Transformers: Mystery of Convoy

is a 1986 video game developed by ISCO and published by Takara in Japan for the Famicom. It is based on the Transformers toyline. The game was made available on the Wii's Virtual Console service on June 10, 2008.
The game stars Autobot protagonist Ultra Magnus. The titular Mystery is the identity of Optimus Prime's killer, as the 1986 film did not see a Japanese release for another four years. 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 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-ups which can give him wider ranging firepower or even the ability to fly. There are two Warp Zones within the game; they can be found by rescuing 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, and Trypticon, the final boss.
Another playable character in the game is 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 is Ultra Magnus in Rodimus's palette.

Other media

Anime

In collaboration with the 30th anniversary of Transfomers - as well as the 35th anniversary of Choro-Q - a flash anime adaptation of the game, produced by DLE, titled Q Transformers: Mystery of Convoy Returns, began airing in Japan on January 6, 2015. The opening theme is "physical" by Oldcodex. A second season titled Q Transformers: The Road to Additional Popularity premiered in Japan on July 6, 2015. The ending themes of the second season are "Destiny ~ 400 Man-nen Mae Kara Itoshi teru" by Yoshimasa Hosoya and "SHOCK ~ Kono Omoi wa Hikari no Yōni ~" by Kaito Ishikawa.
;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 as Sunstreaker and Sideswipe, Rumble
Go Inoue as Prowl
Kenshō Ono as Hot Rod
Jun Fukushima as Wheeljack
Kōji Yusa as Jazz
Kousuke Toriumi as Red Alert
Kōki Uchiyama as Smokescreen
Fukujuro Katayama as Bluestreak
Sōichirō Hoshi as Tracks and Sanada Yukimura
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
Sumire Uesaka as Arcee
Shouta Aoi as Cliff
Kentarō Itō as Skywarp
Kenjiro Tsuda as Thundercracker

Smartphone app

The studio DLE also produced a smartphone app, titled Q Transformers: Mystery of Convoy Returns, which was released for iOS and Android devices in August 2014. This was a remake of the original game using Q Transformers Optimus Prime and 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.

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. 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.