I won’t lie, I was a little disappointed when Predator: Hunting Grounds was a console exclusive to Playstation 4 when it launched. As time passed, I never thought we would see a day when the game would come to fruition on the Xbox platform. Predator 1 and 2 were two of my favourite movies growing up and I have lost count of the amount of times I have watched both. Illfonic are the kingpins of the industry when it comes to blending classic movies into video games; whilst they aren’t always perfect, they are entertaining. After recently playing a lot of Killer Klowns From Outer Space, I was keen to get stuck into another one of Illfonics titles, albeit it almost five years late.

Get To The Choppa!

There are two modes in Predator: Hunting Grounds and primarily it follows a similar formula to plenty of other games Illfonic have crafted. The main mode pits four of you against one predator. Four of you will be tasked with attempting to escape the map but it is easier said than done. You’ll be tasked with certain objectives before the chopper can be called in to whisk you away. Teamwork is key when surviving the Predator as being alone will be an almost certain death when you fight them lone soldier. Death will leave you watching your teammates until you can be redeployed, but this will only happen in certain windows of the match. The intensity of defending the zone where the chopper lands to collect you certainly keeps the adrenaline pumping as the predator desperately tries to slay you.

The second mode is essentially a team deathmatch with 4v4, the first to score several kills wins the game. This is the perfect match if you want to respawn and not play the objective. There is the opportunity for one player to become the predator on either side so it still brings that element of fear. Knowing you’re having firefights with other enemies whilst a predator might be lingering up in the treeline above you, always has you on edge in a good way.

Visuals & Audio

On the surface of the visuals, Predator: Hunting Grounds is looking very dated now, but we have to remember that this launched on Playstation 4 almost five years back. Times have moved on and we are in a completely new generation now and development technology moves quickly in the video games industry as we all know. That said, it still looks decent enough to spend time with and has had some work done to bring it to Xbox. Graphics don’t make a game and when it comes to the gameplay loop, it functions just as well as the more recent Illfonic games such as Killer Klowns and Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed.

I loved the deep customisation options of both the soldiers and the Predator. If you’re someone who loves to unlock cosmetics then there are so many to unlock throughout the game, all achievable with experience and in-game currency through playing. There isn’t a microtransaction in sight you’ll be pleased to know. When it comes to the sound, the soundtrack and music

Final Thoughts

It is nice for Predator: Hunting Grounds to finally see the light of day on the Xbox platform. Illfonic has been wise and opted for the low entry cost of just over £16 for the bog standard edition of the game. The team hasn’t just ported the game across in the hope of a quick buck, either. Overall, the presentation has had a good polish and gloss-over for this new lease of life on the green side of the fence. It was fantastic to see the early crashing issues promptly resolved within a matter of days of launch, I can now report that the game runs like clockwork.

Bearing in mind that the game is four and a half years old at this stage, you have to forgive that it will look a little dated. However, what we essentially have for Xbox is a brand-new FPS for the console, and we always need more. What I adored about Predator: Hunting Grounds is the ability to have fun whether playing alone or with friends online, you can succeed in both scenarios. The intensity of being stalked by whoever is playing as Predator always has you on edge and brings the atmosphere of the movies into the game. For its low-cost entry and an absolute ton to unlock and level up, it is well worth a punt!

Overall
  • 70%
    CX Score - 70%
70%

Summary

Pros

  • Loads of cosmetics to unlock throughout the game
  • Low entry cost on Xbox
  • Great fun with friends to communicate with

 

Cons

  • Visually looks a little dated now
  • Player numbers may be an issue later down the line

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