Recent reviews by Brodo #Swaggins

A good game if you've bought it on sale or if you've never played System Shock and similar games. In fact it IS a good game, but the issue is that it's just a SS carbon copy with a slightly different setting. Everything that is good about Prey has been copied from its predecessor while everything else is just bland. It tries to play a little bit with a few philosophical concepts, but otherwise it doesn't improve upon the original "Shock" template at all. It has the typical Arkane issue of giving you all the tools and options to complete your objective, none of them more effective than a shotgun. It teaches you that violence is not always the answer while locking you inside a room with a bunch of alien goo that you cannot communicate with. Non-violence builds are here just for a challenge, there's no point from a gameplay or story perspective (unlike e.g. Deus Ex).

The original BMS was already excellent and Xen is even better. Huge amount of environmental detail and beautiful vistas combined with high speed boss battles. The devs did a very good job with the classic in-control FPS gameplay and subtle storytelling the original HL is known for.

Excellent visuals and atmosphere. Some great new mechanics like use of luminescent color or enemies that can’t see in the dark. The signature jump gun is good, but too OP when used in combat.