In development by a tiny 3-man indie team, No Matter Studios,Praey for the Godsis an upcoming action-adventure, survival game, with inspirations taken from the 2005 PlayStation 2 classic, Shadow of the Colossus and FromSoftware’sBloodborneaction-RPG, among other titles. Originally called as ‘Prey’ for the Gods, No Matter Studios later opted for its present title to avoid legal intervention from ZeniMax Media (Dishonored, Doom, Evil Within ), who owns the Prey video game IP.
Though first developed with the PC platform in mind,Praey for the Godswas later announced to be making its way onto the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, after successfully reaching its $300KKickstarter Campaigngoal, which currently sits at $501K as of this writing.Praey for the Godsplaces players in a harsh winter island where they must survive and face the inhabiting Giants for an answer to their dying world.Praey for the Godshas a planned release date sometime this December.
Genre: Action, Adventure, Survival, Indie, RPG
Developed by: No Matter Studios
Published by: No Matter Studios
Release date: December 2017
Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC (Windows) via Steam, Mac (Stretch Goal)
Website: http://www.praeyforthegods.com/
Praey for the GodsFeatures
Story & Setting
InPraey for the Gods, you play a lone hero sent to the edge of a dying world to discover the mystery behind a never-ending winter. Arriving with only the clothes on your back, you must survive the colossal dangers that you encounter. To restore balance and reclaim the land from the brink, you will be faced with questions that not even a God knows the answer to.
The game’s premise and story is seemingly simple and somewhat vague, and yet the way it’s setup does spark intrigue. It is because the tagline forPraey for the Godsis to “defeat the very Gods that you worship”. Who are these Gods? Why them? Am I doing the right thing? This resembles the story-telling aspect of theSoulsseries. Where players are given only a handful of information to go on with, while the game’s environments and dwellers provide the exposition upon investigation. InPraey for the Gods, it works well as the Gods themselves are just oblivious as you are. And it is you who’ll eventually unravel a kind of truth that you seek.
Praey for the Godsdrops players in a massive and desolate island, battered with harsh winters. With terrain riddled with steep cliffs, tall mountains and dense forests, all blanketed in thick snow. And not to mention, the Giants inhabiting them. Playing as a lone hero, players will begin their journey in this frozen new world without any items or equipment except for the clothes on their back. Tools and such will have to procured by scavenging the vast snow fields while braving the dynamically generated in-game “Weather System”, that cycles between night and day.
The game features an “Exhaustion System” that affects the player’s movements such as dodging, climbing or running, as well as hunger and stamina levels. That system in-turn is also affected by the environment’s terrain and weather. For instance, walking through deep snow in the middle of a snowstorm can rapidly exhaust your character, leaving you vulnerable to predators like wolves stalking the area. A way to recuperate your character’s strength is by resting at campfires that can be found in caves and such. Which also acts as a base of operations and a safe haven for you to retreat after scrounging for food out in the fields.
The game features a lot of verticality, in way of said cliffs and mountains. Aside from climbing them with your bare hands, traversing them is also aided by a handful of tools; which were implemented later in the game’s development. One of which is a ‘Grappling Hook’ that players can fire off in the distance, zipping across a ravine and reaching their destination. Another is a sheet that can be used as a ‘Glider’ of sorts, parachuting down tall mountains.
These tools among others, can also be used in combat against the Giants. Though this may seem counter-intuitive when seen from the standpoint of one of it inspiration sources, namely Shadow of the Colossus. Where physically scaling the Colossi was the level/puzzle itself, that needed to be solved to defeat them. But here, it adds a level of depth and introduces dynamics to combat that players can utilize. Either to target a weak-point or to use as a means of escape.
Furthermore, combat inPraey for the Godsis a fast-paced and brutal affair. The giants themselves; which will number at 5 at launch, are undoubtedly massive and intimidating. With each new encounter being a unique one that requires thought and experimentation in taking them down. Players can approach these Giants in any way they see fit.
They can engage in close-range melee combat and simultaneously dodge attacks. Risky, but thrilling. Or go for a more tactical engagement. Raining arrows from a distance and zipping away to a new spot should their position be compromised. Either way, the effectiveness of the weapons provided will be highly dependent on the player’s effectiveness to apply themselves.
Audio & Visual
Praey for the Godshas been in development since 2014, and it is being built on the popular Unity 5 Engine. From a glance, the game looks stunning and well polished due to good texture work and anti-aliasing. Showing proper contrast between the game’s objects, elements, enemies and the player’s character. Making them easily discernible despite the bleak weather. And snowstorms inPraeyare just breathtaking, and the silhouettes in the far-off distance give off a sense of scale and awe.
All in all,Praey for the Godsis shaping up to become one of the biggest indie games coming out this year. An epic adventure full of exploration, thrill and strategy. If you’re a fan of Shadow of the Colossus or someone who enjoys adventures with a good challenge, be sure to keep tabs on this game.
Praey for the Godsis planned to launch sometime inDecember 2017for PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC via Steam.
