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News Credits: 1452 · by **Blurrz** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 3:29 pm

GameInformer has updated their Transformers War For Cybertron Hub with one of the most popular characters in the Transformers Universe - Starscream. The seeker has been known to be treacherous, egotistical and always looking out for himself. Will Activisions' War For Cybertron continue this trend? Check out the sketches and information below!

We've already given you the lowdown on the esteemed leaders of the Autobots and Decepticons, Optimus Prime and Megatron, but for our final Transformers: War For Cybertron character profile, we wanted to take a look at a true fan favorite. Enter Megatron's ever-scheming second-in-command, Starscream. You can see his powerful jet form above and his newly-designed robot form below.

Cartoon watchers who were introduced to Starscream in the '80s were immediately drawn to his sneaky, deceitful nature. Despite being arguably the highest-ranking member of the Decepticons besides Megatron, Starscream is deadset on taking the top spot, and he makes no efforts to hide it. But the original cartoon never really attempted to explain why Starscream was on such a power trip nor why Megatron kept him around despite that. War For Cybertron's prequel story lends itself perfectly to fleshing out these motivations.

The first mission of the Decepticon campaign will chronicle the first meeting between Megatron and Starscream aboard a space station that orbits Cybertron. This dramatic encounter will culminate in one of the Decepticons defecting only to be replaced by an eager Starscream. Despite teaming up with the Decepticons, Starscream will make it clear that in his mind both Megatron and Optimus Prime are failing to keep the best interests of all of Cybertron in their minds.

As one of the handful of Transformers that can change into a jet, Starscream will also have the special Hover ability while in robot form. His other special ability, Shockwave, sounds like it will be perfect for handling large groups of enemies.

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News Credits: 226 · by **Burn** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 3:34 pm

Tree trunk legs and tiny arms. hmmmmm .... like but don't like.

Put some nice big null-ray cannons on those arms though ... :twisted:

News Credits: 2 · by **First-Aid** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 3:42 pm

Loving that jet mode! Robot mode looks great too, especially if he has jets in his legs for hovering and robot-mode flight. Never understood how small jets could maintain flight on a huge robot mode...

by **KingEmperor** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:18 pm

I don't know if this was asked and answered already, but if Hasbro aims for the game's storyline to be canon, then how do they explain the differences in designs compared to War Within's?

News Credits: 2 · by **Convotron** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:22 pm

Bot mode is alright, needs null-ray cannons.

Alt mode just doesn't look good to me with the tiny stubby wings. They're superfluous to the design because they're not big enough to be functional wings and they have little visual appeal unless one likes stubby wing things. Either go for fully fledged wings or abandon the component and go for a more tetra jet design, which the concept artist seem to be hinting at.

by **frogbat** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:42 pm

i'm not too sold on the character designs so far though they definitely aren't the worst that i've seen over the past couple of years - starscream is the most disappointing so far - not too keen on the boots and the alt mode seems a bit over worked for someone that is supposedly a sleek flyer

things i do like from the little we've seen is the premise (before earth contact), the fact that it appears to be take elemetns from g1, animated and the movie to create this part of the universe. But I must admit my favourite part is their rendering of cybertron - it's pretty close to the idea I had in my head of what it should look like as someone who grew up on g1. Michael Bay's cybertron had more in common with lotr's mount doom than cybertron it seemed.

hope the game develops into something enjoyable and lasting

News Credits: 3 · by **Archanubis** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:53 pm

Little on the chunky side, aint he?

News Credits: 21 · by **dragons** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:17 pm

if you shrink the picture to smaller size kinda lokos ike hotrod but his bot mode is something i can deal with jet mode to bulky doesnt look look like jet looks like animated megatron in his cybertron from looks like train with wings almost but if they dont make figures out of all these figures i can deal with this desgin toy of his jet mode would look bad to me

looked at his jet mode looks like animated starscream with really short wings & more bulk to his back sde this time

Website · by **Varia31** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 5:38 pm

The bot mode looks pretty good, very similar to his Cybertron mode in the movie-verse. The alt. mode's not too bad, it could use larger wings though. The mindset part in his profile is almost directly inspired by movie-verse 'Screamer, as movie 'Screamer thinks that way initially.

News Credits: 32 · by **UltraPrimal** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:11 pm

Gotta admit, looks kind of ****, IMO.

News Credits: 2 · by **Cryo Prime** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 6:52 pm

not gonna lie the first thing i thought when i saw the little caption picture was why is Animated Snarl in the game. glad i took a second look lol. all in all i like it, but he still needs his null ray cannons

by **SJ21** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 7:14 pm

Well, OP and Megatron looked great so far. I am not so sure about Starscream's look. I mean, he looks awesome, but not in a Starscream way. He looks really thick and intimidating, and that isn't really how I imagine Starscream.

I am sure it will be completely fine once the game comes out.

by **Dclone Soundwave** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 7:35 pm

I like Screamer for the most part, I just have 2 gripes:

-I'd like to see more blue in vehicle mode. Right now, I'm seeing more Thrust/Powerglide than Starscream.
-The Bot mode would look more Starscream-like if the wings were farther forward. They shouldn't be so far back. Of course, a Cybertronian Jet's design is much more intricate than an Earth-based Jet, so I can understand.

Website · by **PhunkJunkion** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 7:47 pm

Personally, I'd take these designs over 95% of the Movieverse designs any day...

News Credits: 8 · by **Megatron Wolf** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 7:52 pm

Im liking what im seeing. All it needs is cannons on the arms and he'll be perfect. Well that and thinner legs. Granted the thrusters need a place to go but they could slim em down a bit. Cant wait to see more. Hope bays taking notes.

News Credits: 3 · by **Samsonator** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:32 pm

KingEmperor wrote:I don't know if this was asked and answered already, but if Hasbro aims for the game's storyline to be canon, then how do they explain the differences in designs compared to War Within's?

The story's going to be canon as in it's apparently the jumping on point for a new series and toyline, though in what form remains to be seen. Not as in it's canon with the G1 cartoon, or even the G1 comics. To be honest, though... I never really thought War Within was supposed to be considered canon for the G1 cartoon or comics either, merely Dreamwave's G1 comics. Even IDW has a (somewhat) different backstory to start things off... To be put plainly, this game is the start of another new Transformers Universe, a new continuity, and as far as that new continuity goes, this is the official, canonized start of things.

As for Screamer here, I'm not completely sold, but he's pretty cool. I'm interested to see how this artwork translates into a full 3-D model, however.

- Sam

News Credits: 3554 · by **Seibertron** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:33 pm

Not a fan of the jet mode. Agree with above statements. Give him larger wings or go with an updated version of the tetra jet mode. Also not a fan of the maroonish red color, reminds me of Hasbro's Cybertron Voyager class Starscream. I agree that the legs look too bulky. Perhaps with some null rays on his arms it'd balance him out some more, but I think the legs need to be thinner. Better than Soundwave's design, but none of these designs are blowing me away. Tired of continuity reboots. Guess this wipes away everything IDW did.

News Credits: 2 · by **Shadowman** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 8:38 pm

KingEmperor wrote:I don't know if this was asked and answered already, but if Hasbro aims for the game's storyline to be canon, then how do they explain the differences in designs compared to War Within's?

Because Hasbro can snap their fingers and say "War Within is not canon."

As for this design, I feel pretty much the same as everyone else. Broader shoulders, thinner legs, and a pair of null ray cannons. Also, fix up his face, he looks like he's trying to cosplay as the Joker in The Dark Knight.

by **Screamfleet** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:01 pm

He looks ok, trying to make him too menacing though. Glad he's got white though and isn't like, black and red.

News Credits: 1 · by **Galvatron X** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 9:55 pm

The first thing I thought when I see people mentioning he needs larger wings is, "There's no atmosphere on Cybertron, so wings are kinda useless". Maybe that thought process went into the character design? I do agree his lower legs are pretty chunky, though!

Also, it's cool to see how much development time goes into these games. Those drawings are dated September 2008!

News Credits: 1 · by **SKYWARPED_128** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:16 pm

As many others have mentioned here, he IS a little chunky for a seeker.

While I understand that the wings and canopy are homages to the G1 design, the stubby wings and canopy look like a half-hearted effort. Better if the designer gave him full-length wings and have him use them as hard-points for weapons and missiles since Cybertron has no atmosphere, and have the clear canopy serve as a solar recharger to justify its existence on his chest. Heck, I'll even accept it if they stuck an imaging camera in his chest and said the clear canopy serves as a housing for his optics in alt mode.

And speaking of his alt mode, it looks more like a transport shuttle than the sleek jet fighter he's supposed to be.

Hopefully, these designs aren't final, and there will be improvements in the finished product.

News Credits: 10 · by **Trikeboy** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:56 pm

At first glance his lower body is very Dinobot. I quite like him despite the elephant legs. The alt mode has a slight tetra jet feel to it.

As one of the handful of Transformers that can change into a jet

Hmm, who does that sound like. Hopefully Skywarp and Thundercracker have a different look. I hate it when they have the same alt and robot modes.

Like steve2275 on Facebook · by **steve2275** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:29 pm

looks better than any rotf related

News Credits: 198 · by **DevastaTTor** » Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:45 pm

I don't like either mode. Very disappointed with this design.

by **Prime's Trailer** » Thu Dec 24, 2009 6:30 am

I think the robot mode looks awesome, wouldn't change a thing.
The alt mode just looks a bit too 'pre-earth Laserbeak' to be Screamer. Not bad though. This latest update has, at the very least, sustained my excitement.