Prey

good

An underappreciated gem that in recent years is getting its praise! The Story start off pretty strong, however I do feel that the ending does feel a little rushed as it kinda feels abrupt when reaching the conclusion. One thing that is consistent is the lore and the many messages and thoughts of each character upon the Talos 1. The Characters are decent enough but aren't outstanding in any way. They do have motivations and personality, but it isn't going to blow you away or present anyone who's all that significant. The Setting of Talos 1 is one of the strongest aspects of the title as each area feels like its own playground that you can explore and experiment with. Each area is so distinct from one another and each has its own way of traversal, secrets and means of combat (if you choose to approach it) and offers so much in terms of player freedom. Visually, while moving away from the steam punk-esque design of Dishonored, it is very much an Arkane title. Performance was solid for the majority of it apart from one funny bug towards the end with Alex T posing when there is danger. The Art Direction goes for an unmistakable yet very unique take on the Sci-Fi genre with there being the sharp looking characters from dishonored. I really like how it feels more like a lived in space rather than just your stereotypical space station that you would find in a game of this genre. Sound and Audio are perfect with the soundtrack feeling tense and matching the atmosphere really well and the audio design will make you feel constantly paranoid in terms of figuring out where there's a mimic or not. In terms of Gameplay, this is one of the best emergent experiences out there. It is genuinely impressive just the amount of tools at your disposal and the many different ways you can tackle any obstacle or level which is a hallmark of a great immersive sim. It can be difficult to define the M Sim genre, but this game is definitely that and is one of the best in its class. I just can't get over the many ways that you can approach an obstacle and go about it in your own creative ways. The only knockback I could give it is that in the later stages of the game the enemies can be brutally tough (but that might be a skill issue) and even then there are so many ways to deal with them that it makes for a fun challenge. Overall, Prey 2017 (wish it was called Typhon) is truly a must play for anyone and everyone that loves player freedom as this game is the epitome of creative expression!