“I used to wish we weren’t alone in the universe.”

Information / Review English

Gameplay / Story

Pro

Contra

Conclusion

Information / Review Deutsch

Gameplay / Geschichte

Pro

Kontra

Fazit

Strengths

• Prey presents one of the most detailed, believable game settings ever made. No location feels more lived in. The world building is very strong here, and the character development is surprisingly good.
• Wonderful nonlinear design. Virtually infinite backtracking, nonlinear quest and level progression, multiple endings including a very early one, all of this allows for greater freedom of expression from the player.
• Extremely interactive environment used to bolster both the narrative and nonlinear gameplay.
• The Typhon is an intriguing alien species, and they make for intimidating, although still cheesable, opponents.
• The storytelling effectively screws with the player's mind at times, even though none of the twists are entirely unforeseen. Cool foreshadowing too.
• Pretty good, but flawed character build diversity. Repair, Hacking, Leverage (strength leading to new physics interactions) are all used well for progression, cool weapon design although too few of them, very cool psionic powers of varying types (polymorphing, psychokinesis, pyrokinesis, summoning, and more).
• Very capable, but overpowered stealth gameplay.
• Inherits much of Dishonored's movement. Ledge mantling (although a flawed implementation), automatically ducking under low objects (also flawed), and thankfully leaning.
• Above average AI actually poses a challenge even if they're still exploitable.
• Perfectly executed outer space movement.
• Outstanding soundtrack.
• Good difficulty mode customization with the inclusion of optional survival gameplay parameters for weapon degradation, traumas, and limited oxygen (only if your suit is damaged though).
• Its crafting system didn't make me want to kill myself.

Weaknesses

• Some plot holes - realistically, January would have just filled us in on the rest of Morgan's video, instead of wasting all the time to go fix it when our entire species is on the line here. Also you cannot escape with survivors via Alex's escape pod for some reason, only you can use it alone.
• A bit buggy and unpolished. Physics glitches, AI path finding issues are common, other AI bugs, LOD glitches, I did encounter a game breaking bug that required restarting it (all computer screens ceased being interactive). Also some wonky coding behind some quests, like how when you transfer the data about Mikhaila's father to your workstation, it simply doesn't appear on your workstation until you talk to her.
• Some clunkiness with movement mechanics not working reliably. Automatically ducking under objects doesn't always work, the automatic mantling reduces how much control you have over your character compared to System Shock 2/Thief's implementation. You lose control over your character a bit too often for a game like this; likewise you have no control when exiting elevators so your character might walk right into danger.
• AI is too exploitable, much more than in System Shock 2 (and because System Shock 2 is properly moddable, it has a mod that makes them even less exploitable). Phantoms are confused when you run circles around them, when you take cover, and all enemies are helpless beyond a certain distance (100 ft or so for many) and such distances are very commonly seen in Prey's big maps. Every single AI is incapable of dealing with a player that maxes out Mobility (which is quick to max out); you can sprint and jump with impunity and probably never get touched, no matter what you're up against.
• Various balance issues. Stealth is overpowered such that leveling it up is pointless. While the game starts off as an above average survival horror game, it ends up being a power fantasy game long before the end even (Prey Core Balance Mod thankfully delays this but it's not enough) and this is even true on Nightmare mode. Typhons are no match for a Neuromodded Morgan Yu, or even military operators.
• Too many Neuromods, even if you never fabricate them. Your character ends up being a master of so many trades.
• Seeing the Typhon, the ultimate threat to humanity, get absolutely bodybagged by military operators is silly.
• The Typhon look like moving shadows yet they don't stick to the darkness. The game really should have involved lighting more in the gameplay process, and made all Typhon weaponize shadows more.
• Not nearly moddable enough.
• The main quest to scan the Coral is the worst kind of objective marker hunting quest. Total bore but thankfully it's the only bad main quest and you're already an overpowered God by then so you can finish it very quickly.
• Outer space is too noisy, it misses out a bit on what space horror should be.
• Inadequate enemy variety, especially when Commander Dahl lands and unleashes infinite spawning military operators and nothing else. Substantially less enemy variety than the System Shocks even though this is at least twice as long of a game.
• Inadequate weapon variety for a game of this length, also substantially less than the System Shocks. Even if Prey were half the length it'd need more, even with the psionic powers.
• The worst surround spatialization I've ever heard, which harms immersion. It doesn't use the right speakers, no simulation of height/verticality, poor sense of distance. Sound is ultra important for this type of game. It also has some sound mixing issues with character voices being exponentially louder than audio log voices.
• Lots of lights not casting shadows and noticeable pop-in. Thankfully a mod addresses both, though pop-in can still be seen.
• While it offers fairly extensive HUD/UI/tooltip customization, it's not enough. Thankfully Prey Interface Customizer has us covered.

Remarkable

They are weak, bothersome, without brains. But you. You will be worse. Scan and slam, until it is done.

The Gameplay

The Story

Graphics & Soundtrack

Final Score & Comments

*Jittering caused by caffeine overdose- this review is not a Typhon Cacoplasmus, do NOT hit*

• Superb worldbuilding. Story based on fairly light alternative history that hits wild sci-fi motives fast and hard. Memorable adventure from start to finish that leaves thirst for more- both answers and new question.
• Equally great level and environmental design- space station Talos1 feels as grounded and believable as it can realtively be and exploring it is a real joy and a thrill. Traversing environment offers many chances to test ingenuity and creativity of a player in suprisingly varied and distinctive modules (separate levels) of Talos. Verticality, variety, utility, mystery, fun!
• Art style! As a fan of Art Deco and mid-century aesthetical trends I have to say it's nearly mesmerizing! If Eastern Columbia building or subway stations in Moscow, blended in futuristic convention sound like something that can make your hearth skip a beat- that is a game for you.
• Unique atmosphere of light psychological horror. Unsetteling yet inviting to discover it's secrets and shed light on mystery of a disaster that happened high in the sky that... can overshadow Earth.
• Solid story full of moral nuances, well-written characters and dialogues, interesting lore and collectibles in form of audio logs, letters and emails or magazines.
• Satysfying game loop driven first and foremost by exploration, with well-balanaced, familiar on the surface combat that has a bit more depth than meets they eye. Great array of unique, creative weapons that are useful throughout the entire game. Decent amout of equipment, easy and fast inventory management, amusing crafting system, basic but reliable weapon upgrade system.
• Well realized skill tree offering both expected upgrades, additional skills that branch player's toolset and impressive set of powers, associated with research of extraterrestrial organi... hmm, 'beings'. Game doesn't rely on classic combat XP system- instead focuses on tying main character's development with rewarding exploration, observation, cunning and involvment in solving additional quests and tasks.
• Great soundtrack, sound design and VO performances. Haven't skipped a single conversation or record.
• Overall tight package and great value- even full, stealthy completionist run (40-45hrs) does leave a feeling of game overstaying its welcome. Add to that New Game+ mode, Mooncrash expansion, alternative playthroughs for specific character development paths and few difficulty settings.