The opening of Prey is not only undoubtedly one of the most memorable twenty minutes in modern gaming, but also serves to situate the player in his new setting and introduce the basic story, elements, and mechanics of the game. Tommy’s new home is an enormous flying “Sphere” that travels through galaxies, harvesting planets to sustain itself. With a few straggling survivors, unique array of weapons and powers, and an undying resolve to save Jen, Tommy is forced to accept the role of savior.

The sentient stronghold is truly a wonder to behold, mixing both an interior that would be typical to any traditional alien craft, cold and metallic, with layers of living, slimy, and wet organic material. You can see where Prey resembles Doom 3, whose engine lends itself nicely to Human Head’s own design. But much of the monotony found in Dooms’ levels are gone, replaced instead by visually compelling and fairly diverse environments. The game mostly eschews cheap frights for a slow, creeping feeling that works its way under your skin. This can be attributed to a slightly more relaxed pace than your typical horror shooter. Think: System Shock 2, not Doom 3.