Enter Terminator 2D: No Fate, which trades the bombastic nature of triple-A for a retro, side-scrolling run-and-gun shooter approach. While it doesn’t fully encapsulate every single iconic moment, this is still a strong rendition which also supplements the plot in intriguing ways.

Which is funny because it begins in perhaps the least expected way possible: Sarah Connor attempting to save her son from some gun-toting hooligans, led by a minigun-toting Michael Madsen knockoff. Don’t remember this part of the movie? Neither do I, but it serves as an adequate setup for many of the iconic moments. John Connor’s escape from the T-1000 before being rescued by the T-800; Sarah Connor’s escape from mental hospital captivity; the highway chase scene; even the T-800’s arrival in 1994 and its impromptu shopping spree.

"You have moments like the T-800 appearing before Sarah for the first time, evoking past trauma, that feel ever-so-slightly less impactful without the part where he blows away the T-1000."

And all of this is rendered in immaculate sprite art, bolstered by fantastic animation. Seeing the T-1000 scan its surroundings while Connor hides or its many transformations as it flails about – it’s all the small details, but they’re what make this feel like an authentic adaptation. The music is also incredible in this regard, capturing the classic theme but also presenting its own mix of tracks that fit the overall tension and pacing of each mission. Such quality is welcome because if you’re a really dedicated player, it’s going to get very familiar.

Of course, creative liberties abound. The assault on Cyberdyne HQ with Miles Dyson skips the hilarious infiltration and goes straight into a shootout with the cops as Sarah plants bombs throughout the vicinity. In some cases, it works well enough – escaping alongside John, evading the T-1000 at every turn in the steel mill, is a harrowing exercise, even if the trial-and-error can be annoying the first few go-arounds.

In others, it ties into one of my bigger gripes with the game: The distinct lack of T-800 sections in the base narrative, at least compared to Sarah and future John (who we’ll get to). You have his arrival, the rescue of John, driving down the highway to escape the T-1000’s helicopter…and that’s it for the base story. No fleeing from the T-1000 with Sarah Connor in tow, as it sinks its hooks into your escape vehicle. No wandering through tear gas, taking out cops while searching for masks for Sarah and John. Even sequences like the final melee against the T-1000 are completely hands-off.

When considering the narrative focus of Terminator 2D, which is more on Sarah and John, it’s understandable. However, you have moments like the T-800 appearing before Sarah for the first time, evoking past trauma, that feel ever-so-slightly less impactful without the part where he blows away the T-1000. It’s the whole reason she accepts his offer to live in the first place. Even the accompanying text card afterwards, where she says it saved her life, doesn’t make sense if you haven’t watched the film to fill in the blanks. Kudos to the animation team, though, for capturing Sarah scampering away, evoking memories of that slow-mo face of fear without actually rendering it in-game.

"While some stages boil down to running from one end of the screen to the other, mowing down enemies with impunity, others offer some strong platforming scenarios and varied threats, whether it’s Cyberdyne security systems or different kinds of Terminators."

As much as I love the film’s pacing, it’s somewhat understandable that Terminator 2D skips over some sections to retain its momentum. Still, it feels like it’s a disservice to why those moments were even in the original to begin with. John bonding with the T-800, teaching him various hand gestures? I can visualize that in my head just based on their animations, but where’s the part where they look at children, playing with pretend weapons, and comment on humanity’s desire to destroy itself? The T-800 revealing his true nature to Dyson to reinforce their claims about Skynet? All are absent to keep the game’s plot moving (though it could very well be for budgetary reasons as well).

Of course, all of this constitutes only one aspect of Terminator 2D. Once you clear the story, you can go back and make one of two – yes, only two – decisions to significantly alter its course. What if Sarah Connor didn’t reset the T-800’s chip and instead ordered it to kill Miles Dyson? What if she pulled the trigger herself instead of sparing Dyson?

This opens up some rather interesting alternative stages, including one where the T-800 massacres numerous cops at Cyberdyne HQ, leading to the classic scene of destroying their cars. It feels all the weirder because of the line about “zero casualties,” especially when you just rinsed their friends in cold blood. Interestingly, this particular route is the most encompassing, as we jump to Sarah fighting in the future. Of course, you also control future John at several points, which intersects well with the past and introduces all kinds of Skynet machines to combat in some fun boss battles. I especially like how these stages introduce cover as an optional endeavor. If you want to barrel through and maximize times by rolling or jumping over enemy fire – since John can’t just crouch and avoid most projectiles like Sarah – go for it.

I’ve spoken a lot about the story and how much Terminator 2D is faithful to the film. How does it play? Pretty well, actually. While some stages boil down to running from one end of the screen to the other, mowing down enemies with impunity, others offer some strong platforming scenarios and varied threats, whether it’s Cyberdyne security systems or different kinds of Terminators. I especially like how actions like sliding can be used offensively, like kicking explosive roombas into enemies or knocking away grenades to make space.

And while I criticize the adaptation as a film purist, it really makes for a fun arcade-like experience, especially across multiple difficulties. Enemies don’t just gain more health or gain reinforcements – they also become far more responsive and aggressive, challenging your reaction time all the more. The same goes for certain platforming sections and boss fights, which gain more attacks. But you’re not just honing your skills, selecting the right power-ups, or even nailing the timing for certain encounters. The layouts of each level, enemy placements and patterns are becoming ingrained. By the time you finish a difficulty with no continues and minimal hits taken, it feels like you’ve mastered it. I can almost hear young John saying, “Are we learning yet?”

"Nevertheless, as a run-and-gun sidescroller that captures the essence of the classic, Terminator 2D: No Fate comes recommended. Some aspects certainly could’ve been better or more faithful to the film, and yet, jumping back in to achieve that perfect run still feels extremely satisfying, quirks and all."

Movement is solid throughout, but we need to talk about the dedicated aiming button. Sarah and John can aim in seven directions and crouch to avoid projectiles. It’s smooth and doesn’t offer any trouble – heck, even the fact that Sarah stops and shoots in the pre-future war missions feels about right, both gameplay and story-wise. But if you want that eighth direction, aka shooting directly below you, the aim button is required, and it’s awkward. You’ll need to press it first, then aim down, even though every single instinct till now is telling you to just press down, which is a crouch, and you can’t aim down while crouching. It’s one of those things that can mess with your muscle memory, but since only one stage really, really necessitates aiming directly down, it’s not the biggest deal-breaker.

Outside of Story Mode, there’s Arcade for playing through all the stages without any continues or story scenes. If you’re feeling particularly gutsy, try taking on Mother of the Future, which not only lacks any continues but requires completing all of Sarah’s missions on a fixed timer. It really encourages you to optimize your playstyle, and if you’re successful, then good news – the even tougher Judgment Day difficulty awaits.

I can see some criticizing the playtime of Terminator 2D’s story, which makes sense if you’re only doing a singular playthrough on Easy Money (the lowest difficulty) and No Problemo (the Normal difficulty, which is still pretty easy for platforming veterans). Re-experiencing the core of the storyline and the unique future scenarios could serve as your primary motivator. However, if you’re not keen on actually mastering the game to one day conquer Judgment Day difficulty, then I can see value for money being an issue.

Nevertheless, as a run-and-gun sidescroller that captures the essence of the classic, Terminator 2D: No Fate comes recommended. Some aspects certainly could’ve been better or more faithful to the film, and yet, jumping back in to achieve that perfect run still feels extremely satisfying, quirks and all.

This game was reviewed on PS5.

Three Iconic Characters

NO FATE switches control between Sarah Connor and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s T-800 as they battle the relentless T-1000, while stopping Cyberdyne edging toward human annihilation. The explosive, no-holds barred campaign spans a future timeline too, where you’ll command John Connor as he leads The Resistance in a desperate future-war against The Machines.

Memorable Scenes and Setpieces

Terminator 2D: NO FATE delivers fifteen high-octane levels lifted straight out of the movie, featuring every memorable scene and setpiece: from Arnie’s brawl to the menacing T-1000’s tow-truck spillway chase and helicopter freeway pursuit, ending with the searing steel mill finale. Studio Bitmap Bureau captures the heart-racing energy that flows through T2’s most memorable moments, where desperation underpins every pushback against the T-1000’s nonstop assault.

Future War Levels Tell Untold Story

John Connor’s battles against the full force of Skynet’s robotic army take place in an imagined future. Greyscale, dusty, and derelict, beyond seeing its visuals The Resistance’s war was a story untold in Terminator 2. So, NO FATE puts you right into the middle of the conflict, undertaking missions unique to the game. John’s scenarios push the game beyond homage, fleshing out the series’ renowned lore to something fresh and underexplored.

NO FATE’s Story Follows the Movie

Future War levels aside, Terminator 2D: NO FATE’s story follows the movie almost beat-for-beat. Yet, this isn’t a straightforward, pixel-scratched retelling – there’re multiple endings available, providing divergent outcomes dependent on decisions made and paths taken. These climaxes won’t re-write canon; they’re likely designed to support multiple playthroughs. Yet, it’ll be intriguing to see how deeply Bitmap Bureau explores new conclusions; will you simply push through alternative escape routes or will showdowns against the T-1000 play out differently? Maybe, even, the fate of humanity will be shifted.

Gameplay Brings Variety

Faithfully following the movie’s plot allows Bitmap Bureau to inject unique gameplay mechanics into each level: the T-800’s fracas through the Corral plays like a beat ‘em up; Sarah Connor’s escape from Pescadero State Hospital incorporates stealth and silent takedowns; John Connor’s Future War mixes run ‘n gun action with skillful platforming. Chase sequences blend driving with shooting, while boss battles demand timing, patience, and pattern recognition. It’s more than keeping gameplay fresh – by fusing genres, NO FATE reframes T2’s iconic moments with real authenticity, confidently distilling the movie’s cinematic onslaught into crisp, pixel precision.

Multiple Enemy Types

NO FATE’s enemy roster is bigger than you expect – drunken punks, security guards, cops, machines, and the ever-looming T-1000 with its shapeshifting form and liquid metal armblades keeping your adrenaline pumping. John’s skirmishes through future apocalypse sees him take on standard T-800’s like Arnie, hovering Skynet drones, and the giant spider-like HK Centurion Hunter Killer – a colossal quadrupedal bot never seen in the movies, whose design originates from the early 90s machine.

Each Character Brings Distinct Playstyles

NO FATE’s trio of playable characters aren’t simple skin swaps for the sake of narrative, but impactful gameplay transformations: the T-800’s raw power brings heavy chainguns and pummeling shoulder charges to the fray, while Sarah and John showcase swift agility, sliding attacks and barrel rolls, grapple holds and pipe bombs. Sarah’s a melee specialist, while John favours mid-to-long range firepower. Both of their movesets are more tightly woven than the Terminator’s, demanding quick thinking and reflexes over brute force.

Levels Hide Secrets

NO FATE is a side-scroller which rewards curiosity. Resources are scarce, but scattered throughout are hidden weapons, items, throughways, and checkpoints, extra lifelines to restore your nerve, evade your hunter, and survive the level.

Classic Arcade Style is the Game’s Story Mode

The main way to play, NO FATE’s classic arcade style is a brisk, momentum-building mode like a long-lost coin-operated unit. Each level has its own ranking system: meet the required criteria – stealth takedowns or full-tilt bombast, for instance – to summit the high score table. Cinematic cutscenes splice between levels, developing characters and providing a complete narrative experience.

Customisations Tailor the Experience

Whether you’re chasing a retro challenge or more forgiving playthrough, NO FATE can be bent to your desire. Numerous difficulty modes – which we’ll expand in the next section – plus remappable controls, deadzone adjustments, and thumbstick bias can reinforce an arcade-like experience by tweaking out abstruseness and configuring actions to face buttons. The CRT filter introduces analog scanlines, making NO FATE look like a time capsule brought from the past inside an old TV.

Difficulty Modes are More Than Easter Egg Namesakes

Starting with Easy Money, then No Problemo, to Hasta La Vista, NO FATE’s difficulty modes read like a list of John Connor’s favourite catchphrases, but they run deeper than their name. For one, Easy Money has no time limit and infinite continues, making this the best for novice platformers eager to absorb the narrative without smashing controllers. For an old-school coin-op experience, No Problemo and Hasta la Vista up the ante, with environmental hazards, smaller targeting reticules, tighter invincibility windows, and shorter time limits testing skill, precision, and patience. If you’re hungry for punishment, Judgment Day difficulty is unlocked by beating one of the game’s non-story modes – more on that next.

More Game Modes Mix Up The Action

Arcade Mode follows the beats of Story Mode but strips away the cutscenes while remixing levels for a streamlined, score-focused experience. Boss Rush Mode shouldn’t need explaining – a gauntlet of consecutive boss battles. Infinite Mode presents endless waves of enemies to survive against for as long as possible. Level Training gives you the chance to take on individual levels to hone your tactics or practice speedrunning strategies. And speaking of speedrunning, Mother of the Future is a fast-paced compendium of Sarah’s stealth-leaning story missions, and this mode is the one you’ll need to beat to unlock the ultra-challenging Judgment Day difficulty.

Cheats Menu

This is a proper throwback: clear NO FATE’s story on its hardest difficulty and you’ll unlock a cheats vault. While details are limited, we’d expect to see modifiers such as infinite ammo, infinite lives, autofire, become accessible.

Soundtrack Respects Original Score

Brad Fiedel’s original T2 score gets the respect it deserves, with Dice Ryu Sykes reconstructing the film’s recognisable themes and motifs into something symphonic and industrial. Frenetic music perfect for blasting into the cacophony of the arcade, or your own home.

Release Date, Platforms, and Physical Editions

After a handful of delays, Terminator 2D: NO FATE is finally set for global release today. Coming to Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch platforms, plus PC via Steam, the game is available to pre-order in three physical editions: the Day One Edition, the Collector’s Edition, and the Online Exclusive Edition available only from publisher Reef Entertainment’s online store. Reversible sleeves, posters, tokens, and steelboxes are some of the extras you can nab depending on which edition you plump for.

So what gives this time? The last delay revolved around wanting to release the side-scroller’s physical editions (delayed due to tariffs), launching alongside the digital versions. This time, Reef Entertainment has confirmed that all physical components have arrived, but it needs time to assemble the editions.

If life is suffering and you’re wondering when the pain will end, the publisher is at least aware and assures that “we’re almost there.” “We are sincerely sorry for the repeated delays. We don’t take your patience for granted, and we never want to disappoint our community. Our goal has always been to deliver the game that you deserve, and we’re almost there.

“Thank you again for standing by us. We’re incredibly grateful, and we can’t wait for you to finally experience Terminator 2D: No Fate soon.” If nothing else, the third time’s the charm.

Launching on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch, Terminator 2D: No Fate is so highly anticipated because it’s a throwback 2D retro shooter based on the iconic film, Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Even more exciting is that it features alternate scenarios depending on one’s choices – like the T-1000 actually killing cops during the siege at Cyberdyne Systems.

However, this isn’t strictly due to more polish but due to ongoing tariffs. Publisher Reef Entertainment states that these have resulted in shipping delays for Day One and Collector’s Editions, and rather than splitting the digital and physical releases, it’s committing to a single date for both in November. While it apologized for the delay, the publisher reassured that the team “is working hard to make sure your wait is worth it.”

Terminator 2D: No Fate is coming to Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Based on Terminator 2: Judgment Day, the story captures key scenes from the film across 15 levels of retro 2D action. It also offers multiple difficulty options, modes, Cheats, and rankings. Stay tuned for more details and updates in the coming weeks.

A new overview trailer is available, outlining everything that players can expect. The PlayStation Blog also details the different difficulty options: Easy Money, No Problemo, Hasta La Vista and Judgment Day. The last one unlocks by finishing Mother of the Future (the speedrunning mode). If you’re skilled enough to finish Story Mode on the highest difficulty, the Cheats menu becomes available.

Each difficulty varies in the placement of enemies, continues, the presence of a timer, and how much damage you deal. For example, Easy Money provides infinite continues and no timer for most levels. Of course, other finer parameters will change at higher difficulties, like a smaller crosshair when battling against the T-1000 during the highway chase scene.

While the lowest difficulty ensures everyone can enjoy the title, and No Problemo is more of a “balanced” challenge, Bitmap Bureau aims to offer “a sense of challenge that would feel authentic to the feeling of old-school arcade games.”

Terminator 2D: No Fate will launch for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Stay tuned for more details in the coming months.

Based on Terminator 2: Judgment Day, No Fate (which was leaked by an Australian age rating in December) is a sidescrolling 2D action title featuring retro pixel art, multiple playable characters (including Sarah and John Connor, and the T-800), and more.

The game also promises a variety of different enemies and bosses to fight, weapons to use, and more. On top of that, there will be an arcade mode, an Infinite Mode, a boss rush mode, high score leaderboards, and more. Check out the trailer below for more details. 

Terminator 2D: No Fate is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC on September 5 (they could have chosen to release it just a few days earlier on August 29, which is canonically Judgment Day in the Terminator universe. Missed opportunity).