The Predator has always resonated as the ultimate alien killing machine and feared super-soldier, and for the longest time, we die-hard fans have forever desired the opportunity to interactively live out this fictional reality. While there have been attempts to offer said experience, developer Illfonic’s latest creation is certainly the most promising for the illustrious franchise, yet while the superficial assets of Predator Hunting Grounds does put a smile on our face, the core of this affair is unfortunately hampered by an inattentive design approach.
Predator: HG is an asymmetric multiplayer experience throwing players in the boots of a four-man Fireteam or the ultimate killer, The Predator. While there have been plenty of movies associated with the Predator lore, Predator Hunting Ground takes more of an original approach, relying heavily on the nostalgia of the 1987 franchise movie debut. In this way, all of the games sights and sounds are more than appreciated.
Though the game is not a visual showpiece, you will not mind what is on display as the ambient sounds of the jungle coupled with the Predator’s distinct sound ques, aggressive traversal system, jungle chatter, and so on are perfectly implemented. There is something truly intoxicating about being perched in a tree in cloak mode while surveying the jungle gym of potential skull trophies.
What is on showcase initially oozes with what seems like the ultimate Predator experience. However, the more you tackle the experience whether playing as the Fireteam or the Predator, the games limited content and frustrating mechanics – more so on the side of the Predator will leave you wanting.
As an overview, Predator: HG out of the gate introduces an aesthetically bare-bones UI, featuring options such as quickplay, private match, a tutorial, customization, field lockers, as well as extras and more options. Seemingly more than enough options to build upon. Players can also create a party allowing friends to join matches.
Out of the gate, matches are presented with players having to choose a side, and at the moment there is a brutal time constraint associated with selecting the Predator or the random selection option. In all fairness to the Fireteam option, wait times are far more bearable. For those of you eager to learn the combative ways of the Predator, however, you will be sorely disappointed at just how long the play session wait times are. From four minutes, to as long as fifteen minutes from our experience, playing as the star of the show starts off on a bad foot even before the match begins.
Playing as the Fireteam players are given mission objectives ranging from retrieving valuable intel, taking out high-value targets, as well as maintaining control of critical checkpoints, all within the games three jungle-themed maps. Yes, you heard that correctly, only three maps are making up this experience at the moment. For the Fireteam, it is all about getting the objective completed as efficiently as possible while taking out AI-controlled enemies before eventually calling the helicopter to be evacuated out. Along the way, and as expected the Fireteam will inevitably run into the great hunter, and staying nearby each member of your Fireteam is critical to your survival, as the Predator is nearly impossible to withstand in a one on one confrontation.
While the game can be fun while playing as a member of the Fireteam, if you want a real challenge, playing as the Predator is where it’s at. Please don’t get me wrong, Fireteam gameplay is fun with responsive engagements, feeling similar to that of your typical solid FPS multiplayer shooter. Unfortunately, the enemy AI is far from intelligent and ultimately operates more or less as a distraction for the Predator.
Playing as the Predator is where this experience shines, or at least it tries to. The Predator is an athletic juggernaut possessing great speed, strength, and incredible leaping ability, allowing you to quickly cover great distances as you pursue or retreat from your prey.
Predator HG maintains an overall collective Fireteam/Predator leveling system rewarding players with a higher ranking after each match, thus enabling players to acquire better loadouts with weapons, gear, cosmetics, and so on. For the Fireteam, the improved gear and weapons are pretty standard and similar to other shooters. For the Predator, it is a completely different ball game.
The Predator’s gadgets and gear are of course of alien origin, making for exciting anticipation of usage. From the Elder Sword, Capture Net, handheld Plasma Caster, and spear, to all of the cool tactical gadgets and perk abilities, our anticipation to utilize all of these tools kept us coming back for more to level up and unlock as much as possible. Also, players are introduced to Field Lockers, which offer randomly selected gear cosmetics to spice up the experience.
Initially the Predator possesses his or her classic heat-sensing bio mask, impressive cloaking ability, devastating shoulder-mounted blaster, wristblades, healing syringe, and wrist computer supporting a devastating nuke. You would think this would be more than enough to take out a Fireteam, especially with the Predators superhero-like dexterity, however not quite.
After an entertaining and brief cinematic cut-scene players are thrown into a straightforward gameplay approach, which for most matches could last for ten minutes, depending on whether you have taken out the Predator or as the Predator taking out the Fireteam or nuking the match with hopes of taking out the remaining Fireteam members.
Early on the combative exchange between a Fireteam and the Predator feels quite advantageous for the Fireteam, especially if teammates stay together near one another. While I did manage to take out an entire Fireteam as the Predator on several occasions and let me tell you, the feeling is wonderful, this was far few and between with a ton of luck. My approach was simple, quickly jump in on a Fireteam member who seemed separated from the pack and quickly unleash a barrage of blows before collecting my trophy.
In all cases, I was eventually forced to retreat for the tree as the remaining Fireteam members would lay down tons of suppression fire. If attempting to take this same approach with a full Fireteam the Predator has no chance. In fact, in most cases as the Predator, you are at the disadvantage when trying to engage a Fireteam. This balancing act does seem quite imbalanced. Adding to this frustration, gear such as the capture net can seem utterly useless as you must be close for effective usage, and even when you have captured an enemy they can quickly escape it or hop around while captured. It would have been great if the net operated more like Spiderman’s webbing, pinning enemies to walls or the ground as was the case in the Predator movies.
Also, whether using your sword or claws, Fireteam members can take an incredible amount of punishment before finally going down, making the Predator’s job even harder. Even when you have leveled up with the acquisition of new weapons as the Predator, this balancing act stays relatively the same throughout. Despite playing countless matches to level up my Predator characters, as well as being super styled out with most of the games Predator cosmetic options, as the Predator I continue to find myself inevitably in a bloody green mess fleeing from the enemy in hopes of finding a hiding spot to heal up to re-engage.
I completely understand that developer Illfonic needed to find the best balancing act to make for a fun affair for both the Predator and the Fireteam, however, at the moment the scales are quite uneven. Adding to this fact that there are only three playable maps locales with not much else under the hood, this latest Predator experience can quickly become repetitive.
It certainly would have been a wonderful bonus touch if both the Fireteam and especially the Predator maintain a firing range or an obstacle course where the Predator could practice using his or her tools.
At the moment, there are certainly occasions while playing Predator: HG which offer fun engagements, yet, the brutal matchmaking with its long wait times, frustrating and imbalanced Predator engagements and often ineffective weapons and gear, as well as clumsy and unintelligent enemy AI and limited maps grossly overshadow an otherwise valiant Predator experience.
Interestingly, despite all of these concerns, I find myself once again eager to begin another match with hopes of living the dream as the ultimate hunter. At its core Predator: HG can be great, we just hope developer Illfonic can make the necessary adjustments the game deserves.