Mind-Bending Space Odyssey
Prey takes the foundations of sci-fi horror to new heights with a robust blend of exploration, innovative combat, and a narrative that'll pull the rug out from under you.
last updated Jan 19, 2024
Prey's gameplay will have you strategizing like you're playing 3D chess while juggling plasma grenades.
Tales of Talos
Wake up and smell the alien infestation! You're aboard the Talos I, and as the iconic coffee mug suggests, things are not what they seem. If being hunted by shapeshifting extraterrestrials wasn’t enough to put a crack in your space helmet, the story will. Divulging in the narrative's complexity would mean spoiling the zero-gravity fun, but strap in for twists that make the M. Night Shyamalan playbook look as predictable as Tetris blocks falling. The story bends expectations, and though characters may smack of sci-fi tropes, their delivery keeps you invested enough to turn the next corner – even when it's dark, and probably hiding a mimic.
Float Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Neuromod
Gameplay in this cosmic rodeo is as smooth as astronaut ice cream and just as varied. Choices matter here, whether it's deciding to morph into a coffee cup (because why the hell not?) or taking down a horde of Typhon with good ole' human weaponry. The game’s ability to blend RPG elements with first-person action is like peanut butter meets jelly in zero-G. Plus, the incorporation of the GLOO Cannon adds a creative twist on the typical shooty adventure – it's the Swiss Army knife of video games tools. Prey's gameplay will have you strategizing like you're playing 3D chess while juggling plasma grenades. If you're the kind of player who games on hard mode for 'the true experience,' you're in for a deep-space treat.
Aural Atmosphere
What's that sound? Oh, just the haunting symphony of space horrors and a top-tier score that might make you wish you were deaf – in the best possible way. Prey doesn't just weaponize sound; it wraps it around you like a cold embrace, tugging on your earlobes with every alien shuffle and distant metallic creak. The audio design plays its own version of hide and seek, as mimics the auditory equivalent of Where's Waldo. The soundtrack is intermittently sparse but kicks in with a dramatic flair that carries as much gravity as the Talos I itself. With audio cues so unsettling, you'll think twice before turning off your bedside lamp after a late-night gaming session.
Digital Deluxe in Space
Artistically and architecturally, the Talos I space station could be considered the lovechild of Frank Loyd Wright and a Lovecraftian nightmare. It's a visual feast – if the feast could sometimes turn into an espresso mug and jump scare your space boots off. From the corridors bathed in ominous light to the grandiose vistas of the lunar orbit, Prey serves up visual candy by the spaceship-load. Performance-wise, this space horror is as sleek as a NASA supercomputer (or at least what I’d imagine one to be). It resonates a haunting beauty that's as impressive as it is oppressive, proving that even when infested with malevolent outsiders, space can still hold a captivating allure.
STEAM RATING
Developer
Arkane Studios
Publisher
Bethesda Softworks
Release Date
May 04, 2017
Space, the Final Frontier of Horror
In a universe packed with interstellar shooters and space operatics, Prey has carved out a niche that deserves to be explored with the full intensity of a pulsar. It's not just about surviving the horrors that inhabit the Talos I, but how you choose to navigate through them – whether that's with brute shotgun force or a subtler, more cerebral method involving your brain cells and a bit of Typhon trickery. The immersive sim elements shine through like supernova, and the scare-tactics are more than cheap thrills; they're a ticket to a spooky, strategic seduction of your gamer sensibilities. Prey sets a standard that is not easily matched, and for any fan of sci-fi, horror, or games that simply excel in melding story with gameplay, Prey is not just recommended; it’s damn-near mandatory.
