Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Prey thrusts players into a constantly shifting environment where conventional rules of gravity are tossed aside. As Tommy, a garage mechanic snatched into The Sphere, you’ll find yourself walking on walls, navigating ceilings, and flipping entire corridors with the activation of specialized gravity grids. This dynamic traversal keeps the action fresh and often disorients you in the best possible way, forcing you to rethink conventional shooter strategies.

Combat revolves around a unique arsenal of mostly organic weapons, each featuring a powerful secondary fire mode. You’ll swing a trusty wrench, hatch explosive crawlers, spray corrosive acid, or charge a fearsome leech gun with elemental orbs—fire, ice, lightning, or raw spirit energy. For larger engagements or environmental manipulation, hop into a hovering pod to pelt enemies with mounted cannons or use the tractor beam to haul obstacles into place.

Yet Prey isn’t just about shooting; it blends action with exploration and puzzle-solving in equal measure. Many areas require you to decipher cryptic codes, flip switches in the right sequence, or locate hidden portals to alternate dimensions. The ship’s sprawling layout—evocative of classic zero-G titles like Descent—can occasionally feel labyrinthine, but persistent exploration rewards you with new pathways, cutscenes, and powerful upgrades.

Graphics

Built on a heavily modified Doom 3 engine, Prey delivers some of the most memorable sci-fi vistas of its era. Organic tendrils pulse alongside gleaming cybernetic conduits, creating environments that feel alive—and occasionally hostile. Dynamic lighting and real-time shadows heighten the tension as you creep through bioluminescent hallways or battle in stark, sterile engine rooms.

The game’s gravity-bending mechanics are more than gimmicks; they showcase detailed textures and seamless transitions between floor, wall, and ceiling. Portals to the Spirit World shift the color palette to ethereal blues and greens, while ghostly apparitions drift through the environment. These dimension-swapping moments provide striking visual contrast and underscore the game’s dual-world theme.

Despite its age, Prey still impresses with meticulous environmental details—from the flickering control panels to the fleshy, pulsating roots that encase entire chambers. Multiplayer arenas also benefit from these design choices, offering claustrophobic corridors and multi-level arenas that look as good in EAX HD surround sound–enhanced firefights as they do in single-player exploration.

Story

At its core, Prey opens with a visceral inciting incident: Tommy defends his girlfriend Jen in an Oklahoma reservation bar fight, only to watch the entire establishment—including himself—spiral into a massive alien vessel known as The Sphere. Stripped of normalcy, Tommy awakens shackled to an unknowable destiny: rescue Jen and his grandfather Enisi, and unravel the purpose behind this living starship.

The narrative weaves in Tommy’s Native American heritage through the ever-present spirit of Talon, a spectral hawk guide. You’ll cross into ancestral realms to commune with your grandfather or unlock hidden talents, tapping into an alternate “Spirit Walk” to bypass hazards and solve puzzles. This personal journey adds emotional weight to what might otherwise have been a straightforward action plot.

Dialogue and environmental storytelling work hand in hand. Voice performances convey Tommy’s desperation and resolve, while scattered logs and runes hint at The Sphere’s creators and their grim intentions. Though some exposition comes through occasional info dumps, the blend of mythic undertones with hard sci-fi imagery delivers a compelling and surprisingly introspective tale.

Overall Experience

Prey stands out by marrying inventive level design with a heartfelt, myth-infused narrative. The seamless interplay between gravity puzzles, spirit realm sequences, and visceral combat keeps the pacing steady and engaging. Even after a decade, the game’s willingness to defy genre conventions—both in story and gameplay—feels refreshingly bold.

For those seeking extended play, Prey includes up to eight-player multiplayer modes—duel or team deathmatch—leveraging OpenAL and EAX HD surround sound to create tight, atmospheric skirmishes. Custom maps and varied loadouts ensure that the fun doesn’t end when the single-player credits roll, making it a perennial favorite in niche shooter communities.

While occasional navigation frustration and a somewhat steep learning curve can trip up newcomers, the payoff is well worth the effort. From the eerie glow of alien chambers to the pulse-pounding thrill of spirit-bow battles, Prey offers an unforgettable ride. Fans of thoughtful, exploration-driven shooters will find themselves drawn back to The Sphere time and again.

Retro Replay Score

7.9/10