Chapter 2 - Predator Strategies

If ever a character lived up to his name, it must be the Predator. Where the Marine excels through sheer firepower, and the Alien with lightning-fast attacks at close range, the Predator involves stealth, cunning, and planning. Predator has several weapons at his disposal, each of which involves a new set of skills. Whether you're hiding in darkness and planning a sniper attack with the spear gun or pelting the ground with electrical charges from the pistol, the Predator offers the wily player several modes of death-dealing, each very different from the last. What follows is a close examination of the Predator experience. Before you know it, you'll be toting around head trophies and strutting your stuff for all the world to see.

Movement Tactics

Predator benefits from a rapid movement rate - not quite as fast as the Alien, but faster than the Marine. Unlike the Alien, the Predator cannot scale walls and hang from ceilings. So where does the Predator excel? In the use of cloaking, covered in more detail in the Special Abilities section.

Vision Modes

Predator enjoys the luxury of three vision modes that can influence the success of your gameplay. Used wisely, the various vision modes can mean the difference between killing a foe with one shot or aimlessly firing rounds in the hopes that you might, with luck, score a hit.

Blue Vision
When playing in a multiplayer or single-player level against Marines, you'll want to make use of the blue vision mode. Blue vision makes Marine units stand out like a sore thumb and, best of all, auto-targets your disc and shoulder cannon for a direct hit. Without auto-targeting, each of these weapons is a real challenge to score with because of their slow rates of fire.

Red Vision
In a multiplayer game or single-player level infested with Aliens, red vision mode is your ticket to success. Red vision is especially useful for locating and seeing Aliens, as well as auto-targeting your shoulder cannon and disc. Considering that Aliens love nothing more than hiding on walls and ceilings awaiting their prey, the red vision mode can make all the difference in getting advance warning on their whereabouts.

Green Vision
When the time comes for Predator vs. Predator action, green vision mode will be the answer to racking up kills. When activated, the green vision will make enemy Predators extremely visible, as well as auto-targeting your shoulder cannon and disc. Best of all, it works against cloaked enemies, so there will be no hiding from the Predator who is effectively using green vision.

Zoom
Unlike Marines and Aliens, the Predator benefits from several levels of zoom. Especially useful when used in conjunction with the spear gun, zooming in on a doorway while cloaked can make you the preeminent sniper. All it takes is one well-placed shot to bring down any opposition, and usually the zoom will make all the difference between a direct hit and one that lands just off target, alerting your enemy to your presence. Remember, the point of being a Predator is not to miss! Use your zoom mode from a good, secure vantage point and you'll be racking up kills like a madman!