The Terminator: SkyNET Overview
SkyNET is a standalone first person shooter that concludes Bethesda's work with the Terminator license. Its development originated as an expansion for Terminator: Future Shock before evolving into a full release. The game utilizes an enhanced version of the Xngine, which supports a 640x480 display resolution; this upgrade could also be applied to the earlier Future Shock.
The narrative campaign consists of seven missions divided into multiple sections. Players work to prevent machines from launching a salvaged nuclear warhead. Environments show greater variety and interactivity than the previous title, including locations such as a Cyberdyne building basement and a submarine that is taking on water. The passage of time is represented as missions transition from night to day. Returning elements from Future Shock include vehicle based driving and flying sequences, though mission briefings are now presented exclusively through FMV videos. The single player campaign functions as a prequel, with certain advanced weapons and technology from Future Shock being absent here.
For multiplayer, the game supports deathmatches for up to eight players on a LAN or two via IPX. The maps are condensed versions of concepts from the single player mode, such as urban blocks, broken highways, or open valleys, with several offering a choice between dawn and dusk lighting. Most of these arenas include drivable vehicles, which players can freely enter and exit, a feature not available in the campaign. An option exists to play as a Terminator, which grants increased durability and a distinctive red tinted heads up display at the cost of reduced movement speed.
