This one comes with a disclaimer: I’m specifically talking about the Mega Drive edition of RoboCop vs Terminator. There’s a SNES version, but in typical Nintendo fashion the gore is toned down and, while the visuals are a bit brighter, it just doesn’t carry the same gritty charm. The Mega Drive one is where the real carnage happens.
For those not born into the 80s, here’s a quick recap. RoboCop and Terminator were two of the decade’s most iconic sci-fi action films. You play as Alex Murphy – better known as RoboCop – a Detroit police officer gunned down and resurrected by mega-corporation OCP as a walking tank of law enforcement. His sense of justice survived the transformation, so now it’s metal plating, a jaw of steel, and an arsenal of heavy firepower. When Skynet – the AI menace from Terminator – turns its gaze on humanity, Murphy steps up to defend us from waves of robot invaders.
The story here? Paper-thin. But really, who cares? It’s a mash-up of two juggernauts of 80s cinema. You get nods to both franchises, from the streets of Detroit to Skynet’s ruined future. It’s not subtle, but it doesn’t need to be.
Gameplay-wise, this is a side-scrolling shooter full of grit, gore, and explosions. RoboCop starts with his iconic Auto-9 pistol, which is undeniably cool but feels a bit weak against the sheer volume of enemies. Thankfully, power-ups are plentiful – rocket launchers, flamethrowers, plasma rifles, even ED-209’s heavy cannon – and they add serious punch to your arsenal. You’ll face off against both street thugs and waves of Terminators, each encounter punctuated with flying limbs and gory splatter (a hallmark of the Mega Drive version).
The bosses are another highlight. You’re not just blasting generic robots – you’ll face hulking ED-209s, waves of advanced Terminators, and, eventually, Skynet itself in some pretty epic battles. They’re tough, but that’s part of the appeal.
Presentation is pure early 90s excess. The visuals are gritty, leaning into the Mega Drive’s darker colour palette, which perfectly suits RoboCop’s industrial nightmare setting. The soundtrack is packed with dramatic, synth-heavy tracks that feel straight out of a VHS action flick. The real star, though, is the sound design: those meaty gunshots and explosions make every encounter feel satisfying.
In the end, RoboCop vs Terminator on the Mega Drive is iconic because it captures the essence of both series – violent, stylish, and larger than life. It’s not subtle, it’s not refined, but it’s exactly what you’d want from a crossover of two 80s action titans. If only someone had made a film to match it.