256. Terminator 2: Judgement Day (Software Creations, Famicom, 1992)

After giving game #254, Predator a shot, I figured it was time for more 8-bit Arnold, and since I don't own the North American-exclusive Total Recall or Last Action Hero games, we are left with Mr. Schwarzenegger's only other Famicom appearance: Terminator 2: Judgement Day. Developed separately from 16-bit and arcade game adaptations of the 1991 film, the NES/Famicom version from Software Creations (who also made game #183, Tom & Jerry) was their penultimate release on Nintendo's 8-bit machine, and really shows how far the system had come. 

Because it's a post-Final Fight beat 'em up, Terminator 2 has features you wouldn't normally see on the Famicom, like an area being gated by defeating a certain number of enemies (specifically, the screen starts scrolling as soon as the last enemy is defeated), an arrow pointing the way to go, and checkpoints during levels. While these features are all things to take for granted in modern games, it actually feels weird having such "advanced" features in a Famicom game, though it is also encouraging to me as someone who would love to make an 8-bit game that is also fun to play in the modern day.

In addition to these modern features, the presentation also is some of the best I've seen on the Famicom, and it really plays to the strength of the Terminator 2 license. In addition to the T-800's very fluid running animation, the pause screen has a cool red filter with text like the terminator's vision in the movies. When you lose your last point of health, the screen immediately cuts to a static screen with the word "terminated". I just wish there was a memorable sound to accompany this, though silence is also effective.

The jumping is decent and compliments the fast run speed nicely. Stages are typically multi-level, where you can jump up onto background scenery to avoid or reach certain enemies. Its just a shame that the combat is so limp and floppy. All you can do is spam a punch that stuns any enemy it hits, but if two enemies are on top of each other, it only stuns one of them, so in group situations, all you can do is get in a punch or two and then get away before one of the punks comes up behind you. 

The second level shifts genres to an isometric scrolling shooter of sorts, with you controlling the terminator on the back of his motorcycle. While there are obstacles to shoot or avoid, the real meat of the level comes from the fact that the T-1000 is chasing you in a semi truck, that will periodically appear at the back of the screen and try to ram you. Thankfully, shooting backwards is possible, and a handful of shots will push the truck of the screen for a few seconds. This level has an interesting push-pull dynamic that I would appreciate a lot more if it wasn't so dang difficult. 

The third level of Terminator 2 returns to a side scrolling perspective, but this time it puts you in a 5-story building, and you have to find an elevator key that is located in a certain room on each floor in order to progress to the next level, but Terminator 2 has a few tricks up its sleeve to make this scenario interesting. For one, you are given an order not to kill any human enemies (though shooting them in the legs is fine). 

The more interesting element is that you are being chased by the invincible T-1000 terminator through the building. You can temporarily stop him by shooting him enough times, but he becomes more resilient and more persistent the higher up in the building you go. Considering that you have a limited ammo supply, this feels like some early survival horror, especially coupled with the ominous soundtrack, and making it to the top of the building with a sliver of health felt like I had really overcome something. Terminator 2 also plays a lot better as a shooter than as a beat 'em up, not that any of the shooting feels particularly good, it's just not terrible.

3/5, a late 8-bit game with some interesting variety, but steep variations in quality