Terminator 2D: No Fate – Pixel Art Action Review

The Terminator franchise is inextricably linked to its second installment: James Cameron’s 1991 masterpiece, renowned for its groundbreaking action sequences and iconic science fiction imagery. No subsequent film in the series has matched its impact, and for many fans, Terminator 2: Judgment Day remains the definitive conclusion to the story.

Video game adaptations, however, have historically struggled to capture the magic of the films. Past titles were often tie-ins lacking ambition, with releases becoming increasingly sporadic after a peak in the 1990s. The most recent attempt, Terminator: Dark Fate – Defiance from Slitherine, is a real-time strategy game that at least attempted to innovate.

Now, British software house Bitmap Bureau, known for recreating classic 16-bit titles with a modern twist – including the beat ’em up Final Vendetta and the hack and slash Battle Axe – is taking a different approach. They’ve set out to create the perfect Terminator 2 tie-in, reimagined as if it were released three decades ago. The result is Terminator 2D: No Fate, a two-dimensional arcade game blending a passion for the run-and-gun genre with a deep love for Cameron’s classic.

Pixel Art Brings Judgment Day to Life

The team at Bitmap Bureau has stated they designed Terminator 2D: No Fate as the game they wished they could have played in arcades upon the release of the second film. The title delivers on that vision, showcasing the developers’ passion for adapting the film’s story into its various levels. This dedication to the source material is a key element in the game’s appeal, signaling a growing trend of retro-inspired game development that caters to nostalgia and a desire for simpler, action-packed gameplay.

Terminator 2D: No Fate offers an arcade experience reminiscent of classic run-and-gun titles, but with added complexity. Players can choose from three distinct characters: Sarah Connor, John Connor in the future, and the T-800 as portrayed by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Each character features unique levels and gameplay mechanics, offering a varied experience.

John Connor’s gameplay is a clear homage to the Contra series, with the first boss encounter directly referencing the Defense Wall from the initial chapter of Konami’s iconic run-and-gun. Playing as John transforms the game into a fast-paced, action-packed experience with access to special bombs and a variety of weapons.

Sarah Connor’s gameplay also leans into the run-and-gun style, but with a different approach. Sarah utilizes melee attacks, and levels are paced more deliberately. Some sections require exploration for items, while others incorporate stealth mechanics.

Finally, the T-800’s first level is set in the iconic bar scene from the second film, transformed into a full-fledged beat ’em up where players, as Schwarzenegger’s character, must fight their way through a biker gang to acquire clothing. While the T-800 is a compelling character, players will have fewer opportunities to utilize him throughout the game.

The narrative remains remarkably faithful to the film’s events, recreating iconic sequences in creative ways. For example, Sarah Connor’s escape from the psychiatric hospital becomes a stealth section with horror elements, requiring players to avoid detection by the T-1000. The motorcycle chase sequence, where the T-800 protects young John Connor, is reimagined as an arcade-style race avoiding obstacles and firing at the pursuing T-1000.

The pixel art graphics in Terminator 2D: No Fate are surprisingly detailed. Each character is animated to faithfully recreate iconic scenes from the film in two dimensions, even including subtle details not directly related to gameplay, such as John teaching the T-800 his signature salute, or the T-1000 reforming from liquid metal. Lighting and shadow effects, along with the color palettes used in the environments, further enhance the film’s atmosphere. The game runs particularly well on the Nintendo Switch 2 in handheld mode.

The game is filled with homages designed to delight fans of Terminator 2. Iconic tracks from the film’s soundtrack have been adapted for the game, while pixel art cutscenes recreate key moments almost frame-by-frame, such as Sarah’s nightmare about the nuclear explosion. Delightful details abound, including the “Continue” screen featuring the T-800’s hand emerging from lava with the iconic thumbs-up gesture. The entire project clearly stems from a sincere love for the film.

As a classic arcade title, Terminator 2D: No Fate is relatively short. It took approximately 51 minutes to complete the 12 levels in the first playthrough, according to the final score screen. However, the actual completion time was closer to double that, as the timer didn’t account for failed attempts and restarts.

Like a traditional arcade game, Terminator 2D: No Fate offers a challenging experience, though it’s not overly difficult. Difficulty level plays a significant role. There are four selectable levels, from easy to very hard, each altering the game’s rules. On Normal, the number of continues is limited (though they can be found hidden throughout the levels), there’s a time limit for completing levels, and health can be restored with medkits. Easy mode offers unlimited continues and removes the time limit. Hard mode starts players with less health and increases the number of enemies, while Very Hard mode disables continues and health recovery, and changes the attack patterns of bosses and enemies. A true test for hardcore players aiming for the “S” rank at the end of each level.

Adding to the game’s replayability is the ability to unlock alternate endings. The first playthrough follows the film’s established storyline, but subsequent runs allow players to make choices that lead to “what if” scenarios, introducing entirely new levels and extending the game’s longevity.

Completing the story with alternate endings unlocks new extra modes, including a classic Boss Rush and an Infinite Mode, a survival-style challenge against endless waves of enemies. Mother of the Future is a time attack mode where players must complete Sarah’s levels as quickly as possible. A separate Arcade mode is also available from the start, offering a streamlined experience without continues, checkpoints, or cutscenes.

Hasta la vista, baby!

In terms of gameplay, Terminator 2D: No Fate is fundamentally a run-and-gun that skillfully blends tradition and modernity. The classic structure of the 1990s is enhanced with more contemporary mechanics, such as cover, the ability to hide behind objects, and a dodge with valuable invincibility frames. Additional weapons can also be collected: in John Connor’s levels, players can wield spread lasers or homing lasers, while Sarah can utilize a devastating machine gun.

These sections also feature a good variety of enemies, with combinations that test the player’s reflexes, such as ranged attackers, melee combatants, and enemies attacking from above. Bosses are well-designed, but lack significant creativity. They primarily adhere to the classic run-and-gun tradition, requiring players to learn attack patterns that become more challenging as the boss’s health decreases.

The game’s greatest strength is its variety, with levels constantly changing. Players will move from a typical run-and-gun level to a stealth section, then an chase sequence, and finally a beat ’em up. Each section aims to offer something new, even when using the same characters.

However, this strength also has a drawback. The different gameplay types are all very basic in their mechanics, especially since they often only last for one level, such as the beat ’em up section. Even the most substantial part of the game, the run-and-gun gameplay, lacks depth compared to similar titles.

While the game is genuinely fun during initial playthroughs, especially while following the story, some limitations become apparent when attempting to improve scores or in purely gameplay-focused modes: the rather simplistic mechanics struggle to maintain long-term interest.

Despite offering a decent lifespan for an arcade-style title, it can be completed in less than 7-8 hours.

Verdict

If Terminator 2 is one of your favorite films and you have a strong fondness for classic arcade titles from the early 1990s, then Terminator 2D: No Fate is the game for you. The attention to detail in recreating the film’s story in an arcade style is remarkable: three very different playable characters with run-and-gun sections, chases, and even stealth and beat ’em up levels. The game’s stunning pixel art graphics further enhance the experience. However, the gameplay, while varied, is somewhat basic in its various incarnations.