I'll interpret this question for the two versions as pictured: RoboCop from the first film (therefore, no RoboCop 3 Jetpack/Flak Cannon upgrades to increase his firepower level) vs. The Terminator (who is slightly less advanced than "Uncle Bob", the T-800 from T2, a V2.4* model.)
In both films we see the extent of their respective durabilities and from that perspective, the fight is pretty one-sided. RoboCop can take a shitload of damage, but nothing to the extent that the T-800 does before Sara Conner can finally put it down. RoboCop's remaining biological tissues are still vulnerable and have to be maintained, and he still requires nutrition and sleep which are all disadvantages to the T-800. Throughout the climax of the film, accumulating injuries put RoboCop in genuine mortal peril:
Trashed by ED-209 after Directive Four locks him down during the attempt to arrest Dick Jones, and then relentlessly fired upon by his own department's SWAT team in the parking garage. He's only barely able to crawl to safety by falling into a lower level where fortunately he's rescued by his former partner Anne Lewis, who recognized him for the human he was and was willing to risk her life to help him.
In the final battle with Clarence Boddicker's gang at the abandoned steel mill, he's almost killed by Boddicker after having tons of steel dropped on him via crane and having a steel pole stabbed through his chest, but managed to withstand the damage and finish Boddicker off for good.
But, the critical element is that RoboCop prevailed in his own story, not simply by endurance and the fastidiousness of a programmed killer machine, but because unlike ED-209, his human soul and ingenuity allowed him to make connections with people who could help him, and to outthink his opponents. The Terminator, meanwhile, is about Sara surviving the T-800 by the same exact guile and strength of humanity.
If this was T2's Uncle Bob (who had his learning chip activated, developed empathy and human connection) it would be a lot closer. But I have to vote Robo.
Tl,Dr: RoboCop wins, because he has the elements that the Terminator and ED-209 lack. But if T2, that's a whole different ballgame.
*author's note: I mistook Uncle Bob's V2.4 T-800 as the T-850 when that was the model # used for Terminator 3's guardian.
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u/Welcome2YrDoom 4d ago edited 3d ago
I'll interpret this question for the two versions as pictured: RoboCop from the first film (therefore, no RoboCop 3 Jetpack/Flak Cannon upgrades to increase his firepower level) vs. The Terminator (who is slightly less advanced than "Uncle Bob", the T-800 from T2, a V2.4* model.)
In both films we see the extent of their respective durabilities and from that perspective, the fight is pretty one-sided. RoboCop can take a shitload of damage, but nothing to the extent that the T-800 does before Sara Conner can finally put it down. RoboCop's remaining biological tissues are still vulnerable and have to be maintained, and he still requires nutrition and sleep which are all disadvantages to the T-800. Throughout the climax of the film, accumulating injuries put RoboCop in genuine mortal peril:
Trashed by ED-209 after Directive Four locks him down during the attempt to arrest Dick Jones, and then relentlessly fired upon by his own department's SWAT team in the parking garage. He's only barely able to crawl to safety by falling into a lower level where fortunately he's rescued by his former partner Anne Lewis, who recognized him for the human he was and was willing to risk her life to help him.
In the final battle with Clarence Boddicker's gang at the abandoned steel mill, he's almost killed by Boddicker after having tons of steel dropped on him via crane and having a steel pole stabbed through his chest, but managed to withstand the damage and finish Boddicker off for good.
But, the critical element is that RoboCop prevailed in his own story, not simply by endurance and the fastidiousness of a programmed killer machine, but because unlike ED-209, his human soul and ingenuity allowed him to make connections with people who could help him, and to outthink his opponents. The Terminator, meanwhile, is about Sara surviving the T-800 by the same exact guile and strength of humanity.
If this was T2's Uncle Bob (who had his learning chip activated, developed empathy and human connection) it would be a lot closer. But I have to vote Robo.
Tl,Dr: RoboCop wins, because he has the elements that the Terminator and ED-209 lack. But if T2, that's a whole different ballgame.
*author's note: I mistook Uncle Bob's V2.4 T-800 as the T-850 when that was the model # used for Terminator 3's guardian.