5/5 ★ – RossMc's review of Prey.

I wish I had played this game years ago. I've been missing out on another Arkane classic for years. I love the immersive sim aspects of Dishonored, and this game takes so many of those ideas and puts them into a semi-open Metroidvania style world. The vibe on Talos is so cool. The beginning of the game is actually scary as you walk around, not knowing what object could secretly be a mimic hiding. As you explore further you run into more and more dangerous enemies and they are actually intimidating early game. However, as I unlocked new powers and got more resources, I started being able to contend with the enemies. I enjoyed the sense of getting more powerful until I was even able to fight off the Nightmare typhon. The station feels so well realized. Reading the notes and audio logs sitting around slowly reveals all these relationships aboard the station. I especially like hearing about a character at one location, and then later seeing the name pop up again. Piecing the events on the station together gave interesting mystery game aspects to the game. The story is also very compelling. I still remember the mind blowing reveal at the very beginning of the game from back when the game first released. Again, throughout the game you meet characters and learn the events of the station and I felt that it was very interesting. I also liked how many twists and turns you run into trying to complete the main objective. It feels like every time something is about to go your way, a new problem rears it's head. Also I felt like my choices actually mattered at the end. I liked being able to save characters from their fates and change the outcome of the story. And the reveal at the end, that you were in a simulation the whole time as a typhon being tested for human compassion, was such a cool twist. I really hope they use it as a way to continue into a new game. I am very happy that I finally got around to playing this game. To see the Arkane formula in a new setting is so nice, another great game by Arkane. Definitely sits up there with Dishonored 2 among my favorites.