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Hollywood's visions of the future never hold much hope for the human race. Dark, dismal and horrifically corrupt cities have potential only for the warped and unjust. These pessimistic predictions mark superb sci-fi movie scripts - who could forget the sinister settings in movie classics Blade Runner, Escape From New York, Hardware and, of course, the effect-laden Terminator 2?

The Commodore interpretation of the famed movie consists of nine levels and four differing game styles. The first is a beat-'em-up confrontation, with chunky Arnold swapping punches with the T-1000. You have several 'punch' and 'kick' tactics with which to thwack the evil metallic one until his energy runs dry. This gamestyle is repeated on levels Five and Eight. Level Two sits the Terminator, and John Connor on a rugged Harley Davidson, pelting up a vertically scrolling storm drain with the T-1000 (complete with juggernaut) hot on their heels. Only by avoiding all roadside objects and reaching a low-level bridge can you elude the ardent artic. A later level boasts highly similar gameplay, but with Arnie and company dodging a helicopter while driving a security van - plus ca change! Made of metal though he is, the Terminator can only take so much damage, so watch your energy bar.

In parts three and six, you must repair Arnold's now-battered body. This is achieved by reconstructing the 'ard one's face and wrist to its original form via a couple of neat little puzzle games. Played against the clock, the bigger percentage of puzzle solved, the higher your energy bar's increased.

Mental Institutions are like maximum security prisons, and in level four poor Sarah Connor has the daunting task of escaping from one, armed with just a broomstick! Only by locating the correct route from the maze of lifts and doors (and beating up the prowling doctors) can you break free. Part seven is similar, but has Arnold pegging around Cyberdyne Laboratories armed with an Uzi and taking on a large SWAT team.

Surviving all nine levels is essential. If you fail in your bid to stop the T-1000. There'll be no-one to mash the metal muthas into the ground after the impending apocalypse, but then I'm sure you've all seen the film and know all this anyway.

The presentation of T2 is very commendable. The introduction and between-level screens are excellent, being both atmospheric and graphically sound. It's always pleasing to see an entire game formed of varied levels, but it's also kind of risky as in most cases some levels are great while others leave a lot to be desired. This syndrome applies to T2, except none of the levels are up to much, the beat-'em-up screens are well below par with only a simple selection of moves on offer, and the driving scenes are appalling.

In the film the T-1000 could stretch and mutate his limbs, but this is virtually ignored in the game. I thought this idea had lots of potential, but obviously the programmers didn't think the accuracy of the conversion was of any importance.

The graphics look nothing like their movie counterparts, especially Sarah Connor - where's the girl's nose?

The scrolling road levels require no skill; just memorise the course layout so you don't crash. The puzzle sections are good, but only to a few goes - you soon adopt an apathetic attitude toward gaining energy, and the real terminator of play is the supply of lives. Just one.

Yes, only one life throughout, with no continues, no credits, nothing. It is was easier it would help, but days of practice are needed to get past level two alone, and dying after completing a tough section is nothing short of frustrating.

It's worth your attention, but its difficulty makes it a 'load it or leave it' game. 67%

Am I the only one in the world who thought T2 (the movie) was a bit of a let-down? The first film blew it out of the water!

Equally well-received at the time was Ocean's computer interpretation, but again I can't quite see why. Okay, so the presentation's outstanding, but the game sections are uniformly unimpressive.

The mix of maze, racing, puzzle and beat-'em-up elements is a good one, but none have been implemented to anywhere near the fullest. At full price, T2 was far too dear for what it offered, but it did well on the strength of the licence.

"I'll be back!" screamed the packaging, and now it is - on budget release. With the kerfuffle generated by the film having died down, however, it struggles to find favour as a standalone game.

Not dire, just not very good.

Presentation 87%
Beautiful intro and between-level shots.

Graphics 60%
Don't expect any stunning film visuals.

Sound 59%
Music's a hum and the fx are plain humdrum.

Hookability 69%
Addictive until you encounter a tricky bit.

Lastability 67%
"I'll be back," screams Arnie. I doubt it...

Overall 64%