Predator

Release

Thursday, March 10, 1988

Player score

Awaiting reviews

Platform families

Connected releases

Core game only

Editorial overview

Inside Predator

What it is

Predator for the NES, MSX2 and TRS-80 Color Computer (also known as "Predator: Soon The Hunt Will Begin") is a 2D action game. There are 30 stages in the game, and each one is split up into two modes: Jungle Mode, and Big Mode.

In Jungle Mode, the object of the game is to survive the dangers of the jungle while you shoot down guerillas and wildlife using a variety of weapons including machine guns, laser rays, and grenades (all with unlimited ammo). You exit the stage by entering a cave to proceed to the next level. Sometimes there is more than one cave, and you will be warped to another stage other than the next one, depending on what cave you enter.

After three or so stages, you enter the game's Big Mode. The object here is to blast blue and purple spheres before they have a chance to hurt you. Some spheres have power-ups that will increase your firepower. When you have made some distance, you have to defeat the Predator before you can continue on to the next stage. Big Mode is the same throughout the game, but the only difference here is the Predator's attack pattern.

The premise

Loosely based on the events of the film.

NES The NES version was developed by Pack-In-Video, and is based loosely on the MSX version, even borrowing most of its graphics and music. The player takes on the role of "Dutch" Schaefer and must make it from the beginning to the end of the level. The player starts out with his fists, but can also collect a machine gun, laser gun (the only weapon that can do damage to the Predator), and fragmentation grenades. Unlike the MSX version, the player has infinite ammo for each weapon he carries, but unlike the MSX version, can only carry one weapon at a time. Also unlike the MSX version, the player loses any weapons they carry from the previous level into the next. The laser and grenades can be used to break certain walls and ground. Some levels have two exits, one of which will warp the player ahead several levels. At the end of every few levels, a Predator will appear, which the player must neutralize before proceeding to the next level.

Exclusive to the NES version is the "Big Mode", named after the larger sprites than in the normal action stages. Here, the game takes place in an auto-scrolling environment where the screen scrolls to the right. Dutch must shoot blue and red bubbles to collect weapon powerups, whilst avoiding touching them and getting damaged. At the end of each level, he must fight the Predator in a boss battle to proceed to the next level. These levels also act as checkpoints, as after the player loses all their lives, they may continue from the last Big Mode.

The Japanese version has some gameplay differences from the USA/AUS release. The levels have been either completely redesigned or are in a different order. For example, the Japanese version starts on a Big Mode level, whereas the USA version starts on a normal action stage.

MSX2 The MSX version was developed by Klon and is an action-platformer. The player takes the role of Dutch Schaefer. He can use his fists, a submachine gun, or mines as weapons, with each weapon containing a limited supply of ammunition Every time the player exits a level, a map screen appears, in which they may enter levels adjacent to their current level.