The Terminator

The Terminator description

Surely all remember the cult film James Cameron's "Terminator". Created with a miniscule budget, using simple special effects (which are just balls for ping-pong in the role of skulls!), he won the hearts of many fans of science fiction. And he took not the stars of the first magnitude, not flame-decorations and atmosphere hanging in the air despair.

But, apparently, not only at the time we conquered this painting (on worn VHS with nasal, but eloquent voice-over). And now, after six years, the company Bethesda Softworks released the game in the first "Terminator" (thereby starting the whole cycle of games).

The developers clearly were proud of their brainchild. The game is completely written in assembler, uses more than 35 thousand rows. There are about 20 thousand of three-dimensional objects (!), created on the IBM PC and Amiga. If you planning on using Turbo Assembler and Turbo Debugger. The Terminator is the first game in the style of a "sandbox" ("sandbox').

Now about the gameplay. In the beginning, we can choose the character Kyle Reese or the Terminator T-800. The purpose of Risa is to find Sarah Connor (the future mother of John Connor, the Savior of mankind) and to destroy the T-800. The purpose of the T-800 to kill Kyle, and Sarah. In addition to the various goals of the game these characters more and different interface. The Terminator the whole screen covered with the latest technology (like a compass, jet lag and so on), and Kyle has none of that. But both have the stats (view your data like health, and on themselves three-dimensional) and a map. In addition to character, you can choose kind of game. There is a practice, as well as the basic mode in two variations: normal and condensed. In normal you have to roam the map. A reduction in already have a weapon (when playing as Reese and Sarah under the arm), which makes the gameplay much shorter.

So, you press "G" to start game. What to do next? Whether you are Terminator or Reese, you must do one thing... shopping. Objects for shopping very much: gun, with tools - a La "little things home", - drugstores, even banks. The player can buy the goods as a bona fide citizen, or Rob. But the second option would be another problem - the police. After some time the player can be boring moving on foot. The game has many cars you can steal in broad daylight. While I personally, no matter how much I struggled with the keyboard, auto start failed.

ABOUT NPC. To my surprise, a lot of them (and that they can not sit at home?). They have the beginnings of AI - for example, if you shoot someone in the street, the rest in panic flee. The same reaction and proud defile with weapons. Latest special delight does not cause - pistol, shotgun, M16 and so on. In the presence of weapons finally given the opportunity to punch your opponent (T-800 or Reese). And here begins the heat. You are the enemy, people, police all mingle in this battle. When playing as Kyle in addition to your health will have to monitor the health of Sarah (after all, if she dies, this, in accordance with the purpose of the game, will lead to "Game over"). After a very long shooting will begin "catch-up" on the map.

About the management. It is very difficult. To recreate a similar style of control on the joystick is simply unrealistic. Practically each key means some action. In addition to the movement and basic actions can be controlled and Sara (via context menu). She can follow your every move, and maybe to run away aimlessly.

Graphics (320x200, 16 colors). Unfortunately, it is too bright and slightly diminish the dark atmosphere of the first film (still: most of the scenes took place under the cover of night). But still it pleasing to the eye. People though sprite, but look to match the background (angular and bright). There are also beautiful animated screensaver.

The result - the game is really striking in its scale. Whether the joke - to recreate Los Angeles in full 3D and add fun gameplay in the genre of Adventure (and on a floppy disk!). All this is accompanied by beautiful illuminations, describing the story. Besides the game provides an opportunity to shoot, but Hovertank 3D (the first recognized shooter in the world) came out a year later! So strictly recommended to fans of "iron Arnie", as well as a lover of unusual games of the early 1990s.

Alternative description from kreol:

Another candidate for the title of the first FPS released a year before Hovertank 3D. However, in my opinion, it's still not action and adventure, although elements of the FPS is certainly there, and lots of it.

The game's plot is tied to the story of the eponymous film, released six years earlier. We can play as Kyle, protecting Sarah Connor from the evil visitor from the future or the Terminator, fulfilling the will of Machines.

The game is in first person, it is possible to acquire weapons (and for this there are two ways we can steal, and can buy), the game has the police, which, apparently, do not particularly like the aliens from the future in the city.

Graphics... Well, it is prudent to remain silent: in 1990, you know. But for that time very nice.

The game is recommended primarily to fans of the film and the following parts of the game series, which, alas, was not able to take its rightful place in the history of FPS. But at least learn how it all began...

Play your favorite childhood game The Terminator online in your browser for free here.

Source: Archive.org, Mobygames.com