After 11 years of waiting, “Prey 2” has yet to be released. Instead we have been given a remake of the original game with a brand new story, protagonist, and powers. “Prey 2017” was released on May 5 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. And you can say that Bethesda has done it again, as they release yet another fantastic game.

You play as the brand new protagonist Morgan Yu, a scientist who pretty much screams “Half Life’s” Gordon Freeman in how closely he resembles him. In the game, the year is 2030. Yu works in a space station that produces neuromods. Neuromods are essentially scientific modifications done to the brain that give the subject superpowers. These powers are obtained through the help of the aliens that tried to invade Earth, failed to invade, and then unwillingly became secret test subjects in the name of science.

Unfortunately for Dr. Yu, as stated by Murphy’s Law, something went wrong with the experiments, leaving the station in a state of complete disarray and filled with angry aliens who are more than happy to turn you into a pill of goop.

How do you defend yourself, you ask? Well, if you’ve ever played “Half Life,” “Bioshock,” or even the original “Prey,” then you would have an idea of what to expect. For the majority of the game you are alone, free to explore the ship and discover the story on your own. From there, you’ll meet a series of characters who will try to either work with you to contain the incident, or hinder you for their own ulterior motives.

Speaking of interactions, let’s talk about a game design that actually works. The skill tree system is what developers always talk about whenever a game features branching skills. They usually say, “The different skills you pick will affect the game play.” This is true for most games. But for some other games, such as “Prey,” the skills you pick also affect the story of the game and how characters view their surroundings. This isn’t revolutionary, but the way this was executed is truly a breath of fresh air.

Unfortunately for the the player, there is no room to breathe, because the mimics in the game are quite horrifying. Not at the “Dead Space” Necromorph level, but still pretty close. Game play is closer to playing the world’s most dangerous game of Hide and Seek with groups of rabid Dittos from Pokemon. These enemies are the most creative adversaries I have ever had the displeasure of meeting, with their ability to transform into any small appliance or tool they want. Without warning, they can spring from hiding to ambush you while you hunt for precious resources, only to hide again.

Combat with them is quite exhilarating, but unfortunately the same cannot be said for some of the other enemies, which appear to be the monsters that act like Ridley Scott’s discount “Aliens.”

The award winning artist for “Doom 2016,” Mick Gordon, returns to further enhance the mood of “Prey” by providing a pattern of ambient, futuristic, glitch-styled rock music to establish the situation the player is in. This technique was also used for the soundtrack for “Doom 2016,” but unfortunately the effect was slightly disappointing, and occasionally broke the immersive feeling of the game for me, as the music began to kick up when I entered a new room.

Speaking of rooms, if there is a will, there is a way. Meaning most rooms can be entered through multiple entry points, which can also unlock some shortcuts for the next time you want to venture through the area.
All in all, “Prey 2017” is a fantastic game. Bethesda is on a streak in releasing great games, and while I’m not really a supporter of the whole $60 price tag for games (and this is not an exception), I will say if you have the money and the time, do yourself a favor and play this game.