Terminator 2D: NO FATE

Terminator 2D: No Fate is the T2 arcade game that should have existed in 1991 and we finally have in 2025, better late than never. Bitmap Bureau has created a labor of love that shows in every pixel, every animation, every boss pattern that makes you sweat.

An old-school action blockbuster that should make 16-bit fans very happy. Everyone else should know what they're getting into here.

Terminator 2D: No Fate is actually the best Terminator 2 game in terms of its visual style, music, and gameplay. It also reminds us that one of the most important representatives of the action and science fiction genres deserves to be represented by more great games.

Terminator 2D: No Fate is a wonderfully realised tribute to one of the single greatest movies ever made, punctuated with pitch-perfect music, exquisite pixel art, and brilliant Easter eggs.

Terminator 2D: NO FATE doesn’t go the extra mile to really mine the sci-fi classic for gold, but it lands all its shots and delivers highly replayable, no-nonsense retro goodness that looks, sounds, and controls great.

Terminator 2D: No Fate is a near-perfect T2 nostalgia capsule: tightly directed, beautifully animated, and packed with iconic moments. It’s also very short, though, so it’ll mostly appeal to side-scroller fans who don’t mind running through a game multiple times.

Terminator 2D: NO FATE is an honest excursion into the nineties, which does not deny the short footage, repetitive structure or uncompromising difficulty, but balances all this with a genuine love for the golden era of action films and games. Bitmap Bureau, with respect for the original, serves up a brisk, imaginative and surprisingly atmospheric retro arcade that not only evokes nostalgia from the Terminator, but also offers solid gameplay and several pleasant ideas. If you enjoy the smell of the nineties, brutal fights and beautiful pixel art, Terminator 2D works as a great nostalgic ride.

Even without the Terminator license, this would be just a very well-executed old-school side-scrolling shooter. With the touchstones of the film to work with, though, Bitmap has delivered an experience that finally does proper justice to one of the greatest blockbuster films of all time.

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.

Terminator 2D: No Fate is a conscious act of love towards a specific era of video games, recreated with technical skill and aesthetic taste that go far beyond simple nostalgic exercise. Bitmap Bureau once again demonstrates its mastery of the 16-bit language, crafting a title that seems to come from an alternative timeline where quality tie-in games never went extinct. The problem is that, just like a 1990s action movie watched on VHS, Terminator 2D: No Fate ends too quickly. The challenge is quickly overcome, the longevity remains limited even when exploring the variations offered, and the extra modes fail to transform the experience into something more lasting. It remains, therefore, an excellent game in its form, but limited in scope: a small instant classic, destined to leave an enthusiastic memory rather than occupy the player's evenings for a long time. A creative success, in short, that only needed a few more cartridges in the magazine.

Terminator 2D: No Fate is a faithful retelling of one of cinema’s most iconic blockbuster action sequels. Its pixel art is gorgeous, its action slick. My one regret lies in how it doesn’t go crazy exploring more of the story’s possible canons, opting for the inevitability and passive acceptance of Judgment Day that its characters so strongly rally against.

A stylish, very short retro shooter game that perfectly captures the spirit of the film.

Those with few qualms about duration will find a game made with evident love and affection for both the source material and the moment in time it was released. Its music is excellent--with perhaps the best rendition of the Terminator 2 theme to date--aiding the game's visuals in its mission to transport you back to a time when blowing into cartridges and inserting coins were the norm. Whether it's the T-1000's haunting fluidity of movement, Sarah Connor's one-armed reloading of a pump action shotgun, or the way the T-800 clambers onto the hood of a semi-truck to unload an entire magazine into its windshield, Terminator 2D: No Fate recreates the movie's most memorable moments with pitch-perfect authenticity. It's a shame it ends far too soon, but this is still the definitive Terminator 2 video game.

Terminator 2D: No Fate evokes deep nostalgia by perfectly recreating the original movie's atmosphere with 2D visuals and adding new endings. While the short playtime and repetitive content are drawbacks, it offers a worthwhile experience for gamers who cherish memories of the original film and 90s arcade games.

Terminator 2D: No Fate plays like some of the best, most beaufitul 16 bit run 'n gun titles of days gone by. Its varied gameplay, amazing pixel art and insanely good soundtrack make for roughly 40 minutes of brilliant fun - and then you're done. You can now do it all over again on higher difficulty levels or in the no continues arcade mode, a boss rush mode or an infinite survival mode, or even unlock some dubious alternative story moments. If and how much you enjoy this depends on whether or not you have the time and motivation to master this game to perfection. Otherwise, you'll be getting a very entertaining, albeit also very short gameplay experience for your money.

Terminator 2D: NO FATE has stunning 16-bit visuals, a banger soundtrack, and simple yet fun gameplay that makes it one of the better games in the franchise in showcasing how good the franchise is. However, the extremely short runtime and conditional replayability make it an experience that doesn’t match the price it’s asking for.

Terminator 2D: No Fate doesn't offer any groundbreaking solutions, but it is a very well-crafted adaptation of the film. However, you can complete the entire game in just... 38 minutes.

While No Fate doesn’t move the needle for Terminator games as much as I’d like, it succeeds in resetting the clock for the series’ interactive arm. It’s a pointed reminder that Terminator has gaming greatness within it.

If you are the type that might have bought a Terminator 2 game back in the 1990s when it was something of a cultural institution, and as long as you stick to the regular difficulty modes you’ll enough to entertain you here. Otherwise, though, this is going to be a bit niche for everyone else.