The Terminator (NES) Playthrough

A playthrough of Mindscape's 1992 license-based action-platformer for the NES, The Terminator.
Remember how Bethesda saw Journey to Silius ( • Journey to Silius (NES... ), Sunsoft's take on The Terminator license, and responded with, "Thanks, but no thanks"? After turning their nose up at a bona-fide NES classic, you'd assume that the company had something truly special waiting in the wings. And well, that truly special something came along after Bethesda sublicensed the property to Mindscape, who then called upon Radical Entertainment to provide what Sunsoft could not.
The Terminator was one of Radical's debut games, releasing side-by-side with The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends in December of 1992.
Remember how in the film, Kyle Reese beaned dogs with baseballs, sprinted across wet floors, and got electrocuted by every power outlet within a five-mile radius on his quest to save/bang Sarah Connor? Radical did, apparently.
Some people - namely anyone who has ever played a video game, seen The Terminator, or has an IQ above 80 - might argue that The Terminator for the NES failed to live up to expectations. They might complain that Kyle Reese comes across as somewhat less-than-heroic when he's constantly falling to his death after clipping through platforms or bouncing like a pinball between guardrails on his motorcycle. They might complain that a single note played over and over doesn't qualify as music. They might argue that Journey to Silius is a good game, and that The Terminator is not.
I'm see no reason to disagree with them on any of those points. If you happen to have a phased plasma rifle in the 40W range kicking around, I suggest using this cartridge for target practice.
_________________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocom...) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!

[@NintendoComplete]

Remember those soiled bum pants that Kyle wore in the movie? This game plays like how I imagine those pants would smell.

[@black2785]

I thought I was the only one thinking that , especially how he free balls adding to the aroma

[@nathannightmare1604]

I hate the music, it's ear bleeding.

[@Gametutuofcal]

Thank you for taking down Terminator software!!!!

[@vraven-tc6cg]

That son of a b**ch took my pants 👖

[@BRGKasumi77Main]

Thanks for sharing this to us!

[@Baximus]

You know you're in for a real treat when the demo falls into a pit within eight seconds. Even does the land-fall thing, too.

[@bobafeet1234]

I don't what's more gorgeous in this classic NES action game... the graphics or the music! 💩

[@OuroborosChoked]

I don't know what the resistance was worried about. Kyle can put down terminators by punching them. Who needs John Connor?

[@estebancebreros5432]

Ah, yes, the classic NES adaptation of The Terminator where Kyle Reese dies in the demo and futuristic machines programmed to kill their target get punched in the gut to merely off them. You were sorely needed for this one, Sunsoft.

[@MrCaerbannog]

For the more technically-minded viewers, Displaced Gamers' look at the game's code reveals why the jumping is such a clusterfeck. Basically, it only bothers looking at the location of *one* pixel in-between Kyle's legs, and if it's not in the absolute right place, you fall right through the platform (to the level below if you're lucky, into a bottomless pit if not). For good measure, there's also a bug that causes the collision detection to occasionally glitch out and make you fall right through the ground to your death.

[@blodguizer]

I like how the mohawk guys in the LA stage seem to have no AI and just stand there waiting to be punched.

[@tirantloblanch1]

They are too High to Even think on atacck Kyle, or defend

[@ZeoHidra]

Kinda reminds of that one npc in Civvie-11's Postal: Corkscrew Rules video who would pull out a shovel when a fight starts, but then just stands there and gets cut down, twice.

[@kildaver]

This game's "music" is a crime against sound. 😖

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

For the system it's quite good. Sort of ambient genre. Much better fitting to post-apocalypse than famed Journey to Silius cheesy tunes.

[@christopherthibeault7502]

@@Avrelivs_Gold That was my assumption--industrial ambience or tension music. Whoever did it probably heard the company's attempt at music with Rocky & Bullwinkle and opted for another approach to match the mood. Even so, the NES can pull off mood music much better and probably did so at least once before December 1992.

[@elgatofelix8917]

@@Avrelivs_Gold If you heard the music for games like Mega Man 3, TMNT, and anything with Tim Follin you wouldn't think that. NES is capable of SO MUCH BETTER than this.

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

@@elgatofelix8917 well Geoff Follin in Terminator 2 soundtrack certainly showed that for older systems it was much harder to make ambient music, you really had to be an expert. No other Terminator game had better music, perfect balance of ambient and typical game music. So this game has a decent soundtrack that is on par with the movie's simple soundtrack.

[@mnemonichotpocket]

Can't watch this right now, so, "I'll be back."

[@Joe_334]

"Leave my ears alone!!" Sincerely, Whoisthisgit

[@FourBudgies87]

Mindscape is responsible for this, Rocky and Bullwinkle, Wayne's World, and the Mario educational games. Even LJN games are works of art in comparison.

[@Loader2K1]

_The Terminator_ on the NES is one those video games from my youth that I remember for worse than the better. Following the overnight success of _Terminator 2: Judgment Day_ in theaters in 1991, 1992 not only saw newfound interest in the OG _Terminator_ film from 1984, but also video-game adaptations from various developers and publishers at the time on the contemporary consoles (i.e., the NES, the Super NES, the Genesis/Mega Drive, etc.). My little brother at the time was OBSESSED with all things _Terminator_ , and he got my mom to rent him the NES _Terminator_ game by MindScape from one of the now-defunct Blockbuster Video stores we used to frequent back then. Strike one: the reversed actions of the B and A buttons with no option to adjust them. Basically, some numbskull decided to make the B button the jump button and the A button the attack button. To the staff at Radical Entertainment that worked on this shovelware: you make me wish for the days of the Internet when I could rant and rave without the fear of law enforcement paying me a visit for doing this. Strike two: as an extension to strike one, the horrible collision detection. YT personalities such as James “The Angry Video Game Nerd” Rolfe and Displaced Gamers have pointed out in much-better detail how bad the collision detection is better than I ever could, but I’ll just say that the programmers should be ashamed of themselves for it. Strike three: The lack of not knowing what to do and where to go, not to mention the absurdly short length of the game. Had I not seen gameplay videos like this one from NintendoComplete on YT, I would have never seen the end of this game. The mere fact that this game can be beaten in a little over 15 minutes if you know what you’re doing is an even-bigger insult. I will say that, in retrospect, seeing T-800 Endoskeletons unintentionally doing the pimp walk is hilarious as an adult, LOL.

[@ZeoHidra]

Those driving sections are painful just to watch, I can't imagine actually playing it.

[@85futureshock]

Kyle Reese walks in this game like he has scatica.

[@BB-te8tc]

Gotta love NES games that end with no credits.

[@Monhamd1000]

"TOO F*CKING SMALL!!" Remember that AVGN scene?

[@ElephantMariotheRHDNhater3293]

*_GRRAAAAAAAGH! YOU'RE TERMINATED!_*

[@mpaulm]

Literally watched it yesterday.😂

[@Dorian_Scott]

Classic AVGN moment.

[@davidjorda-manaut308]

*Grabs the zapper* You're terminated ! KABOOM !!!

[@IrregularHunterDash]

IT’S TOO SMALL! TOO FUCKING SMALL!! FUCCCCCCKKK!

[@jasonmonster]

The sound fx and music seem to be straight from an Atari 2600 game, lol.

[@SomeOrangeCat]

He jumps like he's actively shitting.

[@High_Voltage_Rock]

Yes the game was really bad, but I loved it in my childhood, so many memories 😁👍🏽

[@Omniblade_Gaming]

I don’t know there’s something cozy about this game. Growing up playing movie based games or games by sunsoft or ocean etc just really set the mood on a Friday night

[@hrgerolf]

5:46 music actually does sound like music from the movie during one of the future war scene

[@bashkirianguy2006]

Before watching this video I didn't know about "no-fire" on the escape level from the robots, lol

[@davidjorda-manaut308]

I actually tried this game a few times... Oh boy. I really regret it now. The sound of this game is torture, I refuse to call this garbage music. The graphics are absolute crap, the sprites and backgrounds are very sloppy and the colors are crude. As for the controls, Kyle Reese is about as agile as an anvil, he takes an eternity to jump or attack and he's constantly walking through molasses. The lousy hit detection that makes you fall through ultra narrow platforms or miss enemies you think you're hitting doesn't help. As for the gameplay, it's... Empty. The levels themselves are shallow, with only one or two enemies at a time coming at you at a snail's pace, and the enemies aren't very varied either. Also, why the hell doesn't Reese have a gun past the first few levels ?!

[@blukmage19typeR]

I take "Journey to Silius/[rʌf] WORLD" any day.

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

But it's childish. This version feels much more like the movie. Even with all its flaws.

[@Loader2K1]

I would recommend that you go and play the MSX version of the OG _Metal Gear_ as well, because that game's incarnation of Solid Snake is basically Kyle Reese anyway. Also, knockoff Terminators in the game known as the Arnolds are present, LOL.

[@pd9163]

Skynet decided to wipe out humanity because it became self aware of this game. 😵‍💫

[@joeyjo-joshabadu9636]

At least the opening graphic with Arnold is really freaking cool!

[@starscream512]

This game plays exactly like the movie. It’s like a shot for shot remake of the movie… 😜

[@TheNei]

Adoro esse canal, acaba mostrando muitos jogos do NES que eu não conhecia! 🥰

[@claudioadriano5422]

One of the worst games ever made for the NES! It doesn't have music, it has sound torture! Incredible how the Sega Genesis version is also short but way better and faithful to the movie.

[@Dorian_Scott]

And with a great soundtrack to boot!

[@claudioadriano5422]

@@Dorian_Scott definitely!

[@Loader2K1]

Sadly, 1991 to 1994 were pretty much the final years of the NES, and during that time, the NES got flooded with shovelware from such companies as Ocean, MindScape, LJN, and Camerica, to name a few. The prime years of the NES (1986 to 1990) had nowhere near the amount of bad games that the final years had in my humble opinion.

[@claudioadriano5422]

@@Loader2K1 Yeah! I consider Ocean one of the worsts companies of that time, losing only to LJN LoL

[@Loader2K1]

@@claudioadriano5422: In retrospect, I think it can be argued that Nintendo of America's Draconian policies at the time also HELPED the NES.

[@Roger-fs5yo]

This game gave me nightmares🥺

[@Krbyfan1]

Don't you guys remember the ending in the original Terminator where Arnold jumped 5 feet in the air and got shot at 5 times with a pellet gun and disappeared?

[@roberth1111]

Special Director Cut Edition

[@nathannightmare1604]

That music is destroying my ears.

[@jamesl.anderson1384]

16:28 You’re Terminated

[@optimusrhymz2226]

That opening sound track hits different.

[@chiarosuburekeni9325]

Wow, this music is giving me a headache. So many western NES games just have the most half-assed soundtracks.

[@knuthansen8524]

Yeah an old fren of mine, who happens to be half black african and half jew, had this game. We played it a lot as kids, but never finished it. It was a tough one. :(

[@spoonshiro]

Boy I thought the truck levels in the T2 arcade game were annoying. Masterful compared to this game!

[@Loader2K1]

Those truck levels can eff right off as well.

[@LITTLE1994]

This game port is horrible. But AVGN's video is hilarious.

[@donskiver]

Are you actually limited to only punching during the 1984 stages?

[@NintendoComplete]

You can kick, but it has even worse range than the punch.

[@P.Brocklehurst-II]

I was disappointed too that you don't get to use a shotgun during the 1984 stages. Thank goodness the Mega Drive and Mega CD Terminator games make up for it.

[@angelriverasantana7755]

To think Radical Entertainment went from this to Jackie Chan's Stuntmaster, Simpsons Hit and Run, Prototype and Hulk Ultimate Destruction... They had a helluva glow-up

[@marcelosoares7148]

Honestly, this game might be worse than the Robocop games. Can you even call that amalgamation of noises at 3:11 music?

[@smartinez1976]

Great BGM and OST... Nice green and grey background color...

[@MbRetroGamer]

very good the terminator

[@erj9081]

On pirate cartridges this game is unbeatable, because in the very end The Terminator does not follow you down to the press

[@steveoranges1960]

While it could do with game mechanics polishing, this game is closer to and *feels* more like Terminator than, for example, Journey to Silius. The pacing is just like the movie too, although the ending scene feels rushed and anti-climatic. I really like the sprites of the characters and though the music is a bit annoying, it has the same tone as the movie

[@samusvikerness661]

I’ll be waiting for the review in the description.

[@Yoderman]

This music is a bop.

[@ZEKESPILLEDINKMUSIC]

Seeing this makes me want to watch a playthrough of The Terminator for the Sega CD instead. It's a much better attempt at the movie license.

[@jay-ze7qp]

5:09 TOO FUCKING SMALL, TOO FUCKING SMALL **screams in pillow**

[@VahanNisanian]

AVGN: Jump… Jump… Jump… AHHHHHHHHHHH! TOO FUCKING SMALL!

[@jamesl.anderson1384]

You’re Terminated

[@nightowl832]

Every time i see the Radical Entertainment logo, i always think of that awful Wayne's World game i played as a kid. I know they've made a lot of other stinkers too like Rocky and Bullwinkle 🤮

[@KaZikandriera]

Радикал интертеймент.... первый Терминатор , Рокки и Бульвинкль. Халк.. прототип... Почему все эти игры максимально всратые?

[@LicencetoMeme]

Слишком много денег, чтобы купить игру, недостаточно денег, чтобы разработать игру... (Я использую Google Translate, извините, если я плохо говорю по-русски.)

[@GaryBeltz]

YOU ARE TERMINATED!

[@darkerfalcon3747]

Just patch Journey to Silius with Pacnsacdave and 8-bit fan's Terminator restoration hack and forget about this crap.

[@flammenwaffenfries3039]

The noise gave me a tumor

[@elgatofelix8917]

I appreciate the play through but this game looks subpar.

[@Nightbreed24]

I had this shit on one of those bootleg yellow cartridges found in Eastern Europe. I could never get past the first driving stage and the controls were horrible. I didn't miss out on much, this is a very short game.

[@johnmadden4630]

A game you can beat in under half an hour? Imagine the disappointment when your parents let you pick out a game and they'd wasted fifty bucks on this trash.

[@Dorian_Scott]

I only know this horrid game from the AVGN episode. I haven't seen the movies and I've really only played the Sega Genesis version that was actually kinda *_GOOD._* Matt Furniss' compositions being a highlight for that one. Coincidentally, I was planning on *_finally_* experiencing the movies for the first time lol.

[@LicencetoMeme]

May I suggest you to also try the Sega-CD version ? It's a classic run n'gun from the time, not necessarily the best, but nonetheless enjoyable. Also, Tommy Tallarico doing the only thing he's good at. Also also, the first Terminator is a classic ; but I would be lying if I said it didn't age... (especially in the audio department !)

[@Dorian_Scott]

@@LicencetoMeme I actually played a little bit of the Sega CD version. Specifically, the PAL version as that one actually has the correct BGM for the FMV cutscenes and doesn't loop the Terminator theme like the NTSC-U version. Anyway, I never finished it but I might replay it again as I thought it was pretty good. Especially that soundtrack!

[@danalong1237]

0:22: the people you must, and I repeat, MUST blame for da failure of da NES version of The Terminator: programmer Chris Robertson, artist Alan Blouin, producer Rory Armes, executive producer Ian McGee and composer/sound designer Paul Wilkinson!

[@christopherthibeault7502]

You got their addresses and phone numbers too while you're at it?

[@e84fresh]

What happened to Sarah Connor

[@codefinity]

🤩 This is even better than the 🎞️❗️Is the soundtrack available? Putting that on 🔁❗️*sarcasm*

[@demonofelru3214]

The PC game was better lol.

[@Pumpking1984]

Yes.

[@JeromeYap-hc9yv]

mad max

[@Avrelivs_Gold]

Total Recall, Predator or this? at least this game isn't obnoxious or weird... even the "bad" music is superior to most LJN games

[@SuperMafia864]

Angry Video Game Nerd showed us only the first level. But the rest of the game is even worse.

[@JuleryEspinosa]

What is a NES emulator?

[@yuvarudra6602]

Not bad Kyle can just punch T - 800. Movie is bad. NES the best. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@grindycore3438]

If vomit was a video game lol

[@RichieCavsRetrocade]

OMG I would have been pissed if I spent $50 back in the day on this craptacular POS 😊 What's with the punk characters that stand there and do nothing? And who did the music? I feel like it was someone's kid just messing around on a Casio they got for Xmas 😂

[@Alex-bw9rw]

No bad for backhanded android

[@stephennovotny6157]

I KNOW THIS GAME 🎮🕹/ MOVIE 🎥🎞📽🎬📺

[@W4lmartbag]

Why a lot of licensed games made for the nes at the end of its life where as bad as this?

[@minecraft12lol]

Because Nintendo didn't really care what was published for the system anymore, and some companies just rushed games out because they obtained a license to something popular, so they knew people would buy it.

[@gamet2004]

This and Rocky and Bullwinckle are my least favorite games ever. We really don't need the existence of both games, the controls and the gameplay are atrocious, the graphics (if you can call that way) is straid up shitty, and who the hell did compose the music in this?!?! That is not music, that is a bunch of notes put together, like... WHY? Ufh, is so sad that the NES library has these movie/cartoon-based games that are always crap, but at least the NES has stuff like Mario, Kirby, RockMan...

[@vhsdog]

This game legit gave me a migraine. The music (if you could even call it music) is so godawful.

[@peechitmanuel6663]

Arnold Schwarzenegger

[@peanutm9346]

To to to do