Prey

Technically the game is very sound. I didn't run into any noticeable frame issues or hard crashes, but I did suffer a few minor hiccups. Playing on the PlayStation 4, I often noticed Morgan would move of his own free will. My controller was sitting atop my desk, but Morgan would be turning or moving in a random direction without any human input. I did test with other hardware but the same problem. It was a rare occurrence and something I'd expect to be fixed in the first few patches.

Prey can be best described as the ultimate hybrid of Resident Evil, Deus Ex, Bioshock and Dead Space, along with its own set of original features that sets it apart from other games.

Prey is a game that draws you in the more you play it. If you’ve played the demo and decided it wasn’t for you, it’s worth thinking again, since it really picks up after that initial hour. It’s also absurdly replayable; while you can complete the game in roughly ten hours, I spent over twice that exploring Talos I and I anticipate plunging back in to adopt an entirely different approach. True, it’s no more a “re-imagining” of the original Prey (released in 2006) than Breaking Bad is a re-imagining of Sesame Street; but at the end of the day, that doesn’t really matter, except maybe to Bethesda...

Prey often feels like mash-up of some of the best sci-fi survival horror games of yesteryear and Arkane's previous work. And it is. But it also is a title with some wildly unique ideas, an incredibly thick and unnerving atmosphere, and an exemplary soundtrack.

Prey gives you a luxurious sci-fi playground and a great set of tools to use within it. Combat may be underwhelming, and the main story equally so, but the level of immersion on display is still absolutely stellar.

Prey’s curious alternate-history universe, intriguing sidequests, hidden threats, and detailed environmental storytelling make Talos I a joy to explore. The unsettling sense of paranoia that comes from knowing any object could turn out to be a hidden enemy gives even the quiet moments a palpable tension. All of that picks up the slack for combat and stealth that doesn’t feel fresh enough to sustain it throughout what can be a long game.

Arkane Studios continues to pay homage to great games of our past.

Funny enough, I leave Prey happy and content with everyone’s story but my own. My version of protagonist Morgan Yu just didn’t turn out how I wanted him to. He couldn’t save everyone I wish he had, he didn’t make all the choices I would’ve liked him to, he didn’t even find the shotgun until much later than he should’ve. And I know it’s all my fault and I regret that. In a perfect world, this would’ve all gone different; but, it’s evident early on in Prey that things are far from perfect in this world. I can only hope that your Morgan ends up more to your satisfaction. Me? I probably got what I...

Writing over our memories of the Prey that preceded it, Arkane Studios’ game is something new and yet strikingly familiar. There’s a great deal of kinship to the likes of Bioshock, Half-Life and other classic games, but it’s also broader and more expansive in what it tries to do. Regardless of its flaws and similarities, Prey manages to be an enthralling science fiction adventure.

Arkane returns with atmospheric immersive sim Prey. Is it a BioShock beater?

A wasted opportunity to create a modern take on System Shock, with the dull storytelling and action overshadowing the otherwise effective puzzle elements.

Prey has all the atmosphere in the world but feels held down by its need to conform to what came before, its lack of enemy and weapon variety, and its refusal to let players choose their own path.