The terminator 2029

2029 , Los Angeles . During a military operation, Colonel John Connor finds a prototype high-tech exoskeleton stored in one of the hangars in one of the command headquarters of the Skynet supercomputer . Skynet developed this device to create an army of terminators with technical specifications that exceed the standard T-800 . The prototype of the skeleton was delivered to the Resistance base, where it was converted into a protective suit, capable of taking heavy weapons on board. The costume is called Advanced Combat Armor ( ACE Battle Armor ).

Then Connor forms a squad called Special Operations Group , which is thrown into the location of the main core of Skynet, which is under the control of machines. There, the battle group organizes the headquarters of the Resistance forces. One of the fighters is implanted with a chip that allows you to control ACE . The soldier is given the task of reaching the core of Skynet and destroying it.

The game will play for one of the resistance fighters. The action plan 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 save the survivors and hostages, etc.), goes to the enemy’s 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 assembly.

The character’s exoskeleton can be equipped with a variety of weapons, such as a plasma gun and grenades. The suit also carries a portable first-aid kit and protective field generators. Weapons, ammunition, and other useful items can be selected and installed at the beginning of the level, as well as collected from destroyed enemies and killed soldiers during the game. A character can carry up to 5 different useful items at a time.

The game has role elements ( rank system):

• Sergeant ( sergeant ) - the character begins the game in this rank.
• Sergeant Major ( sergeant major )
• 2nd Lieutenant ( Second Lieutenant )
• 1st Lieutenant ( First Lieutenant )
• Captain
• Major ( Major )
• Lieutenant Colonel ( lieutenant colonel ) - the highest rank available in the game.

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

The game interface presents the current type of weapon and ammunition, the number of first-aid kits, the game screen (with a view of the level, purpose and current coordinates), the level of health (presented in the form of an exoskeleton pictogram, which shows damage in a particular segment of the mechanism in different colors - from yellow to red), a radar card and a minimap (sometimes a dialog box appears in the place of the minimap), as well as pause and options buttons.

The player can also view a map of Los Angeles with territories controlled by the Resistance forces. The city is divided into 6 sectors, named according to the letters of the Greek alphabet ( Alpha , Beta , Gamma , Delta , Epsilon and Omega ).

Graphic component

The game uses 16-bit three-dimensional graphics with support for 256 colors, the screen resolution is 640x480 dpi . Game screens are replaced by using a grid ( Grid-based ), rather than scrolling , as in most 3D-shooters .

Levels and opponents are built using sprite graphics .

Soundtrack

The ratings of the game were different.

The computer games magazine, Pelit , rated the game quite high - at 88 points out of 100, indicating among its advantages dynamic gameplay, the presence of three-dimensional graphics, high-quality sound and relatively high AI opponents.

Another gaming magazine, Aktueller Software Markt , rated the game 10 points out of 12, noting that despite some management difficulties, the gameplay, graphics, sound and music are at a high level.

The rating of Power Play magazine is 73 points out of 100. The reviewers positively evaluated the high-quality game design and dynamic gameplay, but added that the environment at the levels could be solved a little differently (for example, to design a subject-spatial environment in the style of an underground base), as well as make adjustments to the soundtrack (based on the design of levels and enemies) ^[1] .

Another magazine, PC Joker , rated the game 69 points out of 100. The graphic component and sound, the presence of a three-dimensional game world in the game (in which you can move in any direction) and a game card with a scanner (providing information about opponents) were met positively. At the same time, critics did not like the inconvenient control and high complexity of the game.

PC Player magazine reviewers gave the game an average rating of 54 out of 100. Reviewers called the game “boring” and indicated that it hadn’t added anything new to the Terminator series of games.

Evaluation of the information database on Just Games Retro games was rather low - 2 points out of 5. Comparing Terminator 2029 with MechWarrior , critics noted some similarities in the gameplay - in particular, this concerned the use of a pilot-controlled robotic exoskeleton equipped with a variety of interchangeable weapons. Among the shortcomings, an inconvenient control was indicated - the character is rotated strictly 90 degrees, and he moves along a grid of "squares" into which the level surface is conditionally divided; this makes it difficult to move and aim. At the same time, opponents are not tied to the net and therefore are more free in actions and movements. Level navigation was also called uncomfortable - the hero may not observe enemies on the radar, but “after taking a couple of steps”, he will be surrounded. Due to the random generation of opponents, it is possible to "escape" from them, "after passing two or three steps." Reviewers noted the high complexity of the game: a relatively low level of health (the suit gets damaged very easily and has to be “repaired” often), limited ammunition (as well as the fact that not all destroyed enemies and killed soldiers can take away weapons) and a lot the number of enemies (able to reappear in unexpected places some time after the destruction) make it difficult to complete the levels. The gameplay, due to its emphasis on killing enemies, was called “mostly boring,” and the game as a whole was terrible (compared to The Terminator: Future Shock, released later). At the same time, critics positively appreciated the detailed “briefings” between missions (where the player is explained the purpose of the current mission and given tips on how to complete it), the presence of a list of enemies with three-dimensional images (where you can see the vulnerabilities of each enemy), a map of Los Angeles (with rebel-controlled territories) and the role system of "ranks". The design of levels and characters was described as “simple”, but appropriate in the game of this genre ^[2] .

• The Terminator 2029 on the Giant Bomb website