Prey (2006)

 PC
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 462 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 319 out of 462
  2. Mixed: 105 out of 462
  3. Negative: 38 out of 462
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  1. Deathknight
    Jul 30, 2006
    9
    One of the best games I've played so far.
  2. KDep
    Jul 26, 2006
    6
    This game itself is quite good and well developed. If this had been released before Doom 3, we'd all be doing cartwheels because it would be so marvelous. However, it wasn't. Prey is highly likable with a lot of nice things that are a step above D3 and Q4, but it feels more like a mod or an expansion than a real game. It's waaaay too easy, so it's basically run and gun This game itself is quite good and well developed. If this had been released before Doom 3, we'd all be doing cartwheels because it would be so marvelous. However, it wasn't. Prey is highly likable with a lot of nice things that are a step above D3 and Q4, but it feels more like a mod or an expansion than a real game. It's waaaay too easy, so it's basically run and gun your way to the end. Puzzles are easy, enemies are predictable, AI isn't that smart. Prey has so much potential, but it doesn't live up to it's own hype. I think it looks very good and then new gravity / portals idea makes the game enjoyable, but it's just one more baby step up the D3 engine ladder. Nothing revolutionary, nothing to blow your socks off, but all that said, it's a nice game idea, it looks nice and plays well. A nice game, but nowhere near worth the price tag. Wait for this one to hit the bargain bin (you likely won't have to wait too long). It's absolutely worth picking up, but not until the price is around $20, which it will be fairly quickly.… Expand
  3. TheBlade
    Jul 24, 2006
    7
    I expected more from a game I was hearing about over eight years ago. fun if you don't think about that however, also creative and looks excellent on a good machine.
  4. QQuanter
    Jul 23, 2006
    5
    Something new from something old .. classic shooter in same engine with same stuff in other package.. id liked it.. as far my save games were ok.. but then, corrupted saves or eved didnt saved at all, so no point to start from a 3rd autosave, last 2 were corrupted with all quicksaves .. and normal save never worked :( shame
  5. clarice
    Jul 22, 2006
    7
    Fun at times but falls short of its potential. They could have done much more with the gravity puzzles, and the fighting lacks something. I personally hated the weapon selection and the general feel of the weapons. Its also very short. That being said, it is a cool game and when the price drops to $35-40 it will be worth your money if you like the genre.
  6. SoulPaladin
    Jul 21, 2006
    4
    They are so many faacts to keep in games that it's almost impossible to meet all of them. You have the story line, the sound, the graph, interaction, AI & how long the game is. The game is ok to play to change your mind and enjoy a nice relax moment but there isn't anything into it that makes you jump or say "Damn that is nice". I agree with many of you that the game can lacks They are so many faacts to keep in games that it's almost impossible to meet all of them. You have the story line, the sound, the graph, interaction, AI & how long the game is. The game is ok to play to change your mind and enjoy a nice relax moment but there isn't anything into it that makes you jump or say "Damn that is nice". I agree with many of you that the game can lacks of AI and the graph are same as DOOM III and QUAKE 4. I think the game would have been better with some good jokes like Duke Nukem 3D and make the game much, much longer without feeling to blow your brains out cause it's getting boring. For now the top game remain in my opimion HL2. because the engine hasn't change at all and it seems a copy past from other games. Sorry to say this but ven F.E.A.R is better then this game. Hell... even Marathon from Bungie is better even if it's old. For now all I want is to see in the future a new remade and better Duke Numkem 3D with better chicks and "sex" into it, please don't forget the jokes and porn into it. Take care all and remember... spending too much money on games that end fast isn't cool. Like Episode 1 of HL2.… Expand
  7. AnsonG.
    Jul 21, 2006
    3
    Dont expect this game very much better then Doom 3 or Quake 4. When starting was okay but after that u will get boring and geedy. Who is this game for? The weapons look very cliched and the combat not very serious. Sometime u board onto ship u will feel headache. The only i gave this point was graphics, display and gravity. This game was not the best series and everything u dont want in Dont expect this game very much better then Doom 3 or Quake 4. When starting was okay but after that u will get boring and geedy. Who is this game for? The weapons look very cliched and the combat not very serious. Sometime u board onto ship u will feel headache. The only i gave this point was graphics, display and gravity. This game was not the best series and everything u dont want in best FPS game.… Expand
  8. DanielC.
    Jul 20, 2006
    4
    The game starts out GREAT I was thinking, "wow is this actually trying to compete with the half life 2 engine?!". The pub had a lot of time spent on creating it and making it look just right. Then you get taken into the ship and that is where the game loses everything. You go on a boring ride and fall of into a big butt (you'll know what i mean if you play). So the graphics look The game starts out GREAT I was thinking, "wow is this actually trying to compete with the half life 2 engine?!". The pub had a lot of time spent on creating it and making it look just right. Then you get taken into the ship and that is where the game loses everything. You go on a boring ride and fall of into a big butt (you'll know what i mean if you play). So the graphics look good, but as you play through, pick up weapons etc it gets really tedious there are no differences of creative streeks anywhere. Everything looks the same the only plus point I can give are the gravity paths and that is about it! A disapointing game after a really good start.… Expand
  9. KnutV.
    Jul 18, 2006
    10
    Best 3d Game ever since F.E.A.R
  10. MarkS.
    Jul 17, 2006
    8
    This game is fun, but there is no question that it is pretty much a standard FPS. The gravity switching and wall walking is a nice twist on the genre, and doesn't really get confusing. The portal concept, while looking cool, isn't anything new. The portals, in fact, are nothing more than doors. The spirit walking puzzles are a nice addition, and I like the death walk. (It sure This game is fun, but there is no question that it is pretty much a standard FPS. The gravity switching and wall walking is a nice twist on the genre, and doesn't really get confusing. The portal concept, while looking cool, isn't anything new. The portals, in fact, are nothing more than doors. The spirit walking puzzles are a nice addition, and I like the death walk. (It sure keeps you from cursing for not quick-saving). The graphics are the same as Doom III; I really can't see the enhancement. The sound is excellent. The voice acting is very good. The game is quite short, my son has finished it already. To the people that say this game offers nothing new, I would have to counter with the fact that my son isn't really a FPS player, but when he saw this, he had to play it through to the end. It must have something, because he passed on Doom III and Quake IV. All in all, I'd say the Metascore is an acurate rating of this game.… Expand
  11. TerryD.
    Jul 16, 2006
    10
    Outstanding. Best shooter since Halo and HalfLife 2. Cool deal is getting all tied up in Tommy's character - the story works. The foes work. the weapons work. The bad guys work. And man, do the environiments ever work. Perfect.
  12. LeeU
    Jul 14, 2006
    4
    Overated, overhyped schlock.
  13. MattB.
    Jul 14, 2006
    7
    Some mind-bending tricks with portals and gravity are a fun diversion and a welcome piece of experimentation in a fatigued genre, but that doesn't mitigate the distinctly aged model of FPS combat on show here. The environments are at times amazing, but the game mostly defaults to the usual series of "Corridors and Rooms for Fighting inTM". The plot's fairly cliché, good Some mind-bending tricks with portals and gravity are a fun diversion and a welcome piece of experimentation in a fatigued genre, but that doesn't mitigate the distinctly aged model of FPS combat on show here. The environments are at times amazing, but the game mostly defaults to the usual series of "Corridors and Rooms for Fighting inTM". The plot's fairly cliché, good enough to keep you playing to see out the epilogue, but nothing particularly memorable. Voice acting totters between average and above average. It does the job and the actors give off a sense that they did their best with what they were given. It's a good product with a smattering of new ideas, but it never gave me the impression that I was playing something special. So after the hype and on-again-off-again development time, I was left somewhat disappointed.… Expand
  14. Gamerdude
    Jul 14, 2006
    1
    It looks like any other game using the doom engine out there, the combat is really bad. All it has going for it is some interesting effects. Another hype bite the dust.
  15. 0marJ.
    Jul 13, 2006
    6
    Okay, Prey is probably one of the bigger games to come out this year. Unfortunately, it's also pretty lackluster. It commits the biggest crime possibly in the FPS genre, namely that the combat isn't very good. Your basic enemy (hunters) are dumb as rocks. Not dumb as in stand in the middle of room and not moving (they do that too), but dumb as in they refuse to shoot at you Okay, Prey is probably one of the bigger games to come out this year. Unfortunately, it's also pretty lackluster. It commits the biggest crime possibly in the FPS genre, namely that the combat isn't very good. Your basic enemy (hunters) are dumb as rocks. Not dumb as in stand in the middle of room and not moving (they do that too), but dumb as in they refuse to shoot at you unless you stand still for several seconds. There are some other monsters, but all their attacks are easily dodgable. There is simply no challenge in combat. What's worse, even if you die, you simply resurrect where you died with 50% health and 50% spirit. Booring. The story is non-existant for at least 50% of the time. There are 4-5 levels in between that simply do nothing to advance the story, give goals for the player or elaborate on the game world. They are simply there. What story there is is fairly cliched. You have the bad guys, the guys opposed to the bad guys who recruit you and that's it. There are some revelations, but nothing earth shattering. A lot of loose ends are still remaining and lots of random moments that don't get explained at all. The sounds of Prey are decent, but the music is the real highlight. It's a great soundtrack. The sound effects for the aliens are your standard shrieks, moans and grunts. There's definately nothing that will stand out after you are done with the game. Physics and interactivity border on a 2002 or 2003 game. You can't grab any physics object, which doesn't matter anyways, as 99% of all objects are boxes of one sort or another. You can't pick up grenades thrown by the enemies. After HL2, I'm surprised developers don't see the potential in having every physics object truly interactive. The puzzles are good, some of them might take a few minutes to complete, which is about the high end of not being frustrated. Spiritwalking is definately not used to it's potential though. Every time you see a forcefield, it's spiritwalk across and deactivate it. A little variety would have gone a long way. Wall-walking is definately cool though. Prey's length is definately short. Forget what you've been hearing about 8-12 hour adventure, anyone who's played a few FPS's will finish this game in 6-8 hours. Definately not a full price purchase, wait until it hits 30 or so bucks. It's not worth a purchase at full price. HL2 Episode 1 offers slightly less, but it's also half the price. Prey's graphics are 2004ish at best. Low-res textures (by today's standards) are everywhere. There is no HDR, hell I don't even think there's bloom. There are a few fancy shader effects, but nothing really impressive. You can definately see the Doom3 engine's age in this game. Everything has a shiny and/or plastic sheen. The characters are really disappointing as well. They are oddly proportioned and Jen has elf ears. The voice acting and script are about par. There are some points in the game where the voice acting truly stands out and is worthy of being in a triple A game, but then the next scene will have simply atrocious acting. The writing is also bipolar. There are some great lines, but then you'll hear "DIE DIE DIE" said in a serious way. It doesn't fit. Finally, let's end on a good note. The weapons are definately the highlight of Prey; it's a damn shame that you don't need any of them though. Your first true weapon in the game is all you'll need for 90% of the time. The other weapons are simply overkill. There are bosses, but they require zero thinking to kill and even less skill, again thanks to deathwalk. There is not a single point in the entire game where you can't deathwalk, even in the last battle. Prey is an average shooter at best. It is not the next HL or FEAR or even Q4. It's spotty, inconsistent, and uninspired. FEAR showed us that level design doesn't mean much if the combat is intense, bloody and feels good. Q4's level design is about par with Prey's (vertical walkways and spiritwalking don't particularly mask the corridor shooter that is underneath) but at least the combat was vicious. Prey suffers from a lack of focus. It's combat is weak and easy. The story is lackluster. The sounds are generic. The level design has it's moments, but often times one can accurately predict what's going to happen in the next room. The puzzles are definately a good point though; I enjoyed many of them. Unfortunately, a couple good puzzles and some cool weapons don't make up for many of Prey's negatives. Prey is pretty much an average shooter, through and through.… Expand
  16. ChunkAhoyC.
    Jul 13, 2006
    9
    Excellent game, huge levels and incredible sound effects. Prey gave me more fun than HL2 Episode 1 and is on par with HL2 in my mind.
  17. MarkY.
    Jul 13, 2006
    2
    I was very unimpressed by this game. I thought that is was derviative, poorly executed and uninteresting. The AI was subpar at best and the animations were likewise poor. The gameplay was very repetitive. I am very disappointed.
  18. Thepiman
    Jul 12, 2006
    9
    While the AI on the enemies sucks the game does not. Not only are the puzzles fun and different but the loading times are superior to the load times of Half life 2. The Game runs smoothly maxed out. While the Death walk and the lack of enemies makes the combat easy thus far (I have not gotten to the boss). If the Gamespot reviewer had played the game he would have noted that the game not While the AI on the enemies sucks the game does not. Not only are the puzzles fun and different but the loading times are superior to the load times of Half life 2. The Game runs smoothly maxed out. While the Death walk and the lack of enemies makes the combat easy thus far (I have not gotten to the boss). If the Gamespot reviewer had played the game he would have noted that the game not only has great voice acting , on par with quake 4 and half life 2, but also has great music and supports open AL. Other thing to note are: 1. support for the Logitech G15 gaming keyboard duel core.… Expand
  19. Kyleb2112jay
    Jul 11, 2006
    8
    People shouldn't rate games they obviously haven't played more than 5 minutes. You may not like the game, but giving it a zero says more about your ignorance than the game. The clever portals and gravity changes are the first new things I've seen in an FPS in a long time. The game maps are often brilliant and will force you to problem solve in 3 dimensions. What the game People shouldn't rate games they obviously haven't played more than 5 minutes. You may not like the game, but giving it a zero says more about your ignorance than the game. The clever portals and gravity changes are the first new things I've seen in an FPS in a long time. The game maps are often brilliant and will force you to problem solve in 3 dimensions. What the game badly needed was more wide areas with tactical combat against a lot more enemies. You never take on more than a few at a time and it's always in cramped quarters. Even well-designed puzzles get old when they're linked back to back. And the indian chanting got real old.… Expand
  20. HenryJ.
    Jul 11, 2006
    4
    Well it has some great physics going on but completely lacks atomsphere as is the case with most FPS these days. When is somebody going to create a clever and immersive FPS and stop the cliche? System Shock 2 is about seven years old but still makes Prey feel like doom 1995.
  21. Marshall
    Jul 9, 2006
    9
    This game combines a well-developed plot, beautiful graphics, and gameplay that isn't repetitive thanks to a variety of areas you enter in the game. It's what Doom III should have been, rather than the "find red key, open door, find next key, open door..." that bogged it down. A blast to play from start to finish!
  22. BryanR.
    Jun 24, 2006
    9
    pros: Great graphics, gameplay, and voice acting. cons: Wall walking gets a little nauseating after a while :p
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Awards & Rankings

24
#24 Best PC Game of 2006
14
#14 Most Discussed PC Game of 2006
3
#3 Most Shared PC Game of 2006

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 51 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 51
  3. Negative: 0 out of 51
  1. PC Zone UK
    86
    It's so pregnant with ideas and beautiful movements that you'd be a sad fool to to deprive yourself of the experience. If the sequel is longer, a bit more difficult, and plays slightly more intelligently, then I can't imagine it being anything other than a Classic. [Aug 2006, p.58]
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  2. Detroit Free Press
    100
    Prey is touted as having an adaptive difficulty system -- the better you are, the better it gets -- and it really did seem to get harder as the game went on. As a result, there are just two difficulty settings, Normal and Cherokee, and I'd advise that even vets might want to give Normal a try on the first run out, letting the game's artificial intelligence pick up the pace to a comfortable level.
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  3. GamerFeed
    90
    Plot holes aside, the gameplay in Prey is nothing short of amazing. Whether you're wandering up walls, shifting gravity, shrunk down to the size of a mouse, going into spirit form, fighting in the afterlife, or floating around in a service vehicle... Prey has got everything anyone could want from a sci-fi shooter and more.
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