`The Terminator: SkyNet'
PC CD-ROM minimum system requirements:
486DX/66mhz; 8MB RAM;
20MB hard disk space;
DOS 5.0; Dual speed CD-ROM drive; VGA.
£19.99
"I'LL be back," he said and true to his word, he is. In this sequel to Terminator: Future Shock you play as the newest member of John Connor's resistance, trying to free the earth from the control of the monstrous corporation Cyberdyne.
Its most frightening product is SkyNet, an automated global defence system. A massive and corrupt public relations exercise, which included bribing the media, ensured SkyNet was accepted by most people - until, that is, it started getting ideas of its own.
You (rather than Connor) are almost singlehandedly going to give it a few things to think about. Unlike other games of this nature (Doom, DukeNukem, Quake etc.) you begin with a couple of decent weapons - although ammunition is harder to come by and only exploring every crevice will keep your weapons well loaded. SkyNet is also a mission based game: thus, in the eight missions, just shooting everything you see and finding the exit isn't enough. Certain objectives have to be met.
A full briefing is given before each mission, and although you might just want to jump into the action, it's wise to listen carefully as vital clues are often given.
Running around all day shooting robots can be a tiring exercise, but thankfully the makers have included a jeep and a Hunter Killer plane to take the weight off your feet. Taking control of these adds variety to the gameplay and is a unique feature as far as 3D shoot-'em-ups go.
That said, trying to drive the jeep in one direction and fire in the other is tricky to say the least. In fact, because you have so much control over your character (jump, crouch, look up, down etc) you will need nimble - fingers to manipulate him through each mission, even without the jeep.
The graphics are driven by XnGine which creates a highly detailed environment in which to play, but there is a small problem with the "clipping" - an example of this is when enemies shoot through the edges of walls, usually when you think you are safe.
Although SkyNet doesn't have many outstanding features, it's nonetheless a better than average game. Fans of the movie will no doubt enjoy it and it's well worth the asking price. If you have access to a modem or network you can take advantage of the multi player mode. This can get exciting when you bump into a friend while you are in the Hunter Killer.
Ultimately, if you're only going to buy one game of this nature then Quake or DukeNukem is a better option - but if you have been there, done that, then it would make a nice addition to your collection.
Graphics: 90%
Sound: 80%
Gameplay: 80%