Terminator 2D: No Fate PC Review
Summary:
3.9
In the early 90s there was a barrage of movie‑related games. Movies such as The Blues Brothers, Home Alone and The Addams Family, to name but a few… then there was Terminator 2. Released around the time I was in high school, I can remember lunch times spent in the computer lab playing T2 and being thrilled at the images from the movie that would show up… even having pseudo‑animated segments (essentially animated gifs).
Flash forward to 2025 and we have the release of Terminator 2D: No Fate, which bears a striking resemblance to that early ’90s game, sharing the pixel graphics, the short animations of scenes (such as the intro, which I suspect may actually be a direct rip of the original game), and the same feel of a retro side‑scroller. Only now we have some modern additions. The main addition is the varied endings. As you progress through the game you will come across sections that give you a choice (such as whether to reset the Terminator’s CPU)… these options are unlocked by playing through the game and provide a bit of variation to improve replay value.
As you play through, you will switch which character you are controlling (or more correctly, the game will put you in the shoes of a different character for different sections). This also provides a bit of variety, as there are different gameplay styles with each character… you might be the Terminator getting his “clothes… boots and… motorcycle” (with the familiar music in the background as he does so)… then you might find yourself as Sarah trying to escape the mental institution. Next minute, you might be in the future trying to fight back against the machines.
For fans of retro gaming, this is done very well. It certainly gave me the feel of the original Terminator 2 game (at least what I think I remember of it), all while having some modern polish to it. If memory serves, there’s a lot more gaming variety in Terminator 2D: No Fate than there was in the original game (which I think may have included a puzzle level). The inclusion of the multiple‑choice segments is a nice touch and certainly makes it stand out from the average side‑scroller (I was honestly not expecting it… but it instantly had me intrigued as to where the story could go).
In terms of the difficulty settings… there is a pretty big jump from the easiest setting (which gives you essentially infinite lives/retries) to the “get hit once and you’re done” hardest level. Completing the game on the toughest difficulty unlocks more (such as a cheat mode)… but being able to go through on the easiest setting gives you a great opportunity to see what the gameplay is like and get a feel for the story as it plays out in this telling.
Final Thoughts:
I quite enjoyed Terminator 2D: No Fate. Having been a big fan of the ’90s Terminator 2 game, this was a touch of nostalgia mixed with a modern twist (almost like someone went back in time and altered the original game). I’m not entirely sure it’s worth the price tag… even with the different difficulty settings and the occasional points where you can choose how to proceed… it’s still mostly the same basic game. That’s not to say it isn’t worth getting… just maybe wait for a sale, unless you are a super fan and just want all the T2 goodness you can get… in which case, go for it.
About the Author
Chris O'Connor Father of four, husband of one and all round oddity. Gaming at home since about 1982 with a Sinclair ZX Spectrum. Moving on to the more traditional PC genre in the years that followed with the classic Jump Joe and Alley Cat. CGA, EGA, VGA and beyond PC's have been central to my gaming but I've also enjoyed consoles and hand helds along the way (who remembers the Atari Lynx?). Would have been actor/film maker, jack of many trades master of none.
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