TransBot
TransBot — frequently asked questions
- What platforms is TransBot on?
- TransBot was released on Arcade, Sega Master System/Mark III.
- When did TransBot release?
- TransBot was first released on December 22, 1985.
About TransBot
Thwart an underground invasion with your transforming weaponry. The ground is scarred by craters, a reminder of the recent Dalaus invasion. And continuous acid rains give the sky an eerie irridescence. You are the only Transbot pilot left from the now defunct regime. So you must battle wave after wave of orbiting debris. To try to get to the notorious Dalaus artificial intelligence computer. Fortunately, your astro-plane can go through 6 different transformations. Turn into a robot warrior and more. By the time you transform, you should be able to penetrate the fortress of Dalaus. And rid the galaxy of her evil influence forever!
Summary via IGDB.
TransBot on Wikipedia
TransBot, known in Japan as Astro Flash (アストロフラッシュ), is a video game for the Master System originally released in 1985. It is a sci-fi-themed shoot 'em up inspired by Transformers.
Source: Wikipedia (text under CC BY-SA 4.0).
Game details
- Developer
- Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
- Publisher
- Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
- Game modes
- Single player, Multiplayer
- Themes
- Action, Science fiction
Details via IGDB.
Reception
Every version compared
Prices, contemporary reception and the studio credited for each release
| Platform | Year | Loose | Complete | Sealed | Fake risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sega Master System | 1986 | $23 | $39 | $102 | Low (look-alike) |
Also released on: Arcade · Sega Master System/Mark III. We haven’t priced or authenticated those versions yet.
Collector value & authenticity
Sega Master System · PriceCharting sold data · Verified 2026-10-28
Other releases and variants
| Release | Loose | Complete | Sealed |
|---|---|---|---|
| European (PAL) release | $6 | $18 | — |
| Japanese release (Astro Flash) | $7 | $28 | — |
What it needs to play
- RequiredCard slot (original Master System or Mark III) — released on a Sega Card, which plugs into the card slot; the Master System II has no card slot (Sega catalogue).
How often it sells
- Loose: about once a month
- Complete: about once a week
- Sealed: about once a year
Prices marked “few sales” rest on about one recorded sale a year, so treat them as a rough guide: the next copy could sell well above or below. Expect to wait for one to come up.
Sales frequency from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, as of 2026-10-28.
Price over time
- Loose
- Complete
A loose copy sold for about $10.00 in Jul 2009, $28 five years ago, and $23 as of Oct 2026.
Show as table
| Month | Loose | Complete |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2010 | $14.00 | — |
| Jan 2011 | $7.40 | — |
| Jan 2012 | $9.49 | — |
| Jan 2013 | $11.22 | — |
| Jan 2014 | $9.98 | $12.99 |
| Jan 2015 | $9.99 | $19.99 |
| Jan 2016 | $17.99 | $19.94 |
| Jan 2017 | $21 | $26 |
| Jan 2018 | $19.99 | $24 |
| Jan 2019 | $15.90 | $26 |
| Jan 2020 | $20 | $29 |
| Jan 2021 | $22 | $30 |
| Jan 2022 | $28 | $34 |
| Jan 2023 | $26 | $30 |
| Jan 2024 | $30 | $31 |
| Jan 2025 | $22 | $35 |
| Jan 2026 | $19.95 | $35 |
| Oct 2026 | $23 | $39 |
Monthly price estimates from PriceCharting's completed-sale records, sampled quarterly, through Oct 2026.
Release record
| Territory | Date | Product number |
|---|---|---|
| North America | October 1986 | — |
| Europe / PAL | August 1987 | — |
| Japan | 22 December 1985 | C-503 |
- Region
- NA+EU+JP
- Released
- 1986
- Authenticity
- Low
An early Transformers-inspired shooter that came out on a Sega Card, and a magazine tips page sneered at it.
TransBot is a science fiction shoot 'em up inspired by Transformers, made and published by Sega. It was released in Japan on December 22, 1985 as Astro Flash, in North America in October 1986 and in Europe in August 1987. The North American release came on a Sega Card rather than a cartridge.
Mean Machines' tips page in its fourth issue called it a rather crappy little shoot 'em up.
What the press said at the time
“Oh dear! It has all the usual elements; shoot-’em-up, based in a post nuclear world and invading aliens. but iťs so badly programmed that Transbot is pretty awful.”
In the sales charts
In 8 sales charts, April 1993 to September 1993; highest position #4.
Show all 8 placings
- #4 in the Virgin Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 18, April 1993
- #7 in the Virgin Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 19, May 1993
- #5 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 20, June 1993
- #4 in the Virgin Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 21, July 1993
- #9 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 21, July 1993
- #5 in the Virgin Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 22, August 1993
- #10 in the HMV Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 22, August 1993
- #7 in the Virgin Master System chart — Sega Pro, Issue 23, September 1993
Sales charts as printed in the magazines of the time.
Before you buy
Because it is a Sega Card, it needs a console with a card slot; the Master System II has none, so check your console before buying. The US copy sits above the middle of the US carts, while the European and Japanese Astro Flash copies are both noticeably cheaper, the European one particularly so. Pick the region by price and by the box you want. The look-alike risk is low.
TransBot screenshots
Watch on YouTube
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