Praey for the Gods, No Matter Studios debut game, is a single-player action-adventure game set in a frozen and desolate open world landscape. Appearing to take inspiration from a variety of other popular games such asThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,Horizon Zero Dawn and (perhaps most notably)Shadow of the Colossus, the game pits the player against massive and terrifying boss enemies, who are the gods of the world that you inhabit. The game is set to release on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in Q1 2021, and it currently in early access on Steam.

Exploration is a major element of the game, with dungeons, puzzles, grappling, gliding and looting all present. Survival is tough in this frozen, dying world. Exploring inPraey for the Gods is a hazard in itself, with players needing to make sure that they are warm, fed and well rested. Combat is, of course, the second major gameplay element, with a mixture of ranged and melee options available to use against both smaller mob enemies and the gods themselves. There are only a few weapons and other items in the game currently, but more are likely planned.

Not much is known about the game's story right now, but the developers describe the player as "a lone hero sent to the edge of a dying world to discover the mystery behind a never-ending winter." The game's map is mostly blanketed in ice and snow, with barren forests and sheer mountains an atmospheric backdrop to the game's exploration and combat, alongside the haunting soundtrack and whistling wind. In seeking answers to the endless winter gripping their world, the player finds questions that apparently not even the gods know the answer to.

These god enemies also contribute to the feel and atmosphere of the world, as they each inhabit a certain part of the map. In this way, bosses truly feel like the gods, adding an important sense of immersion and significance to the various boss fights. The early access build includes five major bosses and one mini-boss present, with more planned for the full release. These fights are interesting and dynamic, with a good variety between the different enemies within the game. However, the game's influences are unmistakable in these sections, with many players suggesting that at least the first boss of the game is a direct emulation of a boss enemy withinShadow of the Colossus.

This comparison has in turn brought both praise and criticism toPraey for the Gods. Some fans of other boss climbing games have complained about the game's low graphical fidelity and slightly janky animations, along with a lack of content in its current early access state. Others have defended the game, drawing attention to the fact that it is being developed by a small team of just three people, and thankful for any continuation of the boss climbing genre. In their minds, a spiritual sequel to Shadow of Colossus is better than no sequel at all.

Praey for the Gods certainly draws heavily upon previous games within the genre both in its presentation and gameplay, but there are definitely new elements and welcome additions. The survival aspect of exploration, the grappling hook and the gliding mechanics stand out, as does its story and unique world. While the game's boss climbing on its own doesn't do anything revolutionary and it's female, bow-wielding protagonist makes comparisons to Horizon's Aloy easy,Praey for the Gods still sets itself apart.

In the end, all forms of media take inspiration from their predecessors, and Shadow of the Colossushas been a source of inspiration for many projects over the years. What No Matter has achieved with such a small team is worth applauding, even in its early state. To call Praey for the Gods an unofficial sequel toShadow of the Colossus has some accuracy, and it's likely a compliment to the developers. But that's as far as the comparisons should go. No Matter's game looks incredibly promising for fans of similar games, and while its inspirations are clear, it is unique and should not be viewed as a mere rehash of old ideas.

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