So, I got this game the other day and I have some ideas and criticisms about it. This is only from me playing as the Predator, I have not played as the Fireteam. And this is more than just ironing out some of the glitches and bugs in the game (like the Predator sometimes getting stuck in trees and the long wait times).
A Better Tutorial: The current Tutorial doesn’t really explain much beyond the basics of how to play as the Predator. And just the Predator. I have no idea how to play as the Fireteam, what their objectives or abilities. And I had to figure out the advanced stuff for the Predator through trial and error, like how to use the Target Isolation in the Thermal Vision or the Leap Slam. A Tutorial that shows how do play as both sides of the game would be great and one that shows you the advanced abilities and how to counter some, like the Fireteam’s Reinforcements and the Predator’s Self-Destruct would be fantastic.
Fireteam’s Reinforcements: Fireteam calling in reinforcements is a good idea and it can be incredibly useful. However, reviving players who’ve died and I’ve taken trophies from is…annoying. I’ve had games where I’ve killed half or more of a squad and then the last person calls in reinforcements from the other side of the map, I run over there as fast as I can and I’m always too late and now I have basically wasted supplies and have achieved basically nothing. If players who’ve been killed but not have trophies taken from them are revived, that makes sense. But going from one person to a full squad again is just too powerful.
Access to Weapons and Classes: The variety in weapons and class in just the Predator side of the game is good, and I assume more will be added in the future, but I don’t like them being restricted to certain levels. I understand the Smart Disc, Combistick and Bow are locked at first, they seem like powerful tools. Getting more ranged and different melee weapons earlier on would help greatly. One thing I don’t understand is why the Scout and Berserker class Predators are locked away, especially once you get +10 levels? It’d make more sense if they unlocked at earlier levels or weren’t locked at all.
Fine Tuned Tracking: Being able to locate your targets is incredibly useful, especially with how large and dense these maps are. But a common annoyance I have with the Fireteam is that I lose track of them. I feel like the tracking mechanic with the Thermal Vision should stick with the players until they reach a certain distance, say 50-70 meters, rather than when I break line of sight. And a similar note, the Plasma Cannon doesn’t always seem to hit? IDK if I’m aiming it wrong or the Fireteam is a lot tougher than I think because AI’s die in one shot and I’ve seen players take two or three hits.
Opportunities to Separate the Fireteam: The squad that stays together, lives together. Four trained soldiers being able to take down a Predator? Makes sense. The thing is, the Predator should have equipment or abilities to separate a member of the squad. Like, maybe a grab ability and you can drag one away, or a Batman: Arkham City-style takedown from a tree? I would really like some aerial attack with the Predator where you could jump down from a tree and melee a Fireteam member. There could also be objectives for them that are time sensitive, requiring them to split the squad up.
Increase XP and Veritanium: The amount of XP and money you earn from matches isn’t a good amount, especially since just about everything is locked behind a level cap. I have Resourceful on and I may get a level up if I win a match, but I don’t if I lose. I’m not saying that a player levels up with every match, but there should be more XP added so I don’t feel like I need to use Resourceful to make progress. And if the point of veritanium is to buy the different weapon skins and cosmetic items, why do players get less than 1,000 after winning a match? I’ve only been rewarding about 300-400 a match and that doesn’t even get me a Field Locker.
One on one fights? This is an idea I had while writing this, but it’d be cool and interesting to have one on one melee fight of some sort between the Predator and a lone Fireteam member. It’d have to be the lone Survivor and the Predator and Fireteam member wouldn’t be allowed any weapons besides fists. I don’t know, just an idea.
I will say, I have enjoyed my time with the game. It’s very fun to play as the Predator and I hope this game does well.