{"id":1808,"date":"2020-05-11T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T06:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-predator-hunting-grounds\/"},"modified":"2025-06-16T19:18:37","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T17:18:37","slug":"review-predator-hunting-grounds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-predator-hunting-grounds\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Predator \u2013 Hunting Grounds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As I mentioned in my review of the latest film in the franchise, The Predator<\/a>, I am a fan of the original Predator<\/strong> films, particularly the first (starring Arnold Schwarzenegger<\/strong>, originally released in Sweden as Rovdjuret<\/strong>). It remains a highly enjoyable action film, packed with memorable one-liners and intense, sudden action. Consequently, Predator Hunting Grounds<\/strong> immediately piqued my interest, as its gameplay appeared to emulate the atmosphere of the initial movie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Predator<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Around 33 years ago, I played an earlier Predator game<\/a> on my Atari 1040STE<\/strong>, and recall its significant difficulty when confronting the Predator. In Predator Hunting Grounds<\/em>, players can select to be either the hunter or the hunted. Given the game’s online-only nature, expect a waiting period when opting to play as the Predator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each game round offers three choices: playing as a soldier, the Predator, or a random selection. Matches accommodate up to five players, with four assuming the role of soldiers and one as the Predator<\/strong>. When playing as a soldier, players undertake missions and engage NPCs, consistent with standard gameplay. The arrival of the Predator significantly increases the challenge. The Predator’s high damage resistance, coupled with the four-versus-one dynamic, makes it difficult to eliminate the Predator before unlocking weapon upgrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Predator<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During my playtime, the wait time to play as a soldier averaged around 50 seconds, whereas playing as the Predator extended to 10-15 minutes. Once in control of the Predator, you have 15 minutes to eliminate the opposing players. Distinguishing between player-controlled characters and NPCs can be difficult, necessitating the elimination of all moving targets. The game features brutal and visceral violence; echoing the films, players can extract the skulls and spines of their victims as trophies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Predator<\/a>
Expect potentially long wait times when selecting to play as the Predator.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Control schemes differ significantly between the Predator and soldier roles. The Predator can utilize the treetops for movement, activate cloaking, and execute long-distance leaps. The developers’ attention to detail regarding the source material is evident in these mechanics. Playing as a soldier presents a more conventional FPS experience, though one can utilize mud to temporarily obscure themselves from the Predator’s vision. Consistent with other titles in the genre, Predator Hunting Grounds<\/em> provides extensive weapon customization, equipment upgrades, and character appearance options. New items can be unlocked for both soldiers and the Predator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Predator<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The music, sound design, and visuals faithfully recreate the atmosphere of the films, enhancing the experience of confronting the Predator. The graphics are well-detailed, though the game suffers from certain visual artifacts. Specifically, textures occasionally load improperly, resulting in a “pop-in” effect that detracts from the experience, which feels dated for a new release. Furthermore, the absence of a dedicated Single player<\/strong> campaign with a narrative is a significant drawback. Like many exclusively online titles, repetitive gameplay with unfamiliar players can become monotonous, reducing the game to a mere distraction akin to Candy Crush<\/strong>, rather than an immersive, story-driven experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Predator<\/a>
Expect some clever Trophies.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In conclusion, Predator: Hunting Grounds<\/em> provides an enjoyable, albeit temporary, diversion. It is a well-crafted and visually appealing title, yet it suffers from certain shortcomings. The inclusion of a single-player mode could have elevated this game significantly. As it stands, it remains a fleetingly engaging experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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