I’m amazed by the potential this game had: the ability to advance the third-person cover-shooter genre, and the possibility of being one of the few great movie games out there. However, thanks to the marks of a rushed project, it couldn’t really expand beyond the movie game status quo. I mean, the movie itself was amazing: it had everything you could possibility want from a Terminator movie along with a overload of explosions. So wouldn’t you expect that from the game?

Terminator Salvation follows the story of John Connor as he receives a distress call from a resistance member trapped within Skynet territory. But instead of leaving with his team, Connor decides to go on a rescue. Sadly, the game doesn’t produce any insight or unexpected twists into John Connor or the formation of the resistance, which could have been interesting. Instead, you do get the chance to meet up with characters featured in the movie, but, really, who’s that interested in meeting Common’s character?

There really isn’t anything here to call this a game. It feels as if some portions have been painfully edited out. And there isn’t that cinematic punch that’s normally featured with games like this. There’s a scene within the game where an HK (Human Killer Tank) cashes into a building – sounds cool doesn’t it? But, sadly, there’s isn’t that explosive feeling. It just feels bland.

Terminator Salvation gains all of its controls from other games, such as GRIN’s recently released Wanted title. However, its cover system is more like a half-circle-shaped thing, flipped upside, and cut into five different sectors. By hitting one of these sectors, you move into a that selected position. It’s a unique and original way of creating a cover system, and works well when you add it into combat – which, thanks to this system, is very intense.

The visuals are strong, but it’s too bad there isn’t much to look at. Salvation takes place within a post-apocalyptic Los Angeles, so everything is destroyed, and the game doesn’t have that beautiful feel to the environments. Everything is washed-out and grey. I don’t know about you, but I like the environments within a game to have a pop to them.

The enemy AI is tough and follows the same logical attack patterns. This isn’t a good thing. When I was playing through this game on the lowest difficulty setting, it sometimes took me over five minutes to take out a squad of “spiders” – these are the enemies that can only be takien out from behind. This isn’t a gameplay problem. It’s an AI problem because they always have an eye on you, even if you’re behind cover. This passes by more easily if you play co-operatively with a friend, but that just makes a short game go by even faster.

Closing Statement:

Salvation seems to be a victim of time. There’s really isn’t anything here to call it a game. So I’ll have to tell you to pass on buying this title – instead, you should head out and rent it for the achievements or trophies because this game isn’t a long-term commitment. This game feels like a $30 title, and a rushed one at that.

Score: C+

The machines have yet to take over, but that won’t stop the media barrage of Terminator Salvation from continuing it’s onslaught.  Here’s the latest trailer profiling the terrestrial-based mechanized baddies.

“Terminator Salvation is a third person shooter where the player needs to “constantly move, flank, cover and utilize their squad to progress.” The player must battle Skynet enemies from the upcoming film as well as new enemies specifically designed for the game.

The game features a campaign that can be played alone or cooperatively with one other local player via split-screen.”

We all know that John Connor has to save us from the “rise of the machines”, but, sadly, he can’t do it all by himself.  That’s why the President at Halcyon Games, Cos Lazouras, gave us a look at the upcoming Terminator: Salvation video game. 

Expect an in-depth look at the title’s take on a “3D” cover system, teammate cooperation, rail-shooting levels and more.

Terminator: Salvation launches May 19 on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 right before the feature film hits theaters on the 21st.

Ahh… Grin what are you guy up too? Anyway, sometimes when video game/movie tie-ins are created they utilize the voice acting of the actors that are in the films, but that doesn’t seem to be the case with Christian Bale and the upcoming Terminator title.

Terminator Salvation development VP Cos Lazouras told GamePro that Common and Moon Bloodgood’s characters from Salvation will play a prominent role in the video game adaptation and each actor will be lending their voice and likeness. Rose McGowan, who’s not in the film, will also play a character in the game.

But, it seems that Bale, the star of movie in where he plays John Connor, will be a no-show in the game. But, right now we aren’t sure why they aren’t featuring him in the game, but this does come to mind (NSFW).

Note: We don’t mean to offend anyone with the video link it was just a point just joke.