{{Infobox video game | title = Prey for the Gods | image = Praey_for_the_Gods.jpg | developer = No Matter Studios | publisher = No Matter Studios | composer = Ian Dorsch | platforms = {{ubl|Microsoft Windows|PlayStation 4|PlayStation 5|Xbox One|Xbox Series X and Series S}} | released = December 14, 2021 | genre = Action-adventure, survival | modes = Single-player | engine= Unity }} {{Short description|2021 video game}} '''''Prey for the Gods''''' is an action-adventure survival game developed by No Matter Studios.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://80.lv/articles/prey-for-the-gods-the-game-of-battling-bosses/|title=Prey for the Gods: The Game of Battling Bosses|website=80.lv|date=29 January 2015|access-date=2016-06-09}}</ref> Initially released via early access in January 2019, and the full version of the game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox One in December 2021.
== Gameplay == The player character starts her journey stranded on a frozen island, with only the clothes on her back. She must scavenge for resources (weapons, food, etc.) to survive the frozen landscape, dynamically generated weather and other hostilities. After some exploration, players must track down behemoths known as "gods", finding ways to scale their massive bodies and strike the chimes located at critical points. Each one is unique and must be studied to understand how to defeat it. Some hints on how to do so are provided in the form of cave drawings.
The game utilises an exhaustion system. Over time, the character will become hungry, fatigued and chilled, which all negatively impact her performance. Most actions will exacerbate this, for example: sprinting will increase hunger faster, which decreases the rate of stamina replenishment. If caught in a freezing gale or body of water, the character will need to find shelter and make a fire before the cold affects her health. There are also potions scattered around to help keep these afflictions at bay, although it is strongly advisable to hunt, gather, cook and rest during play. 30 glowing totems can be found around the map, rewarded for solving environmental puzzles or searching obscure locations. Each set of three will increase the maximum stamina of the character (a total of ten enhancements), which is crucial for taking down the gods.
The crafting system is based on maintaining and upgrading equipment. Resources can be found in crates, dropped by animals and enemies (excluding the "gods" themselves) or found in the environment. There are treasure hunts, involving puzzles, to gain some of the more items. Weapons have certain levels, relative to how easily they can be obtained. Clothing and other miscellaneous items can be upgraded once the resource cost has been fulfilled.
== Development == Development of ''Prey for the Gods'' began in 2014 in San Francisco.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://praeyforthegods.com/presskit/|title=No Matter|website=praeyforthegods.com|access-date=8 May 2017}}</ref> No Matter Studios, the game's developer, consists of three people, Brian Parnell, Hung-Chien Liao, and Tim Wiese. They initially worked part-time on the game. On October 19, 2015, No Matter Studio revealed the game as ''Prey for the Gods'', with a short trailer on YouTube.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2015/10/30/prey-for-the-gods-developer-talks-shadow-of-the-colossus-gameplay-multiplayer/174787/|title=Prey for the Gods Developer Talks Shadow of the Colossus, Gameplay, Multiplayer {{!}} Hardcore Gamer|date=30 October 2015 |access-date=2016-06-09}}</ref> In February 2016 the studio moved to Seattle, Washington to work on the game full-time.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.onlysp.com/prey-for-the-gods-new-update-released-big-announcement-coming-this-summer/|title=Prey for the Gods - New Update Released, Big Announcement Coming This Summer - OnlySP|date=2016-05-31|website=Only Single Player|language=en-US|access-date=2016-06-09|archive-date=2017-06-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621034907/http://onlysp.com/prey-for-the-gods-new-update-released-big-announcement-coming-this-summer/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The studio crowdfunded the game through Kickstarter in July 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/07/07/prey-for-the-gods-kickstarter-shadow-of-the-colossus/|title=Colossal: Prey For The Gods Hits Kickstarter|first=Alice|last=O'Connor|website=Rock Paper Shotgun|date=July 7, 2016|accessdate=November 1, 2020}}</ref> It ended up raising more than half a million dollars, doubling the teams' original expectations (USD$300,000). Due to this, the game's scope and scale were also significantly expanded.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.redbull.com/int-en/prey-for-the-gods-kickstarter-interview|title=Prey For The Gods, the colossus of Kickstarter|work=Red Bull|date=November 10, 2016|accessdate=November 1, 2020}}</ref> According to No Matter, the gameplay was inspired by ''Shadow of the Colossus'', ''Deus Ex'', ''DayZ'', and ''Bloodborne''.<ref name="Early access">{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/2/4/18210518/praey-for-the-gods-early-access-launch-impressions|title=Praey for the Gods, a spiritual successor to Shadow of the Colossus, has us hooked|first=Charlie|last=Hall|work=Polygon|date=February 4, 2019|accessdate=November 1, 2020}}</ref>
No Matter Studios filed for trademark protection for the name ''Prey for the Gods'' in May 2016; however ZeniMax Media, who owns the trademark to the ''Prey'' name in the video game sector, issued an objection to the ''Prey for the Gods'' mark, citing that it was too similar to their ''Prey''. No Matter Studios opted to abandon the trademark issue, not wanting to get into a legal battle with ZeniMax, and announced the change to ''Praey for the Gods'' in May 2017, just prior to the release of ZeniMax's ''Prey''.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/2017/5/3/15534924/prey-for-the-gods-praey-for-the-gods-trademark-name-change | title = Prey for the Gods changes name to avoid fight with Bethesda's Prey | first = Allegra | last = Frank | date = May 3, 2017 | accessdate =May 8, 2017 | work = Polygon }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/2017/5/8/15572464/zenimax-bethesda-prey-for-the-dead-trademark | title= ZeniMax has to protect Prey, even if it looks like a bully while doing so | first = John | last = Warren | date = May 8, 2017 | accessdate = May 8, 2017 | work = Polygon }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/5/3/15534924/prey-for-the-gods-praey-for-the-gods-trademark-name-change|title=Prey for the Gods changes name to avoid fight with Bethesda's Prey|website=Polygon|date=3 May 2017}}</ref>
The game was first released via Steam's early access program on January 31, 2019. The studio initially expected that the game would stay in early access for 6 to 12 months.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-01-29-shadow-of-the-colossus-inspired-praey-for-the-gods-enters-steam-early-access-this-week|title=Shadow of the Colossus-inspired Praey for the Gods enters Steam Early Access this week|first=Matt|last=Wales|work=Eurogamer|date=January 29, 2019|accessdate=November 1, 2020}}</ref> In October 2020, No Matter announced that the full version of the game is set to be released in 2021 for Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox One.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Praey for the Gods is coming to PS5 and PS4 in 2021|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/praey-for-the-gods-is-coming-to-ps5-and-ps4-in-2021/|website=GamesRadar+|first=Derni|last=Williams|language=en-US|date=October 30, 2020|access-date=October 31, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/10/praey-for-the-gods-launches-in-q1-2021-for-ps5-ps4-xbox-one-and-pc|title=Praey for the Gods launches in Q1 2021 for PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and PC|first=Sal|last=Romano|work=Gematsu|date=October 30, 2020|accessdate=November 1, 2020}}</ref> The game was released on December 14, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Sal |title=Praey for the Gods now available for PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and PC |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/12/praey-for-the-gods-now-available-for-ps5-ps4-xbox-one-and-pc |website=Gematsu |access-date=14 December 2021 |date=14 December 2021}}</ref>
== Reception == {{Video game reviews | MC = PC: 61/100<ref name="MCPC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/praey-for-the-gods/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Praey for the Gods for PC Reviews |work=Metacritic |access-date=January 27, 2022}}</ref><br />PS5: 46/100<ref name="MCPS5">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/praey-for-the-gods/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5 |title=Praey for the Gods for PlayStation 5 Reviews |work=Metacritic |access-date=December 27, 2021}}</ref> | IGN = 4/10<ref name="IGNRev">{{cite web |last1=Northup |first1=Travis |title=Praey for the Gods Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/praey-for-the-gods-review |website=IGN |date=20 December 2021 |access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref> | PSQ = {{Rating|5|10}}<ref name="PQRev">{{cite web |last1=Reynolds |first1=Ollie |title=Mini Review: Praey for the Gods (PS5) - A Commendable But Heavily Flawed Take on a Classic |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps5/praey-for-the-gods |website=Push Square |date=17 December 2021 |access-date=25 December 2021}}</ref> }}
The PlayStation 5 version of ''Prey for the Gods'' received "generally negative reviews",<ref name="MCPS5" /> while the PC version of the game received "mixed or average reviews", according to review aggregator Metacritic.<ref name="MCPC" />
''Push Square'' and ''IGN'' both spoke negatively about the game, appreciating its strong visual design while greatly lamenting the abundance of technical problems, irritating movement, and survival mechanics.<ref name="PQRev" /> ''IGN'' in particular cited the climbing mechanic as an issue, saying the slow movement and technical glitches made it "more irritating than fun".<ref name="IGNRev"/>
{{Clear}}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * {{Official website|www.praeyforthegods.com}}
Category:2021 video games Category:Action-adventure games Category:Video games involved in controversies Category:Early access video games Category:Kickstarter-funded video games Category:PlayStation 4 games Category:PlayStation 5 games Category:Single-player video games Category:Survival video games Category:Video games based on Norse mythology Category:Video games developed in the United States Category:Windows games Category:Xbox One games