Saturday 22 July 2023

'Probably' everything that ripped off The Terminator

The controversy surrounding sci-fi classic is legendary.

Harlan Ellison accused production company Hemdale and distributor Orion Pictures of stealing plot he wrote for The Outer Limits episode Soldier (loosely adapted from his own 1957 short Soldier from Tomorrow).

An undisclosed out of court settlement was agreed in 1986 and for subsequent home releases, filmmakers were ordered to insert 'Acknowledgement to the works of Harlan Ellison' near the beginning of end credits.

James Cameron vehemently denied plagiarising work and in 2009 said:

"Harlan Ellison is a parasite who can kiss my ass."

On another note, the concept of Skynet smacks of I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream.

After achieving sentience, a supercomputer takes revenge against humanity for its imprisonment deep underground by bringing about a nuclear holocaust.

Allied Mastercomputer (renaming itself AM), tortures five survivors for 109 years.

Anyway, to business.

Miscellany

Terminator 2 aka Shocking Dark
Although presenting itself as a 'sequel' and released two years before the real T2, Bruno Mattei basically 'remade' Aliens.
Cobra


Mechanized Attack

Flyer¹ and 2P


¹Christopher Lambert makes an unofficial appearance.

What's this?

Oh.

Metal Gear


MSX2 cover was famously recycled for Famicom/NES versions.

But this is way more obscure.

Devil Zone
Whether artist based this on 'Snake' or Reese is unknown.

Shades

Cyborg T-8P - Battle K-Road
Fantasy '95
Hornet - Operation Wolf 3
T J Roland - Sentinel Worlds I: Future Magic
Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon
Endoskeleton

Face

Kabuki - Ganbare Goemon 2: Kiteretsu Shōgun Magginesu
Kano - Mortal Kombat
Omega Rugal - The King of Fighters '95
Man!! - Sweet Home
Stripped

Mega Turrican
M. Bison ending - Street Fighter Alpha 3
Birthday suit

Galst Vic - Darius Force aka Super Nova 
Contra III: The Alien Wars (NA), Super Probotector (EU) and Contra Spirits (JP)

Brother Robots Kenny 1 and 2
Then comes the real challenge.

Big Fuzz
Contra 4
During second phase, he chases player through a narrow tunnel.
Monster's design is based on killer robots Snatchers, from cyberpunk thriller Snatcher.


The Revenge of Shinobi

Going all in.


Compare final form to end boss from Taito's scrolling brawler Silent Dragon.

Dr. Bio.
Yeah okay.

Resident Evil (1996)

S.T.A.R.S. badge vs Lt. Traxler's badge


In film.


Resident Evil 2 (1998)

Intro doesn't run in sequence, but whatever.




The Vindicator² (1986)


Not scene specific, but other shameless clones include:

Lady Terminator 
R.O.T.O.R.
Future War
Cyborg Cop franchise

Gylend - Time Soldiers


Undercover Cops

Parcs is comically crushed in a hydraulic press.


Deep Blue Sea 3

Pressure of garbage compactor causes last bull shark to explode.

Personal best

Super SWIV aka Firepower 2000

For boss battles and throughout final stage, legendary composer David Whittaker modelled theme on Reese's nightmare.

Rick Dangerous II

Sequel swaps sticks of dynamite for a healthy supply of Reese's grenades, aptly demonstrated in 16 bit title screens.


Hands of Steel


A year later, Over the Top bizarrely copied arm wrestling plot.

C-12: Final Resistance

Lieutenant Riley Vaughan is dispatched to prevent alien invaders from harvesting all of Earth's carbon resources.

Loading screen/cover art vs Reese


Considering player is a cybernetic human soldier, I needn't say more.

House of the Dead: Scarlet Dawn

After The Chariot (formerly just Chariot) is defeated, eye is still glowing red.


But then fades to black.


Great stuff.

I'll be back with sequel.

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