it's pretty easy to see how these guys clearly influenced the movie versions of Bumblebee, Ratchet, and Optimus Prime. Interestingly, the main villains, Starscream, Cyclonus, and Megatron, clearly influenced the movie versions of Starscream, Blackout, and Megatron. Anyway. I wish I could have this game back.
gooooooood this unlocked some very hidden memories of playing this as a kid
man, I am so glad I have this game.
I should replay it.
You should! It's a banger!
I’ve spent countless hours as a kid playing this game, this was an amazing transformers game
This vid popped up on my recommended and I’m sold. Subscribed! I’ve been a Transformers fan all my life and this was a great watch. I’ve been trying to rewatch The Unicron Trilogy for a while now! This series is a soft spot for me too.
Thank you so much! Thanks for the sub, mate. I am also a life-ling fan. You can expect more Transformers stuff, based on the reaction this one is getting :D
These videos are so professionally made. You deserve so much more views
Thank you so much for the kind words! Always very pleasing to have someone say such lovely things. The key for us small UA-cam channels is to get the word out. If you know anyone who would enjoy this, please share 🙏
To me that early 2000s was the first introduction to a lot of these properties. Especially TMNT 2003 holds a deep and beloved place in my heart. It is also actually a really good series up until fastforward.
Love the video, thank you for making it. I still have this game to this day and I feel like it doesn't get the love it deserves from the TF fandom.
Awesome video review :) This game is a favorite of mine, if it wasn't obvious from the profile photo. Quite happy that a dedicated Discord community interested in this game sprung up over a decade after its release.
Small correction, the game was released worldwide as Transformers, the Prelude to Energon subtitle was dropped prior to release for all regions.
Glad you enjoyed it! Also, that's so cool that there's a Discord community for this game. I hope you posted this in there 😎
@@MattyStoked Of course :)
Wish I played this when I was younger dude. Entertaining video you’re mad underrated for the quality you’re putting out.
Thank you so much. I'm out here trying. Your view and your comment help more than you can know. Thank you again.
Just got the Legacy Evolution Armada Optimus, and for some reason, I felt nostalgic for the PS2 game, thus, I came across your video, great stuff bud!
Incredible stuff! I love the Legacy Armada guys. Really good, chonky lads. Thanks for subscribing, hope there's plenty more here for you to enjoy :D
Nothing gives me more "rumamging through the toybox" vibes than playing a game which actively encourages you to change out your Autobot, switch up your Minicon loadout and use your skills to track down more guys for your toy collection.
Yes. I have this and it's good. I had played the demo way back then. But I never had the chance to play it properly until recently, when I seriously started collecting for the PS2.
It's a banger game! I got this pretty close to release. Here in the UK we got a cool collector's edition with a die cut slipcase and a making of documentary on the disc. Which I've used in the video :D
I remember this game and being really excited for it, one of the few that went past my expectations given it was a franchise tie in. I remember feeling weirded out with the control scheme initially, more so with the fire buttons being on the R buttons and yet that became the accepted scheme for all modern shooters now! I'm sure I have a copy of the game somewhere but if I were to play it now, I reckon the controls alone would be the thing that's aged like wine!
ahhh. i was15 back then. doing my gcses then and this game got me through. great times. awesome video mate.
Glad you enjoyed, I was around the same age too :D
I'm so happy I just saw this in my recommended, the moment I saw the thumbnail it was like a crack formed in a wall I made to forget this game, and the more I watched the more I just couldn't help but tear up. I had forgotten this game I had forgotten my first game after Diablo 2, and I forgot the game that probably gave me insomnia that I still suffer from to this day, this game I would play nonstop it was so fun and the reason why I put up that wall to forget it was cause I knew the moment I remembered it I would be right back in my childhood wanting to play it nonstop again. I always unintentionally lied about my first console game, or my favorite game I've ever played, and it's cause of that wall, this has always been my first and favorite console game. The only Transformers Games that held a candle to my joy playing this were the Cybertron games, but they never fully gave me the long term joy I had playing this game and everytime I saw that Atari load up logo I knew I was about to have fun and I eventually associated it with Transformers purely based on this game.
I know this is a long comment and it might sound cringe or a little gushy, but I can't stress enough how happy I was to remember this game, and how that thumbnail made me NEED to click this cause I already knew what game it was. This is an amazing game and the best Transformers games, I genuinely think more games should look at how this game felt to play.
This might be the best comment on this video. Thank you for your open, gushy, cringey, awesome enthusiasm. I don't believe that being passionate or positive about something in such a wholesome way can ever be truly cringe. I loved this comment and I sincerely thank you for posting it.
This game was my favorite Transformers game growing up. The more 'realistic' ones were cool too, but this one just captured the awesome feeling of being a kid, playing giant robots that transformed!
Good fuckin video. I have no doubt if it weren't such an obscure topic this would blow up. Keep it up, man. Well researched, well narrated, well edited.
This video definitely blew up from my perspective :D
What a delightful video. Transformers: Armada was my introduction to Transformers as a kid and while I had a lot of the figures, I never had any video game consoles at that time and was never able to play this game so it's cool to see such an in-depth look at it.
Thank you for such a lovely comment :) Armada was such a cool point in the toyline's history. I plan to talk about the comics and the cartoon one day, too. Maybe even the toys!
Bless you man, it’s so nice to see someone finally praise this game. I remembered when I first played it, I was legitimately surprised how fun and how faithful it was. I didn’t hollow Armada myself as Cybertron was my jam but you can tell who ever made this really loved that series.
This to me kind of reminds me of a game like Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, a love letter to fans more than anything else. Between this and Devastation Tranformers genuinely has some great gems.
Legit didn’t know this game was based on Armada, in the UK it was just called Transformers and there’s a nice directors cut version with some extras too.
I'm using content from the UK directors cut in this video!
I dunno how or why UA-cam recommended me this video, but I do thank you. I remember playing this on a PS2 demo disk way back in the day and I thought it was a fun time. Glad I got to see this in action after so long!
I'm glad you clicked! The system works 😆
can’t believe this only has 15k views, this is high quality content
It doesn't any more! What is happening?!
This game was an underrated masterpiece. Armada is my favorite Transformers show.
I remember after I gained sentience, this was the game that my brother, Dad and I would all gather around the tv to play. Looking at it now is nostalgic, yet I can’t even say I view this game through rose colored glasses. It was simply good.
Like I've been saying for years, this game should be regarded as the golden standard of a good transformers game. I grew up on Armada and I remember seeing this game on a shelf a couple years after armada was over and was SUPER STOKED for it.
Agreed with all your points. SUPER STOKED is the vibe I want to experience from everything!
5:00
I love that you prove your enthusiasm for the Transformers franchise by showcasing your ridiculously rare Turbomasters. Very impressive.
Complete set of unbroken Turbomasters and Predator jets. I have the Motorvators, too. I'm only a few bits from a complete Euro G1 collection. I have had them since before they were considered rare and valuable, too.
Honestly, I love this game so much. Granted, for a long time, it was one of only 2 games I had on the PS2 but I spent so much time going through it. The environments are genuinely beautiful to see and the sound design is amazing, especially the snow crunching during the Antarctica level. I never watched the show until nearly ten years later (largely because when it aired, the only channel that we had that was airing it was Sky 1 who aired it at midnight) but you never feel put of the loop even not knowing the show. I genuinely feel that this game is one that could truly do well with a remaster, maybe clean up some of the more polygonal models, update some of the textures, add some options for lighting and effects and that's about it. The controls generally work well despite being unconventional at first so I wouldn't say they even need changing. I really hope that this game could be at least reissued on PlayStation plus and maybe even Gamepass. It would have been nice given that it's the anniversary of Armada this year
I absolutely loved this game. Played it over and over.
Wow bringing back memories of a different time in my life. I remember loving this game and I’m pretty sure I still have it might have to dig it out and play it again after all this time.
I have so much nostalgia for this game. It was the subject of one of the first let's plays I had ever seen on UA-cam and it introduced me to Armada itself. Plus, it made me wanna go out and try the game myself! It might have even been my first exposure to ragdoll physics in games. Tragically I never had a PS2, but I did get to play War for Cybertron not too long afterwards. Would really love a remaster of all these some day...
Great review. I was a huge fan of Armada back in the day. Mainly because I grew up loving the Headmasters and Targetmasters in G1, so this felt like a natural evolution of that pattern. I liked seeing you showing off Makeshift as well, one of my favorites. Him linking to a transformer's forearm to be a pair of miniguns was a cool idea. And Prowl had a great gun form as well. I do wish the show or comic could have gone more into the idea of Mini-cons having wider applications like in the game.
Earned a sub man! This game was legit my intro into the shooter genre (was already a massive Transformers fan, still am, but that’s a story for a different day). Without this I wouldn’t have gotten into Halo
Thank you so much, glad to have you on board! Very pleased to meet another Transformers fan and another fan of this awesome game 😎
I saw this game being featured in a magazine when I was a kid. I was a huge Armada fan and I was stoked to see that there was a video game where you could play as Optimus and the crew. I read that article so many times I still vividly remember how it looked and what it said.
My folks were really strict when it came to us playing video games so a PS2 was impossible to get. I lamented on not being able to play my favorite shows game so all I had was that one magazine and my imagination wondering how it would play.
Thanks for unlocking a core memory dude, gonna find this game and finally fulfill a childhood dream.
Please report back if you do, and let me know how you get on!
o7 Good luck, soldier.
It is a real good game. Played through it a bunch when it came out. Gave it a go little while back and got decimated on the first level. Might need to practice before I do a video on this. It's been on the list for ages.
The higher difficulties are absolutely brutal. You can't even get the Unicron encounter until you've unlocked a given number of Minicons!
Thank you for the info sir, I grew up a g1 fan in the 80s and never got into the armada series. You have peaked my interest now and will give it a try.
Amazing video! Proud to say I still have my physical copy and a functioning ps2 that I still go back to about once a year. Truly a game ahead of its time.
I absolutely love this game. Playing this and watching RotB this weekend has put me right back into Transformers obsession 🤭
It's still my favorite transomformers game. I just can't shake that nostalgia. Me and my dad absolutely loved transformers, and this game was both our favorites.
Im glad I found this video. Thank you!
I'm glad I found your comment. Thank you, too!
Huzzah, a man of quality!...I did actually enjoy the Cybertron games a bit more, for being more well made games, but I can't deny, this was a fun, well done experience that nailed the vibe it was going for, and even included a cool hidden boss that fit well within he design ethos it had. Also, good cheat codes. Infinite use of the minicons(Damage up plus bullet time effects) was fun.
When the G1 cartoon came out in 1984, I was 5, I was of the target audience for Transformers. When Armada came out, I bought into the Toyline and got this game as well. This game being a Tie-In game I wasn't expecting much, but turned out to be Awesome. I Would Absolutely Love to see this game Remastered!
Daaaaamn, I forgot about this game completely! I got this for my 10th birthday in 2004. I remember the starscream boss battle being so difficult and the first levels in the jungle was soo long but overall enjoyed it really well
I loved this game so much. I always played it at my grandmas house because she bought a PS2 just for me to play there. She passed away and now this game means even more to me now than it did when I was a kid with my Optimus Prime toy next to me while mashing buttons in the guest room of me grandmas house.
Great video, this is still 1 of my fave games on the PS2, so much so own the standard edition & the UK exclusive Directors Cut
Thank you for such a positive comment. It's a fantastic game and the Director's Cut was instrumental in putting this video together.
This was my favorite game as a kid and it’s probably still there. I would spend hours playing with the ragdoll physics or exploring the levels. I thought games would never get better than this-in a way, I was right
In a way you were!
The fact that this is locked to PS2 is why I've kept my childhood Fat PS2 alive! I remember discovering this game through a demo of the first level and falling in love while I explored to see how far up the river side I could go and finding a Minicon out there :)
It's worth keeping that little chubster going, just for this game!
Armada is such an underrated aspect of transformers, it’s nice to see it’s been getting popular again.
Amen! I'm sitting here with my full run of the Dreamwave comic book, thinking I could do a retrospective of it...
@@MattyStoked hell yeah bro, those pack in comics were dope
@@DESTRAKON not just the pack-ins, the same creative team had a proper thirty issue comics run. It switched to Energon halfway!
@@MattyStoked yup! The energon phase is what got me into dreamwave
This game was absolutely awesome. I was 25 when it came out and I played it with my jaw hanging open because of how fun it was. I remember one of my personal achievements was flying my character into the open bay door on one of the flying drop ships. The bay door closed with me inside and the drop ship flew around the level with me inside until it vanished and dropped me out. It was something you weren't supposed to be able to do, but I did it and felt like I had done something illegal lol. Silly I know, but a ton of fun.
That's rad! I have landed on top of one, on the Easter Island level. I just blasted it until it exploded then flew away. That was already cool enough, but your story tops it.
When this game came out. Real ones knew how great it was. Good vid.
Amazing video! I grew up playing this game and, although I really had a lot of fun with the WfC/FoC and late Universe games, this game has such unique gameplay that it keeps bringing me back. I actually didn't know about the Unicron fight until last year when I actually beat him for the first time. The minicon collection, even though it is the same every time, is just so enjoyable.
I couldn't agree more! I like some of the movie games, I like the High Noon games. But there's something about this game that keeps me coming back. I'm glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for the kind comment 😘
Great video. I can tell you really liked this game and that made this very enjoyable to watch. :)
Thank you so much for the visit. I like to hear that my enthusiasm is obvious!
For sure :)
Keep doing and talking about the things you love. @@MattyStoked
This was a fun game when I had it; thanks for the the retrospective.
Thanks for the kind comment :)
Good video!
Legit found a physical copy of this game last week
And as I am writing this comment I completed the game!
I honestly had a blast playing this game and I was blown away on how good this actually was
The fact that this game had me engaged was actually shocking😂.
I’m probably gonna go back and find the rest of the mini cons so I can make it worth while. But other than that. Really good video m8!!
Hey well done, that's awesome. Glad you enjoyed the video :)
I remember renting this from the video store. I had a great time!
Ngl, this Transformers's game kinda scared me back in my childhood. Because the atmosphere and the gameplay felt like punishing me to the core even though I'm playing on the easy difficulty. Maybe because I was a massive noob back in the day, but still, I liked the vibes on it till these days.
Day 1 TF fan here… While I wasn’t an Armada fan, this game was a *real* surprise… AWESOME.
So much so, I never sold my copy; I have it to this day.
Cheers!
\m/, 😊 ,\m/
I actually have this game and a PS2. This video makes me want to play this again.
This was My first and only transformers game i played , it is so damn good , this video fills me with nostalgia
Loved this game as a kid, still one of the best Transformers games. This deserves a remake treatment in some shape to show u can have awesome Transformers games…🖖🖖🖖
I'd love a remake of this one
"Oh yeah, I'm playing a giant forty-foot ambulance" 🤣 Love hearing how much you enjoy and appreciate this game. Nostalgia was really xtreme in the 2000s
Thank you so much, I really appreciate the positive comments. And yeah, nostalgia was a whole thing in that decade lol
I LOVED THIS GAME and Armada as a whole
This is one of the best games ever made.
The one day I went out looking for a copy in a store in Toronto, and I found it, it was sitting behind the counter at the store. I asked the guy there if he had a copy and he was like "No we don't" without even thinking about it. I was like "isn't that it behind the counter there?"
it was so weird
It's SUCH a good game.
I remember seeing the Cardboard Cutout advertising the game at EBGames. I asked mom if I could have it. She said no. The game was rated T for Teen (I was ten) and the realistic render of Optimus Prime and his "ION Blaster" didn't help.
I did get the 2007 Movie game. The missions were alright. Much like how you described in your video, the most fun I had was using the world as a sandbox and playing as various transformers in Sam's Suburbs or City levels, exploring to find the collectables like the 100 energon cubes. Sometimes I'd be friendly and blend in with the humans, driving around on the roads and highways. What if your cover is blown? Do you engage or do you run away and hide? And sometimes I destroyed the buildings. It's just a shame you can't choose which transformer you want to play as after beating each mission in a level.
yeah that game was really awesome. I loved gliding minicon cause it was extremely fun to revisit old stages and fly everywhere
The only downside is all the new enemies once you've cleared the stage!
@@MattyStoked i used to drive away - fall through cliiffs and fly away when i was outgunned. Really good game. Never noticed they were the "toys". I always thought it was just a simplification of the cartoon
What a gem of a game, i still have my copy and a functioning fat PS2 (somehow). Armada was my introduction to Transformers so It holds a special place for me.
Starscream was a hero, change my mind.
Glad to see this classic gem get the treatment it deserves online
This game was my first ever time with transformers media. I blame it for making me like Hot Shot more than Bumblebee for no good reason.
💛💛💛
Transformers: Fall of Cybertron was the "playing with toys" for me. It was just so darn good as a video game by itself, and definitely the best Transformers game ever.
I love those two Cybertron games. They don't feel as toyetic to me, but they're great games.
Nice vid, thanks for making and sharing
Thanks for watching!
I was so upset i couldnt get this game as a kid, Armada was everything to me when i was young, and still holds a dear place there.
Oh yeah Armada is still really special. I'd like to talk more about it in future.
A core memory of my childhood is playing this, facing Tidal Wave, gliding over to him and getting kicked to death even with the revive cheat.
Tidal Wave is such an egregious difficulty spike! If you don't have the right Minicons, he's an insane slog.
Transformers was one of the most gorgeous games on PS2. And could be quite challenging too. The minicons giving you different abilities really gave you flexibility to find formidable loadouts.
I still have a copy of this game.. I might have to break out the old PS2 and give it another whirl.
Do it!
I loved this game as a kid… I always used the telekinetic weapon, picked up enemies and would throw them as far as I could… it was so much fun
The one thing I clearly remember about this game is the insane difficulty spike when you got to Tidal Wave. And no one other than Optimus was viable. Even then, it took multiple attempts and was VERY frustrating.
I remember being a little kid and playing the demo version of this game on my dads ps2 for hours on end just trying to see how long I could get before it reset my progress, some of the best memories I have.
This is why I bought it on ps2 again. I also bought the naval commander remake of the Optimus toy. I’m happy I got it. Now with the armada toys being re released again I’m getting those as well.
I'm playing through this game again at the minute it's still awesome
Dude this hits really hard, remember being a kid when a box could become a fortress for your toys and a carpet could be a racing track? Those were the days. Robots in Disguise was the last Transformers cartoon I watched and I've just rediscovered the franchise with Bumblebee (2018). Really looking forward to Rise of the Beasts. You've convinced me, I'm definitely checking this game out.
Yeah, exactly! My brother and I would clamber all over our parents sofa, pretending it was a rock face, or we'd stack the cushions up to make a cave. That's what I'm talking about ☺️
I don't think we got RiD over here. I certainly didn't see it. I am really looking forward to RotB though. I hope they make is as fun as I am imagining it!
@@MattyStoked I mean the RiD from 2001 not the one from 2015, I'm that old :P
@@geraq0 Yeah, me too!
As a kid I remember using the ramps to launch myself into the dropships around the maps, I was so pleasantly surprised that the game let's me do that and actually used them to fly through levels.
It doesn't signpost these things either. It lets you *play*, which is just such a genius move for a game based on toys.
Armada and Beast Wars are the series I watched as a kid, and this game is one of my all time favorites. Funny thing is, I got it by accident. I played one of the movie games at my cousin's house and I wanted that game. My dad got this one for me instead. It was so, so much better. I love the gameplay with the minicons, the level design and bosses, finding all the minicons and extras. I replay it from time to time.