Travis Bruno of Capsule Computers writes:
"While not quite as prominent these days, there was a time where movie tie-in games were produced and released within months of the film they were based off of. For the most part, these movie games ended up being terrible in quality and often barely matching the actual film they were trying to mimic. Even Terminator 2: Judgement Day saw an NES game released to fairly dismal reception back in the day despite the fact that the film itself helped propel the franchise to the point that it received numerous sequels and spin-offs and so many quoted phrases remain part of pop culture.
The only thing it was missing was a proper game to help bring that nostalgia back and Bitmap Bureau has taken a time machine themselves to go back to the ‘90s style of arcade games to bring forth Terminator 2D: No Fate. Featuring the 32-bit art style and challenge of shooting games back in the day, is this the best way to truly replay the memorable events of the film?"
VGChartz's Lee Mehr: "Whether cleaving with an axe, slicing with dual daggers, or something else altogether, action games are the go-to for undistilled wish fulfilment; that can come in the form of wiping out legions after leveling up or practicing aerials and precise combos for hours on end. 2025 saw a healthy mix of disparate personalities that capture a certain itch. Not merely satisfied with ports, Nintendo had the foresight to craft a new Hyrule Warriors for Switch 2's launch year; also, Microsoft found some change between the cushions to revive one of the most celebrated action franchises of all time. It truly was an interesting year of resurrected IPs and standard sequels – across the AAA and indie space."
VGChartz's Daniel Parker: "Terminator 2D: No Fate is one of those rare games that you can tell instantly by looking at it if it's the type of game for you or not. No stiff gameplay. No disruptive gimmicks that get in the way of enjoyment. No surprises that'll make you regret your purchase. If you're the type of person who can sit down and still enjoy other arcade side-scrolling shooters, like Contra, Metal Slug, or even Rolling Thunder, then Terminator 2D: No Fate is the ideal game to consider adding to your collection."
It’s a fun game but the stages are to short and it’s way to easy. I kinda expected more tbh. Gameplay is fun though and the graphics are nice. I paid I think $24 for it and I think that’s a bit much for what you get. I haven’t beat it yet but I can’t see this game lasting longer than a couple hours at best. If you can get it for around $15-$20 then I’d say pick it up.
Bryan of Netto's Game Room reviews Terminator 2D: No Fate.
