Last year Atari released at game based on the movie Terminator 3. The game did fairly well at retail, but it wasn't the huge success Atari was banking on. Now, with the money in the bank from the first game, Atari is ready to try their luck a second time, with a slightly different approach that is sure to please old school arcade gamers. After spending some time with Terminator 3: The Redemption, we can hardly wait for the retail release in a late August.

In Terminator 3: The Redemption, you'll play through the events of the movie as Arnold Schwarzenegger's T-101 Terminator. However, the game doesn't quite follow the movie, like Atari's previous Terminator 3 title did. The game opens up with the T-101 invading the base of the Resistance and claiming the life of John Connor. After a quick reprogramming, you're off and ready to take down the evil machines known as Skynet. As you progress through the game, you'll find yourself in present day Los Angeles, but this time Skynet has taken over and it's gunning down humanity. You'll have to battle from present day, al the way back to 2032 in order to save mankind.

Right from the get-go, Redemption will remind you of not only the Terminator movies, but also the classic 90s arcade shooter as well. Once you've been reprogrammed, you follow Kate Brewster and the tech that did the reprogramming through the Resistance base and out into a Skynet assault. In the midst of telling you about some of the complications during the reprogramming, the tech is taken out by body piercing laser from one of the Skynet forces. You're then thrust into a nonstop, action-packed, thrill fest.

Terminator 3: The Redemption is a third person shooter. However, due to its fast-paced action and nonstop enemy threats, it feels very similar to the arcade shooter based on the Terminator 2 license. In fact, soon after taking out some of Skynet's forces, you'll be able to jump into a truck, just like in the arcade game, but this time you have full control over the truck as well as where you're shooting. You'll need to chase down a Skynet baddy, while you run over and gun down other T-101 units. One analog stick controls the truck, while the other controls where you aim. If another T-101 gets too close to the truck, they'll jump on and start to claw at you from the side of the truck. A quick tap of a shoulder button will make Arnold kick the T-101 off the truck, or shoot them off with his shotgun. In addition to a truck, you'll also find many other vehicles and aircraft to take for a joy ride.

One thing to make note of is that Terminator 3: The Redemption not only takes after the old arcade shooter in the action department, it also seems just as difficult, if not more difficult. While running out of ammo hasn't been a problem, there are more Skynet forces than you can shake a mini-gun at, and they just keep on coming. The various aerial forces of Skynet are your main threat, as they'll launch a slew of missiles at you. Just like in the arcade game, you can target and gun them down, but it certainly won't be easy. You'll find various turret and mini-guns littered throughout the levels that will make your job a bit easier for a short while, but this is certainly one tough cookie.

In addition to all of the good in Redemption, there's one minor flaw we've seen in the preview build. Arnold just does not want to shut up. He'll throw out those lame lines from the movie on a more than regular basis. While it's not a huge issue, Arnold needs to either shut it, or say something useful. Hearing lame one-liners every other minute was not the most enjoyable thing. However, drowning Arnold out with the sound of our mini-gun was quite refreshing.

If you're into nonstop running and gunning action, Redemption is a must buy. From what we've played, Terminator 3: The Redemption is the best action game of the summer. The difficulty is definitely up there, but that should please many gamers tired of easy titles. And while Arnold never wants to shut up, it's really the only issue we've seen in the game, and isn't something that takes away from the overall enjoyment of the title. Fans of the Terminator movies will love Redemption, action fans won't be able to put this one down, and old school arcade shooter enthusiasts will also have a blast. We'll have a full review next month.