| Main centres: | 1-3 business days |
| Regional areas: | 3-4 business days |
| Remote areas: | 3-5 business days |
Status:
Complete and Play Tested
For more games visit us on: https://www.bobshop.co.za/seller/4692286/Just_Press_Play_ZA
----------------------------------
Developer: Arkane Studios
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Genre: Sci-Fi First-Person Action / Immersive Sim
Release: 2017
Prey is a masterclass in atmospheric sci-fi design and immersive sim gameplay, set aboard the haunting space station Talos I. It blends exploration, stealth, combat, and player-driven problem solving into one of the most flexible and intelligent single-player experiences on PS4. While it starts slowly and can feel demanding or confusing at first, it gradually reveals itself as a deeply rewarding and highly replayable sci-fi survival experience.
Prey is built around player freedom and systemic gameplay, meaning almost every problem can be solved in multiple ways.
Core mechanics include:
First-person exploration and combat
Neuromod abilities that grant powers like telekinesis, mimicry, and hacking
Resource management and crafting
Multiple approaches: stealth, combat, or environmental manipulation
Environmental interaction using physics and tools
The standout feature is the Neuromod system, which lets you:
Mimic objects to hide or infiltrate areas
Use psychic abilities like lifting enemies or objects
Hack systems, turrets, and doors
Combine skills in creative ways
Combat is:
Tense and resource-driven early on
Encourages careful planning rather than rushing in
More about survival than pure shooting skill
However:
The opening hours can feel slow and disorienting
Resource scarcity may frustrate some players early
Enemy encounters can feel punishing until upgrades are acquired
But once systems click together, the gameplay becomes extremely flexible and satisfying. ()
Talos I is one of the games biggest strengths.
You explore:
A massive, interconnected space station
Offices, labs, living quarters, and maintenance areas
Alien-infested zones that evolve over time
Strengths:
Excellent interconnected map design
Strong Metroidvania-style progression (new abilities unlock new paths)
Every area is dense with secrets, shortcuts, and alternate routes
Environmental storytelling is superb
The station feels:
Lived-in before the disaster
Increasingly dangerous as the alien threat spreads
Rewarding for players who explore carefully
Weaknesses:
Backtracking can become tedious without fast travel
Navigation can feel confusing at times
Some areas blur together visually
Still, exploration is one of the best examples of immersive sim level design in modern gaming.
You play as Morgan Yu, waking up aboard Talos I after an experiment goes wrong and aliens known as the Typhon escape containment.
Key themes:
Identity and memory
Corporate ethics and experimentation
Humanity vs artificial intelligence
Reality and perception
The narrative is:
Mysterious and slow-burning
Driven by environmental storytelling and audio logs
Built around player interpretation and discovery
What makes it strong:
Constant twists about Morgans identity
Moral choices that affect the ending
A strong sci-fi philosophical tone
The story is less about action spectacle and more about uncovering uncomfortable truths about what is happening on the station.
On PS4, Prey delivers:
Highly detailed sci-fi environments
Excellent lighting and shadow work
Strong art direction inspired by retro-futurism
Distinct alien designs for the Typhon
The atmosphere is consistently impressive:
Claustrophobic corridors
Abandoned, eerie workspaces
Sudden moments of chaos when aliens appear
Weaknesses:
Occasional performance dips
Some visual repetition in office-style areas
Character models are serviceable but not standout
Despite this, the overall aesthetic is one of the strongest in sci-fi gaming.
Audio design is exceptional:
Minimal but effective sci-fi soundtrack
Outstanding ambient soundscapes
Excellent audio cues for enemy detection and tension
Strong voice acting in logs and communications
Sound plays a major role in immersion, especially when exploring alone or being stalked by enemies.
Prey is a fully single-player experience, but replay value is very high due to its systems.
Replay incentives:
Multiple playstyles (stealth, combat, hybrid builds)
Different Neuromod upgrade paths
Alternate routes and hidden areas
Different moral and story outcomes
DLC (Mooncrash) adds roguelike replayability
However:
No multiplayer or co-op modes
Slow pacing may limit repeat full playthroughs for some players
Deep and flexible immersive sim gameplay
Excellent level design aboard Talos I
Strong sci-fi story with psychological themes
High player freedom and multiple solutions
Outstanding atmosphere and sound design
Very high replay value for experimentation
Slow and confusing early hours
Can feel difficult or punishing at first
Navigation and backtracking can be tedious
Combat lacks polish compared to pure shooters
Visual repetition in some interior areas
Prey on PS4 is one of the best modern immersive sims, delivering outstanding player freedom, intelligent level design, and a gripping sci-fi mystery set in a deeply atmospheric space station.
It demands patience, but rewards it with one of the most creative and flexible single-player experiences of its generation.
Score: 9 / 10
