`PREY' GRABS HOLD OF YOU.

Byline: Redmond Carolipio Staff Writer

I'm not an expert on Cherokee lore, but I'll bet it doesn't include getting puked on by an alien ship.

That's what happens in the world of ``Prey,'' a stomach-churning, disorienting and ultimately thrilling experience that matches the mythos of ancient Indian legend against the twisted horrors of alien abduction.

You play Tommy, a Cherokee garage mechanic who isn't a fan of reservation life, or being a Cherokee, for that matter. We meet him in a bar and quickly learn that his views clash with those of his girlfriend, Jen, and his traditional grandfather, Enisi.

With old rock music bouncing off the walls (Heart's ``Barracuda'') and the bar's only two patrons trying to hit on Jen, we get a taste of Tommy's somewhat spiteful personality. Upon seeing some of the bar's gambling machines, Tommy utters, ``worst Indian casino EVER.''

You also get a taste of the game's melee combat, as Tommy has to use his big mechanic's wrench to beat down two patrons who get a little violent.

What follows is the actual abduction scene, where you hear emergency broadcasting on the TV, see the lights black out and feel the bar start to shake.If you look out the window, you see a truck get sucked up by a green light, followed by the roof of the bar, your grandfather

The ship comes across as an unholy place, emphasized by Tommy telling Jen to stop her own praying because ``if there's a great spirit, he's not here.''

With the aid of an unknown stranger, Tommy is set free, leaving him to try and track down Jen and his grandfather. Players assume control from here and start to explore the ship.

Simply put, the alien craft is foul.

The ship is also alive, so for every sliding metal door or moving platform you find, you'll also encounter entryways that resemble bodily openings (can't tell you which ones), along with churning organic tubes and squirming ``valves'' that vomit chunky acidic waste.

Beyond the goo, the game also finds ways to warp both the player's perspective and sense of reality.

You'll find various ``portals'' that lead to different areas scattered throughout the ship.

The ship also features technology that allows the player to walk on walls and ceilings, as well as alter gravity in certain areas. It's insanity for the eyes at first, but it also brings a surreal quality to the gameplay.

I found the visual confusion a refreshing departure from the predictable past instances of ``advanced alien tech,'' where someone seeing it for the first time immediately figures it out.

But what truly separates Tommy from other angry gun-toters is a cadre of abilities based around Indian legend.

``SpiritWalk'' enables you, the player, to leave your own body and travel around in spirit form.Then there's ``DeathWalk,'' which essentially means you can fight your way back to life when you die.

Tying all of these elements together is the story, which is good enough for me not to spoil it here.

PREY - Three and one half stars

Platform: Xbox 360, PC.

Rated: M for Mature (it gets pretty gross).

In a nutshell: Showers gamers with alien action.