This gorgeous new game lets you explore an alternate future where JFK survived and space travel is common

Ten years later, we may have the makings of another breakout hit in the same vein as the beloved "BioShock."

The game's called "Prey," and it just launched on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC.

While "BioShock" took place in an underwater dystopia, "Prey" takes place in a futuristic space station overtaken by an alien species. But everything is not as it seems in "Prey." Where the world of "BioShock" had so-called "plasmids," the world of "Prey" has neuromods. With every power you choose, a bit more of your humanity slips away.

This is the give and take of "Prey," and it's just the surface of the tradeoffs you'll face on the space station Talos 1.

"Prey" is a first-person character action game, where you explore a beautiful, isolated world that's falling apart. It's riddled with story clues, unique characters, and stuff that wants to kill you. It very much feels like "BioShock" in space, which I mean as a compliment.

There's a sharp, distinct sense of style right from the jump. This office is yours, which you visit early on in the game.

The story backbone to "Prey" is based on the concept that President John F. Kennedy survived his assassination, and advanced the human push into space dramatically as a result. An alien force, known as the Typhon, saw humans as a threat and attacked. The US and the Soviet Union joined forces against the threat, defeated it, and built a space station to imprison and study the aliens.

That's where you come in. It's the year 2032, and you're working at a company named TranStar — the company that now owns and runs the space station which was created by the US and USSR originally. It essentially looks like a skyscraper in Manhattan that's floating in space.

Fitting with the "BioShock" comparison, your first weapon is a wrench. While combat is always an option (rather than a requirement, there are many ways to defeat enemies in "Prey." Part of what makes it so fun to play is figuring out different ways to take on the enemy in front of you.

Here's Alex Yu, your brother. He appears concerned for you, but it's not exactly clear what his motives are at first.

These are the aliens you'll be taking on, the "Typhon." They're fast, and some can shape-shift. You've got a variety of different weapons to use, like the "GLOO" cannon seen here. It freezes enemies, and can also be used for various environmental things (like reaching places you otherwise couldn't).

Some aliens are more powerful than others, and running away is a perfectly meaningful tactic in a lot of situations.

Since the space station you're on, Talos 1, is 60 years old (or so), it's a pastiche of different eras and cultures in terms of design. There are futuristic areas, and parts that reflect its inception as a space prison in the Kennedy-era.

Without ruining too much of the opening — which you can play, for free, in a demo of the first hour that's available now — know that this isn't a deadly serious game at all times. It respects your intelligence with smart writing and dialogue right from the jump.

Stopping to marvel at your surroundings is necessary pretty often in "Prey." Between its sense of style and the sheer graphical fidelity, it's a remarkable-looking game.

Fans of horror games like "Dead Space" should also take note — "Prey" is a game with exactly the same soul. In the five-ish hours I've spent with the game so far, I've found a lot to like with the world of "Prey." The story is holding my interest, the combat is smart, and exploration is rewarding. Best of all, it's a game I didn't expect to be as good as it is.

Check out the game in action below, and play the game yourself via the free demo of the first hour (on Xbox One and PS4 only). That's right! There's a free demo that you can play, and it's a strong intro to what you can expect. "Prey" is available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC now, and it costs $60.

This gorgeous new game lets you explore an alternate future where JFK survived and space travel is common

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