Predator

The Good
Predator is the movie I was somewhat raised on, so I share decent respect for the things connected with the movie. When I brought this home I was hoping for a real thrill of gameplay, however, in the ending it was rather opposite. The last enjoyable element of this is the music, tough it has no real connection with the movie, which is puzzling, because I doubt after playing Journey to Silius that NES isn't capable of creating a similar military music, like we could hear in the movie. Still the music is decent and builds up a somewhat freaky, alien like atmosphere. From the gameplay perhaps the "big mode" which is called that way of the characters being much larger in that mode than in other levels-it's a semi-relaxing portion of classic shooting, something a game inspired by the movie Predator should be, but it's only a part of the bland platformer which this game really is.

The Bad
The first thing is the whole idea. The game starts after Major Dutch's team gets slaughtered by the alien. From then we remember, that there will be the spectacular fight with the Predator and his death, only basically. Than I ask, where did does guerilla's come from allover the jungle? And what are those little critters? Let's move on deeper into the sewer-the gameplay. It consists mostly of jumping, running, and shooting from time to time, with the laser pistol (I don't recall a laser pistol in the movie). Jumping from platform to platform and not sliding down to the pit is indeed a task. It appears that Major's legs are covered with lard, oil or a similar slick substance, as he slides on the ground like it was thick ice. This is especially brilliant when jumping on a small, short platform and sliding down to the endless chasm. It does require practice if You call it that way, but aren't we suppose to go for realism in this type of game? I find this a frustrating bug, not a gameplay element. Let's move on to visuals-the most important character of the game-the hero. I'm asking-why is he dressed so gay? I understand that the authors are limited to several colours when creating a character, but just look at other games to realize how characters can be done, and realize that our individual which we control in this game is dressed in pink pajamas, apparently to attract the attention of the local critters and thugs, perhaps even the predator. In "Big Mode" (the most simplistic of all names) Arnie looks more natural, yes we can recognize him. The character's animations are also truly awful and look very un-natural. Again, if You think they are normal, play a game like Contra or Castlevania to see how robotic and strangely Arnie here moves. The enemies are completely out of place. As I recall Major's team slaughtered the sth american grunts (with the exception of cute Anna) and blew their camp, so I will leave the puzzle of the jungle thugs to You, dear reader. Let's focus on other enemies-they mostly remind of plants, moving rocks (?), birds, in the jungle, plus a plethora of single-cell like organisms in the alien area. The appearance of semi-like bacterias, and polips shooting projectiles leaves me confused-where did that come from, more, what is it? Did Predator bring any alien life forms with him on Earth? I don't think so. But the lack of connection with the movie doesn't end-even the scenario is messed up-believe it or not, in the game Major Dutch finds the hang bodies after his team is slaughtered. Heh. I'll leave that with no comments. The only connection with the movie seems to be Major Dutch, Predator, the messy scenario and the jungle area. I do believe that after getting a license to make a game based on a movie the idea could have been much better executed, plus, if we buy a movie license, let's stick as close as possible to the movie gentlemen. Otherwise, it has no sense.

The Bottom Line
It appears that the authors of this game got the license to use it as a bait for unexpected NES players to attract attention to a lousy game using Schwarzenegger's name and the movie's title. That leaves disappointed not only us-Predator lovers, but also those who played this game. I advised to play different games in the review and I still advise that-play something else to satisfy Your gaming need, but not this. If hungry for some aliens I recommend satisfying Your Predator instinct with another 3 hours of Predator watching-the true one, with some cola and chicken wings. Poor Arnie should be red-faced from shame to the end of his life.