On Prey for the Gods’ Kickstarter page, developer No Matter Studios describes the indie game “as an action survival game” set on a wintry island, where players must “destroy the very gods you believe in” in order to survive the unforgiving climate, and solve a world-threatening mystery. The page lists titles like Deus Ex, DayZ, Bloodborne, and the aforementioned Shadow of the Colossus as inspiration for the open-ended and action-heavy gameplay.
The early footage of the game shown in the pitch video gives us glimpses of the game’s female protagonist scaling towering “bosses,” clinging to their fur and scales to find and attack weak spots on their bodies, which evoke the scale and majesty of Shadow of the Colossus’ colossi bosses.
Outside of combat, the unnamed main character is shown trudging through deep snow within dark forests. According to the Kickstarter page, players will have to survive the harsh, freezing weather by scouring the environment for items to keep them alive, and equipment to use in their battles against the massive gods that roam the landscape. There is, of course, a trade-off between exploration and survivability; the more you explore, the better your equipment will be, but the greater your risk of getting caught in a sudden blizzard and perishing.
Now, if you’re the type to raise a skeptical eye at the phrase “Kickstarter project,” that’s understandable; some Kickstarters often fail to get off the ground, and others end up delivering sub-par products (we’re looking at you Mighty No. 9). However, No Matter Studios is going out of its way to instill faith in Prey for the Gods’ development.
The development team is made up by a small core of industry veterans with a combined 30 years of experience in such games as Titan Quest and Dawn of War. No Matter Studios claims that the game is already around 25-percent complete. That seems reasonable, especially considering the quality of the gameplay footage shown so far.
Similarly, the game’s scope seems appropriate. Even if all the stretch goals are met, the game will only include 5-8 bosses, with most of their Kickstater budget dedicated to polish. Other stretch goals include console versions for Xbox One and PlayStation 4; a live orchestral score; and additional art and animations, as well as more weapons and environments.
The current estimated delivery date is December 2017. At the time of this writing, the campaign has already raised nearly $135,900 of its $300,000 goal in just two days, so it seems pretty likely that Prey for the Gods will meet its funding goals. Frankly, we’re shocked we haven’t seen more games — whether indie or AAA — trying to build upon the formula that Shadow of the Colossus so elegantly executed over 11 years ago, but we’re glad to finally see someone take a crack at it.
You can get the full scoop on Prey for the Gods’ gameplay, art, and development team on its Kickstater page.
