Terminator 2D: NO FATE Review – The Judgment Day We Deserve

Terminator 2D: NO FATE was delayed three times, requiring additional time for the developers to polish the project. Now that the wait is finally over, we’re ready to tell you whether it was worth it. In this review, we share our impressions of this arcade action game from British studio Bitmap Bureau.

• Developer: Bitmap Bureau
• Publisher: Reef Entertainment
• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5 , Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
• Release date: December 12, 2025

Terminator 2D : NO FATE retells the events of the second Terminator, telling them from the perspectives of several characters, from Sarah Connor to John Connor (past and present ) and the T-800. All the key moments are preserved and carefully transferred to the video game format, including the famous truck chase , the escape from the mental hospital, the raid on Cyberdyne, the helicopter fight, and the final battle at the steel mill.

But at some point, the story takes a twist, allowing you to change several events. In your first playthrough, you’ll have to strictly follow the script, unable to rewrite it, but on a second run, the game allows you to make fateful decisions: whether to grant the T-800 free will or not, whether to execute Miles Dyson or let him live. This influences the story’s development: new levels are unlocked, and in the final episodes, you’ll control different characters.

This solution invites you to fantasize about “What if?” and also increases the project’s replayability , which is quite handy, as Terminator 2D: NO FATE can be completed in just forty minutes on the easiest difficulty. A second playthrough with forking scenarios will double that time, and if you want more, the developers have prepared unlockable modes, such as an arcade mode without cutscenes, a boss battle mode , the rather intriguing “Mother of the Future” mode, in which you can play through the entire Sarah Connor campaign, and an endless survival mode .

Despite the game’s short length, the developers packed it with a huge number of scenes and gameplay mechanics. Depending on the character, it’s a run-n-gun shooter, a racing arcade , a simple beat ’em up , or even a stealth action game ! In one scene, Sarah Connor blasts through enemy squads with a pistol, while in another, she sneaks through hospital corridors with a baton, stunning guards. The T-800 fights barehanded in a bar, scattering bikers , but attacks a police station with a minigun, despite being wounded. John Connor in the future even fights in the spirit of the Contra series , picking up power-ups and facing bosses every minute.

The action is so intense that it’s captivating, and the campaign flies by in the blink of an eye. On easy and medium difficulty levels, battles aren’t particularly challenging, but on hard, enemies are a real killer, overwhelming you with sheer numbers and firepower. If you’re looking for a truly hardcore experience, the game will happily deliver. However, the title isn’t entirely fair in this case: enemies become more resilient, and their numbers increase significantly, so sometimes you simply won’t have time to deal with them all.

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Terminator 2D: NO FATE also looks stunning, with its pixelated graphics and retro style. The soundtrack is also impressive: the soundtrack evokes the film , and the gunshots never merge into a monotonous roar. If you’re a Terminator fan, this is a must-have, but even those unfamiliar with the classic film will surely enjoy the game—an excellent retro adventure with diverse gameplay mechanics and stunning visuals .