The Riddle of Steal

-“Dillon” as portrayed by the thespian talents of Carl Weathers in the 1987 John McTiernan Cinematic Opera, Predator

Predator forever changed the way we processed an ‘action flick.’ It introduced a new dynamic that had not been seen previous: A special forces team, gritty jungle warfare, invisible lizard, shoulder mounted laser, dismemberment, mud cameo, a mythical chopper, hand to hand combat, bows and arrows, booby traps… and all of it boiling down to a glorified game of duck hunt.

What’s not to love?

A Science-Fiction threat to a realistic military force is nothing new, but the delivery of that story, the story of Dutch, Hawkins, Mac, Dillon and Blaine, the story of a random woman at the wrong place, at the wrong time, all of this, is just perfect harmony. This harmony serenades all lovers of action, suspense and science fiction films and what’s amazing is this is very much unlike rocket science. Start with great storytelling, blend in pioneering special effects and sprinkle a handful of iconic characters to complete the recipe for the secret sauce to great action films (The Empire Strikes Back ring a bell).

As is the driving force of this nascent blog, Saab and Tone considered how might Predator play itself out in game form?

Easy.

Flashbacks.

Imagine knowing how ‘Billy! Find me a way out of dis hole!’ came to possess such a keen tracking sense? Or how Dillon ended up “pushing too many pencils…”? In Predator: Get to the Chopper! (PGC), all these questions could be answered in early character game missions integrated into the original film’s story.

This is where it gets awesome. The gamer would be required to play the role of each and every character in the order in which they perish in the film. At the moment each character is dispatched by the Predator the game would suddenly thrust you into previous missions, maintaining your hold of each persona a bit longer as you explore an aspect of their earlier military career. You get to survive the days when Dutch & co. were all about being, “…a rescue team , not assassins…”

Where did the team learn to set a 360 degree claymore and pit trap?

Where did Dutch learn to build a tree/spike trap? Or a bow and arrow?!

Could Billy give guidance to Dutch from beyond the grave (kinda like when Obi pops in on Luke from time to time)?

Additionally, imagine the Predator’s AI given today’s PCs and next gen consoles; It will constantly adjust to your actions, monitor your weapon status, and avoid your traps, all the while hunting you like a dog. And time would never be on your side. 14 hours to find Harper’s men, 17 hours to find the rebel camp. You witness day transform to dark. You, the gamer, know what’s lurking. Check your gear, pay attention…..”I see you….”

Ultimately, we all know where this path will take us. The culmination of all lives (and deaths) will end in a mud suit, some “…boy-scout bullshit…” and a one-on-one with “the fucking lizard” himself.

This is the game true fans have been waiting for. Better still, it has the combination of gritty story and great gameplay that will attract new fans to the Predator saga. Imagine generations of Arnold fans, old and new, facing down the Predator and screaming, “GET TO THE CHOPPER!”

One question, what would everyone think of a hidden easter egg where you can play the original duck hunt but with as a former professional wrestler turned state governor who wields a mean gatling gun? And of course, in this version you could shoot the fucking dog too…