|
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?
 |
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.
 |
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.
 |
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.
 |
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
.
 |
Hey, look, it's a screenshot from the film! |
 |
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.
 |
Plus, when you blow up enemy helicopters or trucks, they drop SO MANY drugs!!! |
 |
The trains are full of drug lord soldiers, though unlike in the film, none of them practice Jamaican Voodoo |
 |
A truck boss...I bet this thing is full of drugs! I'm gonna get so many 1-ups! |
 |
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.
 |
This ship is full of jerks!! |
 |
Also, their skull collection from the film, including the Alien skull, made the game! |
 |
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.
 |
It's been fun jerks...but why don't you go rip some spines out somewhere else now? |
 |
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
Comments
Post a Comment