Editor’s Note: Onto number eight in our twenty-five most anticipated games of 2012. After culminating a comprehensive list of the confirmed games for next year, the MediaKick team voted on the games they are most looking forward to for next year, and after processing the results through a methodical algorithm we’re here to bring you the results. Taking a closer look at both what we know so far and why the team are excited for each game, we’ll have an article at midday everyday until Christmas – when we’ll reveal our most anticipated game of 2012. Be sure to check out the previous games so far if you haven’t already – #25, #24, #23, #22, #21, #20, #19, #18, #17, #16, #15, #14, #13, #12, #11, #10. #9.

Released in 2006, the original Prey was a first person shooter released by Human Head Studios. Some people might be scratching their head wondering what Prey is, let alone Prey 2? And you won’t be the only ones either, many of the staff here at MediaKick have not played it too. Although it didn’t exactly raise the bar in terms of scores (it sits at a comfortable 79 on Metacritic), it had many notable features which were truly great. It had portals, gravity changes to dynamically alter the environment, and protagonist Tommy – a Cherokee who used his spiritual history to explore realms and worlds unreachable by the common man. This together made a very decent title for Xbox 360 and PC, so it may seem strange to learn that Prey 2 is pushing all this to the side in favour of going multi-platform, getting a new character and heading in a new direction. Don’t abandon hope yet though, because what we’ve seen so far is astonishing and we’re very excited.

Back in March a strange live action trailer set on a plane hit the Internet, shortly after Bethesda announced they were working on Prey 2. Featuring no gameplay and little else besides, most of us were less dumbfounded as to what to expect. To call it a teaser trailer was exactly that, a tease. It wasn’t until June, just before E3, that we were treated to a CGI trailer depicting exactly what we will be playing come 2012. The trailer featured lead character Killian Samuels attempting to kill a bounty using his repertoire of weapons, gadgetry and parkour abilities. Taking obvious inspiration from the likes of multiple games and films, including Blade Runner, the tone was very much set. We were going to control a lone bounty hunter, scouring world of Exodus for our next kill whilst attempting to recover our memory to the events prior.

Although a rather large departure from Prey (this could be considered a new IP, rather than a sequel), hype is high leading into 2012. Prey 2 looks set to fuse elements from some of this generations greatest games. Mixing elements of parkour from Mirrors Edge and the sci-fi aspects from Mass Effect, Human Head Studios look set to place us at the heart of an alien universe with the means to hunt and kills extra terrestrial scum. What’s not to like? Something that MediaKick writer, Harry Bandell, agrees with – “Prey 2 looks set to not only expand the Prey universe in a creative and experimental fashion, but also to bring with it some genuinely innovative gameplay ideas. I’m a fan of Prey and some of the inventive game mechanics it brought with it – it was an interesting concept and one I’ve returned to several times – and I think Human Head are going to bring that same kind of inventiveness to their sequel.”

During E3 we were treated (and I mean that in every sense of the word) to a full gameplay demo, and boy was it a doozy. Project Lead Chris Rhinehart took us for a walkthrough, in which bounty hunter Samuels continued his battle against aliens. The game looks stunning, lighting effects were simply spellbinding, and overall it had an amazing sheen. Featuring an augmented reality-styled HUD, parkour infused platforming, a morality system and more, players will have to complete missions to capture their bounty, in a fully open, non-linear world. One of the gameplay systems is called “Agile Combat”, allowing you to slide into, vault from or pop-up from cover and shoot whilst doing all of it; it’s fast, fluid and accessible. MediaKick pal, Phillip Costigan, can’t wait to see what the gameplay will offer, “The Blade Runner-esque setting and free running gameplay are right on the money for what I want in a game like that. Throw in some bounty hunting, weird alien species and a kick-ass world, and it looks like we’re going to see something different and exciting with Prey 2.”

Set in a large open world, with a truly open narrative, players will be able to pick and choose routes and jobs as they see fit. There is also a whole host of awesome gadgets available, both offensive and defensive, including deployable shields, anti-gravity grenades, and hover boots, which all will add to the dynamic possibilities in combat. As for the morality system, your actions will have consequences. Although they may not always be bad, the choices are almost infinite, why barter with a contract, when you can simply shoot first and ask questions later? This combination of gameplay and world looks set to create a truly wonderful game fusing many core elements of such loved franchises and MediaKick Editor, David Howard, couldn’t agree more, “The sci-fi world, vast array of alien races, quick fluid combat with a Brink-like running system, along with gadgets, a morality system and a fantastic setting – sounds like my perfect game.”

Everything shown so far has been pretty special and it seems to have captured most of the staffs attention with News Editor, Ryan Martin, saying, “When news came out from one of the developers working on the title that everything shown in the CGI trailer can be performed in-game and I thought to myself “Sure.” My god was I shocked during Human Head’s stage demo.” There is a lot to this game, from the visuals, to the style and setting. Yes there are a lot of shooters out there, but there’s not many where you can float on hover boots whilst shooting a freaky looking alien straight in the head. Roll on 2012!