Tools for this page
Print

Prey

  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version
    Not age appropriate for kids under 17, age appropriate for kids over 17; suggested age 17.

  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Gory shooter gets blood pumping – for adults.

Why We Rated This not for kids

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Lots of puzzles and creative thinking.
  • Messages:

    Character learns the value of appreciating his heritage.

What to watch out for

  • Violence:

    Players use sci-fi blasters to cover the walls in alien gore.
  • Sex:

    A female character is shown partially naked.
  • Language:

    Tommy swears in almost every level. Lots of four-letter words.
  • Consumerism:

    Not an issue.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Some beer drinking

What Parents Need to Know

This review of Prey was written by Bobbi Dempsey

Parents need to know that this is a bloody first-person shooter (although most of the blood belongs to the aliens). There's also lots of bad language, and a female character is shown partially nude. Also, it can be played online; Common Sense Media does not recommend unsupervised online play for anyone under the age of 12.

Families Can Talk About

Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
  • Families can talk about violence in first-person shooters. Does it make a difference that most of the shooting is aimed at aliens as opposed to people? Does the addition of challenging puzzles and authentic Cherokee mythology help compensate for the objectionable aspects?
Did this review help you decide?

OK for Your Kids to Play?

Do you play it? Review It!

More on Prey

What’s the Story?

PREY is a sci-fi first-person shooter that takes place on a huge ship orbiting the Earth. Players take on the role of Tommy, an American Cherokee living on a reservation, who's bouncing off the walls with boredom and wants to leave with his girlfriend, Jen, another Cherokee. When the game opens, Tommy is at Jen's bar -- weird lights appear and players (and the whole bar) are abducted into the mother ship. From here the story pretty much fades into the basic "save the world from aliens" plot.

Is It Any Good?

Prey contains a multi-player mode either online or using Xbox Live. It contains all the guns from the story mode, but the story boils down to a race for the rocket launcher. Players should know that there is no offline multi-player with this game, which is disappointing.

All in all, Prey is an exciting shooter with some fun puzzles. The game is relatively short and quite easy for the avid gamer. Tommy's journey to appreciate his Cherokee heritage -- and his ability to use the special powers he receives -- are a creative addition, but, overall, the story isn't groundbreaking. It is, of course, left open-ended for a possible sequel.

Publisher’s Details

Developer: Take Two
Released on: 08/26/2006, Price: $36.99, not online enabled
ESRB Rating: M for violence, nudity, language

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Do you play it? Review It!

What did you think about Prey?

or

to post a review

See all 9 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 4.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • Drinking, smoking, or drug use
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages
    • Good role models

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 1.0
    • My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • My highlights are:
    • Easy to play

    Simplistic and boring, dont waste your money on this game.

    This is one of my least favorite games in my Xbox360 collection. The game is boring, the plot isn't thought out very well and the puzzles are no better than an ordinary jigsawl puzzle. If your looking for a fun action adventure game with plenty of puzzles, look at bioshock, though I do recomend bioshock for people under the age 14-13 at least. Please do not waste your money on prey!

  3. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Texas
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 4.0

    fun, but not quite up to the hype

    the invention was good, like walking through portals in boxes, and mini worlds, but the action wasn't as frenzied as it could be because whenever you die you can just shoot a few spirits in the spirit realm and come back to life. the story is good, especially near the end, as was the integration of Tommy's coming to terms with his being Native American and not wanting to stay on the reservation. Content wise, it's pretty bloody, and there a good amount of f-bombs, even in the beginning. sexual content amounts to one brief scene of partial nudity, and that's basically it. It's definitely worth buying, but I'm still going to be playing older 360 games like call of duty 2 online over this. never gets old!

  4. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Connecticut
    I rate this title on for age 0 and give it 4.0

    Innovative art design makes Prey

  5. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title pause for age 0 and give it 4.0

    not good for young kids

    Very creative game and well-made but not for younger than 17, I only played the demo but the use of the f-bomb was all over the place. The violence is gory and even young kids are killed, I even got a queasy stomach when the wraith possesed this one kid and made her throw her sister up against an impaling spike, not nice.

More Great Stuff For Your Kids

  • Now Playing

    Avatar

    Avatar

    Action-heavy epic has dazzling effects, familiar story.

  • Tech Tip

    Learn the basics with our latest video.How to Text

    Learn the basics with our latest video.

  • Book of the Week

    All the World

    All the World

    Endearing art, rhythmic poem celebrate the flow of life.

  • Pick of the Week

    Sites for Haiti

    Sites for Haiti

    Help kids get involved.

  • Download This

    Pickin' & Grinnin': Great Folk Songs for Kids

    Pickin' & Grinnin': Great Folk Songs for Kids

    Fantastic folk favorites perfect for family road trips.

Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
  • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
  • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
  • Post your own reviews and share them with friends

This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
A screen name protects your privacy
To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
A screen name protects your privacy

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
(optional)
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
A screen name protects your privacy
Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
I'm already a Common Sense member.
Kids under 13 must use a screen name