Prey (2017) just turned five this week, proving once more that time is a vortex. However, we saw this as a fantastic opportunity to once again remind the masses that Prey is bloody brilliant.
This first-person sci-fi horror has never quite been held in the same regard to its Arkane brethren, such as Dishonored, or more recently, Deathloop. To us, that's one of the greatest gaming injustices, as not only do we believe that Prey is just as good as those other titles, we believe it's actually better.
If that’s a statement or claim that you are struggling to wrap your head around, head on over to the Push Square YouTube channel, where we break down exactly why we believe Prey to be Arkane’s best game.
This whole topic does come with a pinch of sadness of course, due to the still healing wound of the Bethesda and Microsoft acquisition, which means that any further Arkane titles — one can always dream of a Prey 2 — will sadly not be showing up on our beloved PlayStation platform. However, that doesn’t mean we don’t get to celebrate what we do have.
Prey is an excellent rendition of an open world that deserves all the praise it can get. So let us know what you thought of this underrated sci-fi romp. Where do you think it stands in the Arkane rankings? And while we wouldn’t get it on PlayStation, would you even be interested in a sequel?
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Comments 62
I tried it after hearing all the praise and, personally, it bored me. Which honestly rarely ever happens to me with games, but I actually dropped this one.
Good video, though, interesting to hear another perspective. I do really like Dishonored, and I thought Deathloop was pretty good as well; both I think are teensy bit overrated, however.
The opening soundtrack is legendary.that 1980s feeling music when you are on the helicopter is excellent.but i still enjoy the original dishonored the best.prey is really goid also.word up son
It’s on my list to play and with the fps boost on my series X I’m going to have to play it there. I would buy it for my PS5 but I’m not playing it at 30fps
I loved both Dishonoured games and Deathloop
It is a masterpiece for the genre. I absolutely loved it. I also love everything Dishonored. These games prove that you don’t need an open world to have freedom, just great stage design.
I never played Dishonoured and haven't yet got around to Deathloop but I agree, Prey is definitely better.
A hot take if I’ve ever seen one
Deathloop is the only Arkane title I’ve ever actually finished, honestly. I liked the concept of Prey, but always had trouble sticking with it, for some reason. I wanted to like it, but I struggled with the game as it “opened up.” I remember playing the demo and my hype being over the moon (intentional pun), but I don’t know. The game just wasn’t for me, for some reason. I always tell myself I need to go back though…
Very good game. Finished it on PS4 Pro, don’t know how, cause the aiming and the 30fps cap was dreadful. But the story and gameplay was really good. Got that bioshock vibe when I played it. Was hoping for a PS5 patch for this one to give it another go !
Deathloop’s probably the best Arkane game I’ve played and really up there with the best immersive sims. Really need to get round to Prey if it’s apparently this good.
Prey is amazing, it's probably represents the pinnacle of the system shock/immersive sim gameplay.
The systems and level design are among the best ever made, however the combat is fairly average and at the beginning when you have no upgrades is pretty boring and a bit of a slog. Also late on the combat is ludicrously easy
One of my favorite games on ps4 , loved every minute of this gem
the moon crash dlc for prey is where they got the idea for deathloop. and frankly mooncrash is better than deathloop
@get2sammyb We all have games or genres like this. I'm not a fan of Roguelikes and can't understand people's obsession with things like The Binding of Isaac or Enter the Gungeon. Whereas I love immersive sims like Prey and Dishonored. There are no wrong answers.
@Fuzzymonkeyfunk It plays like a dream with FPS Boost as does the Dishonored series... except 2 for some annoying reason!
Dishonored is best Arkane game
prey really benefits from speedy load times of new consoles and runs at 1440p 60 fps on series X.
@themightyant Well that's the thing, I really like these type of games usually. Prey just didn't stick for me. I might try it again another day.
I adore prey fantastic art deco design very bioshock vibes to it but an immersive sim game with so many different ways to do things. how do i get in the room do i get the door code? do i hack the door? do i mimic an item slide through the window? do i fire a dart at the computer to open the door? do i have the skill to lift heavy items to get on the roof? do i use the glue gun to make some stairs to get in via the roof?
choices choices
@get2sammyb Then you're just wrong! 10 lashes with a wet noodle
I love Prey but, to me, Arkanes best work is Dishonored 2. But I respect your take.
That's how I'd order their games:
Dishonored 2
Death of the Outsider
Dishonored
Prey
Deathloop
I do like all of their games. At least, those I played.
Arkanes upcoming games not coming to Playstation is by far the most stinging result out of Microsofts Bethesda deal. Just BTW.
Meh, why should I miss arkane games on PlayStation? Mostly felt like competent yet soulless imitations of Deus Ex, Thief and partially system shock.
Think I can vouch for that. Dishonoured great; fantastic Deathloop meanwhile got pushed off the end of the mantelpiece .. no offence brother, I’ll bump you again but I can only “pin” five games. Honestly don’t know whether I’m supposed to stealth or just gun all those suckas down
I bought it ages ago after hearing the hype after the initial not spectacular reviews ..seemed decent but I didn't play much....I have planned to return to it for years....really are just to many games now with the likes of gamepass...gone are the days of just buying one game and fully investing in that game and that game alone for the next few weeks....miss that in a way
Despite the fantastic setup I really bounced right off Prey. It just didn't work for me. I liked Deathloop a lot but the Dishonoured games are still, to me, their finest hour
I absolutely loved this game and had a better time with it than any of Arkane’s other games, so I definitely agree with this article. Even the Mooncrash DLC was excellent. Thoroughly enjoyed that as well. That said though, I look at this game like the movie The Big Lebowski - it’s a gem in and of itself and should be left alone as is; No sequel needed.
In general, I think Arkane is a great, somewhat underrated studio.
“Prey” is one of my five or six favorite games of the last gen - which I wouldn’t have expected after struggling to get into it during the first few hours. It starts out a bit slow (and rather hard), but it gets a lot better as you’re able to explore more of the station and unlock more abilities (so those Phantom typhon can’t kill you in seconds.)
I really like the “Dishonored” series too, but I prefer the art style and atmosphere of “Prey.”
(And this all reminds me that I still need to play “Deathloop.”)
I’ve been calling this game a masterpiece since I played it and now I’ve finally found the other guy on the internet who agrees! This video makes me happy 😄
It was my GOTY 2017 by far, loved it.
Still not over Prey 2 never becoming a thing!
For me Dishonoured 2 takes Arkane game number one spot all day every day over this.
1 million % the best Arkane game. Very underated
@JAMes-BroWWWn Deathloop was just super annoying with how crap the AI was and how limited you were with your abilities compared to Dishonored. I liked the setting, voice acting, and some of the gameplay but when the AI is not working as intended in a stealth game it's not worth playing(I'm glad I stopped playing it so I don't have to hear "Better not be Colt" for the millionth time). Especially in some zones where for some reason it's an invisible wall for the AI.
I really liked prey because it reminded me of bioshock a little
Come on now...Prey is fantastic and criminally underrated, but Dishonored 1 & 2 are Arkane at its peak.
I found it to be an absolutely dreadful as a gaming experience, but then again Im not a fan of any Arkane games really.
It’s weird to read this praise on the back of hearing Sacred Symbols Chris Ray Gun praise the game. I tend to agree though. As an immersive sim it’s fantastic. Dishonored is my cup of tea for the steampunk aesthetic but Arkane makes great immersive games.
Prey is my favourite Arkane game. I liked the setting and how it felt like modern System Shock. I liked the Mooncrash DLC which turned the game into a roguelite immersive Sim which added a new dynamic to the game. Deathloop I found boring and lacking compared to Prey but that's just my take
Just finished this game couple months ago, play through the game, I often felt like this is the space / sci-fi version of bioshock, the power + weapon combat system, the scattered audio logs, hacking of turret, scan emenies with a camera, health restoring consumbles, upgrading your power / weapon, even the map reminded me of bioshock, places like arboretum vs arcadia in bioshock, both games are master piece in my option.
Also there is a very good song, titled "semi sacred geometry".
I love your passion, great video.
I played the demo around launch time. The concept was cool and Im a fan of the art direction, but I found the demo boring in the end and didn't opt in for the whole game. Itd need a tight PS5 upgrade for mw to give it a whirl now.
Did Chris Ray Gun write the script for this video? I definitely agree that it’s Arkane’s best game.
I played the demo and got bored of itz unless it gets better after that.
I did really enjoyed the original 2006 one
I really enjoyed it (think I got the platinum 🤔) but I don’t remember a single thing about it.
Could probably say that about most games though tbh. Especially ones from 5 years ago (feels much longer ago that that).
Love arkane games, took a while to get into prey but love it. Too bad arkane games won't be on ps anymore, same for starfield.
Dishonored 2 is my fave. Absolutely brilliant.
Side note.
People have called both Dishonoured and Deathloop "sims" in this thread. I'm really confused, doubting myself and all that.
Either I don't know what you can call a simulation or the others don't.
Having said that Greek/Norse mythology Sim God of War is a favourite of mine, closely followed by post apocalyptic robot dinosaur world sim, the horizon series.
@get2sammyb No way is Dishonored especially 2 overrated. I also think y'all overrate Yakuza on here a bit too much.
All the same I've played the heck out of Prey and Dishonored I can't really say one is better than the other. They're all just too good. Though for some reason I haven't really gotten into Mooncrash because it's roguelite and that genre hasn't grabbed me yet.
I've tried it twice and it doesn't really gel for me. I think the setting is a bit too generic and the enemies aren't very interesting. First Dishonoured is tops IMO.
One of my favourite games of the last generation. Such brilliant level design and engaging gameplay.
I'd love to see Arkane's games with full VR support at some stage. Those games just be perfect candidates for a super-immersive VR experience.
But sadly, as Microsoft now own them I guess that is highly unlikely. Same with future Bethesda titles.
As a huge fan of the original prey (oh that intro), this one always threw me about what it had in common aside from the name.
I played it for a little bit, but lost interest for some reason, maybe a new game grabbed my attention. Its on the huge to try again list though.
@themightyant I'm still waiting for the 60fps patch/boost for Dishonered 2 - why would they willingly ignore just that game? Gotta stay optimistic.
@The_Pixel_King yeah I’ve had a series X for a year now and I’ve only played halo and Forza and the gunk on it. I believe I fps boost works on series S too but it drops it down to 900p at 60fps
I really want to replay quantum break on it but it’s still stuck at 30fps
@TJ81 they clearly haven’t ignored it. It’s 99% likely they tried their FPS boost feature and it didn’t work correctly or caused other issues. It’s just a shame they don’t say that but guess they want to keep their options open in case someone, at either MS or Arkane, figures out a solution. But it is frustrating. Love that series.
It's ironic that just last night I was staring at this game in my Steam library, wanting to give it another playthrough but deciding against it eventually because of time constraints.
I played this game day one in 2017 and finished it over a weekend, that is how much I loved it. I was also thinking last night how underrated this game is. Deathloop was very bad in comparison imo.
I've found all Arkane games to be really boring. Dishonored 2 and Deathloop both failed to hold my attention. Got bored a third of the way in and couldn't be bothered to continue with them. I don't know what all the fuss was about tbh.
Video: Why Prey Is Arkane's Best Game
This game needs a current gen patch, even if it's only to fix the load times (although it's CryEngine, so not sure if PS5 would help too much.) So many load times!!! I love this game btw.
In my opinion far better than dishonoured, had loads of fun playing through it with a really interesting DLC. The closest game to feeling like System Shock. I might actually have to play through it again
No way, played through all the Dishonored games and DLC's multiple times, brilliant atmosphere, world building and gameplay. Prey is also a brilliant game, but not on the same level as Dishonored, played it only twice...
I would love if they returned to the series, perhaps with a game about the mad scientist Solokin and his voyages to the other continents...
Prey is incredibly underrated the atmosphere is unlike any game I've played. Amazing soundtrack as well
Hands down one of the best games of the last decade, and yeah, probably even better than Dishonored.
Oh and the DLC, Mooncrash, is incredible!
@TJ81 @themightyant is correct, I read a statement by Arkane some time ago that said just that, they tried but unfortunately couldn't implement it in a satisfying way.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news
dschons wrote:
WOW! 2017 was a very strong year with Zelda: BOTW, Horizon Zero Dawn, RE7, Nier: Automata, Persona 5 and Mario Odyssey among many others.
I didn't play it till 2018 so it came behind God of War and Hollow Knight, which is no insult. Also loved it, great game.
I'm going to add my Dishhonored > Prey, Prey had better world building but needed better combat as I remember it. Still a highly rated game and one I would play again
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