Since the film hit cinemas everywhere in the 80s, Predator has been an enduring game franchise--and the battle for survival is now captured on your mobile device in a new game from Indiagames, where you take on the role of the head of a pack of Predators and revel in the glory of being the first to take part in the human hunt. Predator isn't the most original action game ever made, but its interesting level designs and stealthy gameplay make it a better-than-average play.
Predator is a side-scrolling platform game. The aim is simply to work your way through progressively complex levels, killing as many marines as possible and claiming their spinal columns as trophies. To ensure efficient disposal of the marine fodder, your Predator can make use of three different weapons. In close quarters, he can use his claws to hack his opponent to the ground, and your proximity to the resulting corpse will make trophy-gathering that much easier. There are times, however, when the trophy must take a backseat to survival. In those cases, the Predator has a couple of long-range weapons at his disposal: throwing discs, which can take out several enemies in a row, and the infamous plasma cannon, which automatically searches out and locks onto the nearest enemy or harmful object.
Ammunition and health are closely guarded commodities in this game. Exclusive use of the plasma cannon or discs will make light work of your enemies, but your spree will be short-lived. Although the bullets from enemy rifles aren't very harmful, they are damaging enough to bring you down before you get close enough to finish them off by hand. In these life or death situations, your Predator can utilize the most precious weapon he has: invisibility. This power should be used sparingly, as it drains very quickly; but in some situations it's the best way to ensure survival or claim a trophy kill with style. Invisibility is particularly useful when facing off against automated weaponry like cannons, or in target-rich environments where you need to find some room for maneuvering. The biggest challenge in Predator is planning ahead sufficiently. You must figure out what the best tools are for the current situation, and ration them carefully to ensure that you have a strong chance of survival.
The game's animation is on the jumpy side and it is somewhat lethargic in terms of speed, but these problems don't obstruct the fun of the stalking process. A successful trophy-gathering session is one example of how the game rewards you for careful, reasoned play. You're treated to a simple but pleasing animation of your Predator performing some impromptu chiropractics on his victim, complete with ripping noises. It's a little twisted, but it adds to the authentic feel of the title. The trophy element lends a sense of achievement to your progress, and it adds to the game's replay value.
From an audiovisual standpoint, Predator successfully makes you feel like you're part of the movie. The opening 20th Century Fox logo is closely followed by a cool black-and-white image of a Predator. Once in the game, large, detailed sprites inhabit a visually impressive world of distant forest and cold military buildings. Unfortunately, the effect of the graphics is tarnished somewhat by the game's slow frame rate, which is noticeable on Nokia Series 60 phones. Predator also features an unapologetic soundtrack of explosive noises for the in-game action, as well as serviceable beeps and boops for the menus. The sound design won't win any awards, but it is functional and doesn't detract from the game.
The game doesn't feature much in the way of options, but the key layout customization is much appreciated. This important (and all too often omitted) feature adds a lot to the game's playability. The inclusion of a short tutorial also ensures that even novice hunters can get under way quickly.
Predator does a good job of blending decent audiovisual elements and several neat puzzles and weapons into what is otherwise a straightforward action game. Indiagames has come up with a very solid game--and the experience is long enough and varied enough to keep most action gamers coming back for more.
