The Terminator 2029

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The Terminator 2029
The Terminator 2029 cover art.jpg
Developer(s)Bethesda Softworks
Publisher(s)Bethesda Softworks
Producer(s)V. J. Lakshman[3][4]
Programmer(s)Julian Le Fay[3]
Composer(s)Julian Le Fay
SeriesTerminator
Platform(s)DOS
Release1992[1][2]
Genre(s)Action/Adventure
Mode(s)Single player

The Terminator 2029 is a first-person shooter video game released for personal computers with the operating system DOS by Bethesda Softworks in 1992. It is the second game based on the Terminator film series that was made by Bethesda, following The Terminator. The game had used a new concept which was first-person POV down the barrel of a gun.[5] Weaver said the developers at id Software took Bethesda's idea and did it better.[5]

Gameplay[]

Terminator in battle

In the game you will play as one of the Resistance fighters. The scheme of action at each level is approximately the same: the hero receives a task at the command post (to protect the target from enemy attacks, find and rescue survivors and hostages, etc.), goes to the enemy territory, performs the task and returns to the base.

The game consists of 8 levels with increasing difficulty. There are 32 levels in the Deluxe CD Edition build.

The character's exoskeleton can be equipped with a variety of weapons, such as a plasma cannon and grenades. The suit also carries a portable first aid kit and generators of protective fields. Weapons, ammunition and other useful items can be selected and installed at the beginning of the level, as well as collect them from destroyed opponents and killed soldiers during the game. The character can carry up to 5 different useful items at the same time.

Although the game is played from a first-person perspective, the gameplay is restricted to four directions as turning spins the player around by 90 degrees.

The game has role-playing elements (a rank system):

Sergeant — the character starts the game in this rank.

Sergeant Major 2nd Lieutenant (Second Lieutenant)

1st Lieutenant (first Lieutenant)

Captain (Captain)

Major (Major)

Lieutenant Colonel is the highest rank available in the game.

The game supports a save system: the player can save after each level by writing the name of the game file in special options.

Plot[]

Based on the film series the player assumes the role of a member of John Connor's Special Operations Group. The objective of the game is to destroy Skynet.

Deluxe CD Edition[]

The Deluxe CD Edition of The Terminator 2029 includes the original game along with the Operation Scour expansion pack, giving a total of 34 missions. This edition also includes 330MB of additional mission briefings and character speech, as well as featuring new gameplay music.

Reception[]

In 1996, T. Liam McDonald of PC Gamer called it a "frustrating, often impossibly difficult game" with a confusing mouse and keyboard control interface.[11]

Just Games Retro rated the game a 2 of 5 saying " 2029 ends up being a mostly average shooter. It’s a faithful and suitable use of the license, but it’s really quite boring most of the time. Some simple design changes could have probably fixed this – giving you health or ammo from some destroyed enemies, for starters, or points received from killing baddies that you can spend on weapon upgrades, instead of getting new ones automatically for each mission. The enemy pop-in seems to be partially design, and partially technical limitations, but the game would probably benefit from something a little more predictable, or not so overtly random that enemies teleport from nowhere. This game isn’t terrible, but Future Shock is a much better realization of what Bethesda was trying to do here"[6]

Finish magazine Pelit rated the game a 88 of 100 saying " Terminator 2029 would have had the makings of a real mega-game, but without W3D graphics, plenty of sound mats, and smart fellow soldiers, it's an absolutely grueling package that must be played to a conclusion. There is no greater shortage in the game, the top game is missed because every aspect could still have been improved"[7]

Gordon Goble of Computer Gaming World said " Those who are able to win the game in the optimal seven mission path may not become as sated as this reviewer, but I would have liked to see this product serve as more than a shoot-'em-up. The fact is that Terminator 2029 shines graphically, features an interesting premise, and supplies ample audible realism and thunder. It runs as a good computer game should, bereft of any annoying mid-play screen freezes"[12]

Operation Scour[]

Tapio Salminen from Pelit reviewed the Operation Scour expansion pack stating that "Overall, the new additional disc is disappointing as it offers far too little new to be really interesting. Old Bugs remain uncorrected, and the base game is not replenished, let alone updated. Operation Scour is an additional feature for those who like the original game. Let the others not bother"[13]

Sales[]

According to Christopher Weaver, the game had good sales but not great.[5] The game was regarded by Weaver in 1997 as one of the most popular Bethesda Softworks titles along with Wayne Gretzky Hockey 3 and the Elder Scrolls series.[14]

References[]

  1. ^ Fahs, Travis (May 20, 2009). "IGN Presents the History of Terminator". IGN. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  2. ^ "Terminator: Future Shock". PC Zone. February 1996. p. 76. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Goble, Gordon (June 1993). "Terminator Emulation Mode". Computer Gaming World. p. 115. Retrieved July 20, 2021.
  4. ^ Southerl, Daniel (February 15, 1993). "Wizards At Play". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Christopher Weaver: "Amplius Ludo, Beyond the Horizon"". Event occurs at 1:30:28. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  6. ^ a b The J Man (August 16, 2004). "The Terminator 2029 Review". Just Games Retro. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Terminator 2029 - After Judgment Day". Pelit (in Finnish). February 1993. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  8. ^ "The Terminator 2029".  [de] (in German). 1993. p. 46. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  9. ^ Rand, Paul (May 1993). "Terminator 2029". Computer and Video Games. p. 32. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  10. ^ "The Terminator 2029". PC Joker. January 1993. p. 32. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  11. ^ T. Liam McDonald (April 1996). "The Terminator: Future Shock". PC Gamer. p. 99. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  12. ^ Goble, Gordon (June 1993). "The Seventh Mission of Synthbad". Computer Gaming World. p. 118. Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  13. ^ a b Salminen, Tapio (July 1, 1993). "Terminator 2029: Operation Scour - The fight continues". Pelit (in Finnish). Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  14. ^ Timothy, Burn (June 30, 1997). "Lean, Mean' Software Machine Thrives in a Ferocious Market". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on July 12, 2019. Retrieved July 18, 2021.

External links[]

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