Prey Reviews

Prey is pretty much Dishonored or Deus Ex in space. There's nothing else to say. At first, I didn't get into Prey unlike Dishonored or DXHR or DXMD, but then I gave it a proper spin and I was instantly sucked in for hours at a time. As already mentioned elsewhere, its' an underrated masterpiece, only getting its' true recognition the last few years. My only minor issue, is that the base game requires mod tweaking, because the balance in terms of abilities completely breaks later. You can do everything. That's not fun. It makes everything feel like a chore, imo.

This game is dangerous don't play it unless you have nothing going for your life because it will completely take over your life and you will forever be a changed person or whatever i think.

In short : a masterpiece like no other, a sci-fi horror that is a mix between Dead Space and Bioshock, with many innovations and unique features. In detail : Ambiance : I have never had so many jump scares as in this game. God damned mimics ! Story : Really good with litterally a hundred NPCs well written with deep and intricate stories. Graphism : Gorgeous and detailed, Talos 1 is a wonder to explore Sound and musics : top notch, the musics fits the general tone perfectly and the station is full of scary noises. Gameplay : The true definition of versatility. You have many powers and choices to make to craft your character. Level design : Simply the best. Each problem can be solved in many ways depending on your abilities. Conclusion : I recommand this game even at full price. But buyers beware : this is not for everybody, as the rythm is quite slow. You need to read document, listen to messages, observe the environment to progress, this is not a typical action game. Also, you can be blocked if you are not carefull, which happened to me during my first playthrough, and I had to restart a now game. I behave like I was the Doom guy, and I ended up with no ammunition left and ennemies everywhere, and it was in normal difficulty. You need time to understand how the game works.

DEFINITELY A MUST PLAY. Immersive story, well put together. Good level design. Gives you freedom to complete objectives in your own creative ways. Give it a try. Also you can challenge yourself to complete the game without using certain enhancements.

Some of the best exploration and interactivity in a game.

Definitely one of my favorite games of all time, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoyed Bioshock, I love everything about this game and it has influenced some of the art, stories, and other stuff I've made myself, overall I give it a 10/10, has to be the one of only games I'm content with not having a sequel to.

Easily my favorite game of all time other than the classics like Jak and Daxter and Sly cooper. This game is a TON of fun with surprisingly good AI that aren't easily manipulated. I had tons of fun exploring and felt like the upgrades were very interesting an opened up a lot of different ways to play. I really wish they made a second one :'')

I really have been enjoying everything about this game. Love the art style, and all the mechanics. Very smooth feeling. Overall just a very satisfying experience so far. Story is interesting as well.

Prey got really underwhelming release when it came out - bugs, tech issues, critics' low to mid reviews and very sloppy marketing by Bethesda. But now after almost a decade it's finally getting its recognition and a name of underrated masterpiece it deserves. This game is an ultimate brain child of Arcane's immersive sim formula within their own newly developed IP from scratch. it has best parts of Dishonored but tuned and improved for a space survival horror genre inside one big (albeit segmented) map. It has so many new cool ideas and solutions for gameplay mechanics, amazing level design, captivating story with its twists, turns and unexpected reveals, unique retro alternative history sci-fi atmosphere with really cool and high quality sound design to built it up, and obviously the beloved soundtrack by Mick Gordon. Every single tool, item, weapon, ability, physical prop and map layout can be used to your maximum progression utility - nothing is useless, everything is uniquely designed to has its purpose and combination, which is especially felt on harder difficulties. The progression dynamic is very satisfying in moments to make you feel weak, strong, overpowered and motivated for devising your own ways of experimentation. You can beat this game in so many ways, get different reactions and outcomes from your actions and decisions like: save everyone, kill everyone, go complete stealth, go complete guns blazing, do only weapons run or only abilities, or even none at all. After my second nightmare play-through without any abilities and upgrades - I can indeed confirm that it is designed so well that even this seemingly basic way of play was considered by developers and still manage to give you completely different, fulfilling and fun experience. The Moon crash DLC is an awesome experiment of a cherry on top - the whole formula of a base game is integrated with rogue-like mechanics, multiple victory conditions and changing level design. Immersive sim unfortunately is very niche genre to make a lot of money and one of the expensive ones to create. It emerged in 90es with a peak accomplishment of Deus Ex. Died out in 2000s, reemerged in 10s and now sadly dies out yet again, with only Arcane and couple of indies left to hold up the mantle. Yet this genre probably is the perfect example what every game should strife to be.

Pros + Atmospheric World-Building: Talos I is beautifully crafted, with each room and corridor radiating a sense of history and foreboding. The environment feels alive, and the attention to detail makes every discovery rewarding + Non-Linear Gameplay: One of the game’s standout features is its emphasis on player choice. Whether you prefer direct confrontation or sneaking past threats, Prey allows you to adapt your play style to the situation + Variety in Gameplay Mechanics: From combat and stealth to puzzle-solving and resource management, Prey offers a mix of gameplay elements that keep the experience fresh throughout + Immersive Sim Elements: The ability to interact with the environment in multiple ways—using tools, crafting upgrades, or finding alternative paths—adds depth to the gameplay and encourages creative problem-solving Cons - Pacing Issues: Despite its engaging setup, some parts of the game can feel unnecessarily slow - Repetitive Encounters: While the Typhon enemies are designed to be both terrifying and challenging, some encounters can feel repetitive, potentially reducing the tension over time - Balance Concerns: At times, certain weapons or abilities may feel overpowered, whereas others seem less useful. This occasional imbalance can affect the overall - Enemy Difficulty: In some instances, the enemy AI proves to be unforgiving Prey is a commendable attempt at blending atmospheric storytelling with gameplay flexibility. Its richly detailed setting and intriguing narrative make it a worthwhile experience, especially for those who appreciate games that reward creative problem-solving and exploration. However, the occasional pacing issues, repetitive encounters, balancing problems, and the sometimes overwhelming enemy difficulty prevent it from achieving perfection. All things considered, I’d give Prey a 7 out of 10. If you’re a fan of immersive sci-fi adventures that let you choose your own path, Prey is definitely worth checking out—even if it isn’t without its flaws.