Terminator 2D: No Fate (2025)
I was 7 years old when I saw Terminator 2, much younger than I should have been for my first R rated movie. I never heard some of those words before, but the unmistakable awesomeness of Arnold blasting the T-1000 to pieces and sending Liquid Metal while I sat on the stairs watching from a distance as my Aunt and Uncle watched the VHS has stuck with me my entire life.
I find that movie based video games tend to have a limited time to make their mark. Sadly the Terminator 2 video games were never really that great (besides Robocop Vs Terminator). So over 30 years later we see a new game that feels like it's pulled straight out of an alternate reality, when 16 bit pixel style art has so much more fluidity. Immediately I noticed the animations, they stood out. Every character’s movement appeared remarkably fluid and blended well between cutscene and gameplay. Each action set piece felt properly paced as I ran and slid through enemies. Minor platforming sections and obstacles provided enough changes of gameplay to compliment each level’s length.
The game follows the events of the movie after all, so there isn't much deviation within the timeline there. However, it starts off with a bit of a prologue. Setting up how Sarah and John Connor are separated, and how Sarah ended up in the prison/mental ward. Not only does this beginning chapter provide some fun backstory and reveal some interesting story bits, but it also provides some much needed length to the game.
Sadly, it's my one major gripe about the game. It's frustratingly short. Too short. It follows the movie and hits the major story beats and even has some beautifully animated cutscenes depicting memorable parts from the movie. Scenes like the prison break out when Sarah stops in her tracks and falls down when the Terminator says “Come with me if you want to live”. But it also leaves massive gaps that seem like there were missing levels. No mall shootout, no desert interlude. It feels like there just seems to be a few missing sections to the game. And that results in a playtime of less than an hour to finish the whole game.
This wouldn't be an issue if the game was $15, which I think is the sweet spot for it, but at $30. I did feel shortchanged since the majority of the game is just too short. It is balanced out a bit with alternate paths that unlock after the hard playthrough, and a couple of different choices that can be made. However, I have very little patience for games that make me unlock choices through multiple playthroughs. I get instantly bored when I have to go back through a game I already finished with just a 15 second cutscene that's slightly different at the end. If you’re like me, a small deviation in a full game just doesn’t cut it. So, does the added replayability justify the price?
That said, what is here, works. It is an incredibly fun throwback to the 16 bit era where side scrolling shooters ruled. I remember when licensed tie-in games were the norm. I smiled with glee at the guard in the prison getting stabbed in the eye by the T-1000 (Those were identical twins being used in the movie, just like Linda Hamilton and her sister, who was the stunt double). Let’s not forget one of the standouts, as I finally got to see a childhood dream come true with the bike and truck chase scene being fully playable too!
The level design is varied enough, with some basic but fun vehicle levels that are sprinkled in between the shooting and punching. When I controlled a naked Arnold then proceeded to brawl in a bar fight I found it extremely cool. It’s what I envisioned the original T2 game should have been. And thinking of this being a replacement for what the Sega Genesis game should have been is a great way to look at it. It's correcting a mistake from years past.
I have to say that the several slight delays from a mid summer release to the end of the year I’m sure helped polish this game, and I wasn't expecting some licensed music either. It stands out, but in a good and appropriate way. And the extra prologue and ending, with some John Connor future war levels also made the experience feel more than just a simple movie to video game release.
The movie holds a special place in my heart, as I'm sure it does with a lot of people, and this shows a glimpse of what we should be getting in the industry still to this day. Smaller games that do a few things extremely well. Made by developers who care about the properties they are tasked with creating and making something great that will stand the test of time.
If you’re around my age, and you have a fondness for all things Terminator, does the length become a deal breaker at this price point, or is the nostalgia too strong?
