Beginning in 2004, McFarlane Toys produced their very first Predator figures based on the 2004 film, Alien vs Predator. McFarlane could be said to be most notorious for their Spawn property, along with their thriving "SportsPicks", Halo, Assassin's Creed, and Walking Dead toy lines. At one time, McFarlane toys could have been easily declared a leader in producing some of the most innovative action figures to date. Today, with the continuous evolution of toys and action figures, one begins to wonder, is McFarlane toys still capable of delivering the very innovation they were once known for?
Today, the Predator and Alien franchise is now licensed to NECA toys and experiencing remarkable success, so it will be an absolute struggle for me to not want to compare the products of both companies. So, I suppose the intent of this review will be to evaluate McFarlane's product as a stand alone piece, while attempting to avoid comparative criticism. After all, it is easy to improve a product, but it's hard to be a pioneer.
The Elder Predator is displayed in a nice clear window so that you won't be able to miss any of the figure's detail. The name tag is seated at the bottom of the packaging near his feet, along with a small screen capture of his real life counterpart from the film.
This packaging style is pretty traditional. It's nothing amazing but it does a great job at showcasing the product while delivering some nice graphic art.
Packaging Score - 3.5 out of 5
Sculpting - The sculpting for this figure is terrific, as it is crowded with detail. The face is etched in what appears to be tribal writing. The scar on the forehead, which is earned after a young Predator's first successful hunt, stands out amongst the deep wrinkles of the face. The eyes are deeply inset and hard to see at times. The brow line tends to overshadow them when looking at the figure straight on. An easy remedy for that is to tilt the head upward to increase visibility.
The blue dreadlocks are sculpted well. The ridged texture once again helps imply the age of this Predator. The dreads are made from a pliable plastic that provides a minimal increase in the head's range of motion. The Elder comes adorned in a cape that I'm sure suggests some sort of affluence in Predator culture. The ruffling and drape of the cape, while only made of plastic does an remarkable job at imitating fabric.
A large majority of the body is suited in steel-like alien armor. It looks very archaic and weathered. The armor, along with the necklace of skulls and bones prompts you to wonder of this Elder Predator's storied past. While the predator remains unmasked and decorated in tribal art, he continues to wear his damaged mask as shoulder armor. The corrosive steel-like material is again seen as shin guards, hip protectors and even a protective loin cloth piece. Another important but easily overlooked detail is the fishnet-like material worn across the body. McFarlane toys chose to not take the easy way out. Rather than simply just paint the netting, they added a raised sculpt to provide it with a truly authentic look. The long blades and gauntlets, which we'll take a closer look at as an accessory, match the rest of the armor wonderfully, making this Elder appear as one badass you would never want to cross.
Sculpting Score: 4.5 out of 5
Paint - Following the strength of the sculpt, the paint only manages to compliment the overall aesthetics of this figure. The skin tone of the figure is comprised of varying light and dark shades of brown. If you look closely, you can even manage to find some light speckling throughout which helps add another dimension. The blue dreads wouldn't have managed to look as well as they had without the added color wash that manages to find its way into every crevice and highlight all those ridged details in the sculpt. The cape manages to dawn the resemblance of fabric, not just through the sculpt but the shaded areas of the paint as well. It really helps bring out the depth of the ruffles, while casting the look of light and shadows.
The only area in which I would have liked to see a bit of improvement was in the armor. At times it looked a little too pristine. After all, we are meant to believe that this predator has been hunting in this armor for his lifetime. At times the steel-like material seemed a little too clean. The texture and sculpt was there, I just think the suit needed to look a little more gritty. It needed to feel more aged.
Paint Score: 3.5 out of 5
Articulation - The articulation has some major wins, and some things that could have been better. The figure includes 21 points of articulation in total which include a ball jointed neck, double ball jointed shoulders, swivel cut at the elbow, a swivel at the wrist, an ab crunch, a ball jointed chest, a swivel at the waist, ball jointed hips, a swivel cut at the thigh, a single joint at the knee and ball jointed ankles. My largest concern with the articulation is the swivel cuts at the elbows. With large blades on both arms, it would of been a huge help to pose-ability if the elbows had come with a joint rather that a swivel.
Articulation Score: 2.5 out of 5
Accessories - The blades and gauntlets were difficult to categorize as an accessory because they cannot be detached or retracted. At best they pose a restriction to this figure's range of motion. While I do actually like the look of the obnoxiously long blades, I also wish they could be detached. 
One accessory included with this figure that has no problem being removable is the long knife that is holstered along the figure's right lower leg. When holstered it stays in tight enough that it won't fall out and potentially get lost. Like the rest of the armor it is sculpted to imitate a steel or ancient iron like material. Like the long armed blades it looks absolutely intimidating with it's dual serrated edges. The only real downside to the knife is that it wasn't really made to fit into the Elder Predator's hand. He only comes with one open hand, and the position of it is just a little too relaxed to hold anything. I played around with it for awhile and found the only way you can make it look somewhat reasonable is by facing the predators open palm upward and rest in his hand, making it seem as if he's holding it.
One simple but amazing addition to the accessory front was the opening gauntlet. When you open the gauntlet you can see that the Elder Predator has initiated the self destruct option which is evident through the red glow of the Predator's foreign symbols or numbers. It's easy to open and close, and even better is that when you have it closed it actually stays closed. It doesn't open loosely or shift around. This is definitely a bonus in what otherwise would appear as a lackluster category.
Accessories Score: 2 out of 5
Conclusion - McFarlane toys produced this figure nearly 10 years ago, but through commitment and innovation they created a figure that has withstood the test of time. This figure is somewhat difficult to come by today with prices that vary based upon condition. So, whether you're a collector of McFarlane or NECA Predator figures, I highly recommend owning it as it is sure to become one of your favorites.
Overall Score: 3.2 out of 5
