So, I’ve been reading a lot of threads here and I get the distinct feeling that many players are missing the point of the Predator itself, meaning the character we play. This creature is a hunter, first and foremost and hunters stalk their prey. Slowly, deliberately, quietly and then they strike. Everyone who has hunted in real life knows this. Anyone who has watched nature shows should know this also.
The Predator also wants and is expected to face a challenge. None of its hunts are meant to be a cake walk. There is always risk to the creature involved. The Predator knows and accepts this. As players, we all should too. We can’t expect to mow down every fire team we encounter. Remember, in the classic film, the Predator killed one, maybe two fire teams before Dutch arrived, and nearly killed all of them too. Thats what usually happens to me in the game. I win a few, then I either lose one hard, or have to self detonate. Theres always that one FT here and there thats really good.
Also, remember that the classic Predator never waded in to Arnold full team. He picked them off, one by one. So, when someone charges into a full 4 person team and dies (I was guilty of this at lower levels. My excitement got the better of me, kinda like City Hunter) they shouldn’t be surprised, berserker or not.
Something else we should all remember is the time this game takes place. 2025. The OWLF in the game is well aware of the Predator incursions and are ready for them. Based upon the in-game dialogue the FT spouts from time to time, you can see that they know about the Predators. Its no like 1987, where no one had any clue what they were up against. This makes being the Predator that much more challenging. Also, Dutchs tapes give this away too.
Then, we come to the fact that the Predator is mortal, and don’t wear much in the way of armor. They get shot, cut etc, they bleed. If we as players are bleeding a lot, we need to figure ways to bleed less. Namely, get shot less and be more stealthy, if possible. I believe it was the loading screen from Duke Nukem Forever that said, “when being shot at, try to avoid bullets.” Sound advice. The Predator is a creature of great strength and stature, compared to humans, and is strong vs 1 or 2 unprepared humans. However the FTs in this games story are seldomly unprepared so we can’t be surprised when they see what we’re up to. Ive been baited into several traps, set by skilled FTs. They have yet to get me in one (one came close once. It cost her her life.), and therin lies the challenge a Predator seeks. Worthy prey.
In the same way, I think many players forget what playing as FT should be. You’re part of a team (I know, I know, not everyone has a mic, etc) and there’s a mission to accomplish…as a team. We’re supposed to defeat the Predator and AI units as a team. One guy theoretically should not be able to dominate the Predator in a CQC fight, but on rare occasions it happens, ala Dutch and Harrigan.
If we recall, Harrigan went against City Hunter, who still had most of his gear, just no plasma caster or mask and only when Harrigan sunk 7-ish shotgun slugs into him did he go down, and he didn’t die then either. So 1 on 1, Predator has the advantage, but 4 on1, the advantage is with the FT. When I get stomped by a Dutch, or a Support unit sure, I cuss, but hey those are the breaks. When the team and I defeat a Predator, it, to me, legitimately feels like an accomplishment. As it should. Defeating a 9 ft tall, cloaked alien big game hunter SHOULD be a challenge. A fireteam should not steam roll a Predator.
Naturally, it all comes down to player skill really, but thats the balance Illfonic has been attempting to reach, and I feel like they’ve done it pretty well. I was fine with the game at launch. Ive asked for no buffs or nerfs. I would like to see the Predator get a parry move, but thats basically it.
I also kinda feel like some players expect the game to be easy, like it should have a difficulty setting. These kinds of games don’t have that. By nature, we must practice to win, just like a real sport. Its almost like some players want it to be like a single player game where you can just hit the easy switch (and yes, I want SP mode too with more difficult AI troops and AI predators, in case no one else is playing or whatever.). I play Skyrim with the Predator mod on, and its great, but it does make it a little too easy, so it gets boring pretty quickly. This game, for me, does not get boring because Im not playing against some program that I can predict exactly what its gonna do after multiple plays. Im going against real people and that makes it all the more interesting. Thats it. Am I crazy that I like it the way it is? I dont think so.