How Prey's Mind-Bending Opening Level Was Designed | Noclip

We talk to the developers at Arkane Austin about the design of the opening 30 minutes of Prey.

Noclip's work is 100% crowdfunded.

Hosted & Edited by Danny O'Dwyer
Filmed by Jeremy Jayne
Gameplay Capture by Frank Howley
Closed Captions: Megan Carnes

Timestamps:
0:00 - Intro
01:40 - [Spoilers] The Opening Level
03:42 - Setting the Scene
7:04 - The Commute
9:11 - Testing the Player
11:19 - The Reveal
16:55 - Credits

[NoclipDocs]

We have more videos on Prey and Dishonored in the pipeline - we just knew this one needed to be separate and wanted to get it out early. We hope you enjoy it!

[spacecasejay]

going into this game blind was one of my favorite gaming experiences this generation

[dieyou]

I also loved the fact that they included the helicopter blades being able to "kill" you.

I was entranced with the opening, but upon leaving the helicopter, the dark side of my mind went, "I wonder what would happen if I jumped into the helicopter's blades". So happy they included that as a possibility and an achievement, and then slightly annoyed when I realized I had to go through the cutscene again. >.<

[xhantar]

My favorite part of this opening level is how when you sit in the helicopter during the credits and the music plays if you look down you will see Morgan tap their foot to the music.

[flummoxd]

Oh my god, I never even realized you can smash that aquarium. But yeah, as many have comment already, going blind into this first sequence was mindbending. Really well done. Shame this game just kinda vanished from people's radar. It was a really awesome experience to play through, multiple times.

[ChrisLerouxDesign]

I'm actually someone who went through the aquarium, and I'd argue that it was a better. Sure there's drama to smashing glass and seeing a set, but I loved walking around dark and eerie hallways only to turn around and see the room I was just in. It works both ways.

[ArchHippy]

If for whatever reason you've jumped to the comments before watching the video and still haven't played Prey, you should know that Prey has a free trial. You can play the intro and first two areas for free. Go do that and come back.

[Resopheed]

Arkane are incredible at what they do. That reveal will stick with me for a long time.

[BackfallGenius]

I'll never forget how my brain almost broke when I smashed that glass with the wrench for the first time going in blind knowing nothing about this game. It was utterly masterful the way they led you into thinking the game would be some kind of timeloop thing and instead you're now out on your own exploring the space station where they've been running experiments on you and oh also there's Typhon everywhere lmao. Such a fantastic and underrated gem of a game! I personally enjoyed Prey far more than any other game in 2017 (yes, including Breath of the Wild, Mario Odysse, Horizon, P5, etc.) and Mooncrash somehow even eclipsed that even further to cement this as my favorite game ever. Can't wait for the rest of the series!!

[CaptJackAubreyOfTheRoyalNavy]

Oh hell yeah. Prey 2017 is one of the most underrated games ever. Such a creative, unique, fascinating game.

[MaxLebled]

love the "canonization" of "it's not a bug, it's a feature" regarding the one-frame Looking Glass bug around 8:00...

[deadlyqueen]

I almost managed to break out of the matrix with this game before they even introduced it.
It happened by chance, I took an object (a lamp) and happened to leave it outside the elevator.
After I reached my floor, I saw the exact same object in the exact same position outside, but on a different floor.
I had an X-Files moment, thinking this was somehow a bug or a glitch.
I also thought that the devs could be swapping the entire map or loading a different one without reloading the entities.
Hitting Morgan's room window was a huge surprise and totally unexpected.
This game really nailed everything: Story, Game Engine, Level Design, Voice Acting, Music, Art, Characters, Enemies, etc.
The mind games were very strong with this one.
The most interesting mechanic for me was the Looking Glass.
I can't believe they managed to build an entire fake virtual room inside a virtual room, not many appreciate the engineering that goes behind this.
I'm pretty sure that this Looking Glass concept is the first of its kind, just like Valve pioneered in the Portals and Portal Gun concept.
I wonder if one day we can also achieve that tech.

[MetalJesusRocks]

I knew that level was cool but I had no idea just how deep into the rabbit hole it went. Great video!

[Brandon-oclr]

I actually ended up going the "fish tank route" of escape on my first play through. I can't remember the exact details but the reveal ended up being much more of a slow creep rather than the suddenness they intended. I think it is telling that I feel like I got the same sense of awe regardless of the vastly different (and admittedly maybe stupid) approach I took.

[MFKitten]

Looking glass screens are basically how they film The Mandalorian, and the actors indeed see the world warp in weird ways as it adjuats to always look correct for the camera.

[EricMalette]

I love the love you are giving Arkane and specifically Prey.

[ShinForgotPassxXx]

Prey is an amazing game. Played it 5 times already. Such a shame that it just never got the praise it rightfully deserved.

[live_kaito_reaction]

I'm pretty sure I instinctively hit the glass as soon as I got the wench because I was conditioned to by half life

[Quicksilver_Cookie]

Feel bad for people who got the game spoiled to them before they played. That first moment when you break the looking glass, and the realization of how much bigger this whole situation is slowly sinks in - one of my favorite moments in gaming in nearly 25 years I've been playing them. It's quite something. And the way it leads up to that moment is so delicately thought out. What a masterpiece.

[MaterialZine]

Prey (2017) is one of my all-time favorite games. Going into this game blind was hugely rewarding and not just at this opening reveal. It’s also one of the best examples of environmental storytelling. I frigging love Talos I even though - well, I won’t spoil it. Thank you for showing this game some love.