Review - Terminator 2D: No Fate

Roberto Nieves
6 minutes ago
5 min read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8miDYnbQJbE

Developer: Bitmap Bureau

Publisher: Reef Entertainment

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch

Reviewed on: PlayStation 5

Hasta La Vista, Baby! Widely regarded as one of the best sci-fi action movies ever made, Terminator 2: Judgment Day became a sensational global phenomenon when it was released in July 1991. This epic tale of cyborgs, time travel, and humanity took the world by storm. However, it didn't have quite the best game adaptation until now.

Reef Entertainment and Bitmap Bureau have taken their own approach, giving us Terminator 2D: No Fate, an arcade-inspired retelling of the classic Terminator 2D. With an incredible pixelated presentation, exciting action, and a faithful rendition of the source material, Terminator 2D: No Fate is a great game, albeit for a short time.

Come With Me If You Want To Live

Terminator 2: Judgement Day became a watershed moment in regards to cinema and pop culture. The visual effects were off the charts with the liquid-metal T-1000. The action sequences were exciting and practical, with helicopters actually flying over and under highway overpasses. Film goers were walking out of theaters reciting the famous lines from Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, despite having a rich foundation for a video game adaptation, Terminator 2 has had a myriad of mostly mediocre games.

I have memories of playing the awful Terminator 2 game for Sega Genesis, which was broken from gameplay to visuals. The T2 Arcade was a solid experience, but brutally hard. Most games licensed to Terminator ranged from mediocre to decent to just plain bad. In fact, the best game based on Terminator 2: Judgement Day didn't occur until 2019 with the release of Terminator: Resistance. Terminator 2D: No Fate is an adaptation of Terminator 2, emulating the pixelated experiences of 1991 with modern elements.

No Fate But What We Make

Terminator 2D No Fate is an arcade action sidescroller experience. Players experience the story of Terminator 2: Judgement Day through the lens of a sidescroller action game in the vein of classics such as Metal Slug and Contra. These games were all about instant action and challenging gameplay, dazzling players with amazing visual excitement while also proving to be a white-knuckle challenge where you feel the adrenaline surging through your body.

This begins with the story mode. Through 15 levels, players play the role of multiple characters from the movie, such as John Connor, Sarah Connor, and the T-800. The story mode goes through the major moments of Terminator 2: Judgement Day, from the truck chase in the LA canal to the battle at Cyberdyne HQ. The story mode takes a few liberties and surprises with the material as well.

A Tale Across Time

The story mode primarily stays as a sidescroller shooter in the vein of Contra, but it does quite a bit to shake up the formula. One level has players as Sarah Connor in the mental institution, but it plays as a quick stealth action game, where players must avoid enemies and the T-1000. Another level takes place in the Future War, and as John Connor, fight the machines. The story mode does a good job of switching things up to keep players on their toes. One of my favorite moments is the infamous bar brawl where the game turns into a beat 'em up, with Guitars and Cadillacs by Dwight Yoakam and Bad to the Bone by playing in the background.

One additional aspect of the campaign is certain choices that can be made. After completing the story mode at least once, players can revisit the mode and make choices that alter the path of the story, introducing new missions and levels. For example, choosing to eliminate Miles Dyson instead of sparing him unlocks different missions and an alternate path to the story. These create unique "what if" scenarios that are fun to explore.

Trust Me

Following the story mode, there are a multitude of other game modes to tap into. Arcade Mode is a score-focused mode, especially focusing on the pure Arcade experience. No cutscenes or continues. Boss Rush mode is self-explanatory, putting players against the game's various bosses. Infinite Mode pits players into an endless mode that challenges players to survive longer. Mother of the Future Mode has players as Sarah Connor fighting in various levels.

Terminator 2D: No Fate comes from the same team that made the incredible white-knuckle challenge that is Xeno Crisis, Battle Axe, and Final Vendetta. Bitmap Bureau is a team that knows how to make sweet-looking 16-bit action games that look like they were plucked straight from the plastic cartridges of the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo.

I'm a Terminator

From a presentation standpoint, Terminator 2D: No Fate excels, with a clear love and respect for the source material. The pixelated animation feels straight from the early 90s and is done with a smoothness and articulation that is remarkable! Every pixel moves with accuracy and carefulness. There is a closeness to the material that deserves commendation. This can doubly be said of the game's cutscenes. If the goal was to create a game that felt like a blast from 1991, the team greatly succeeded.

The same can be said of the music presentation, which mixes the familiar beats of Brad Fiedel's iconic score into something modern yet familiar. I couldn't help but feel the hair stick up on the back of my neck when hearing the game's take on Terminator 2: Judgement Day's soundtrack. Those sounds are as iconic as John Williams theme to Star Wars or James Horner's theme to Titanic. Hearing it done well here is another huge commendation to the audio department.

Cybderdyne Systems Model 101

As for the gameplay, Bitmap Bureau brings that strong and rock-solid feel into the game. Running and running is exciting, and coupled with the presentation, you have the makings of an exciting Terminator game. Explosions look and sound great, boss fights are challenging, and the controls are tight. Anyone who has ever played Blazing Chrome or Contra should have no problem tapping into Terminator 2D: No Fate.

Having said that, this game is not easy. Even the normal " No Problemo" mode is quite the challenge for players. While there are checkpoints in levels, Terminator 2D: No Fate is hard! Some levels can become overwhelming with obstacles and challenges. In particular, the T-1000 can instantly kill the player in certain levels. The key to survival is finding the various secret continues scattered in the campaign. Even then, failure on the levels featuring the T-1000 whittles those numbers down to zero quickly.

I need a Vacation

It is recommended to play Terminator 2D: No Fate on the "Easy Money" difficulty to get used to the game and use the game's Training Mode to memorize and prepare for each level. The game is all about repeat gameplay and memorization, just like the old arcade classics. There are also trophies and achievements to pursue for those who dare to pursue them.

This brings us to the biggest weakness of Terminator 2D: No Fate. The game is built around the arcade experience, which was always meant to be short but infinitely replayable experiences. The main story mode can be finished in roughly an hour. For the price tag, the goal in playing Terminator 2D: No Fate is to play the game's multiple game modes and difficulties. If this short experience sounds too short to be worth the price, then Terminator 2D: No Fate may likely be a tough recommendation.

This is Terminator

Terminator 2D: No Fate is a short but excellent arcade experience that is remarkably faithful to Terminator 2: Judgement Day, while also being an incredibly strong arcade action game in its own right. Its respect and attention to the source material is commendable, and the action keeps players coming back for more, despite its short length. It's time to relive one of the best sci-fi action experiences ever. Terminator 2D: No Fate is a great experience!