Fortunately, Prey also has a really strong score. When “Don’t fear the reaper” kicks on as the aliens initially start attacking I knew that I was going to appreciate the effort put forth by those responsible for the score. But it’s more then that, the weird little clicks that happen when you activate alien machinery. And, I’ve got to tell you, when you get the rifle early in the game, you can use the sniper function. And when you dom and then fire, the recoil makes this really cool sounding “zoot-t-t-t” kind of sound. Maybe it’s the geek in me, but I never tired of this sound and used the sniper function as often as I could whether or not the scene required it. Now as a professional reviewer, this means an awful lot to me because this is the kind thing that could become boring and repetitive, and yet it doesn’t. Don’t believe me? Well go buy the game and you will know exactly what I am talking about.
The voice work done in Prey is also done really well, I absolutley love how Enisi sounds in his words of wisdom, and his debating with Tommy gives weight to the character. Jen sounds like a Jen and even while listening to her deal with a couple of beer swilling patrons at her bar, it just sounds like how a person would sound in that situation. A slightly sexy, slightly edgy feminine voice that has a hint of playfullness in it when the situation calls for it, yet a real genuine fear when everything is put on it’s ear. If there is one weakness, even a slight as it is, it would be Tommy’s voice. Yes he sounds correct, but there seems to be a certain edge that is missing. He says some funny things, and he swears like anyone else, but the delivery seems to be missing something. It’s as if he isn’t totally surprised at some of the things that he sees, sure he says it, but the delivery isn’t always there.
I should tell you that there is this cool plot device where as you run through the alien ship, you find these listening stations picking up a radio broadcast by Art Bell (some radio talk show host). Art is trying to figure out what’s happening as callers from the greater Texas area keep calling in with stories of strange, horrifying events. I have to tell you that these little breaks in the action really keep the plotline moving and I found myself listening intently to the callers talk about bright lights and other creepy things that I don’t want to tell you so is to keep things a surprise.
But this is only one small thing, I mean the game blares out Dolby digital like nobody’s business and it sounds crystal clear. The report of weapons fire, the explosions, the strange alien sounds, the creaking of metal, these are the things that you sometimes don’t pay attention to, but in the hands of the Prey development team, it all sounds dynamic.
