The story of the 26-year-old truck driver turned first-time feature film director is a cautionary tale. He lands the job of a lifetime: directing a sequel to the Jaws rip-off Piraya (originally directed by Joe Dante), filmed in Italy. However, the dedicated director is deceived; the producers are primarily interested in having an American name on the poster for marketing purposes, undermining his creative control through re-editing. Frustrated, the director breaks into the editing room to restore his vision. The stress induces illness, leading to a feverish nightmare of a silver robot with glowing red eyes emerging from flames… and the rest is cinematic history.
James Cameron’s seminal work, The Terminator (known as Dödsängeln in its Swedish premiere), stands as a genre classic. Regardless of personal preference, its cultural impact is undeniable. In 1991, the critically acclaimed sequel raised the bar for innovative special effects, which remain impressive even today. Subsequent sequels, however, failed to capture the original’s brilliance. Each film, produced without Cameron’s involvement, declined in quality. Terminator: Dark Fate aimed to revive the franchise, but hopefully, it will mark the end of a series that arguably peaked with Terminator 2 – Judgement day.
Shifting from film to gaming, Terminator: Resistance offers a more promising experience. Players assume the role of a survivor in the war against Skynet and its Terminators, progressing from humble beginnings. The game provides a variety of weapons, grenades, and the ability to craft items, learn skills, and upgrade equipment – common features in contemporary games. The initial impressions are positive, particularly as it marks a return to the First Person Shooter genre on PC. While adapting to mouse controls (using the Sensei 10 mouse from Steelseries, which performed admirably) required some adjustment, the muscle memory soon returned.
The visual elements, including fire effects, lighting, character models, and environments, are well-executed, and Terminator: Resistance features an engaging narrative. However, its reliance on familiar mechanics is noticeable. Absent the presence of Terminators, the gameplay loop could easily be mistaken for that of a generic looter-shooter game. The core gameplay loop involves scavenging resources, engaging in combat, assisting NPCs, and utilizing workbenches to craft items, following a repetitive pattern.
In conclusion, Terminator: Resistance is a recommendable title, primarily due to its ability to capture the spirit of the franchise more effectively than recent films. While the game’s reliance on established looter-shooter tropes is a drawback, it offers fans an opportunity to experience the Terminator universe through interactive gameplay.
