Stripping core ideas from such games as Smash
TV and the above mentioned Bloody Wolf (in the best way possible of course),
Predator 2 puts you into control of a cop taking down a variety of drug pushers
all the while trying to rescue hostages. The Predator himself has a keen eye and is always
homing in on hostages. If you don't beat him to the punch, the hostage explodes in a mess
of blood and body parts. Lose too many hostages and it's game over. You'll also
(obviously) have to avoid the watching eye of the alien and gunfire from the endless
supply of gang members.
Presented in a 3/4 view, Predator 2 isn't the prettiest game on the planet, but the backgrounds save the day. The drab colors serve to heighten the sense of peril and the slaughterhouse stage is downright disturbing. The variety of enemies is limited, but they won't last long enough to worry about that. The control is decent, but the special weapons that are found lying around cannot be strafed with since they can only be fired with the A button. Only the standard issue gun provides this feature with the B button. C only serves to switch weapons. It's a serviceable scheme, and one of minor mistakes dragging this one down a few points.
Seven stages in total make up the game, starting in the streets
and then making your way into the heart of the aliens ship. On the normal difficulty, most
players will have some trouble after stage four when things really heat up. Extra lives
are plentiful, though avoiding all the enemy gunfire will require patience and precision
D-pad work. If it's too much, the easy mode should provide little trouble. The sound
rarely heats up in any of these stages however, and the music is drowned out by the insane
amount of gunfire.
Though you may not have heard of it in discussions about classic Genesis games, rest assured you'll get a quality experience from Predator 2. If you've ever felt the pressure in Smash TV or the classic Robotron, you'll feel even more at home here. Action games rarely reach this pinnacle and the only thing that may distract players is the awkward control scheme.
Tip: The final Predator is an idiot. Go to his right side so your feet are JUST below his. Press up against him as far as you can. Start firing. You'll take one or two hits max before he falls in agony.
