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I Am Not Sure If Prey Is Its Own Game Or Series Of References!

I get the distinct impression that I have played Prey before, and not because I played the 2006 original.  No, because I have played the three games that Prey uses as its foundation extensively.  That being the case I find when I play Prey, I play a lot of it, but I am not sure it is because I like it, or because there is not a new System Sock, Bioshock, or Deus Ex to play.

In Prey you play as either a male of female Morgan Yu (I am playing as a girl) who has taken a job with her brother, Alex, aboard the scientific space station Talos I.  Morgan was going to be doing advanced science and research, but instead she finds the station overrun with unknown aliens.  It is up to Morgan to figure out what has happened and stop the aliens from getting to Earth.

To help Morgan on her way she can gain new abilities by getting Neuromods that jack in to her brain and help it function better.  Much like Praxis Kits in the newer Dues Ex games you need a set number of Neuromods to unlock an ability, so to get the more advanced skills you need to collect or manufacture a lot of Neuromods.

The most unique part of Prey is the ability to recycle everything and then make new stuff from the parts.  Practically what this means however is that you will find less ammo and useful stuff around the game, and end up just stuffing your inventory with a lot of junk until you can find a Recycler.  Then holding on to the recycled materials until you find a Fabricator, so this functionally ends up working like the vending machines in Bioshock.  Except instead of cash you carry around junk.

Like all games these days you get what I call a puzzle gun.  The gun you will use as your tool to get out of all your unfortunate circumstances.  Instead of a gravity gun, a portal gun, or a bow and arrow with cool stuff attached, you get a GLOO gun that can patch holes, make bridges and ladders, and entrap enemies.  It doesn’t quite do everything, but if you are stuck, it is safe to say it is at least worth pondering if the GLOO gun can help you out.

Almost everything in Prey is a reference to another game.  Right down to cribbing Bioshock’s Art Deco look, System Shock’s atmosphere (though a lot of games have stolen that), Dues Ex’s progression system, and Half Life’s special gun mechanic, and if I am honest, I think those games did their shtick better than Prey does.  However, Prey weaves them all together pretty well, and it is competently made, so it is worth your time and money.  Especially if you like the games it barrows from.  I am enjoying myself, but I just wish it was more original.

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Marvel’s Runaways Is Like A Teenage Version Of Its Netflix Siblings!

Marvel’s first show on Hulu feels very much like it should be on Netflix with Daredevil and his pals, but in this case they moved the action over to LA, so they didn’t have to deal with all that.  It is also feels like they aged it down just a touch, so that it would be more appropriate for teenage viewers.

The show is about a bunch of kids who think their parents are just everyday billionaires and super-scientists, but one night during one of their parents’ meetings they find out that their parents are involved in something troubling.  They obviously take it upon themselves to figure out what is going on, and they find out that they may not be as average as they thought they were as well.

So far the show is a little uneven, and the budget seems to be constricting them a bit, but it is fun to watch these kids deal with learning that their parents may be evil, while at the same time figuring out that they may have the power to stop their parents.  It is a little X-Men-y, but that is quite all right, and the natural separation that is caused by moving everything to the west coast works in Runaways favor.

As with most shows featuring a bunch young actors, the acting is a mixed bag, but in general it is pretty good.  Though what the show really has going in its favor is James Marsters (AKA Spike from Buffy).  It is always a treat to have him show up.  Also, I am once again not sure if his character has a soul or not.

The first season has seemed like a pilot so far.  Like they are testing the waters with this new show and streaming service, but not going all in.  Regardless, I have enjoyed Marvel’s Runaways, and I hope it keeps getting better.  The show has only aired four episodes, so maybe it finds firmer footing as it goes.

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The Gang Is All Here For Avengers: Infinity War!

The first full trailer for Avengers: Infinity War has landed, and it is as epic as you would expect for something that eight million movies have been building towards.  It was fun to see everyone in one trailer, and it looks like it will be a good flick.  It won’t be long now until we see the first real finale in the Marvel Cinematic Universe according to Marvel Studio boss Kevin Feige.

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Batman Works On His Relationships In Enemy Within Episode 3!

While what happens in Batman: The Enemy Within, Episode Three, The Fractured Mask, depends on what you did in the previous episodes, and in this episode’s case the last game, no matter what, Bruce Wayne will be dealing with his relationships.  Which is something new for Bat-fans.  Especially in the dynamic that Telltale has setup for us.

Bruce will somehow have to try and keep Batman’s friendship with Jim Gordon on the up while being forced (maybe not) to work for Amada Waller’s Agency.  All while his favorite thief Catwoman arrives back on the scene, and trying to help (or not) John Doe (Proto-Joker) with his relationship with Harley.  In other words it is an almost impossible task, and how all those relationships fit together depends on how you have been playing the game.

This is the first episode where my failures as Bruce/Batman have really come back to bite me, and it was fantastic.  Doing everything I can to keep everything working to the good, and watching myself fail to do so.  Things just keep crumbling around me.  Not to mention with all my previous knowledge about Batman, wondering if I can save poor John Doe from his fate.  I am guessing not, and I hope Harley’s fate has nothing to do with his pre-destined fall.  Because I love her as an independent, and quite scary, criminal mastermind.

While I will say I do miss the old style adventure games of the past, Telltale really knows how to weave a good story together, and this Batman tale has been one of their finest.  If you haven’t played either of their Batman games yet, you really need to because Batman: The Enemy Within has been fascinating.  I keep looking at my Steam queue hoping to see Batman update, and then I play it right away when it does, and so should you!

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Hang Out With Coco’s Dead Family!

It used to be that every Pixar movie was a sure thing.  Then Cars came along, and after three mediocre Cars movies, a Bad Dinosaur, and an okay princess, people are wondering if Pixar can still deliver the goods.  Coco is here to prove that they can.  It is fun, heartwarming and it will make you cry like the finest films Pixar has ever produced, so please spend some time with Coco’s family both living and dead.

Miguel (Anthony Gonzalez) wants to play guitar like his idol Ernesto de la Cruz (Benjamin Bratt), but due to some unfortunate family history, music is not allowed in his household.  However, there is a big talent show on Dia los Muertos, but instead of playing in the show like he plans, he takes a detour to the Land of the Dead.

I have to admit the setup for the movie is its weakest link.  Banning a kid from playing guitar over something that happened generations ago is far fetched at best, and down right mean at worst.  However, once Miguel gets to the underworld this movie really takes off story wise.  Having Miguel deal with his issues while dealing with his dead family’s issues just works, and ended up being some of Pixar’s best work.

Speaking of Pixar’s best work, Coco is visually arresting.  It has to be one of Pixar’s best looking films, and it is one of the prettiest animated movies in existence.  The rich colorful world they created will be hard to forget, and I am sure that it will ignite the imaginations of children young and old for years to come.

Honestly the only real complaint I have about this movie is the twenty minute Frozen ‘short’ that is shown before the movie.  With Coco being so good, it is a shame that it is weighed down with one of Disney’s least inspired Christmas specials, and that is saying something.  At twenty minutes, the Frozen mini-movie is at least ten minutes too long.  Though it does get somewhat better as it goes along.

Another issue that some people may have is for those worried about Dia los Muertos’ pagan roots, and I don’t have a lot reassure you.  It depicts a pretty straight up version of the holiday, so you can decide if that is right for you and your family or not.  All that being said, I loved this movie, and the people at Pixar and Disney should be proud of this film.  I hope Coco is a return to form for Pixar as a studio because I am really looking forward to Incredibles 2!