Now that is just plain cool. I got the new reissue of the famous T2 Arcade game from Arcade1Up company. I got this awesomeness as a surprise gift from my wife, after she heard me debating whether to get it or not! She came home with it, saying I won't have to wonder anymore. Isn't that great?
Arcade1Up is a company that reissues arcade games, with slightly modified cabinets, but untouched original games in them. They just came up with the reissue of the famous T2 Arcade game, and, despite a larger price tag of around $700, many fans are tempted to crack their piggy banks and take this beauty home.
The reason I called the T2 Arcade game famous, is because it is considered the best game based on Terminator 2: Judgment Day by far, and was a massive success back when it came out, eventually getting translated into other game systems so that fans and gamers can enjoy it at home. This Arcade machine can often be found in the hands of Arcade collectors. The game at the time was one of the first to use real videos/photos in the game, but most importantly, the makers of the game where on the set of the actual film, taking photos and videos of sets and props for the actual use in the game! Some of the magazines from the time noticed their presence on the set. They had access to everything
They also shot all new footage of some of the principle actors for the game. Arnold Schwarzenegger did participate in the game by giving it his voice with newly recorded lines (a first time a celebrity voiced a video game), but, contrary to the popular belief, it isn't really him we see in the game, but instead it's actually his stunt double Peter Kent in Stan Winston's makeup that made him resemble Arnold for the stunt sequences in the film.
Eddie Furlong had shot new footage for the game, as did Robert Patrick who also lent his voice and was very enthusiastic about the project. Unfortunately Linda Hamilton wasn't participating either and also had her stuntwoman, Debbie Evans, record the footage for the game. You really can't tell the difference. For years I was sure it was Linda! All that can be found on the fantastic Making Of video which is included in the Arcade machine
Because of their close ties with the movie, Midway’s T2 Arcade is full of details like no other movie-based game of its time. For example, if you check the Cyberdyne level, you can even spot the inflatable dinosaur seen in the background in some scenes,
The lab workers wear the same clothing, the actual sets are literally photographed and pasted into the game.
Compare the angled lines on the windows, and even the props such as explosive barrels with the game screenshot above.
There are even little easter eggs, like promotional T2 Subway cups on some of the Cyberdyne workstations.
Stan Winston Studios supplied the game team with their various T-1000 puppets and hook hands, and the Fantasy II studio gave access to the HK miniatures from the film, so the actual movie props appear in the game
And lots of designs are taken from T2 department as well, such as the Time Displacement Equipment or the unused Silverfish machines
The machine itself; I did see the original Arcade machine many times because it was in the lobby of a place I used to work in as a teenager. The cabinet itself and the game I just love, and I play it until my legs or back are forcing me to take a break. And it isn't a nostalgia trip. I know about 80% of people who own it have it either because it was one of the arcades they loved as kids or they are Arcade collectors, but there just isn't a nostalgia factor for me because growing up in Europe at the time I didn't even know it existed until I think early 2000s. I just love that it's such a snapshot of the time and such a cool relict from the time when T2 was new and one of the biggest hits ever. And I really like that game. I love the graphics and the gameplay is just so much fun especially if you're Jim Cameron/Terminator fan. I'm not particularly into arcades, video games or replicas/reissues, so I'm not going to compare transfers, controls, cabinet alterations. This game is just pure fun
Literally I have no criticism about this reissue, other than the incorrect T2 logo on the cabinet. I was originally worried it will take too much space, that maybe the monitor is too small, or that maybe the height of it should be different, but now I see none of those should have been any of my concern. I love it. Ok, my back had enough break, back to gaming
