This game should have been terminated prior to release…
It’s been awhile since we’ve been treated to a good Terminator game and unfortunately Terminator Salvation continues to leave us waiting. Everyone by now presumably knows the history of John Connor and the Terminators, so I won’t bore you to death with going into their backgrounds. In Terminator: Salvation (T:S), you take control of Connor; or at least someone who is named John Connor, as the person is simply a stand-in and is not Christian Bale, nor does he have any resemblance to him at all.
The game’s plot is fairly straightforward when you are actually playing the game. You head off to save some of your comrades that have been captured by Skynet and of course destroy machines. Although this maybe a slight exaggeration, it truly feels as if there is a cut scene every two to three minutes while playing. Some running, some shooting... and then a cut scene. Wash, rinse and repeat. So bad, in fact, that the cut scenes manage to take up half of this already ridiculously short game.
One of the very few good things about T:S is that there is a co-op mode so you can tear apart machines without your buddy having to drag over his 360 or play online. Sadly, because most human players are far more intelligent and creative than its in-game computer AI, this only shortens the game. When playing co-op, your partner is highlighted in a white border, which is useful when they are in another room and you’re are trying to locate them. It is simply annoying and overbearing when you are standing only a few feet away and you can’t help but to focus on this person with an obnoxious white glow.
For those who are Gears of War experienced, you’ll notice many “borrowed” features. So many, I’m surprised there isn’t a lawsuit out there for copyright infringement. There is the ever pointless "press ‘Y’ to ‘LOOK’" button which ends up being used about four times during the entire game. If your partner happens to go down in the heat of battle, just as in GoW, you can run over and revive them and they’re back with full health, ready to go. To top it off, there is the use of cover and the ability to move from cover to cover. Just like in—yes, you've guessed it—GoW, you can either blind fire from behind cover or aim for a more accurate shot.
The game is so boringly predictable, as well. Here is the M/O: Run through a completely linear level, never having to worry about anything jumping out and surprising you; see a slew of green highlighted weapons lying about and know that a battle is about to take place; finally, locate a bunch of covers conveniently set out for you and just wait for the machines to come. If that didn’t give it away, your partner’s routine scream of “SPIDERS!” or “MACHINES!” will definitely clue you in.
The AI of the machines is decent at best. The Endos will attack you head-on for the most part with mini gun ablaze, while other times they will simply stand out in the open in a fixed position making them perfect targets for you to lob grenades at. The spiders are a bit more to contend with as their weak spot is behind their head and it takes someone to flank them and shoot them from behind. They do pretty well at facing you to prevent that from happening. Then there are the “rubber jobs” which are a type of hybrid between man and machine (although poorly done). These guys you just simply have to pour a ton of lead to kill without the need to worry about a weak spot. I do have one question though: Rubber Jobs??? Who the f--k named these that, and you couldn’t come up with a better name than “Rubber Jobs”?
The AI of your comrades doesn’t fare much better, either. For the most part they’ll stand around, presumably conserving ammo (yeah, right) and watching the fighting take place. They’ll take point and lead the way through the game, but the problem is they will take off without you if you miss them, leaving you to go look for them. Keep in mind that the game is completely linear and even if this does occur, it doesn’t take much effort to locate them and move on.
The variety of weapons matches the rest of the game: poor. A machine gun, a SAW, grenade launcher, shotgun and grenades. Why on earth can’t I pick up one of the Endos' mini-guns or plasma rifles that I’m sure are lying around?!
There are several times when you have the opportunity to ride in the back of a vehicle and shoot at machines along your path or machines that end up following you. On one occasion, you end up taking control of a machine and can wreak havoc that way for a short while.
I mentioned a few times how ridiculously short this game is, right? Here’s the final verdict. Playing co-op, we managed to finish the game in a little less than three hours. Yes, less than three hours. Absolutely ridiculous. To think they’re charging people in the neighborhood of $50.00 USD for this? For shame.
Overall, for a game with a ridiculously short play time, unimpressive AI, linear chapters and features that have been hashed and rehashed from other franchises, this is a clear and definite do not buy. If you manage to get this as a gift, don’t break the shrink wrap, return it and exchange it for something else.
"Terminator Salvation (X360)" is on sale May 19, 2009 and is rated T. Shooter. Developed by GRIN. Published by Evolved Games, EGI.
