Originally, I was excited to see Terminator 3 in the theatres. I really thought it was going to be a great movie. I’m a fan of the series, and with today’s special effects, how could they mess it up? A number of ways actually; this license has been handled poorly. The story was contrived, the action was mostly dull, and it just overall failed to entertain. As I played Terminator 3: the Redemption I realized there might never be a game based on Terminator worth playing aside from the early 90’s Terminator 2 arcade game. The second movie was really the best source for a game anyhow and it’s a damn shame. Terminator 3: the Redemption looked like it had all the pieces in place to finally bring me an awesome Terminator game, even though the movie sucked. Still, something didn’t come off quite right durring development.
"... there might never be a game based on Terminator worth playing..."
|
Like I said, it looked like they had all the parts in order. Graphically Terminator 3 is just short of great. The environments are done skillfully, sometimes with torn up roads, broken down cities, and errant power lines shooting electricity around. The skies are a blaze with lightning, and it creates an over all desolate visage. The character models are also great and animated decently. I’m very impressed that as Arnold gets shot up, the skin blows off the model revealing the robot beneath. It’s a cool effect. Aurally this game is impressive as well, with actual voice-overs with the T-800 himself. It’s everything you’d expect from the governor of California. His one-liners are mostly taken from the movie, and it’s great to hear Arnold say “Talk to the hand” as he decimates an endoskeleton. All other voice acting is decent as well. Explosions are bassy and loud, bullets and lasers make the appropriate noises, vehicles (real or fictional) all make noises that sound correct as well.
There’s also a wealth of gameplay types mixed in with the levels to keep the player interested as well. Sometimes you’ll be on foot, shooting robots or battling them hand to hand. Sometimes you’ll be riding some sort of vehicle, be it a truck, or some kind of futuristic super scooter, shooting enemies as you fly by them at high speeds. Other times you’ll be stationary on a moving vehicle (i.e. an ’on-rails’ shooter part) and you’ll have to blow stuff up with which ever weapon you’re given. The on foot missions control great. The lock-on targeting is done well enough, and you’re never really wondering why Arnold isn’t shooting in the direction you want him to, since he usually is shooting where you want. The hand to hand combat is also implemented fairly well, and while it isn’t deep, offers variety to the otherwise repetitive shooting bits.
The ’on rails’ controls are pretty much spot on, except I thought you should have been able to turn faster. It’s definitely a little tighter than it needs to be. The controlled vehicle parts are probably the worst controlling of the bunch. It was weird to try and shoot your weapon and steer the vehicle at the same time. It’s just something that could have used a little more thought, either an A.I. shooter, of an A.I. driver, or at least just auto targeting. The segments just didn’t play very smooth. There’s also a co-op mode to play which is completely different than the single player game. It’s not very long, and it doesn’t offer much variety, but it’s good to see that the developers wanted to give the player their money’s worth. You control a couple of humans in Los Angeles post-Skynet take over, and your mission is to fend off Skynet sentries.
"... even with the greatest intentions, and some awesome framework laid down, a game can’t go anywhere with a lack of direction, focus, and drive."
|
Terminator 3 takes a turn for the worse when you realize that even with the greatest intentions, and some awesome framework laid down, a game can’t go anywhere with a lack of direction, focus, and drive. The game is absolutely brainless, and asks nothing out of the player but the ability to walk to and shoot targets. Enemies do nothing intelligent, walking into your bullet spray and only attacking if they’re either A) in range, or B) targeted on you and set on auto fire. And when its option B, you better believe they’re going to shoot you up real good. This game is downright cheap when it wants to be, meaning you’re going to die a lot. Some people enjoy when a game is frustrating to the point of playing a level over for a few hours, and if the gameplay has substance to it, I’m one of those people. But T3’s brainless action doesn’t lend itself well to that type of challenge and it becomes tedious instead. Imagine battling your way to the end of a level with almost full health, just to be destroyed in 15 seconds. That’s not a challenge, that’s poor design, and it’s asking too much patience out of the player for too little pay off.
"Sadly Terminator 3: the Redemption seems destined for the bargain bins. "
|
Maybe it’s a case of being overly ambitious. The game has a great, simple framework, but it tries too hard to act like it’s deeper than it is. If the difficulty was balanced better this game could have been a lot more enjoyable. Its flaws like this that ruin potential, and it’s a shame because this one had quite a lot of it. I really enjoyed the story parts towards the beginning that illustrate how the resistance got the T-800 and the scenario where the T-X goes back in time. They’re put together well, and fans will be pleased, but probably won’t be motivated enough to play through and experience it all, especially since the unlockables are absolutely ’poop’ as well. Cheats are a fairly last generation way to increase replay value. It’s cool they’re here, but the game isn’t any better for it.
Sadly, Terminator 3: the Redemption seems destined for the bargain bins. All the potential in the world can’t save a game if it’s too hard for it’s own good. Even fans will probably be put off by this, but if you like to punish yourself then by all means purchase this game.
