Predator

About

Predator splits its action between two distinct gameplay styles. Jungle Mode tasks you with surviving jungle hazards while blasting enemies with machine guns, lasers, and grenades. Each stage ends by entering a cave, sometimes warping you ahead. After a few levels, Big Mode kicks in: an auto-scrolling shooter where you dodge colored spheres, collect power-ups, and fight a boss Predator before advancing. The NES version gives infinite ammo but limits you to one weapon per level. Japanese and Western releases vary in level order and starting mode, adding regional quirks to the formula. The game’s blend of platforming and shoot-'em-up elements stands out, especially the escalating tension during Predator confrontations. With 30 stages and a map screen in the MSX2 version, there's enough content to test patience. While not a technical marvel, its straightforward action and relic status as an 8-bit tie-in to the 1987 film keep it niche but functional for retro fans.

Storyline

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.