I originally played this game when it first came out, and my opinion now that I have seen hundreds more games come and go is quite different, though both opinions are positive. I recently had the urge to play this game and was able to find a PS2 version, which I play on my Playstation 3, at my local Gamestop. Originally, I played through the Xbox version. All I can say is that this game is great! They make excellent use of the different Predator weapons and gadgets, and some of the levels require you to play with intelligence rather than just running around killing everything in sight. The controls take some getting used to, but after awhile they have a very natural feel to them and you really start to get the feeling that everybody in the city is a just a pawn for you. If you are going into this game with the perspective of comparing it to games on the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3, you will be sorely disappointed. The graphics were outstanding for their time and still hold up well. The animations are very smooth and the transitions are seamless. You can go from sniping with a spear gun to scanning enemy brains to pick out targets with minimal effort, something which comes in handy in later levels.
The story is interesting, maybe not the best thing going for the game, but it's unique enough to make you want to finish the game. So many games these days focus less on having a plot than providing button mashing opportunities for the 12 year-old crowd. The game has great replay value if only for trying to get all the secrets and unlockable weapons. This was made in the days before achievements, where we all played for the love of the game and it's a better game for it. One thing that I didn't realize I missed until playing this game is that it used to take a really long time to beat a game. Nowadays, I usually clear an Xbox 360 or PS3 game in a matter of hours. New games are designed to get you achievements/trophies for the sole purpose of bragging rights and as a result, you get much less of a game. The achievements are there to keep you interested just long enough to get them so the programmers no longer have to make games like this where they rely on the game play and story to keep the gamer into the game.
This game understandably gets mixed reviews. The controls could put some people off at first, as they take some getting used to, but simply doing the training levels will get you plenty of experience in working with the Predator. By the end of the first level you will be jumping around the city like a psychotic, plasmacaster wielding monkey on steroids, just stalking your prey at will. And there is blood, lots and lots and lots of blood. There's an odd satisfaction in sneaking up behind a guard and ripping him in half while his buddies are unaware of your presence. They also did a good job of mixing up the variety of enemies. Simply put, your gadgets won't get you very far if you aren't playing smart. Some enemies are just brainless drones, par for the course, which you just slaughter mercilessly. Others, however, have the technology to see right through your cloaking and will actively hunt the hunter. Knowing the right tool for the current job is a big factor in this game. Unlike the movies, you don't just go around annihilating everything with the Plasmacaster. You can, I suppose, but you will get far less game that way.
Overall, if you are looking for a solid Predator game to get you by until Alien vs. Predator launches in 2010, then this is definitely the game for you. It's not a game for kids by any means. I would classify it as one of those games you play in the dark to enhance the overall feel of being a super-hunter preying on a city gone bad. You should be able to pick it up relatively cheap used at pretty much any game store, as it was very popular when it launched.
In Summary: It's long, it's brutal, it's bloody, it's got an excellent portrayal of the Predator and all his gadgets, it's addictive and it's just a lot of fun. Enjoy the game!
