Prey Review — IGN
[Note: When Prey launched, I hit a game-breaking bug on PC that prevented me from recommending it. That’s now been patched, and so has this review. It’s now updated to cover our experiences on all platforms. It was initially scored as a 4.0 on PC.]
With a sophisticated setting built to accommodate classic RPG mechanics we don’t see often enough in modern games, Prey feels both new and nostalgic at once. A wonderfully explorable science-fiction environment proves dense with interactive systems, intrigue, and ever-present danger. And even though combat’s only slightly preferable to the weak stealth options, I was a little surprised at how quickly my time-played clock seemed to tick toward 40 hours before I reached the end.The first hours of Prey are enticing, with a mind-bending psychological opening scene that foreshadows a story more interesting than what the main plot ends up being. It’s fairly strong nevertheless, with some interesting implications and a few surprising characters who keep things moving along during dozens of hours of exploration. Its twist on the typical amnesiac protagonist premise prompted me to question everything I was told as I roamed the enormous and fascinatingly anachronistic space station, Talos I.Loading
Arkane has done a fantastic job of making this bizarre place feel lived-in.
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The most interesting stories were the smaller ones I came across, those of the people who lived on Talos before, during, and after it was attacked by aliens. Between terminals containing all sorts of emails, well-acted audio logs, and thoughtful environmental storytelling, developer Arkane has done a fantastic job of making this bizarre place feel lived-in long before I ever met another living human. There’s so much storytelling treasure to uncover here, ranging from squabbles among co-workers to more personal notes like a scrapped proposal speech, Dungeons & Dragons character sheets, and even hilariously terrible in-universe science-fiction novel snippets.It’s an impressively fleshed-out universe, built around an alternate history of the space race that somehow led to an elaborate orbital station, complete with artificial gravity, where touchscreen computers exist side by side with film projectors and rotary telephones.
I enjoyed uncovering how that history unfolded in bits and pieces gleaned from news articles and tidbits on the brief loading screens. That, combined with being rewarded for picking up literally any piece of useful gear or actual trash thanks to a cartoonish recycling system that lets you turn even old banana peels into raw materials for manufacturing weapons and upgrades, made me eager to turn over every metaphorical rock on Talos.LoadingWhich is devious, because some of those inanimate objects are actually disguised facehugger-style aliens who will surprise you by abruptly revealing themselves when you get close and trying to eat your face off. The presence of these mimics, as they’re known, gives all of that exploration a looming sense of paranoia: you have to question why objects are placed where they are, which works because just about everything on Talos is meticulously laid out in a way that, for the most part, makes sense. It sets all kinds of cruel traps for you, such as when one of what appears to be a pair of much-needed health packs actually turns out to be a predator lying in wait for wounded prey.
The jump scares did get old after a while, but I never stopped feeling the tingling sense of tension upon entering a new room.
Prey follows closely in the footsteps of System Shock 2 and the original Deus Ex.
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Mechanically, Prey follows closely in the footsteps of classic first-person RPGs like System Shock 2 and the original Deus Ex, and puts some of their best ideas to good use. There’s complex character development along six different skill trees, plus modular upgrade systems for both your space suit and your scope. With all of those options and not enough upgrade items to go around, there are enough meaningful decisions to make your version of Dr. Morgan Yu (who, notably, can be either a man or a woman according to your whim) feel like your own, and tailored to your playstyle. Equipping the mimic-detecting scope upgrade, for instance, let me change up the task of sweeping a room before it became tedious. Prey can take a bit too long to get to the good stuff, though – the psychic power options didn’t open up for me until I was more than 10 hours in, and I never saw any suit mods until even later than that.
LoadingMost of the abilities themselves don’t feel like much of anything special, as things like enhanced strength, repair skill, the ability to move objects or kill with your mind, and even resurrect the dead to fight for you have all appeared in plenty of games lately. What makes Prey feel more distinct is the flexible, semi-open-world level design that allows you to reach objectives by different paths, depending on your strengths. (Granted, that’s also shown up in recent Deus Ex and Dishonored games, though not on this style of open map.) One character build might look for opportunities to hack into computer terminals to bypass locked doors, while another would use brute force to open doors or remove barricades, and still others might just search the environment until they find the passcode written carelessly on a post-it note somewhere. Even though I didn’t have all the abilities I needed to exploit them, it’s fun just to try to spot all the ways into a locked room and appreciate the thought that went into designing these puzzles.
Plus, it’s a pleasant surprise that you’re able to move and climb so nimbly in general, and moreso when it’s upgraded, letting you reach some out-of-the-way places and further encouraging exploration.
I usually had unlocked new abilities that let me access new nooks and crannies.
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Your main quest – and the many side quests that can extend the life of Prey from a 15 to 20-hour run to something more on the order of 40 or 50 – will send you back and forth across the same moderately varied zones repeatedly. I didn’t get tired of seeing the arboretum, the cargo bay, the lobby, the crew quarters, or any of the others, though, because I usually had unlocked new abilities that let me access new nooks and crannies since the last time I’d been there. I did, however, get a little sick of trying to find my way around the outside of the station. It’s the closest thing to a fast-travel system Prey has, but it’s annoyingly tough to figure out where the right airlock is, especially since there’s no “up” in the zero-G environment.
When I finally encountered some living, breathing humans and heard about their predicaments, at first I was disappointed at the lack of dialogue options to decide what the outcome of those quests would be. But then I realized that Prey’s approach is more novel: you’re given a task, such as saving someone or killing them, and your actions determine your moral position. Do you save a group of people under attack or leave them for dead? Do you take revenge on the man who killed a survivor’s partner or let him live? Do you kill mind-controlled humans or find a way to free them? It’s an interesting and more subtle yet more active approach than simply stating whether you’re good or bad. It’s nice to see actions speak louder than words when it comes to RPG morality, and those choices were satisfyingly – if somewhat bluntly – recognized in the ending. Without spoiling anything, I found the final reveal slightly deflating, but the setup for where the story could go next has great potential.
Arkane Studios IGN Game Reviews
All of the detail put into the environments and storytelling goes a long way to compensate for the fact that Prey isn’t exactly the best looking game out there.
It only occasionally looks bad, such as when characters other than the handful of main allies move their mouths, but most of the time it makes the most of its sometimes flat-looking textures to make its zones appealing. Creature design, on the other hand, is one-note. All of the aliens are made of the same black goo, which, while creepy when moving through the shadows, doesn’t hold up in the long run. Some of the larger aliens are just weird-looking blobs, and the robot enemies are all built on the same floating PC tower-like chassis.
Combat turns out to be Prey’s biggest weakness.
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The act of fighting them, and turrets around the station once they decide you’re a threat, turns out to be Prey’s biggest weakness. Combat is fine, for the most part; the main weapons are a very typical pistol and a shotgun, with a couple of other similarly uninteresting high-tech options thrown in. Even when mental abilities such as creating copies of yourself or planting flame mines get involved these fights have nothing approaching the bloody, supernatural acrobatics of Arkane’s other current series, Dishonored.
Most enemies are as bullet-spongy as their gooey look implies, especially before you max out your damage upgrades on both your character and your weapons, and ammo is scarce. That led to some tense standoffs where I was left trying to fend off aliens with my lowly wrench melee attack, but that lasted only until I unlocked the mind-control power that immediately renders even the biggest and fiercest enemies docile long enough for you to bludgeon them into puddles of goo. It became a chore long before the time the save-corruption issues declared my game over, and I’d mostly switched to Jedi mind-tricking my way past most fights. This isn’t the squishy human you’re looking for.
You could, of course, stealth your way past most, if not all of the enemies out there by distracting them with thrown objects (or the goofy knock-off Nerf gun), but Prey isn’t interesting as a stealth game. There are no attempts to detect you other than randomly patrolling aliens, and no alarms raised if they do find you.
Meanwhile, the only significant power that seems geared toward stealth is the ability you swipe from the mimics to transform into any small object, which effectively makes you invisible as long as you’re holding still (until your psych power meter runs out). That, as it turns out, is the least-useful application of that power. Prey is workable as a stealth game, but barebones enough that I generally opted to fight instead.
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You’d think the ability to turn into literal pieces of trash would let you play hilarious pranks.
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More disappointingly for a systems-based game with such strong connections to Deus Ex and Dishonored, the enemy AI isn’t reactive or curious-seeming enough to make them fun to mess with using your powers. For instance, you’d think the ability to turn into any inanimate object, such as literal pieces of trash like banana peels or bio-waste bags, would let you play hilarious pranks on enemies and get funny reactions.
But none of these creatures – including the rare humans you come across – react any differently to a strangely placed chair than they do to a valuable item. You’re either ignored completely or discovered and attacked without a word (because the aliens don’t talk), so it feels like I’m telling a joke that nobody’s around to hear.
I did have fun messing with the innovative Gloo Cannon, which launches blobs of instantly hardening foam to very briefly immobilize enemies, clog holes, or create platforms. Its ability to create staircases had me thinking outside the usual box here and there, but it’s nowhere near as full of possibility as a Portal Gun or Gravity Gun when it comes to solving puzzles. You can’t, for example, build towers of goo on top of goo, so your ability to build Minecraft-like structures is limited.
The biggest bugs I’ve encountered since the patch are small annoyances. Some of the most common items you pick up – alien organs and spare parts – often fail to stack properly in the screen inventory, which causes a needless hassle when your slots fill prematurely.
Oh, and one time I was launched into space through a wall while passing through an anti-gravity field and had to reload an autosave (which is generally pretty good at saving frequently). But none of that ever did much more than slow me down for a few moments.
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Controls feel good on mouse and keyboard, but with a gamepad the first thing you’ll want to do is turn the sensitivity up – otherwise, constantly turning to face mimics that jump behind you gets frustrating quickly. Load times trend a little on the long side on consoles, though, and we’ve inconsistently seen some minor input lag on the PS4 that took some time to get used to. And if you’re a PS4 Pro owner, unfortunately there aren’t currently any enhancements in resolution or frame rate. It’s 30 frames per second on console and uncapped on PC, where it runs beautifully aside from the first time I visited the reactor, but that was easily fixed by a restart.
Prey’s curious alternate-history universe, intriguing sidequests, hidden threats, and detailed environmental storytelling make Talos I a joy to explore.
The unsettling sense of paranoia that comes from knowing any object could turn out to be a hidden enemy gives even the quiet moments a palpable tension. All of that picks up the slack for combat and stealth that doesn’t feel fresh enough to sustain it throughout what can be a long game.
Best PC games of all time: Our top picks you should play in 2023
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Windows PC gaming is one of the oldest forms of virtual entertainment and there are several classic games that have come out through the decades. From massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG) to fast-paced first-person shooters (FPS) there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
There are dozens if not hundreds of games we could highlight with several upcoming PC games that are likely to make it on this list.
As such, we’re building this list up over time. You’re welcome to reach out to us with any suggestions.
To determine the best PC games from the last few decades we took into account their impact at the time of launch, the legacy they left behind, any new innovations they brought to gaming, and the unique ways they presented themselves. Of course, we also made these decisions based on how enjoyable the games still are to play. Many of these games are available via Game Pass.
Without further ado, here are the best Windows PC games of all time, listed by genre.
PC Game Pass | $30 at Amazon
Many of the biggest PC classic games are available to play via Microsoft’s PC Game Pass. It costs $10 per month or you can get a three-month membership for $30. With it, you’ll gain access to a large library of PC games new and old.
Buy from: Amazon | Microsoft
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Self-professed gaming geek, Rebecca Spear, is one of Windows Central’s gaming editors with a focus on Xbox and PC gaming.
When she isn’t checking out the latest games on Xbox Game Pass, PC, or Steam Deck; she can be found digital drawing with a Wacom tablet. She’s written thousands of game guides, previews, features, and hardware reviews over the last few years. If you need information about anything gaming related, her articles can help you out. She also loves testing game accessories and any new tech on the market.
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Mac mini 2023 review with M2 Pro.
The best Apple computer? — BIG GEEK MEWS
When Apple first introduced the M1 series chips, the company upgraded almost all of its computers to it: Mac mini, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and then iMac. Only older models did not receive an update, because after some time even more powerful processors appeared in them: M1 Pro and M1 Max. And a few months later, the company showed Mac Studio with the monster M1 Ultra.
However, the smallest desktop computer, the Mac mini, has received no attention at all for more than two years. On the official page of models on the Apple website all this time there were younger versions on M1 and older ones on Intel processors. At the same time, of course, models based on Intel have never been more powerful than models based on M1, and were considered “senior” quite conditionally — in fact, having only two extra Thunderbolt ports. The situation was extremely strange.
And finally, this omission is corrected. Mac mini can now be bought on the updated M2, still with a measly amount of memory, 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB SSD slowed down by half compared to the M1 version of the computer.
Or you can buy a healthy person’s Mac mini on a more powerful M2 Pro — we’ll talk about it now.
The main feature of the new Mac Mini is, perhaps, a reserve for the future. There is another feature: this is the best desktop Mac in terms of price-performance ratio, but more on that later.
Video review
What’s new
Outwardly, almost nothing has changed. A small box with a rubberized bottom and a solid set of ports. Four Thunderbolt 4 in the older version, only two in the younger one. Ethernet is gigabit by default, but can be configured to 10 if you plan to work with network storage, for example. There are even two USB ports with speeds up to five gigabits per second, which, by the way, remained only in the company’s desktop models — Mac mini and Mac Studio.
HDMI hasn’t been forgotten either — it’s finally in version 2.1. This means you can connect an 8K monitor with a refresh rate of 60Hz, or a 4K monitor or TV that supports refresh rates up to 240Hz. For a desktop computer, this is very important, because even if the hertz or resolution is not so important to you now, everything can change in the future, and the computer will remain just as relevant.
Of course, we can’t forget the 3.5mm port, which now supports high-impedance headphones. Let’s face it: the owners of these headphones have probably bought an external sound system a long time ago. But in the case of field work, this obviously does not hurt.
The Wi-Fi standard has also been changed — now there is support for WiFi 6e, which is very good, since 6e can transmit data at new frequencies and with support for speeds greater than gigabit. Perhaps someday it will be needed.
Which option to choose
This Mac mini model will be the most interesting in the near future.
This is the cheapest way to try a really powerful M-processor. It’s funny that the same configuration, if taken from memory, on a regular M2 will cost only 300 bucks cheaper — but it makes no sense to take it. This model compares favorably with the price and from laptops. For example, you can buy either this Mac mini for 1300 bucks, or a 14-inch MacBook Pro for 2000.
It should be understood that here is still a stripped-down version of the M2 Pro with fewer cores, just like in the 14-inch MacBook Pro. However, in many tasks, this stripped-down M2 Pro comes close to the performance of the entry-level M1 Max, and this is a serious level. I have been making all our vids for half a year on such a computer with everything-everything-everything and I don’t know grief. If you want more information about performance — in this video we compared M2 Pro, M1 Pro and M1 Max in terms of performance. I highly recommend checking it out, there is a lot to see.
Let’s move on. Remember how the new MacBook Air on the M2 got one 256GB memory chip instead of two 128GB? So, this also affected new computers.
Both the Mac mini and MacBook Pro received fewer NAND chips, which reduced the speed of SSDs in Macs on the M2 Pro by almost half compared to the options on the M1 Pro.
This is still higher than the MacBook Air on the M2, which is enough for 99 percent of users, and multitasking is not particularly affected, plus the SSD buffer is also much larger here. In general, in real life, this is practically unimportant for most users, but you should know that by purchasing a terabyte config, you will get an SSD almost twice as fast.
This is a very strange strategy from the company’s point of view — it looks like Apple wants to make you spend more money (never happened before, and here it is again). And SSDs in 2023 are still never cheap, and Apple, to put it mildly, even more so.
What is the result
This is how the Mac Mini turned out on the M2 Pro. Despite the less fast memory in the 512 gig version, everything works great and, by Apple standards, costs relatively adequately.
It’s the best Mac Mini right now, the best way to get a performance ARM PC, and the best school PC… no, there’s no RTX 409 right now.0.
However, I really like the Mac mini on the M2 Pro and get it all over the place. This is an incredible computer with a backlog for many years to come — it is in this version of the processor that I sincerely recommend it for purchase. If possible, go for a terabyte, but even with 512 GB it will be fine if you do not copy 100,500 files a day and do not open all the programs in the world at the same time.
The best computer is not necessarily a computer. How to use iPad for studying?
Contents
- 1 High scores thanks to iPad
- 2 Endless possibilities: what can you do with iPad?
- 3 How to choose a tablet for study?
- 4 How much does an iPad cost in iOn
Today’s schoolchildren and students prefer to study on a computer Mac — and this is an excellent choice, do not hesitate.
We talk about it in our last review . But tablet iPad is also capable of much more than just helping you pass the time on a trip or entertaining you before bed. For what exactly? We will tell you in a new review. And also we will offer you models iPad at the best prices.
High scores thanks to iPad
Since the very first presentation of the iPad in 2010, Apple has always emphasized the excellent educational function of its tablet. Numerous studies of American universities confirm this.
For example, Abilene Christian University has been researching the impact of mobile devices on the learning process for 3 years. As a result, it turned out that students who studied using the iPad scores 25% higher than than their fellow students using paper materials.
Schools in New York, California, Chicago, Virginia, Illinois and other cities are also actively using tablets in the educational process.
Paper media, in which information quickly becomes outdated, have been replaced by electronic books — you can even make your own notes in them, make bookmarks, highlight important things.
Lectures and notes are now more convenient to conduct in one application and organize a library by subject within it.
Educational films do not have to be viewed on a projector in crowded classrooms where students or schoolchildren huddle almost on each other’s knees. Each student can go into space with his tablet in his hands, having examined the beauty of the planets and constellations in all colors!
For students of creative specialties who study design, architecture, art , iPad is an indispensable tool!
Many game applications have been developed for younger students to develop imagination, concentration and logical thinking.
It is also very convenient for teachers to organize and control the curriculum on the iPad: it does not take up much space in the bag, is always at hand and is ready to work with one touch.
Endless possibilities: what can you do with iPad ?
The Apple tablet has a lot of advantages that allow it to stand out in the market among similar devices. But one of the most obvious advantages is that the iPad is very light. It takes up little space in a backpack — unlike the same laptop or, for example, stacks of notebooks and thick textbooks.
In addition, the iPad is the ultimate in versatility. You can call from it, like from iPhone ; if you buy keyboard case you can type like on Mac , and if you buy Apple Pencil you can also draw like on paper.
There are so many cool features and apps built into the thin, compact iPad! They will be very helpful in your studies. The missing programs can be downloaded for free, some can be purchased from the App Store. The collection is so huge that you will definitely find everything you need for productive and exciting learning.
For example, did you know that the iPad supports Handwriting ? With Apple Pencil, you can take lecture notes in Notes, write like a normal pencil, and then convert even the most incomprehensible handwriting to typed text. The stylus takes both tilt and pressure into account, and changing colors is a breeze.
Users trust creating presentations Keynote , work with text in Pages , and with tables in Numbers . Whatever you take on, with a tablet your work on the project will look much more convincing and effective.
You can work with more than just text on iPad. Programs Procreate or Adobe Sketch open up incredible opportunities for creating illustrations, in Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom — conveniently edit photos, and in LumaFusion 2 — Caput9 or video editing.
A Special application iDoceo has been developed for teachers .
It can help with scheduling, curriculum development, report uploads, grading, and more.
But there are more amazing uses for iPad in education. Curious researchers will certainly be interested in the application Brainapse , which in a fascinating way will allow you to look into … the human skull and brain! Learn how the brain interacts with the 5 senses, how brain cells «communicate» with each other, how the human brain has evolved and what influenced it.
With augmented reality, medical students can have an interactive and immersive experience. Application Froggipedia allows you to study the life cycle of frogs and dissect them … Apple Pencil. Just imagine how many frogs the creators of this app have saved! And what other amazing discoveries you can make with the iPad.
How to choose a tablet for study?
The choice of iPad for study in our store is large. To decide on a specific model, we recommend starting from the following factors:
- cost;
- dimensions;
- performance;
- battery capacity;
- the amount of internal memory;
- other characteristics (eg camera capabilities).
If the first point does not require comments, then the rest require clarification.
DIMENSIONS . The compactness of the device allows the user to take the tablet with them wherever they go. And the smaller the diagonal of the screen, the lighter it is — the more convenient it is to find a place for it in a backpack or bag.
Worth remembering here iPad mini : This is the smallest tablet in Apple’s 8.3-inch line. At the same time, it has the most productive A-series chip and a very good 12 megapixel camera. If you don’t need a large screen and an external keyboard to study (because Smart Keyboard is not supported), then take this “baby” without looking.
PERFORMANCE. It depends on how fast the tablet will be in operation. Will it be able to switch between applications quickly and without glitches, and also perform several tasks at the same time. For example, listen to music, read a book, and take notes as you read.
iPad 9th Generation 10.2-inch iPad functionality is enough for elementary and middle school students. It has a fast A13 Bionic processor, which is used in the iPhone 11 line. For high school students and students, we recommend buying more powerful devices.
For example, iPad Air 10.9 inch is the most popular of all tablets! And the design, which is reminiscent of the large iPhone 12 and 13, appealed to even the most discerning buyers. With the A14 Bionic chip and the Neural Engine, you won’t be lost, no doubt about it.
With iPad Pro you can even go into space! There is a tablet with a diagonal of 11 inches and 12.9 inches — for those who need a big screen. These models have one of the most powerful Apple M1 chips, which will not only make your learning easier, but will also keep its firepower and relevance much longer than others.
BATTERY CAPACITY . It is also worth considering.
Although, as a rule, the autonomy of a good tablet varies within the mark of 10 hours of continuous operation. This is enough for all classes and even independent work at home.
INTERNAL MEMORY . Storage allows you to keep all the necessary information on the device itself. Of course, you can always use the Cloud, but many people prefer to have all the necessary files at hand, not relying on an Internet connection.
Among other characteristics that can also play a key role in choosing an iPad for study, it is worth remembering the camera . If you don’t have an iPhone at hand at the right time, you can easily take an equally high-quality photo on a tablet, and also quickly scan any document or chat with pleasure via video link.
It will be easier to find a specific iPad model in one of our stores. The principle of open display will allow you to hold each device you like in your hands, test all the functions, and also ask any clarifying questions to our experts.
