Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Developed by Klon and published by Activision in North America in 1989, Predator is a side-scrolling action-platformer loosely based on the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film. Its bizarre enemies, awkward controls and punishing design make it one of the stranger movie adaptations on the NES. Rating: 3/10.
You play as Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer, who must survive a jungle filled with hostile soldiers, monsters and alien creatures before confronting the Predator. Unfortunately, the game has very little in common with the movie. Instead of tense jungle warfare and an invisible hunter, Dutch spends most of the adventure fighting floating jellyfish, giant amoebas, birds, scorpions and glowing rocks while wearing a bright pink outfit.
The game contains roughly 30 short stages divided between two styles of play. In the regular platforming sections, Dutch runs, jumps and searches for weapons while navigating caves, jungle platforms and bottomless pits. He begins each stage with only his fists, which have almost no range and are nearly useless against most enemies.
Machine guns, grenades and laser rifles can be collected, but weapons usually disappear when a new stage begins. Running out of ammunition or picking up a weaker weapon can leave Dutch defenseless again. Weapon switching is clumsy, and poor hit detection makes it difficult to know whether attacks will connect.
The platforming is even more frustrating. Dutch’s jump feels stiff and floaty, while tiny ledges, awkward slopes and enemies placed near pits make precise movement unreliable. Projectiles frequently appear from beyond the visible screen, and a single collision can knock Dutch into a bottomless gap. Progress often depends on memorizing hazards rather than reacting naturally.
Some stages contain hidden bubbles or portals that move Dutch to different parts of the game. These warps may send him forward, backward or into secret areas, but there is little indication of where they lead. The confusing structure can leave the player unsure whether progress has been made or lost. Dutch can even become trapped without an obvious route forward, which explains why the game includes a command for deliberately losing a life.
Periodically, Predator switches to Big Mode. Dutch becomes a much larger sprite and moves automatically through surreal red-and-black environments while shooting floating spheres and alien objects. These sequences end with battles against enlarged versions of the Predator, including attacks involving claws, plasma shots and flying heads.
Big Mode is visually different from the normal stages, but the action is extremely basic. Movement is limited, scrolling is slow and enemies appear in repetitive patterns. The larger sprites are more recognizable, yet these sections quickly become monotonous.
The Predator appears several times, but the encounters fail to capture the tension of the film. Rather than stalking Dutch through the jungle, the creature behaves like an ordinary platform-game boss, jumping around and firing projectiles. The fights are difficult mainly because of restricted movement and unreliable collision detection.
Visually, the game is a strange mixture of muddy jungle scenery, neon caves and random science-fiction creatures. Some areas have an eerie atmosphere, and the Predator sprites are reasonably detailed, but the overall art direction lacks consistency. The music is surprisingly catchy and is easily the game’s strongest feature, although the short tracks become repetitive across so many similar stages.
Predator replaces suspenseful survival action with awkward platforming, random monsters and dull shooting sections. Unlimited continues make it possible to finish through persistence, but they cannot compensate for the weak combat, unfair hazards and repetitive design.
There is some entertainment in its sheer absurdity, especially the pink version of Dutch and the surreal Big Mode battles. As a game, however, Predator is frustrating and poorly designed. As a movie adaptation, it misses nearly everything that made the original film memorable.
Developed by Klon and published by Activision in North America in 1989, Predator is a side-scrolling action-platformer loosely based on the 1987 Arnold Schwarzenegger film. Its bizarre enemies, awkward controls and punishing design make it one of the stranger movie adaptations on the NES. Rating: 3/10.
You play as Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer, who must survive a jungle filled with hostile soldiers, monsters and alien creatures before confronting the Predator. Unfortunately, the game has very little in common with the movie. Instead of tense jungle warfare and an invisible hunter, Dutch spends most of the adventure fighting floating jellyfish, giant amoebas, birds, scorpions and glowing rocks while wearing a bright pink outfit.
The game contains roughly 30 short stages divided between two styles of play. In the regular platforming sections, Dutch runs, jumps and searches for weapons while navigating caves, jungle platforms and bottomless pits. He begins each stage with only his fists, which have almost no range and are nearly useless against most enemies.
Machine guns, grenades and laser rifles can be collected, but weapons usually disappear when a new stage begins. Running out of ammunition or picking up a weaker weapon can leave Dutch defenseless again. Weapon switching is clumsy, and poor hit detection makes it difficult to know whether attacks will connect.
The platforming is even more frustrating. Dutch’s jump feels stiff and floaty, while tiny ledges, awkward slopes and enemies placed near pits make precise movement unreliable. Projectiles frequently appear from beyond the visible screen, and a single collision can knock Dutch into a bottomless gap. Progress often depends on memorizing hazards rather than reacting naturally.
Some stages contain hidden bubbles or portals that move Dutch to different parts of the game. These warps may send him forward, backward or into secret areas, but there is little indication of where they lead. The confusing structure can leave the player unsure whether progress has been made or lost. Dutch can even become trapped without an obvious route forward, which explains why the game includes a command for deliberately losing a life.
Periodically, Predator switches to Big Mode. Dutch becomes a much larger sprite and moves automatically through surreal red-and-black environments while shooting floating spheres and alien objects. These sequences end with battles against enlarged versions of the Predator, including attacks involving claws, plasma shots and flying heads.
Big Mode is visually different from the normal stages, but the action is extremely basic. Movement is limited, scrolling is slow and enemies appear in repetitive patterns. The larger sprites are more recognizable, yet these sections quickly become monotonous.
The Predator appears several times, but the encounters fail to capture the tension of the film. Rather than stalking Dutch through the jungle, the creature behaves like an ordinary platform-game boss, jumping around and firing projectiles. The fights are difficult mainly because of restricted movement and unreliable collision detection.
Visually, the game is a strange mixture of muddy jungle scenery, neon caves and random science-fiction creatures. Some areas have an eerie atmosphere, and the Predator sprites are reasonably detailed, but the overall art direction lacks consistency. The music is surprisingly catchy and is easily the game’s strongest feature, although the short tracks become repetitive across so many similar stages.
Predator replaces suspenseful survival action with awkward platforming, random monsters and dull shooting sections. Unlimited continues make it possible to finish through persistence, but they cannot compensate for the weak combat, unfair hazards and repetitive design.
There is some entertainment in its sheer absurdity, especially the pink version of Dutch and the surreal Big Mode battles. As a game, however, Predator is frustrating and poorly designed. As a movie adaptation, it misses nearly everything that made the original film memorable.
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