Arnold Schwarzenegger recently made a Terminator return on October 23rd, 2021 with Contra Returns. Originally Contra Returns was released in 2017 in Asia by Terminator: Dark Fate investors Tencent, via the Tencent owned TiMi Studios in collaboration with Konami. The game is now being brought to the west, and that includes having the 1984 Genisys iteration of the Terminator T-800 character AKA Guardian / Pops as a playable character.
Contra Returns features Team, Challenge, Story, and PvP gameplay modes and it looks like there will be plenty of content and upcoming support for those wanting to invest their time into the game for the long haul.
T-800 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) As A Playable Character + Skins
Play as Arnold Schwarzenegger with the likeness of Guardian from the 2015 movie Terminator Genisys. The 1984 de-aged identity, is the primary skin for the T-800 in Contra Returns and is referred to as “Classic” but he also has two other skins in the form of “Metal Cop” and “AI NET Plunder – Skynet Raider” which is his metal Endoskeleton counterpart. However, in Asia he also has another skin called “Battle Hymn of the Redeemer“, which may follow again as new content for the western version in the future.
Interestingly it looks like Guardian has been reprogrammed by John Connor in this Contra outing. Also AI Net is the new artificially intelligent villain that created T-800 Guardian in this timeline, presumably with SkyNet – you’ll need to pretty much throw any canon continuity with Terminator Genisys out the window, or this could just cause a headache.
“At first glance, this cyborg created by AI NET looks just like any other human being, so he may hide amongst you. However, as he was reprogrammed by the leader of the resistance John Connor, the Terminator has since become the defender of mankind!”
Contra Returns
” “I’ll be back!” – the famous last words of an almost indestructible cyborg killing machine, Terminator.
AND NOW…he is back online with an Electromagnetic Pulse & an Assault Bike, ready to unleash hell!
Reprogrammed to be the defender of Mankind, the first step he has taken is to give back to the Contra Community!”
Contra Returns
Fight the T-900 and Halloween Turkeynator Boss
A new version of the T-900 is a fightable boss in the game, and a boss enemy called ‘Turkeynator‘ is available to battle during a Halloween event.
The T-900 isn’t the one we glimpsed in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines or battled in the Terminator 3 video game. This is definitely a T-900 from one of the many Genisys future timelines manipulated by Alex (SkyNet) judging by that chest plate.
John Connor Also A Playable Character In Terminator Genisys Contra Returns Crossover
In the Chinese version of the game there are far more characters, and John Connor also features as a guest character – though he doesn’t resemble any John Connor that Terminator Fans are familiar with. Maybe it would have made more sense if Jason Clarke‘s John Connor from Terminator Genisys was featured in the game, but instead fans are given the Contra-verse version of the savior of mankind. We aren’t complaining, it’s nice to see John Connor living on in other mediums.
In the western version of Contra Returns John Connor is listed as a playable character, as well as a “Declaration of Resistance – John Connor” ‘Collector’s Skin‘. The Chinese website for Contra Returns also references two other skins “Savior” and “Rebel“, we guess that this content will eventually transition over to the western version of the game in time. Contra Returns’ John kinda reminds us of if Tony Stark had a baby with Raiden from the Metal Gear Solid franchise. We know that isn’t possible but…
Will we be playing Contra Returns? Right now the answer to that question would be a no. The game wants questionable full access and permissions for your device / accounts. There is absolutely no reason for a game to have that level of access and such disregard for players privacy.
Device access includes: files, photos, phonecalls and emails. On Android that would also cover anything on your Google account eg. gmail, your Youtube account etc. It is a shame; as we would have loved to play this Terminator update. If Skydance and Tencent made the game less invasive then we would definitely spend some time on it.
Contra Returns is free on Android and iOS.