Immersive, atmospheric and thrilling. A compelling story married to tension-inducing mechanics, providing a unique gameplay experience. The sound design and music composition are remarkably well handled, adding an eerie edge to every encounter. Progression is interesting and well balanced, rewarding the player for extra effort but always teasing more abilities and weapon improvements down the line. There really are a lot of way to play, varying on an encounter-by-encounter scale and by a wider scope on a story level, offering you a choice on how best to tackle enemies, which fights to avoid and who to support.

Prey's greatest strength is probably in its iconic enemies, which are not only incredibly artistic and beautifully designed, but also uncomfortably effective in their various gameplay roles: the mechanics behind the mimics and nightmares fit seamlessly into the game, creating a unique and challenging experience. Ammo is often in short supply, often forcing aggressive players to choose between more firepower and progression, which encourages more thought and care when approaching conflict.

I've used the term 'unique experience' twice in this review, which may be strange to those who've followed the game's development and release. It has been called 'Dishonored meets Bioshock in space', which isn't inaccurate, but also makes one question how unique it can really be. Prey strikes and excellent balance between the mechanics of the many games and genres it draws from, and injects enough originality and individual flare to make the game feel special, and indeed a step above its counterparts.