Predator (NES)

Predator
Developer: Pack-In-Video Publishers: Activision (US, AU), Pack-In-Video (JP) Platform: NES Released in JP: March 10, 1988 Released in US: April 1989 Released in AU: 1990 This game has unused text. This game has a hidden level select. This game has regional differences.

Chopper. Get to it.

Predator for the NES is loosely based on the MSX2 version of the game. It even reuses many graphics, as well as most of the music from that game.

Unused Text

The Japanese version contains some unused text strings for a sample version, which were removed from all other releases.

000119A0: 0A 22 5F 61 54 53 50 63 5E 61 FF 00 22 F1 FF 4A ..PREDATOR.....;
000119B0: 22 62 50 5C 5F 5B 54 F1 61 5E 5C FF 00 22 F1 FF .SAMPLE.ROM.....
000119C0: EA 20 62 63 50 56 54 FF 00 20 F1 FF 2A 21 5F 5B ..STAGE.......PL

(Source: CaH4e3)

Regional Differences

To do: The levels are in a completely different order, as well as other differences. Document these.

Level Skip

While the level skip code is functional on the non-Japanese versions, it's impossible to do on a real NES, even with two controllers. So, the code only works on the Famicom when having a 2nd controller in the expansion port. To skip a "normal mode" level, hold Left on the expansion controller and hold Right + A or Right + B on controller 1 while inside a level. To skip a "big mode" level, wait until the level number screen appears, then quickly hold Down on the expansion controller, Up controller 1, and press A.

Copyright Screen

Japan	US	Australia

Title Screen

The game contains two title screens, one showing Schaefer and the other showing the Predator. In the Japanese version, the one with Schaefer shows the title in English, but the one with the Predator shows it in Japanese.

Japan	US/Australia

Gameplay

To do: List all gameplay differences.

The Japanese version is harder and also starts the player in Big Mode 1, whereas the USA version was made a little easier and starts the player at one of the normal action levels. Interestingly, the international versions' manual, it actually informs the player that they will start out in the Big Mode, which suggests the game was still being localized when the manual was in production.