Prey: Huge Hands-On & Hi-Res Media

Kikizo goes hands-on with Human Head's evolutionary FPS, Prey. Here's our massive hands-on report, plus gorgeous new hi-res gameplay videos and screens.

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Last week in Take 2's swish HQ, Kikizo was treated to a considerably thorough demo of Human Head's evolutionary FPS, Prey, coming for PC and Xbox 360 "when it's ready". And we'd wager that 'ready', could be only a few months down the line, as what we saw (and played) was polished, scarce of bugs and already well-tuned for high levels of enjoyment and competitive play.

3D Realms is attached to the title as owner of the IP, and Human Head, developers of Rune, are responsible for the title, and highly deserve to pat themselves on the back for what we're about to detail to you.

Tim Gerritson, CEO of Human Head Studios, was on hand to detail to us the Single Player Mode's main story and weapons, and its many unique features, as well as Multiplayer Modes, Xbox 360 exclusive content, and finally, what kind of insides your PC will need to play it. Over the next four pages we'll be sharing the whole lot with you...

Not Just Another Sci-Fi FPS

You play Tommy, descendant of a Cherokee tribe who rejects his heritage. After fighting as part of the U.S army for a few years, he comes back to his reservation to work as a mechanic and makes plans to leave the reservation and begin a new life with his lady, Jen.

(Un)luckily for Tommy, an alien starship appears from out of nowhere and fulfils his dream, sucking him, Jen and her grandfather into what reveals itself to be a human farm...

The game opens in an interactive cutscene, where you, your lady and the gramps, are dropped into a cargo bay, constricted in cocoons, while the Earth is visible behind you in the distance of space. All of you are then transported along a network of cables to varying destinations. As you are moved, you catch glimpses of the foes you'll face, the alien race enslaving you and some rebels you'll meet later on in the game.

Suddenly, you manage to escape out of your cocoon and fall to your feet. You watch Jen and gramps disappear. The game begins.

You control Tommy using the standard FPS W, A, S, D set up. Being as he fixes cars for a living, he comes armed with a wrench neatly tucked into his biker-style leather jacket. Very handy, very Half Life(ish). Your first task is to dispose of a pig-like alien feasting on what appears to be a human body. Or at least, bits of one. Hitting him a few times takes him (or her, now that we think about it) out.

You enter a series of doorways, while learning you are actually in something predominantly biological, made up of membranes and tissue - a ship, which is also a living being. Metal and mechanical components exist within too, and after a few more short battles with pig-alien things, you find a strange machine that reviews humans before either crushing them into pulp to feed the ship, or enslaving them to serve other needs for the alien race.

Jen's grampa is then reintroduced: what amazing timing! And surprise, surprise, he's about to get reviewed! Suddenly, you're whisked back to Jen's bar in a flashback and play through a short scenario that lets you get more acquainted with your character and his relationship with grampa. As an off-side distraction, you can also play some of the arcade machines, including a 'Rune' take on Pac Man, a Blackjack and Texas Hold Em Machine and our favourite little touch - a jukebox featuring music from various Sony classic rock artists.

As the soundtrack of civilisation's impending doom, you can fire up Judas Priests' "You got another thing coming", Heart's "Barracuda", or the Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper". There were way more tracks, but for now, that all Human Head could confirm to us. It's also worth mentioning that each of the mini-games in the bar unlocks extra features within the game.

Another sweet addition is a TV that plays old infomercials about surviving nuclear war, a handful of which can be cycled through by flicking the channels. It's little touches like these that show the level of attention to detail and obvious passion Human Head has for the game.

When you try to leave the bar, you leave the flashback and suddenly reappear on the ship. Your gramps is lined up against the human gibbing machine and you enter an emotional non-cutscene dialogue between Tommy and gramps, before the old man hints that embracing your heritage will be the key to your survival. Then, splat: he's gone.

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