Prey, Arkane Austin’s masterpiece, still deserves your attention

A brutal yr of gaming trade layoffs has led to the unceremonious closure of studios that many believed to be the definition of profitable. There’s a number of ink value spilling on every studio, however one closure that stood out to me was Arkane Austin, which Microsoft mentioned on Tuesday would shut its doorways. (The French facet of the enterprise, Arkane Lyon, will proceed on.)

Arkane Austin was behind among the finest video games of the final decade: Prey. Prey is a testomony to human creativeness, and among the finest immersive sims ever made.

Set in an alternate historical past, Prey places gamers within the function of Morgan Yu, a researcher freshly recruited to work on the house station Talos I. Morgan begins a battery of medical checks and procedures when a Typhon – one of many alien antagonists, product of black goo and malice – assaults one of many supervising medical personnel. Morgan awakes as soon as once more, again in their very own condominium, however shortly realizes that this can be a simulation. In an exceptional sequence, Morgan then shatters the window of their condominium and steps into Talos I to seek out the station abandoned and filled with lifeless our bodies.

Picture: Arkane Studios/Bethesda Softworks

Whereas this traditional horror setup is fashionable, the true genius of Prey emerges as soon as Morgan acquires a couple of instruments to get across the station. Very like a Metroidvania, there are many locked doorways and barred paths, and solely by buying new upgrades and backtracking can Morgan discover all of Talos’ secrets and techniques. Morgan’s development triggers the arrival of more durable Typhons, however even the fundamental Mimic – which may disguise itself as something it pleases – is a menace.

My favourite software is the Gloo Cannon, a large gun that shoots out quick-drying foam globs. Gloo can be utilized to seal up a fireplace, create a bunch of stairs for sneaky platforming, or lure foes by drowning them in Gloo. It’s a non-lethal weapon, however who cares? Generally utility is rather more thrilling than ultra-violence. Prey is a unbelievable immersive sim as a result of the participant has so many choices, together with utilizing Neuromods to spice up their talents. Morgan may even use Typhon DNA to turn into extra highly effective, vulnerable to triggering the station’s automated defenses.

Prey presents a number of selections for Morgan, lots of which appear inconsequential at first, till the ending weaves all the pieces collectively. Even selections exterior of the principle narrative can repay. As an illustration, the Nightmare is a persistent Typhon beast that hunts Morgan. The identify is a reasonably good trace of its demeanor, and the primary time one spawned in my sport, I fled and locked myself in a tiny workplace with my coronary heart slamming towards my ribs. In case you select to inject your self with tons of Typhon DNA, the Nightmare will get much more aggressive and chronic. A number of playthroughs, regardless that they happen on the identical station, really feel completely different and memorable because of variables just like the Nightmare’s presence.

Picture: Arkane Studios/Bethesda Softworks

I don’t assume Prey’s gameplay, as nice as it’s, can be as memorable with out the time and care that went into crafting the environments. I usually stopped to learn whiteboards and puzzle over clues left behind. One room is completely full of Publish-It notes caught on all the pieces with each studying, “NOT A MIMIC.” There’s just one espresso mug with no be aware, and guess what? It was completely a Mimic. In one other assembly room, I discovered a snowman constructed out of Gloo by bored engineers. These little touches are threaded all through the sport, and it made me really feel genuinely unhealthy for all of the house station staffers who had been unceremoniously murdered. They felt very actual, and really human.

Prey remains to be value taking part in right this moment, and it’s accessible on Recreation Cross. However should you want another that doesn’t require paying into Microsoft’s subscription service, Prey is on sale for $2.99 by way of Humble Bundle — the bottom value I’ve ever seen the sport provided for.

Arkane Austin deserved higher for creating video games like Prey, and it’s a disgrace to see these builders scattered. We are able to provide them considerably of a tribute, even when it’s one which feels hole and ineffective, to benefit from the works they have been capable of produce earlier than company calls for got here calling.