Home Gaming Prey reviews suggest it’s a worthy spiritual successor to System Shock

Prey reviews suggest it’s a worthy spiritual successor to System Shock

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Prey

Bethesda’s new review policy means that media get copies of new games published by the company on the day of release. As a result, there are few (if any!) reviews of new Bethesda games available by the time the game is in stores.

Bethesda says it’s so that media and consumers get to experience the game at the same time, which is probably a little disingenuous.

“With the upcoming launches of Skyrim Special Edition and Dishonored 2, we will continue our policy of sending media review copies one day before release,” Bethesda said when they made their policy public. “While we will continue to work with media, streamers, and YouTubers to support their coverage – both before and after release – we want everyone, including those in the media, to experience our games at the same time.”

It’s probably just so that they can get your pre-orders in before negative reviews flood the internet. One day, Bethesda will release a turkey, and the vocal bit of the internet will erupt in flames. Today is not that day, as Prey seems to be an exceptional game. While the demo for Prey left a lot to be desired, the game itself is racking up acclaim. Here’s what critics are saying about Arkane’s Prey, which seems to be a bit like BioShock in space.

Attack of the Fanboy – 4.5/5

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As far as first person action games go, Arkane Studios is probably the best in the business. Proving that the studio has no shortage of interesting ideas, Prey is the perfect blend of thrilling action and thought provoking story. Who needs a new Bioshock or Half Life game when we’re getting experiences like these?

Gadgets 360 – 9/10

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None of Prey’s elements stand out on their own, but they work well in cohesion. Progressing through the story was a treat. Without spoiling much, there are a fair number of plot twists that keep you engaged. This is backed up with slick controls, responsive gunplay, cool neuromods, and stellar level design. Clocking in at around 20 hours, Prey is well worth checking out even if you’re not a fan of horror or sci-fi. It might not be wholly original, but that doesn’t make it any less fun.

Press Start – 9/10

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Prey is another win for Arkane. It’s a game where everyone who plays it will have a different experience. One thing is certain though – that Prey remains a consistent experience from beginning to end. Providing players with intuitive gameplay systems with great synergy, freedom to approach combat how you want and game design that rewards creativity are just three ways that Prey succeeds. And while BioShock was heralded as the spiritual successor to System Shock, Prey feels like a much more successful attempt. An absolute joy to play and experience.

Stevivor – 8.5/10

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Despite those rough patches, Prey is wholly engrossing, begging the player to solve Talos 1’s many mysteries. It works well as a shooter, a stealth game and carries an 70s sci-fi vibe that is nothing short of a delight to experience.

Game Informer – 8.25/10

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In Morgan Yu, Prey invites us to create a fascinating and complicated protagonist navigating a dangerous world filled with characters worth knowing. Arkane’s fusion of player-driven storytelling and flexible gameplay remains strong throughout its first sci-fi outing, and makes Prey a stellar horror adventure in spite of a handful of flaws.

We’ll have our own review of the game soon. Are you playing it?

Last Updated: May 8, 2017

14 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief

    May 8, 2017 at 13:20

    BUT, what happened to the System Shock reboot?

    Reply

  2. Original Heretic

    May 8, 2017 at 13:32

    Think I’ll grab this somewhere down the line. Looks and sounds like lotsa fun.

    Reply

  3. Ottokie

    May 8, 2017 at 13:45

    I watched a whole play through that ended yesterday since it released. It’s one hell of a good story game.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      May 8, 2017 at 13:54

      Flippen millennial, WATCHING games, sheeeesh

      Reply

      • Ottokie

        May 8, 2017 at 14:00

        If a game has multiple endings then I skip it. I dont see the need to be forced to replay a game 3 times just to see it all.

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief

          May 8, 2017 at 14:35

          At least play it ONCE, then watch the diff cutscenes lolz

          Reply

  4. Kikmi

    May 8, 2017 at 14:00

    Whats irksome is who are these sites and reviewers that have advanced copies? Why should we trust their POV if we’ve never heard of them? How can these reviews be taken into account as a buyer if our information source has no “reputation”.

    Bethesda are all but faultless, if they weren’t this would be less of an issue, but at least we’re not talking about EA and Bioware. It still sits funny with me. Above and beyond the fact that publishers still use their SM accounts to push preorders and gaming websites still make quite a big hoo ha over future planned DLC as if its all good.

    Great for the four institutions mentioned enjoyed the game. That pleases me. But as a method of buying advice? As a method of acquiring relevant information for the relevant product that will be relevant to ME the consumer? Its fucking useless. The digital gaming industry has been going strong and in a bid to help consumers save their time and money go through the effort of ploughing through games in a very small amount of time but still do so to the benefit of their readers and consumers in general. Having publishers now try to take hold of this by changing PR/marketing models is everything that is wrong with the industry.

    but maybe it IS a good game

    //r

    edit: Five institutions. Not four my bad.

    Reply

  5. Skyblue

    May 8, 2017 at 15:00

    Clickbait header, I clicked, now I want to buy… FML

    Reply

  6. geel slang

    May 9, 2017 at 12:15

    Im 3 hours in, and I like it, a-lot.

    Reply

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