Review - Terminator 2D: No Fate
James Cameron's Terminator 2 is one of those rare movie mainstays revitalised in popular culture every generation. Whether through sequels or attempts at rebooting the whole franchise, or even video games, such as the creatively interesting, Terminator: Resistance by Teyon, which released back in 2019.
Now, we have a very different take on the franchise; a near faithful replication of Terminator 2's story, in the 16-bit graphical style of the Super Nintendo and Sega Megadrive, as if the developers were making a licenced game set to release alongside the 1991 classic.
Terminator 2D: No Fate is predominantly a side-scrolling action platformer in the vein of the enjoyable shooters, in the Contra and Metal Slug franchises. With only a few deviations and additions from the original story, Terminator 2D: No Fate puts players in control of three characters: the gritty Sarah Connor who'll do anything to protect her son, the reprogrammed T-800 sent to help her, and future John Connor that battles Terminators in the ravaged post-apocalyptic Earth.
Developed by UK-based studio Bitmap Bureau who previously made multi-directional top down shooter, Xeno Crisis, and side-scrolling beat 'em-up, Final Vendetta - both perfect rehearsals for their biggest project yet. A studio synonymous with everything retro - from development to publication - going as far as to release their IPs physically on out of print hardware like Gameboy Advance and one of my personal favourite consoles, Sega Dreamcast.
When you boot up the game, it points you to the logical starting point, story mode. During the campaign, Terminator 2D: No Fate successfully replicates the feeling of being on your last life in an arcade when you're out of money to continue. When one more hit means game over and you're forced to start the game again from the beginning.
Image: Terminator 2D: No Fate - Robot - Bitmap Bureau
Luckily, the game breaks retro arcade standards to include multiple difficulties: Easy Money which has unlimited continues and weaker enemies, a balanced mode called No Problemo, Hasta La Vista which has more enemies with faster reactions, and Judgement Day which is unlocked by completing the Mother of the Future mode. One of the game's few weaknesses is the need to unlock everything instead of being able to access all the content you've purchased right from the start.
The story mode spans more than ten levels. Some missions can be completed in as little as three minutes, whilst others rising in time dependent on the chosen difficulty. However, if you choose to complete your first run through the story on one of the two lowest difficulties, your playthrough should take anywhere between forty minutes to two hours. But replayability is at the core of Terminator 2D's foundation. Designed for players to complete branching paths that only unlock once you complete your first full playthrough - a feature which would've been better served to be unlocked from the start, to allow players to decide if to follow the canon story or not.
Between levels, a backdrop of the iconic Terminator theme and equally tense and thumping music sets the tone for the story. A narrative told through voiceless, slideshow style animations, and written dialogue and narration. The visual presentation hits all the right nostalgic notes; through the masterful use of excellently detailed background art and character models. Each piece of art brings true personality to familiar places and faces, honouring the beloved movie.
Image: Terminator 2D: No Fate - Bar - Bitmap Bureau
Bitmap Bureau achieve their creative intentions by making a fine addition to the world of Terminator - a pixel perfect recreation of a licenced game from the 90s. Every character and enemy has satisfying motion; a fluidity only seen in the best side-scrolling action platformers.
But Terminator 2D: No Fate has more to offer than just a story mode with three minor branching choices. It has an Arcade Mode that lays the experience bare; a version of the story mode without continues or the ability to save. A hardcore mode meant for players wanting a different type of challenge, to showcase their expertise, on a hunt for high scores, which can be checked in the menu.
Beyond this, there's a level training mode to practice your runs for better high-scores, a boss rush mode to replay boss fights, infinite mode and the Sarah Connor centric Mother of the Future mode. There's also a compendium of enemies to fill out and view in the menu and a list of cheats.
However, these game modes, cheat list and difficulty options are all locked behind various requirements. It's understandable to want players to experience the canon story on their first playthrough, but locking content behind the hardest difficulty isn't ideal as not everyone wants that kind of a challenge.
But where Terminator 2D: No Fate thrives is in the moment to moment gameplay. Bitmap Bureau really nails both Sarah and John Connor. In most levels, Terminator 2D: No Fate operates as a side-scrolling shooter as either Sarah Connor or as future John Connor. As both characters, you have the same basic functions: you can move, jump, climb, crouch and shoot in six different directions. But where Sarah stops to shoot, John can continue moving forward whilst mowing down Terminators with his energy gun. Both also have a quick dash like movement to avoid environmental hazards like machinery and dodge under bullets: Sarah has a downward slide to hit into enemies and John has a combat roll to dodge underneath dog shaped terminators.
Image: Terminator 2D: No Fate - Sarah - Bitmap Bureau
However, the biggest difference in John's levels are their similarities to the Probotector or Contra series depending on where you're from. You find items to change the ammo type and have boss battles that involve pressing a button to hide behind a wall, to have a peek and shoot style encounter with a huge boss similar to in the Contra series. During these encounters, unlike Sarah, who has a melee attack to disarm shielded enemies, John can throw a limited supply of pipe bombs to make easy work of the terminators.
Sarah also has her own unique stealth levels, that sees her avoiding the T-1000 as she make her way out of the psychiatric hospital from the movie. The whole level uses different mechanics: she can hide in rooms, wait for patrols to turn away, pick locks and avoid security cameras. It's a nice change of pace from the all out shooting levels.
Although, the level variation doesn't stop there. Bitmap Bureau have recreated one of Terminator 2's most iconic scenes where Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-800 rides on a motorcycle with John Connor to escape the T-1000. This is a fun driving section where you avoid incoming vehicles and obstacles whilst firing a shotgun at the pursuing lorry.
Once again, the developers have been inspired by another retro classic, Battletoads, known for challenging driving levels. But fortunately, Bitmap Bureau have made their driving levels fun and brief. Then again, no levels overstay their welcome - the whole game can be completed under the run-time of a movie. Some will like the reliance on replayability, others will want more.
Image: Terminator 2D: No Fate - T-1000 - Bitmap Bureau
But I cannot forget the recreation of the iconic scene when the T-800 arrives at the biker bar. This is where Bitmap Bureau give T-800 his own level. You control a naked T-800 searching for clothes and a motorcycle. Unlike the perfect shooter gameplay, the developers take inspiration from Double Dragon and Streets of Rage, to create a brief beat 'em-up level. Unfortunately, this is the most monotonous section, but it doesn't last long, and like every other level, has enough visual flair to see you to the end of the mission.
At £24.99, the price is going to feel differently depending on what you want from the game. If you just want to play through the story once or twice to see the canon and alternative endings and play the extra level, you might not feel you get enough value, especially when modes are locked behind playthroughs. But for those gaming fans with a strong nostalgia for the Terminator series, who will turn on the CRT shader and crave a more hardcore arcade experience in pursuit of high-scores, then Terminator 2D: No Fate sits as another crown jewel in the retro gaming renaissance.
So, for those that want to experience the story, I'd wait for a sale, but for players known to enjoy replayable arcade experiences, it's an easy recommendation.
Image: Terminator 2D: No Fate Review Score - 7.5/10
