Bitmap Bureau gives life to one of the best adaptations of Terminator. A title with an arcade heart that works thanks to simplicity and some good ideas.
Doing a quick search of the Bitmap Bureau historian, we find the strong imprint of the arcade world in their works. From the games you can see the knowledge and passion for those genres that were popular in arcades. Indeed, Terminator 2D: No Fate seems to come from that past. To paraphrase the film, this game seems teleported to our times, just like the cyborg protagonist. Terminator 2D: No Fate seems, in terms of mechanics and gameplay philosophy, a game that comes from the past. Fortunately, the title also brings with it the improvements and quality of life of modern gaming.
Let’s go and see the various aspects of the game.
An enviable aesthetic
It’s not easy to try your hand at the world of video game tie-ins. Often these titles were unable to read the brand they represented, creating products that in many cases turned out to be mediocre. Luckily Terminator 2D: No Fate doesn’t make this mistake. It retraces all the highlights of Terminator 2, handling all the iconic scenes of the film well. The pixel art and the soundtrack are well done, even featuring iconic songs from the film. For those who know the saga and especially the second chapter, it will be a pleasure to retrace the crucial moments of the film. The attention put into the details of the levels, although not long, is remarkable. Bitmap Bureau proves it knows what it’s talking about, paying homage to the Terminator saga.
Less is more
Terminator 2D: No Fate manages to make a gameplay that belongs to the 90s intelligent and not boring. There is little to say about it: we are faced with a classic 2D arcade with some platform elements. Our character has hit points which, once finished, lead to game over. Not to mention the ability to shoot in 8 directions, as well as an evasive maneuver.
As per tradition, the game has limited continues, which can be increased during the game. In the levels, by exploring and finding secrets, we can find other continues that will help us start again from the level checkpoint.
However, before talking about replayability and duration of the title, let’s talk about how the developers managed the progression of the stages. Although short, the stages intelligently retrace the phases of the film, without being boring in terms of gameplay. In fact, we will never have levels upon levels of run ‘n’ gun, but they will be alternated by different game phases. Although the commands are simple, they are reused in an intelligent way depending on the stage we have to face. In this case Bitmap Bureau was very skilled at translating the iconic moments of the film into well-curated and fun to play levels.
Longevity and repetition
Terminator 2D: No Fate may mislead you regarding its longevity. The canonical story ends on normal difficulty in less than 2 hours, but let’s start from the beginning.
The choice of difficulty itself affects the gameplay. In the easiest mode we will have infinite continues and a generous placement of checkpoints. Obviously by raising the difficulty the checkpoints will be less frequent, the enemies will be more aggressive and we will only have a limited number of continues. Not to mention the timer: the level must be completed within a time limit, otherwise it will be game over.
Another intelligent solution is the possibility of making moral choices during the game. In the first run we are “forced” to follow the original plot of the film, but once the first run is over we can play again by choosing different paths. These choices lead to new stages and revisits of those already played. Obviously this will lead to alternative endings with unique boss fights.
Unlocking all the alternative endings gives us access to new game modes. This increases the longevity of the title.
My two cents
Terminator 2D: No Fate represents a good proof of maturity on the part of Bitmap Bureau, not new to titles that recall the 90s arcade atmosphere. The care in the precise reconstruction of the scenes, the soundtrack and the pixel art are of great quality. The work on the feeling and gameplay is notable, making it breathe the air of the arcade rooms of the past. The mechanics themselves are a curse and a delight for the title because they reflect those years exactly, with their merits but also their defects. There is “dirt” and imprecision on some platforming phases but they do not compromise the gaming experience. The title is precisely a trial and error that rewards the player who learns the level and positioning of the enemies. The same goes for the boss fights: inspired and rewarding positioning and memorizing enemy patterns.
Although the main story lasts about 2 hours, also depending on the player’s familiarity with the genre, I appreciated the choice of multiple endings and the resulting replayability. In fact, the levels are quite short and are not difficult to replay to find the new endings.
In conclusion, Terminator 2D: No Fate is a valid product. It is suitable not only for those who loved the films, but also for those looking for an arcade classic that works, is challenging and is fun to play.
Review code granted by the developers.
Terminator 2D: No Fate
PRO
- Good pixel art and music
- Faithful to the events of the film
- Good replayability
- Old school action 2D
CON
- Main story too short
- Some flaws with old school mechanics
8/10
