The player takes on the role of Arnold's iconic cyborg as he battles through time to save John Connor from an advanced Terminator sent back to the past.
Gameplay involves isometric shooting, with 10 single-player levels that follow the plot of the third Terminator 3 Rise of the Machines film. Levels are divided into rooms with specific objectives, such as defending or surviving, for each one. The Terminator can use various projectile weapons, explosives, and even punch to take down enemies.
An additional gameplay feature is the ability to activate a unique vision mode, similar to the films' red-tinted Terminator vision, which allows for spotting hidden items or areas and causing extra damage to enemies. Two players can compete in co-op challenges over a link cable, fighting through spawning enemies and bosses in progressive rooms.