The Terminator: Dawn of Fate

 PlayStation 2
  • Publisher: Atari
  • Release Date: Sep 16, 2002
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 17
  3. Negative: 4 out of 17
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  1. GamerWeb Sony
    87
    It’s just too bad T:DoF didn’t aspire to be more than something standard.
  2. Maxim Online
    80
    Fate also dispenses with T2’s cyborg-boy love plot, so you can focus on blasting titanium drones into nuts and bolts.
  3. GameZone
    61
    The action isn’t quite as fulfilling or diverse as one might expect.
  5. GameSpot
    61
    The gameplay isn't particularly good, though it's decent enough that fans of the film series might as well consider checking out the game.
  6. PSM Magazine
    60
    The game itself is just plain sloppy....horrible camera and grippy controls. [Dec 2002, p.40]
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  7. Play Magazine
    60
    Save for the perspective glitches indicative of an older engine, Dawn of Fate delivers a fitting game based on the resilient Terminator franchise. [Oct 2002, p.76]
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  8. Yahoo!
    60
    Hey, we liked the hordes of emotionless cyborgs with nothing better to do than march towards certain destruction, but expect many to tire of the simple AI.
  9. Game Informer
    60
    Wallows in mediocrity. [Oct 2002, p.84]
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  10. GameSpy
    60
    You'd have more fun watching both movies than playing this game.
  11. GamePro
    60
    The major bones of contention are the clunky controls, clumsy camera, and awkward targeting system.
  12. IGN
    56
    This all-style/little-substance attempt at artistic greatness is saved only because of its convincingly recreated Hollywood atmosphere.
  13. Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
    50
    The shifting camera angles almost always lead to confusion. [Dec 2002, p.174]
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  14. Game Over Online
    50
    It looks great and promising but in the end, it's like the ten-minute sequence we saw in the film-merely a glimpse of what could be done.
  15. Games Radar
    49
    The whole look and feel of the game suggests that most of the budget was splurged on the licence alone, leaving very little left in the kitty for production values or a solitary new idea. [PSM2]
  16. Armchair Empire
    45
    If it weren’t for the camera, DoF could have been a contender or least a lot better than what we get here.
  17. Entertainment Weekly
    42
    Could have been a conspiratorial mind-bender like "The Thing"; instead, it's a pretty, empty third-person shooter (which, like "Superman," suffers from a slipshod control interface and horrible camera placement). [4 Oct 2002, p.157]
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  18. PSX Nation
    30
    Sounds are OK and some (repeat, SOME) of the graphics are decent, but Dawn of Fate isn’t worth the gas money disappointed customers will spend rushing back to the store to beg for a refund.

Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Most Discussed PS2 Game of 2002

User Reviews

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User Score
5.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 19
  3. Negative: 7 out of 19
  1. aspentitan
    Nov 27, 2020
    4
    I see what kind of game they were trying to make: a game that transends video games by becoming environmentally immersive however I think theI see what kind of game they were trying to make: a game that transends video games by becoming environmentally immersive however I think the design didn't work well. First off I think this could have been a fabulous game with a few modifications as it was very unenjoyable control wise. For myself, the four controller layouts were not optimal. Yes, you can learn them but they could have been laid out better or provided customization. The camera in this game, I also get it they wanted to be stylish and give full control on the player to look in the environment for hidden stuff, or ammo, ect. Some say they tried to mimic Devil may Cry, maybe they did as well but I think the camera was to increase perspective but it has too much chaos in this game taking a lot of effort to get use to it. I agree this game would have been better to drop the camera interactivity and just make this a linear shooter. That said let's rate it for as designed. It's functional but irritating and distracts from all the immersion it possibly gives and so is a net minus design. On top of this there are no options to invert the y-axis control. That alone would have helped mute the camera aggravation. Again, I think the design was for real life immersion being able to decide who to talk to for NPR info, but again without better pathfinding scripts by the npcs many frustrating game elements surface such as trapping your team mate somewhere or not knowing exactly where to go or what the next chore is. I'm certain this puzzle design was an attempt to be more open world; and make the game transcend. It's a good idea, however I feel the implementation backfired causing further aggravation. For me to appreciate this type of world the action has to be much better than it was presented. As is I found this game trying to reach for something better but not being able to tie all those loose ends. I'd say the game is ok, it's playable to the right type of person. I scored it so low for not providing me with better visual and controller controls almost exclusively. Many interactions with np s and their dialog boxes were also premature or bypassed but may have been due to playing this xbox game on a 360??? If not, well I still think 4/10 is about right. Everything else seemed decent.… Full Review »
  2. MarkyB
    Oct 27, 2012
    1
    I like to think of myself as a patient gamer and I have persisted with other frustrating games but this was just too tedious. Poor cameraI like to think of myself as a patient gamer and I have persisted with other frustrating games but this was just too tedious. Poor camera angles and boring repetitive game-play left me very upset at the time of purchase.… Full Review »
  3. ConnJack
    Sep 6, 2011
    4
    This game inspired by the Terminator universe is a generic and mediocre experience overall. First off, the gameplay and camera angles rip offThis game inspired by the Terminator universe is a generic and mediocre experience overall. First off, the gameplay and camera angles rip off from Devil May Cry, which makes it harder to get in to; the graphics are choppy, the music in the game is dull material from metal artists Fear Factory. It's story is neat, but could of been told better. It is a very simple game to get through, but their are elements that could of been improved.… Full Review »
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