Predator 2

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review Cover Art
Released in 1992 for the Sega Genesis by Arena Entertainment, and developed by Perfect 10 Productions, Predator 2 is a top-down shooter adaptation of the 1990 film of the same name

Predator 2 is a divisive film. Some think it pales in the face of its predecessor. Some think that while it may not be as good as the first film, it is a fun, decent follow-up. A small group think it is even better than the original. I think Predator 2 is...okay. It's definitely not on the level of the first film, but I enjoy its wild, strange, gritty, early 90's energy, its urban jungle themes and setting, and Danny Glover's central performance as the baddest dude in L.A. The film was not a huge hit, so it's a bit strange that Arena Entertainment--a pseudonym for the famous Acclaim Entertainment video game publisher--thought it would be a good idea to release a video game adaptation for it two years later, when movies like Batman Returns and Wayne's World were tearing up the box office. My podcast is covering Predator 2 for its 35th anniversary, so I figured it would be a good time to pick up a copy of the game and give it a spin. Is it worth the cartridge it's housed in?

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review Start Screen
The heat vision view of L.A. in the START menu might be the most film accurate thing in this game

The first thing that stands out with Predator 2 for the Sega Genesis is the sound. As the start screen comes up, a bouncy, sunny, upbeat tune rolls out as if this is a beach volleyball game. I thought the music would get darker once the game began...but it doesn't. It's still strangely upbeat and bouncy. It's not awful music, but it doesn't fit. The sound effects are okay and at least don't stick out as much like a sore thumb. Thankfully, someone at the development studio noticed the music late in the game, and in the later levels, particularly the Predator spaceship, it finally grows creepier and more ambient, though it's definitely not great.

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review Exploding Taxi
The explosions are, though

The next thing that stands out is the gameplay. The film essentially shows the Predator run through (murders) the city's biggest drug lords, cops, and a secret government team, until it finally hits the brick wall that is Danny Glover. While Glover does fight drug lords early in the film, he plays detective for awhile before finally going toe to toe against the Predator. Here, the player, as Glover, or as he's called in the movie, Lieutenant Michael R. Harrigan, must rescue hostages from the drug lords, before the Predators slaughter the hostages. 

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review Rescue Hostages
HELP So many drug lords!

So...not exactly the plot from the film. Basically, from an isometric, top-down view, the player blasts through the game's seven stages, mowing down infinite drug lord foot soldiers who are on foot, on motorcycles, in cars, in helicopters, and they just keep coming. Thankfully, Harrigan's pistol has infinite ammo...and it never has to be reloaded. When enemies are killed, they drop drugs, and the player can collect the drugs for points. Every 50,000 points earns an extra life.  Meanwhile, a Predator is watching and sometimes a target appears on screen. The player must rescue a certain amount of hostages per level. The target will move over the hostages at times, and if the player isn't fast enough, the Predator will blast them into a downpour of eyeballs and viscera. Sometimes, the target aims for the player, and the player will have to keep moving or get blasted as well. 

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review Predator Attacks Hostages
This guy is a JERK!!

The player will have to learn to balance running and gunning, as bad guys really will just keep pouring out of doorways if the player doesn't keep moving. Thankfully, the Predators do eventually show up. Unlike in the majority of the film, there are a ton of Predators hunting Harrigan down in the later levels. They are stronger and have better weapons than the drug lord foot soldiers. Thankfully, the player can collect some decent secondary weapons, like shotguns, grenades, and spear guns throughout the game. These all have limited ammo. Predator 2's control scheme is simple. The A button fires (the player will probably want to hold it down), while holding down B allows the player to strafe. C cycles through secondary weapons. These simple controls work fine . 

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review The Slaughterhouse Level 5 Password
Hey, look, it's a screenshot from the film!

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review The Slaughterhouse
The slaughterhouse! Just like the movie!...sort of.

The graphics are also fine, though not spectacular. Harrigan, the foot soldiers, and Predators are all well-drawn and animated, and the environments are reminiscent of the film, though there aren't very many of them, as the game often repeats itself (you'll be on the streets a lot). Locations like the city streets, the subway, the slaughterhouse, and the Predator ship are all visited. The fog effect in the Predator ship looks okay. The level bosses (not all levels have them) are large (a big truck, a big Predator) and explode really well.

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review Fight Helicopter
Plus, when you blow up enemy helicopters or trucks, they drop SO MANY drugs!!!

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review Subway Fight
The trains are full of drug lord soldiers, though unlike in the film, none of them practice Jamaican Voodoo

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review Truck Boss
A truck boss...I bet this thing is full of drugs! I'm gonna get so many 1-ups!

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review Truck Explosion
What does Harrigan even do with all the drugs? They vanish when he picks them up. Is he...taking them? If so, is that why his gun never runs out of bullets? Is this entire game in his mind?!?!

With all that said, though Predator 2 isn't anything great, it's actually kind of fun. I did not mind the basic "rescue the hostages, blast the bad guys" gameplay. It's very simplistic, and at times feels downright primitive, but it generally works. Each stage but one has its own password, and thankfully, the player starts with a full set of lives (there are no continues) when a password is used. There are extra lives and health strewn across each level. I did enjoy life farming by finding easy spots where I could take out infinite bad guys and earn points, particularly in the final, quite difficult level, the Predator ship (Predators are worth 500 points a piece), though nine is the maximum amount of lives the player can hold. This Predator ship final level is the only one (beside the first, I guess) that doesn't have its own password. The player has to use the password for the previous level and beat it again, then take on The Predator ship. At first, I was angry at this, but it does add just a little time to the play through. The final play through time even after this isn't very long--Predator 2 is the ideal early 90s Blockbuster rental. It is easily beatable in a weekend. 

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review Predator Ship
This ship is full of jerks!!

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review Predator 2 Ship Alien Skull
Also, their skull collection from the film, including the Alien skull, made the game!

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review Predator 2 Bolo Net Attack Predator Ship
Good thing the Predator from the movie couldn't shoot infinite nets at Glover like the multitude of them can in the game...he would have lost!

Predator 2 features three difficulty levels. NORMAL feels just right. For any fan of the film, this Sega Genesis title, while not a must play, is certainly a game of interest, as it is for fans of Sega Genesis action games. I enjoyed it, but I'm glad I paid a Blockbuster price (on EBay), had my weekend, beat the final Predator at the end of Level Seven, watched the credits, and am ready to move on.

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review Predator 2 Predator Holding Up Spin
It's been fun jerks...but why don't you go rip some spines out somewhere else now?

Predator 2 Sega Genesis Review Predator 2 High Scores ACE
Always ACE

Graphics: 7.0/10.0
Sound: 5.5/10.0
Gameplay: 6.2/10.0
Lasting Value: 5.0/10.0
Overall (Not an Average): 6.2/10.0

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