Dinobot War
From Transformers Wiki
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![]() He no Slag, but him still tasty! | |||||||||||||
"Dinobot War" | |||||||||||||
Publisher | Corgi Books | ||||||||||||
Imprint | Young Corgi Adventure/Adventure Game Books | ||||||||||||
First published | 1985 | ||||||||||||
Writers | Dave Morris | ||||||||||||
Illustrator | Bob Harvey (interior pencils and cover painting) | ||||||||||||
ISBN | ISBN 0-552-523143 ISBN 9780552523141 | ||||||||||||
Page count | 71 |
You have an adventure back in time where you meet the Dinobots.
Contents |
Synopsis
- Page 1
You are visiting Disneyland in California for the first time, enjoying the various attractions. While looking for a hot dog stand, you notice security guards and police officers moving people away from a barrier. Beyond the barrier, you notice advertisements for a new attraction currently under construction. Curious as to why the crowd is being moved away, you decide to investigate.
Try to sneak past the barrier? page 3
Climb into a nearby electrically-powered buggy and try to drive past the guards? page 2
- As you make your way towards the mysterious new attraction, you are grabbed by a guard who sternly tells you the area's off-limits. Nonetheless, you are adamant in seeing the attraction. What do you tell the guard?
- Tell him you are a messenger with important papers to deliver? page 11
- Tell him your father is a Disney executive, and is supervising the attraction's construction? page 12
- Page 11
- You tell the guard you are a messenger.
- (From page 3)
- The guard sees through your lie, however, and sends you back the way you came. You console yourself with a burger and milk shake, and will have to be satisfied with a pleasant stay at Disneyland, instead of going on a true-life adventure.
- THE END
- Page 12
- You tell the guard your father is a Disney executive.
- (From page 3)
- Though the guard is doubtful, he sees no harm in checking your story. Just as he is about to radio someone to confirm your identity, an elderly woman confronts him, berating the grown man for "picking on children." While the guard is busy explaining himself to the woman, you are able to slip away before the guard can confirm that you are lying. You head towards the new attraction: The Wizard's Cave. page 10
- You enter the attraction's tunnel, but find it strangely vacant, despite the fact that the Wizard's Cave is due to open in a few weeks. There should be workers everywhere, busy with completing the attraction. You hear voices ahead, and head towards them. page 13
- Page 13
- Reaching the end of the attraction's tunnel, you see a few workmen and security guards talking to five men in suits. The men in suits appear to be in charge, and one of them is holding a device that looks like a very heavy rifle.
- Attempt to eavesdrop on their conversation? page 14
- Attempt to sneak past them, and explore the rest of the attraction? page 16
- Page 14
- You attempt to eavesdrop on the conversation between the workers and the men in suits.
- (From page 13)
- They are excitedly talking about the rifle-like device, which they refer to as a "Stasis Gun." The device apparently has the ability to "freeze" objects in time. One of the men demonstrates the Stasis Gun's capabilities by throwing a coin in the air and blasting it with the gun, feeling the coin in mid-air. He then "unfreezes" the coin with a second energy burst from the Stasis Gun. The scientist with the Stasis Gun asks the others to fetch some torches so they can test what else the device can do. You slip along the wall of the chamber to avoid being seen. page 16
- Luckily, they are all too distracted to notice you. Looking around, you spot a flying saucer, partially buried in the rock wall. Could it truly be an ancient spacecraft, abandoned by aliens millions of years ago, waiting to be excavated? You intend to find out. page 17
- Page 17
- As you walk forwards, your foot bumps into a metal briefcase. Looking inside of it, you find several strange items that couldn't have been made by human hands. Then, a light blinds you, and you hear footsteps moving in your direction. page 18
- Page 18
- The men close in on you. Though they are disgruntled at a kid having found his way to this place, they appear relieved, telling one another they're glad you're not an alien come to life. What should you do?
- Give yourself up? In that case, this is...THE END
- Try using one of the items in the case? page 19
- Page 19
- You try using one of the items in the briefcase.
- (From page 18)
- You reach down, and pick up a large metal sphere with a dial on it. The guards attempt to grab you, but before they do you move the dial and see them disappear in a haze of light. As the light surrounding you begins to glow so brightly you need to cover your eyes, you see what looks like a giant cat leaping towards you. You begin to lose consciousness... page 21
- Page 21
- When you come to again, you find yourself lying down in the middle of a jungle. As you try to make sense of the situation, you hear a loud, terrifying roar. Then, the footsteps of something enormous begin moving in your direction. A monstrous silhouette appears in the jungle's mists before you...
- Run away? page 24
- Hide and try to see what's coming? page 22
- Page 24
- You run away from the incoming creature...
- (From page 21)
- ...but you soon are barred from going forward by a river.
- Hide in some nearby bushes? page 22
- Try to cross the river on some muddy boulder forming stepping stones across it? page 25
- As it stomps into view, it reveals itself to be a mechanical tyrannosaurus, much more advanced than any you saw at Disneyland. The robot then turns and addresses you, asking what you are doing here. Terrified that you have been spotted, you run blindly into the undergrowth. You pause once you feel you have created a safe distance between you are the T-rex, only to be startled by a robotic brontosaurus addressing you. page 26
- The brontosaurus recognizes that you are a human youngster, and asks you what you are doing here? You are put somewhat at ease by the creature's intelligent eyes.
- Tell him you are running from a monster? page 28
- Tell him you don't know? page 29
- Page 28
- You tell the brontosaurus you are running from a monster.
- (From page 26)
- The brontosaurus appears alarmed by this, and admits he doesn't want to encounter any monsters. He leads you into dense foliage, and tell you his name is Sludge. You introduce yourself in turn, and ask him where you are. Before Sludge can answer, you both hear a booming sound and the light of laser fire in the distance. Sludge is uncertain about what he should do.
- Tell him to look into what's happening? page 36
- Tell him to run away from the explosions? page 42
- Page 36
- You tell Sludge to investigate the explosions.
- (From page 28)
- Sludge wades forwards through the marshes, and he soon reaches the source of the disturbance. The two of you come upon two robots locked in combat. Sludge informs you that the one shaped like a Tyrannosaurus is named Grimlock, and is his leader. He adds that Grimlock should be able to defeat Ravage, the feline-like robot that is attacking him. But Grimlock stumbles into a mud pool behind him by accident, allowing Ravage an opportunity to target him with his deadly proton missiles. Sludge realizes he must help Grimlock but finds himself once more uncertain on what course of action he should take.
- Suggest he charges Ravage? page 43
- Suggest he stomp the ground? page 44
- Page 43
- You tell Sludge to charge towards Ravage.
- (From page 36)
- Sludge roars as he runs forwards, alerting Ravage of his presence. Ravage turns and calls Sludge a fool, telling the slow-moving dinosaur he is an easy target for his missiles. Ravage launches his projectiles towards you. You notice Grimlock step out of the mud and move to eliminate Ravage. But that is little consolation for you and Sludge. With the proton missiles about to hit their mark, you realize that for you, this is...
- THE END
- Page 44
- You suggest to Sludge he should stomp the ground.
- (From page 36)
- As the brontosaurus does so, the earth beneath Ravage's feet shudders, causing the evil robot to lose his balance. This causes Ravage to miss Grimlock with his missiles, and Grimlock has time to free himself from the mud. Ravage gives you and Sludge an evil stare before running off into the jungle. Though Sludge wants to pursue Ravage, Grimlock stops him, telling him that Ravage is too good at hiding to be tracked down. Then, heralded by a harsh shriek, a robotic pterodactyl swoops down from above. page 34
- You are amazed as all five robots transform into mighty humanoid robots wielding swords. Snarl transforms the slowest, admitting that the cover of mist is impeding his ability to absorb solar power. Swoop jokes that the weather is the worst thing about California in the year four million BC. You almost pass out in shock at the revelation that you've been transported backwards through time. page 39
- Page 39
- Grimlock begins addressing his troops, saying he will not tolerate anything less than complete obedience from them. Slag interrupts him, and points to you, saying that they should not discuss their battle plans with you present, as you could be a Decepticon spy!
- Try to convince the Dinobots you can help them on their mission? page 41
- Leave immediately? page 40
- Grimlock explains to you that somehow, two Decepticons named Ravage and Laserbeak have travelled to this time from the future. As they can disguise themselves as cassettes, they most likely arrived here with you, without you noticing them. The two Decepticons hope to find the Ark, the Autobots' spaceship, which has crash-landed nearby, with all the Autobots and Decepticons lying dormant within. The two Decepticons plan to destroy the Autobots in this time, while they are helpless, to change the course of history. You remember the spaceship you saw in Disneyland, and tell the Dinobots everything that has happened to you so far. page 58
- Page 58
- Swoop admits he had spotted a flying saucer landing nearby a few days ago. Grimlock angrily asks why Swoop had not informed him of this development before, and Swoop reasons that, seeing as it had nothing to do with the Ark, he didn't think it was important. Grimlock says that a saucer with technology capable of time-travel bears investigating, and the Dinobots transform and head towards it. As the Dinobots head uphill, the mist disperses and Snarl regains power. Then, a triceratops emerges from the undergrowth before you! You behind the Dinobots for safety. Slag breathes a white-hot jet of flame towards his organic double, but the dinosaurs appears to be unaffected. Swoop points out that though they are in the distant past, dinosaurs still have been extinct for millions of years, and flies through the triceratops, revealing it to be a hologram. You notice the cine-projector creating the illusory Triceratops in the bushes, and turn it off. Swoop then directs his teammates' attention towards a nearby cave, telling them that is where the flying saucer is hidden. page 59
- Page 59
- Observing the cave entrance, you realize it is too low for the Dinobots to enter. Only you can go inside.
- Offer to enter the cave? page 60
- Refuse to enter the cave? page 62
- Page 60
- You offer to enter the cave by yourself.
- (From page 59)
- The Dinobots are impressed by your bravery. Within the cave, you spot the saucer which you had previously seen at Disneyland. But in this time period, it is in perfect working order. Before the saucer, two aliens are setting up scientific equipment. Among the items in their possession is another cine-projector, revealing the aliens to be the source of the illusion. Looking around, you notice Ravage spying on the aliens some distance away. He is so fixated on the aliens that he has yet to notice you.
- Shout a warning to the aliens? page 64
- Sneak down towards the saucer? page 67
- Page 64
- You shout a warning to the aliens.
- (From page 60)
- But the aliens do not understand your language, and are more curious than alarmed as you try to tell them about Ravage. Ravage, however, understands perfectly well. The Decepticon bounds down atop of you. You think he is about to finish you off, but he merely gazes into your eyes, then leaps towards the aliens. Laserbeak also emerges from the shadows, and slays one of the aliens with a burst of photonic energy. The other alien tries to run away from Ravage, who pounces upon him, causing the two of them to stumble into the saucer. page 65
- Page 65
- The Dinobots yell their concern for you into the cavern, but you signal to them that you are unhurt. Looking inside the saucer, where Laserbeak followed Ravage and the alien, you find the craft empty. The alien must have escaped in time, accidentally taking the Decepticons with him. The only device you find inside is a bulky rifle.
- Use the rifle? page 68
- Walk back to where the Dinobots are waiting? page 63
- Page 68
- You decide to use the rifle.
- (From page 65)
- The device is a Stasis Gun, and it is able to "freeze" objects—or people—in time. You realize it is your means to returning to your own time. You point the rifle towards yourself, and push the rifle's button. page 70
- Page 70
- The next thing you know, you are standing in a circle of scientists, cameramen, reporters and astonished onlookers. Looking around, you recognize the Wizard's Cave in Disneyland. page 71
- You have returned to the present day, but will anyone ever believe your fantastic story?
- THE END
- With no way of returning to your own time, you are forced to live out your life millions of years before you, or anyone you know, is ever born. You become good friends with Sludge, who does his best to make you forget your former life. Though you live out an exciting life, you are unable to fight off the melancholy and loneliness that stem from the knowledge that you will never again see your own time.
- THE END
- Page 67
- You sneakily make your way towards the saucer.
- (From page 60)
- The aliens take no notice of you, as they are too busy taking readings from their devices. Making your way into the saucer, you soon find the metallic sphere that brought you to this era. You contemplate using it to return to your own time, but decide you cannot allow Laserbeak and Ravage to remain in the past. You run out of the spaceship, brandishing the orb, and taunt the Decepticons into attacking you. The two aliens are taken aback, and begin to jabber at you. When they see Ravage and Laserbeak emerge from the shadows, however, they pass out in fright. As Ravage reaches you, you twist the dial on the time-sphere... page69
- Page 69
- This time, you have braced yourself for your travel through time, and you do not pass out. You see Ravage and Laserbeak before you, enveloped in a rainbow of lights. When you dematerialize in the Wizard's Cave, the Decepticons are nowhere to be found. Either they slipped away quickly upon their arrival to the present, or they got lost somewhere in the space-time continuum. A scientist steps forwards an snatches the time sphere from you. page 71
- Page 62
- You refuse to enter the cave.
- (From page 59)
- Slag calls you a coward and a weakling, and the other Dinobots, save Sludge eye you with contempt. Sludge says that even he, a heavily armoured 50-tonne robot would be afraid of going into a dark cave alone. Moved by Sludge's words, Snarl and Grimlock admit that you are not a warrior, and to send you into the cave would be asking too much from you. Swoop dismisses Sludge as a coward as well, however, and takes to the air. page 63
- Page 40
- You walk away from the Dinobots as they discuss their plan...
- (From page 39)
- ...though not before angrily making a remark that you won't stay where you aren't wanted. Most of the Dinobots say nothing. Slag merely sneers as you walk away. Only Sludge seems sympathetic towards you. As you walk into the swampy jungle, you soon find yourself before a river. You look up, and see a winged shape heading towards you through the mist.
- Call out towards the shape? page 53
- Ignore the shape and carry on? page 54
- Page 53
- You call out at the flying shape...
- (From page 40)
- ...assuming it is the Dinobot Swoop. But the shape reveals itself to be the Decepticon Laserbeak! He swoops down and attacks you! Then, suddenly, another winged figure emerges from the mist. This time, it truly is Swoop! The flying Dinobot scares Laserbeak off and apologizes to you for his mistrust. He tells you to follow him back to the other Dinobots. page 41
- Page 54
- You ignore the shape and carry on.
- (From page 40)
- You assume the shape is Swoop, come to apologize, but you are not interested in hearing him out. But as you begin to walk away, a triumphant laugh echoes from the flying shape. It's not Swoop at all, but a Decepticon! The evil robot takes aim, and prepares to burn you to a crisp with his searing ruby lasers!
- Try to hide from the Decepticon? page 55
- Cry out for help? page 56
- Page 55
- You attempt to hide from the Decepticon...
- (From page 54)
- ...but there is no escaping your pursuer! You see his lasers charge, and in a burst of scarlet light, for you it is...
- THE END
- Page 56
- You cry out for help.
- (From page 54)
- But you have no idea if the Dinobots are still nearby, or if they would even bother coming to your rescue. You manage to dodge one laser blast from the flying Decepticons, leading him to taunt you, saying you are only delaying the inevitable. Just then, Sludge emerges from the mist, and rams head-first into Laserbeak. The outraged Laserbeak hastily retreats. You are happy to see Sludge, and to hear that the Dinobots have decided to trust you after all. You follow Sludge and rejoin the group. page 41
- Page 42
- You tell Sludge to flee from the explosions.
- (From page 28)
- But as Sludge is about to turn tail and run, a robotic pterosaur descends through the mists and tells Sludge to wait. Sludge recognizes the flying robot as his fellow Dinobot Swoop. Swoop tells Sludge that he's just help out Grimlock fighting off a Decepticon, and you realize that the fight Swoop is talking about must have been the disturbance you heard. Then, three more robotic dinosaurs lumber out of the mists. Sludge whispers to you that their names are Grimlock, Slag and Snarl. page 38
- Page 29
- You tell the brontosaurus you have no idea what you are doing here.
- (From page 26)
- The brontosaurus tells you he is meeting his fellow "Dinobots" nearby. Then, a robotic Tyrannosaurus bursts through the undergrowth. Though the brontosaurus appears friendly, you are squeamish near this newcomer. page 30
- Page 30
- But the brontosaurus recognizes the tyrannosaurus. He addresses him as "Grimlock," who orders "Sludge" to come with him, and bring you if he so wishes. Sludge tells you he better hurry if he doesn't want to be left behind by Grimlock.
- Go with the Dinobots? page 33
- Tell Sludge to go on without you? page 31
- Grimlock holds a small device in his hand, and tells Sludge he is "getting a reading." Then, a third robot descends from the skies, a pterodactyl this time. page 34
- Page 31
- You tell Sludge to go on without you.
- (From page 26)
- But Sludge insists you should come along with him.
- Accompany Sludge after all? page 33
- Insist on staying put? page 32
- Page 32
- You insist on Sludge going on without you.
- (From page 31)
- The Dinobots disappear into the mist before you. You find yourself alone in the jungle, surrounded by strange animal life you do not recognize. As you make yourself through the trees, the air suddenly becomes silent. Looking around, you spot a feline shape moving towards you.
- Approach the feline shape? page 46
- Climb a tree? page 47
- Make a run for it? page 48
- Page 46
- You approach the feline shape.
- (From page 32)
- As you draw nearer to the beast, you hear a contented growl emanating from it. As it fully comes into view, you contemplate the mighty saber-toothed cat curled on the ground before you. And then, for you it is...
- THE END
- Page 47
- You climb a nearby tree.
- (From page 32)
- From this new viewpoint, you look down towards the predator stalking you. It walks out of the mist, revealing itself to be a large saber-tooth tiger. Unable to climb the tree you are perched in, it slinks away disappointed. You wait twenty minutes to make sure the saber-tooth tiger has truly gone away, and then climb down. page 52
- As you walk about, you hear Sludge's familiar voice calling for you. You tell him you've changed your mind, and climb atop the mighty robot. The both of you then set out to rejoin Grimlock. page 33
- Page 48
- You make a run for it.
- (From page 32)
- Stumbling through the many obstacles the forest throws at you, you soon find yourself in an open clearing. Before you, lying on top of a boulder is a larger robotic cat. You are startled and confused, wondering if your pursuer somehow got in front of you without you knowing. The robot slinks down from the boulder, and presents itself as "Ravage." He then announces that you are his prey...
- Surrender to Ravage? page 51
- Attempt to escape? page 50
- Page 51
- You surrender to Ravage.
- (From page 48)
- But Ravage tells you that a fight between a human and a Decepticon is a fight to the death. As Ravage advances, you realize this is...
- THE END
- Page 50
- You attempt to escape from Ravage.
- (From page 48)
- Ravage taunts you, saying that there is no escaping him. Then, a saber-tooth tiger slinks out in front of you, blocking your path. The tiger spots Ravage, and assumes he is another tiger encroaching on his territory. It leaps onto the robot, and the two begin to scuffle. You know that the saner-tooth tiger doesn't stand a chance against Ravage, and make good of the distraction it has provided you. page 52
- Page 25
- You use the rocks as stepping stones across the river.
- (From page 24)
- But just as you reach the boulder in the middle of the river, it lurches out of place and throws you off balance. As you hold on for your life, the boulder rises, and reveals itself to not be a boulder at all, but a mechanical brontosaurus! The robot steps out of the river, and allows you to get your feet on solid ground. page 26
- Page 2
- You climb into a nearby electrically-powered buggy and try to drive past the guards.
- (From page 1)
- You examine the buggy's controls, and find them easy enough to operate. Within the buggy, you find a walkman loaded with a cassette.
- Do you wish to leave the walkman behind? page 3
- Do you keep the walkman with you as you drive past the barrier? page 4
- Page 4
- You take the walkman, and drive past the barrier with the buggy.
- (From page 2)
- Though you are nervous at first, but the guards don't notice you, and soon you are on your way towards the new attraction. You stop the buggy outside the Droid Hunter, an attraction closed for repair.
- Enter the Droid Hunter attraction? page 5
- Keep on going and enter the Wizard's Cave? page 10
- Page 5
- You enter the Droid Hunter attraction.
- (From page 4)
- The empty attraction gives you a sense of unease as you walk through it. Grabbing one of the attractions harmless laser rifles, you decide to turn on the walkman, hoping the music will soothe you. But no music plays, and looking into the walkman, you find the cassette inside has mysteriously disappeared.
- Stay inside the Droid Hunter attraction? page 6
- Go back outside? page 3
- Page 6
- You stay inside the Droid Hunter attraction.
- (From page 5)
- You can't help but feel that something is watching you, somewhere in the dimly lit attraction. Looking behind you, you spot two glowing green eyes.
- Run away? page 7
- Stand your ground? page 8
- Page 7
- Panicked by the frightful sight, you take off running...
- (From page 6)
- ...dropping your laser rifle in the process. Something is definitely chasing you, something that isn't human! Suddenly, you crash into a mirror; you had mistaken the reflective surface for another corridor! In the reflection, you see a catlike being preparing to pounce on you. You can't save yourself now, this is...
- THE END
- Page 8
- You stand your ground...
- (From page 6)
- ...and demand that whoever is stalking you from the shadows come out and show themselves. From out of the darkness leaps a metallic hunting cat. Though you are almost paralyzed with fear, you manage to raise your laser-rifle. Though the rifles are quite harmless, at a close range the light they emit can be quite dazzling. And the creature before you appears to be sensitive to bright lights, as it scurries off in pain after you pull the trigger. Once the creature is gone, you throw down the laser-rifle and run outside. page 10
Featured characters
Autobots | Decepticons | Humans | Others |
---|---|---|---|
Notes
- All Transformers' names are printed in CAPITAL LETTERS.
- Ravage's alternate mode is labelled as the soundtrack to Cats. In jaguar mode, his eyes are green.
- The Dinobots' chronology is not clear—they are familiar with "puny humans" but no mention is made of how (or if) they travelled back through time. They say that all the Autobots (and Decepticons) are inactive aboard the Ark but not whether their past versions are amongst them. Whichever way the story ends they remain trapped in prehistoric California with no way to return to the present but wait, though this is pretty much an occupational hazard for a Dinobot.
- This must be the only time in the whole Generation 1 continuity family where a human has found a Walkman that didn't later turn out to be Soundwave in disguise.
Advertisements
- Inside the front cover is an advert for the UK comic, using a piece of artwork that depicts Jetfire's unused character model fighting Megatron.
- At the end of the story are adverts for other Young Corgi books "Peril from the Stars" and "T.R.Bear: Enter T.R." by Terrance Dicks.