Terminator 2D: No Fate (2025)

The release of Terminator 2D: No Fate in this form feels like a small miracle. It appeared almost out of nowhere. How the license was secured is unclear, but the fact that developers with clear affection for classic arcade machines were able to create a modern 2D take on Terminator 2: Judgment Day is genuinely impressive.

The result is a focused, arcade-style experience. It is essentially a one-sitting game; you can complete it in about an hour. Additional modes and variations attempt to extend replay value, but the core remains a concise run-through. I finished it once and had a great time. Beyond that, however, its longevity is limited.

It is difficult to imagine how the concept could be significantly expanded without losing its identity. The idea itself may be even stronger than its long-term execution. Perhaps it is best approached as an occasional revisit rather than a deep, sustained experience.

For fans of 2D shooters and anyone who grew up with Terminator, it is an easy recommendation.

Article: Terminator 2D: No Fate - I’ll Be (Throw)Back by Kyle Hilliard

The game looks and plays a little like an entry in the Contra series, which represents a bit of a circular moment, as many of the Contra games draw inspiration from the Terminator films. “I played an immense amount of Contra III: The Alien Wars on the SNES back in ’92, which is full of homages to Terminator, particularly the boss at the end of the third stage,” Tucker writes. “The early Contra games were a benchmark of sorts for the action we wanted to depict in the future war levels, but you might also notice elements from the likes of Midnight Resistance, Strider, Shinobi, Rolling Thunder, Metal Slug, E-SWAT, and also Elevator Action Returns.”

Thankfully, Terminator 2D won’t be as challenging as the Contra games – unless you want them to be. Speaking over email, programmer and designer Quang Nguyen detailed the game’s various difficulty modes, which range from the Judgement Day difficulty to the Easy Money difficulty, which has unlimited continues and no time limit.