The Terminator

From Sega Retro

For the Sega Mega-CD game, see The Terminator (Mega-CD).

n/a

  • Mega Drive
  • Master System
  • Game Gear

Terminator MD title.png

TheTerminator SMS Title.png

Terminator GG Title.png

The Terminator
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Sega Game Gear
Publisher: Virgin Games
Developer:
Supporting companies:
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
Krisalis sound driver
Genre: Action[1], Arcade[2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US
$59.9959.99[4][5] 70026
Sega Mega Drive
EU
T-70026-50
Sega Mega Drive
PT
Sega Mega Drive
UK
£39.9939.99[8][9] T-70026-50
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Master System
EU
MK-27025-50
Sega Master System
UK
£32.9932.99[12] MK-27025-50
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Master System
BR
027320
Sega Game Gear
US
$39.9939.99[14] T-70048
Sega Game Gear
EU
T-70048-50
Sega Game Gear
EU
(Classic)
700-48
Sega Game Gear
UK
£25.9925.99[17][18] T-70048-50

The Terminator is a Sega Mega Drive action game developed by Probe Software and published by Virgin Games. It is based on the 1984 film The Terminator.

Story

The game follows the story of the film. In the future, man and machine are locked in an existential war with one another. Skynet, the artificial intelligence controlling the machines and trying to eradicate the human race, sends a cyborg assassin back in time to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor, the mother of resistance leader John Connor. John Connor, in turn, sends soldier Kyle Reese back in time to find Sarah first and protect her.

Gameplay

Mega Drive version

The game is a side-scrolling run-and-gun game played as Kyle Reese on his mission to protect Sarah Connor from the Terminator. Objectives vary from level to level. The first level sets Kyle in the future in search of a time machine. The second level has Kyle searching for Sarah in present time, while the third level has him reuniting with her after a brief separation. The final level features a deadly confrontation with the Terminators endoskeleton.

Reese moves with Left and Right. He crouches with Down and jumps with C. He climbs ladders with Up and Down. He uses his weapon with B. Reese starts the first level with grenades but replaces it with an automatic rifle in the first level. After traveling to 1984 in the second level, he is armed with a shotgun (which lacks the continuous fire of the automatic rifle). All weapons have unlimited ammunition. The cyborg enemies in the first level respawn endlessly. Police officers in later levels are only wounded and revive after a short duration. Additionally, in the first level, Reese finds timed explosives, which he plants with A. These explosives are limited in supply and used for destroying otherwise impenetrable barriers.

Reese has five health points, which deplete with each hit taken from enemies. Health is restored by collecting bottles, randomly dropped by defeated enemies. The game ends if Reese loses all of his health points. It has no lives and no continue system.

There are multiple selectable difficulty levels (Easy, Normal, Difficult, and Very Hard). The difficulty level affects item placement in the first level (the player gets the rifle earlier on Easy) and the drop rate of health items. On higher difficulty levels, drop rates are so low that luck plays a big part in clearing the game, as the game is designed in a way that taking damage is unavoidable.

Items

Terminator MD, Items.png
Health Bottle
Restores Reese's health points. Dropped randomly by enemies after they are destroyed.
Terminator MD, Items.png
Smart Bombs
Gives Reese another three Smart Bombs, which are timed explosives used to destroy barriers and also the reactor in the first level.
Terminator MD, Items.png
Rifle
Changes Reese's primary weapon from grenades to an automatic rifle in the first level.

Levels

TTerminator1 MD.png

Los Angeles, 2029 A.D.
Players have three weapons at their disposal in this level: Timed Explosives, Grenades, and a Machine Gun. Enemies include Armored Tanks, Hunter Killers, and Terminators. The objective is to destroy a reactor (located underground) using the explosives and head into the Time Machine (above ground) before an explosion ensues.

TTerminator2 MD.png

Los Angeles, 1984
This level takes place on the streets of Los Angeles. Enemies include police officers, helicopters, firebomb hurlers, and the Terminator. The level ends in the TechNoir disco.

TTerminator3 MD.png

West Palm Police Station
This level takes place in the police station as Reese tries to escape from captivity. The enemy list is the same as the previous level. The level ends after Kyle reaches Sarah Connor.

TTerminator4 MD.png

The Final Confrontation
This level takes place in Cyberdyne's factory. Kyle must confront the Terminator's endoskeleton form. The level ends when Kyle leads the Terminator into a machine press.

Master System and Game Gear versions

The game is an action platformer played as the soldier Kyle Reese. The first level takes place in the future war, but Reese travels through time and plays the rest of the game in 1984. Reese moves with Left and Right. He crouches with Down and jumps with 2. He climbs ladders with Up and Down. He uses his weapon with 1. His weapons are initially grenades, but he finds a machine gun in the first level that replaces them. He uses a shotgun in subsequent levels after traveling back in time. All weapons have unlimited ammunition.

Reese's health is depicted as a percentage. When it falls to 0%, the game ends. There are no lives or continues, and there is no way to replenish Reese's health (besides starting a new level). Reese is also killed by high falls. Furthermore, all levels but the first have a five-minute timer, with the game ending if the player runs out of time. The first level has no timer until Reese activates the self-destruct sequence; he then has two minutes to finish the level by entering the time machine at the surface.

Items

Items are only found in the first level.

Terminator SMS, Items.png
Machine Gun
Changes Reese's weapon to a machine gun.
Terminator SMS, Items.png
Grenades
Changes Reese's weapon to grenades. Grenades can destroy walls.
Terminator SMS, Items.png
Time Bomb
Starts the self-destruct sequence for the time displacement equipment in the first level.

Levels

Terminator SMS, Stage 1-1.png

Terminator SMS, Stage 1-2.png

  • Terminator SMS, Stage 1-1.png

  • Terminator SMS, Stage 1-2.png

The Future

Terminator SMS, Stage 2.png

The City Streets

Terminator SMS, Stage 3-1.png

Terminator SMS, Stage 3-2.png

  • Terminator SMS, Stage 3-1.png

  • Terminator SMS, Stage 3-2.png

The TechNoir Bar

Terminator SMS, Stage 4-1.png

Terminator SMS, Stage 4-2.png

  • Terminator SMS, Stage 4-1.png

  • Terminator SMS, Stage 4-2.png

The Police Station

Terminator SMS, Stage 5.png

The Factory

Versions

The Sega Mega Drive version contains unused music tracks, and the animation quality is inconsistent. This hints that the game was rushed out in an unfinished state. The fact that a Sega Mega-CD version exists that is much richer in content and reuses certain sounds, fonts, and so forth, as well as crediting "Dave Perry" behind the original concept (referring to David Perry, the programmer of the Mega Drive version) further fortifies that.

The game does not perform a region check and thus runs on every region hardware.

In the 8-bit versions, Sarah Connor's surname is misspelled as "Conner" in both the games and the manuals. The 16-bit version makes this mistake only in the manuals.

Production credits

Mega Drive version

Developed in the UK for Virgin by Probe Software Limited, England
For Virgin Games...
  • Executive Producer: Dr. Stephen H. Clarke-Willson
  • Produced for Virgin Games by: Lyle J. Hall II
  • Quality Assurance by: Lyle J. Hall II, Andy Green, Ian Mathias
  • Manual by: Cathie A. Bartz
The Terminator is a James Cameron Film
The Terminator (C) 1984 Cinema '84
A Greenberg Brothers Partnership.
All Rights Reserved
The Terminator TM Designates a trademark of Cinema '84 - A Greenberg Brothers Partnership.
Source:
In-game credits
Terminator MD credits.pdf
[19]

Developed by Probe Software
Published by Virgin Games, Inc
  • Executive Producer: Dr. Stephen H. Clarke-Willson
  • Product Manager: Lyle J. Hall II
  • Quality Assurance by: Lyle J. Hall II, Tommy Tallarico, Michael D. Gater, Jeff Wagoner, Noah Tool, Ron Friedman, Bert Pelascini
  • Manual by: Cathie A. Bartz
  • Edited by: Lisa Marcinko
Source:
US manual
TTerminator md us manual.pdf
[20]

Master System version

  • The Terminator was published by: Virgin Games
  • Developed in the UK for Virgin by: Probe Software Limited, England
  • Programmed by: Dominic Wood
  • Artwork by: Mark Knowles
  • Audio by: Krisalis Software
  • Music by: Matt Furniss
  • Interlude and Credit Sequences: Brian Rogers
  • Designed for Probe Software by: Neil Young, Dominic Wood, Mark Knowles
  • Product Quality Assurance by: Andy Green, Ian Mathias, Darren Lloyd
  • Produced for Virgin Games by: Ian Mathias
  • Produced for Probe Software by: Neil Young
The Terminator (C) 1984 Cinema 84
Greenberg Brothers Partnership
All Rights Reserved
The Terminator TM Designates a Trademark of Cinema 84
Greenberg Brothers Partnership
Source:
In-game credits
Terminator SMS credits.pdf
[21]

Game Gear version

  • The Terminator was Published by: Virgin Games
  • Developed in the UK for Virgin by: Probe Software Ltd, England
  • Programmed by: Dominic Wood
  • Artwork by: Mark Knowles
  • Audio by: Krisalis Software
  • Music by: Matt Furnis
  • Interlude and Credit Sequences by: Brian Rogers
  • Designed for Probe Software by: Neil Young, Dominic Wood, Mark Knowles
  • Quality Assurance by: Andy Green, Ian Mathias, Darren Lloyd
  • Produced for Virgin Games by: Ian Mathias
  • Produced for Probe Software by: Neil Young
The Terminator (C) 1984 Cinema 84
Greenberg Brothers Partnership
All Rights Reserved
The Terminator (TM) Designates a Trademark of Cinema 84
Source:
In-game credits
Terminator GG credits.pdf
[22]

Developed by Probe Software
Published by Virgin Games, Inc
  • Producer: Lyle J. Hall II
  • UK Production: Ian Mathias
  • Manual: Lyle J. Hall II
  • Manual Editing: Lisa Marcinko
  • Testing and Quality Assurance: Darren Lloyd, Michael Gater, Noah Tool, Justin Norr, Joey Kuras
Source:
US manual
The Terminator GG US Manual.pdf
[23]

Magazine articles

Main article: The Terminator/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: The Terminator/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[24]
Consoles + (FR)
81
[25]
Cool Gamer (RU)
60
[26]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
91
[27]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
78
[28]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
41
[29]
FX (UK)
90
[30]
Game Power (IT)
90
[31]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
84
[32]
GamesMaster (UK)
87
[33]
Game Zone (UK) PAL
79
[34]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
90
[35]
Joypad (FR) PAL
86
[36]
Joystick (FR) PAL
86
[37]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
63
[38]
Mega (UK)
71
[39]
Mega (UK) PAL
75
[40]
Mega Fun (DE) PAL
61
[41]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
60
[42]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
77
[43]
Mean Machines (UK)
43
[44]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
43
[45]
Play Time (DE)
72
[46]
Power Up! (UK)
68
[47]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
87
[9]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
92
[48]
Sega Pro (UK)
89
[49]
Sega Force (SE)
42
[50]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
84
[51]
Supergame (BR) NTSC-U
87
[52]
Supersonic (FR)
77
[53]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
79
[54]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
40
[55]
Video Games (DE)
53
[56]
Zero (UK)
84
[57]
Sega Mega Drive
73
Based on
35 reviews

The Terminator

Mega Drive, US
TTerminator md us cover.jpg
Cover
TTerminator md us cart.jpg
Cart
TTerminator md us manual.pdf
Manual
Terminator MD US pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, EU
TTerminator md eu cover.jpg
Cover
TTerminator md eu cart.jpg
Cart
The Terminator MD EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Terminator MD EU pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, PT

Mega Drive, SE rental (HENT black)
The Terminator MD SE Rental Cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, AU

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Computer & Video Games (UK)
90
[58]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
82
[59]
Game Power (IT)
87
[31]
Game Zone (UK)
83
[60]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
80
[61]
Joypad (FR)
92
[62]
Joystick (FR) PAL
92
[63]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
68
[64]
Mean Machines (UK) PAL
82
[65]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
82
[66]
Player One (FR)
79
[67]
Play Time (DE)
74
[68]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
81
[69]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[48]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
90
[70]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
90
[71]
Supersonic (FR)
90
[72]
Video Games (DE)
66
[73]
Zero (UK)
80
[74]
Sega Master System
83
Based on
19 reviews

The Terminator

Master System, EU
Terminator SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
Terminator SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
The Terminator SMS EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU

Terminator SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
Terminator SMS BR Box Back.jpgNospine.pngTerminator SMS BR Box.jpg
Cover

Game Gear version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Computer & Video Games (UK)
81
[17]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
80
[75]
Game Mania (UK)
81
[76]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
90
[14]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
84
[77]
Joypad (FR)
84
[78]
Joystick (FR) PAL
82
[79]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
82
[80]
Player One (FR)
70
[81]
Play Time (DE)
70
[82]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
87
[83]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
92
[84]
Sega Pro (UK)
91
[85]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
80
[86]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
87
[87]
Video Games (DE)
65
[88]
Sega Game Gear
82
Based on
16 reviews

The Terminator

Game Gear, US
Terminator GG US Box Back.jpgNospine.pngTerminator GG US cover.jpg
Cover
Terminator GG US Cart.jpg
Cart
The Terminator GG US Manual.pdf
Manual
Game Gear, EU
Terminator GG EU backcover.jpgTerminator GG EU BoxSpine.jpgTerminator GG EU cover.jpg
Cover
Terminator GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Terminator GG EU Manual.jpg
Manual
Game Gear, EU (Classic Game Gear)
Terminator GG EU Box Top Classic.jpg
Terminator GG EU Box Back Classic.jpgTerminator GG EU Box Spine Classic.jpgTerminator GG EU Box Front Classic.jpgTerminator GG EU Box Spine2 Classic.jpg
Terminator GG EU Box Bottom Classic.jpg
Cover
Terminator GG EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Terminator GG EU Manual.jpg
Manual

Technical information

Main article: The Terminator/Technical information.

References

  1. File:Terminator GG EU backcover.jpg
  2. File:Terminator SMS EU Box.jpg
  3. Mega Play, "March/April 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 54
  4. GamePro, "January 1992" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 80
  5. GamePro, "February 1992" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 53
  6. Sega Pro, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-21), page 33
  7. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-08-10), page 15
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Sega Force, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-xx), page 61
  9. 9.0 9.1 Sega Power, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-04), page 22
  10. 10.0 10.1 Sega Pro, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-16), page 7
  11. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-08-17), page 15
  12. Sega Force, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-09), page 55
  13. GamePro, "July 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 94
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 GamePro, "August 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 86
  15. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-11-23), page 18
  16. Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-11-23), page 18
  17. 17.0 17.1 Computer & Video Games, "October 1992 (Go! Issue 12)" (UK; 1992-09-15), page 20
  18. Sega Zone, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-28), page 57
  19. File:Terminator MD credits.pdf
  20. File:TTerminator md us manual.pdf, page 11
  21. File:Terminator SMS credits.pdf
  22. File:Terminator GG credits.pdf
  23. File:The Terminator GG US Manual.pdf, page 11
  24. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 240
  25. Consoles +, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 54
  26. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 221
  27. Computer & Video Games, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-15), page 20
  28. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "March 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 28
  29. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 106
  30. FX (UK) (+6:20)
  31. 31.0 31.1 Game Power, "Luigio/Agosto 1992" (IT; 1992-0x-xx), page 64
  32. GamePro, "February 1992" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 52
  33. GamesMaster (UK) "Series 1, episode 1" (1992-01-07, 24:00) (+6:20)
  34. Game Zone, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-24), page 28
  35. Hobby Consolas, "Septiembre 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 40
  36. Joypad, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 50
  37. Joystick, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 167
  38. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 95
  39. Mega, "September 1993" (UK; 1993-08-19), page 89
  40. Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 87
  41. Mega Fun, "08/92" (DE; 1992-08-18), page 23
  42. MegaTech, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-20), page 46
  43. Micromanía (segunda época), "Noviembre 1992" (ES; 1992-1x-xx), page 77
  44. Mean Machines, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-28), page 84
  45. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 142
  46. Play Time, "11/92" (DE; 1992-10-07), page 92
  47. Power Up!, "Saturday, September 26, 1992" (UK; 1992-09-26), page 1
  48. 48.0 48.1 Sega Pro, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-21), page 32
  49. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
  50. Sega Force, "2/92" (SE; 1992-11-19), page 19
  51. Sega Force, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-xx), page 60
  52. Supergame, "Setembro 1992" (BR; 1992-09-xx), page 32
  53. Supersonic, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 10
  54. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 26
  55. VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "September 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 58
  56. Video Games, "9/92" (DE; 1992-08-26), page 58
  57. Zero, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-11), page 26
  58. Computer & Video Games, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-15), page 22
  59. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 160
  60. Game Zone, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-xx), page 40
  61. Hobby Consolas, "Septiembre 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 44
  62. Joypad, "Septembre 1992" (FR; 1992-0x-xx), page 82
  63. Joystick, "Octobre 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 152
  64. Micromanía (segunda época), "Enero 1993" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 57
  65. Mean Machines, "June 1992" (UK; 1992-05-28), page 110
  66. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 136
  67. Player One, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-07-10), page 110
  68. Play Time, "12/92" (DE; 1992-11-04), page 87
  69. Sega Power, "July 1992" (UK; 1992-06-04), page 24
  70. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 72
  71. Sega Force, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-09), page 54
  72. Supersonic, "Juillet/Août 1992" (FR; 1992-xx-xx), page 19
  73. Video Games, "8/92" (DE; 1992-07-22), page 98
  74. Zero, "August 1992" (UK; 1992-07-xx), page 37
  75. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 171
  76. Game Mania, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 70
  77. GamesMaster, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-03), page 92
  78. Joypad, "Janvier 1993" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 142
  79. Joystick, "Février 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 194
  80. Mean Machines Sega, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 120
  81. Player One, "Mars/Avril 1993" (FR; 1993-03-10), page 115
  82. Play Time, "3/93" (DE; 1993-02-10), page 109
  83. Sega Power, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-01), page 62
  84. Sega Pro, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-08), page 58
  85. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 75
  86. Sega Zone, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-28), page 56
  87. Sega Force, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-08), page 76
  88. Video Games, "10/92" (DE; 1992-09-30), page 129


The Terminator

Terminator MD title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Maps | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Video coverage | Reception | Promotional material | Region coding | Technical information | Bootlegs


Sega Mega Drive
Prototypes: 1992-04-15



RoboCop and Terminator franchise games for Sega systems
Sega Mega Drive
The Terminator (1992) | T2: The Arcade Game (1992) | RoboCop 3 (1993) | Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1993) | RoboCop Versus The Terminator (1993)
Sega Master System
The Terminator (1992) | T2: The Arcade Game (1993) | RoboCop 3 (1993) | Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1993) | RoboCop Versus The Terminator (1994)
Sega Game Gear
The Terminator (1992) | T2: The Arcade Game (1993) | RoboCop 3 (1993) | Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1993) | RoboCop Versus The Terminator (1994)
Sega Mega-CD
The Terminator (1993)