Take a beloved 80s sci-fi movie with one of the sliver screens most iconic monsters. Build an asymmetric multiplayer around it. Cook up a story that drops you and three mates into the meat grinder and you get Predator: Hunting Grounds.
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Predator: Hunting Grounds was developed by IIIFonic, who have experience not only with asymmetric multiplayer games, but also 80s movie licenses. Friday the 13th, Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed and Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Game all came from this house.
Second Round
Predator: Hunting Grounds may ring a bell. The game saw action on the PS4 back in 2020, but was greeted with mixed reviews at the time. However, this rough diamond grew a fair-sized player base. Now, in 2024 the game has finally dropped on Xbox Series S|X as well as PS5.
This is a game of two halves. You get to play as the big bad, or as a member of a four-man spec-ops team who have been sent to get a job done. But, soon find the four-man squad find out they’ve been set up. On paper, this should be a smash, but in reality, it falls short of capturing what fans of the franchise would hope.
The job of the spec-ops team, you and three mates, is to hit a set number of goals after being dropped into a random South American jungle.
You’ll search for files or place spying kits while fighting the thickest AI enemies I’ve seen in a game for a while. All before getting to the chopper. Easy.
Well, no. Another player is playing as the Predator and their goal is super simple. Hunt down and take out the team. And just like the silver screen version, he’s packing all his toys and tricks.
Hunter Being Hunted
While the Predator should be the role everyone is fighting over, you never feel as powerful as you should. Your best kit is locked behind levelling up, which means the first few hunts are a bit of a grind.
It’s too easy for the spec-ops team to track you down. And more often than not, the hunter is very much the hunted when you’re a low-level Predator.
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What should be the ultimate game of cat and mouse, falls flat. These mice are packing assault rifles and when a team stays together, the Predator doesn’t stand a chance. Unless he is at a higher level and has all the toys, like the net launcher, spear and throwing disc.
Once the Predator is downed the game can go in a number of ways. The team can capture the body, starting a horde mode against the dumb AI. Though if you’re too slow when putting old crab face down, the Predator can set off his nuke. This gives you two option – run or stick around and try to defuse it.
But I’ve never seen the nuke successfully defused. You have to punch in a random code of symbols, which on the controller is really hard to cycle through in the extremely limited time window.
Jungle Grind
The more you play, the more toys you’ll unlock for both sides. This helps to keep the arsenals fresh and something to work towards, as well as banking credits to open in-game loot boxes, that will reward you with new outfits, masks and camos for your weapons.
Predator: Hunting Grounds nails the movie vibe. How the Predators look and the soundtrack are particularly on point. The Predators bring the jungle to life, leaving the spec ops team filled with tension and fear of what’s coming next.
However, the spec ops team are more like CIA pencil pushers with only a few nods to the movie in their ranks. There is a strong core idea here, but the fact is the game still needs a bit of re-balancing still is shocking. While a well-levelled Predator will always be top of the food chain, getting there is a steep climb.
Predator: Hunting Grounds is better than its PS4 outing, no doubt, but, it’s still rough around the edges. The game badly needs re-balancing to level the playing field. If you grab three mates and a few beers, you’re going to have a fun night, but beyond that, it is a bit limited.