The story follows John Connor, a young man who is destined to become the leader of humanity's fight against machines. A rogue Terminator, sent back in time, has been created with the intention of killing Connor and preventing him from becoming the future leader of the human resistance. The player takes on the role of this human-terminator hybrid, tasked with protecting Connor and completing various objectives to prevent a catastrophic war.
Gameplay revolves around action-packed combat sequences and puzzle-solving. Players control their character as they navigate through levels, fighting against enemy Terminators and avoiding obstacles. The game features a variety of melee attacks and explosive moves that can be used to take down enemies. Additionally, players must use strategic thinking to overcome environmental puzzles and unlock new paths.
Terminator 3 Rise of the Machines was released on the Playstation 2 console on November 24, 2003.