Prey for salvation

About 6 months ago, I picked up Prey for the 360 for a measly $20.  I remember when the game originally graced the cover of PC Games way back in 1997, and I remember playing the demo when it was released in 2006 on the PC.  While I wasn’t necessarily impressed, it seemed fun enough.  Naturally, many other games came out and I never got around to even putting it in my 360.  Now, however, seeing as I’m attempting to complete Ninja Gaiden Black on every difficulty level (including Master Ninja) I figured I needed another game to “relax” in between training sessions, preferably one I hadn’t played through yet.

I had forgotten how much I dislike the run-and-gun-near-infinite-health-shooter.  After playing Rainbow Six: Vegas and Battlefield 2 almost constantly for the past month and a half, I’ve gotten so used to dying in just a couple of shots that it is a bit awkward to get shot 10 times with barely any health disappearing.  I’m really hoping that playing this game doesn’t n00bify me in the world of FPS.

I will definitely say this about Prey.  No game, before or since, has made it so painfully clear just how terrifying of an experience being abducted by an aggressive alien species, brought on their ship, and experimented on would be.  Flying around through the ship while strapped to a massive metal shield-type thing on rails, while hearing screams of pain and seeing the interior of a half-organic ship definitely sets the mood.   Seeing one person being horribly killed by an experiment, only to have another person slide into place after the first one is liquefied alive (rinse, repeat) is quite an experience.  Accidentally turning the machine back on after it shuts down, with no way to shut it off again, is quite disconcerting.  All the while, distant screams of immeasurable pain (and prayers) are heard while a naked man is sitting in a corner, babbling to himself, unable to comprehend the events that are occurring around him.  One thing this game doesn’t lack is atmosphere. 

One thing the game inexplicably lacks, however, is it.  It is something that only the best games have…the games that when you play even for just five minutes, you know it’s going to be amazing; you know the game has it.  I’m not quite sure what is missing yet.  The graphics are pretty good (considering it’s just a modified Doom3 engine), the texture work decent, the sound work is FANTASTIC, the level designs are unique and open, and the enemy models are interesting (albeit a bit repetitive).  Controls are tight, so far the game has some decent scares (unfortunately mostly of the “pop out at you” variety), and I enjoy playing it.  Still, there is something lacking that I can’t quite put my finger on…maybe it’s because I’ve only played for about 3 hours or so, but it just seems like something is missing.  Something that would make it go from being decent to being excellent.

All in all, I would recommend it to folks who enjoy shooters.  Be warned though: so far (I’ve played through six levels) the game is UNBELIEVABLY easy, and you have to beat it on normal to get to the harder difficulties.  You will enjoy playing it, but will likely be confused as I am; something is just missing, despite all the pieces being in place.

 In-progress score: 7 out of 10