Prey is a good game that doesn't feel like a labour of love. The gameplay is incredible (if you're lucky enough to avoid technical issues), but everything about its presentation is just... there.

'Uninspired' is the word.

Please keep in mind that 'uninspired' does not mean bad. A talented team doesn't have to be driven by insane passion to deliver a solid product—which Prey definitely is. It's just perhaps a bit too risk-averse, with the plot being your canned 'sci-fi about alien space and also human mind', the visual design and music being bland, and the whole experience being a bit too sole-coloured and smooth, lacking variety and becoming repetitive by the end.

What is not smooth is the performance. Please be warned that the last third of the game was an on and off slideshow on my rather decent setup; also choosing 'high' or 'very high' quality led to some textures not loading at all. Why that happens is a no-brainer, of course: the game loads a ginormous level, obviously straining the engine. However, I don't think such performance is acceptable for an AAA title.

Yet the most promoted feature of Prey is just brilliant. Like most Bethesda titles, Prey is to a large extent about walking around and grabbing everything that isn't glued... so why not make the interaction with objects the main source of tension? Your most common enemies, mimics, can turn into objects—the precise objects that you crave. So each time you hurry to grab one, you are putting yourself in danger. The main lure and main threat are combined in a feat of simple, yet very effective design.

Unfortinately, it is only like this for the first quarter of the game or so—after that mimics are gradually replaced by stronger, but less inventive enemies.

Still, even then it plays like a charm—the exploration aspect of the game is just perfect, with a huge station filled with secrets, shortcuts, and multiple solutions to all situations. You can always find a way around through a maintenance hatch, or move a huge box to jump on it, or hack something, or repair a turret... it all works together, making the game world feel extremely fair, with very little game-y stupidity. If you see something, you can get there. If you have a logical idea, it probably can be executed. The whole station is one giant puzzle for you to solve.

One of the coolest aspects of this giant puzzle, by the way, is that it doesn't always lead you from one quest marker to another. Many situations require paying attention, reading a note or listening to an audio log—not just clicking on them to record the important bits to the quest log, but actually paying attention.

I had great fun with this game and I recommend it. I also think it will be quickly forgotten (compared to System Shock, Bioshock, or Dishonored, that is), replaced by more poignant experiences in people's minds.

Guess that's one more reason to pick it up now, while it's still all the rage.

[i]Prey[/i] is a good game that doesn't feel like a labour of love. The gameplay is incredible (if you're lucky enough to avoid technical issues), but everything about its presentation is just... there. 'Uninspired' is the word. Please keep in mind that 'uninspired' does not mean bad. A talented team doesn't have to be driven by insane passion to deliver a solid product—which [i]Prey[/i] definitely is. It's just perhaps a bit too risk-averse, with the plot being your canned 'sci-fi about alien space and also human mind', the visual design and music being bland, and the whole experience being a bit too sole-coloured and smooth, lacking variety and becoming repetitive by the end. What is not smooth is the performance. Please be warned that the last third of the game was an on and off slideshow on my rather decent setup; also choosing 'high' or 'very high' quality led to some textures not loading at all. Why that happens is a no-brainer, of course: the game loads a ginormous level, obviously straining the engine. However, I don't think such performance is acceptable for an AAA title. Yet the most promoted feature of [i]Prey[/i] is just brilliant. Like most Bethesda titles, [i]Prey[/i] is to a large extent about walking around and grabbing everything that isn't glued... so why not make the interaction with objects the main source of tension? Your most common enemies, mimics, can turn into objects—the precise objects that you crave. So each time you hurry to grab one, you are putting yourself in danger. The main lure and main threat are combined in a feat of simple, yet very effective design. Unfortinately, it is only like this for the first quarter of the game or so—after that mimics are gradually replaced by stronger, but less inventive enemies. Still, even then it plays like a charm—the exploration aspect of the game is just perfect, with a huge station filled with secrets, shortcuts, and multiple solutions to all situations. You can always find a way around through a maintenance hatch, or move a huge box to jump on it, or hack something, or repair a turret... it all works together, making the game world feel extremely fair, with very little game-y stupidity. If you see something, you can get there. If you have a logical idea, it probably can be executed. The whole station is one giant puzzle for you to solve. One of the coolest aspects of this giant puzzle, by the way, is that it doesn't always lead you from one quest marker to another. Many situations require paying attention, reading a note or listening to an audio log—not just clicking on them to record the important bits to the quest log, but actually paying attention. I had great fun with this game and I recommend it. I also think it will be quickly forgotten (compared to [i]System Shock, Bioshock,[/i] or [i]Dishonored,[/i] that is), replaced by more poignant experiences in people's minds. Guess that's one more reason to pick it up now, while it's still all the rage.