BIOSHOCK
Published by:
2K Games
Developed by:
Irrational Games
Available on
XBOX 360 and PC
INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to 1960- your name is Jack and you’ve just survived a
plane crash. Unfortunately for you, you’ve landed in Rapture, a dystopian
failure of a city created by a rather crazy individual named Andrew Ryan. Also
unfortunate is that this place is an absolute wreck, left to rot with many
mutant inhabitants and genetic-material-protecting behemoths named Big Daddys
that prowl the premises. This game has been a long time coming and is made by
the same time that brought you one of the most heralded games of all time in
System Shock 2. Will this game rock half as hard or sink like a stone, never to
be heard from again? Read on!
GAMEPLAY:
BioShock plays like a first person shooter with many RPG
elements of customization added in the mix. As you begin the game, you’ll have
nothing but your fists and a wrench. Even when you pick up your first pistol,
you’ll be a little limited because the enemies you’ll face are pretty tough,
jumping around all over the place and screaming at you- this makes them fairly
hard to hit. The action gets really fast and furious at times, and at no time is
this game ever a slouch.
With that being said, it should also be mentioned that while
gameplay can be tricky due to brilliant AI, you can never die in BioShock. At no
point will you see the words "Game Over’ on the screen because every time you
die, you’re taken back to a "vita-Chamber" checkpoint which will leave you with
a small amount of your health back. To avoid being sent to a vita-chamber, it is
important to stock up on first aid kits. Later on in the game, it is not
uncommon to have more than 5 health kits saved up to replenish yourself during
nasty boss battles. Believe me, you’ll need them. This is a hard game, with very
smart enemies who react and adapt to your every move.
Also along the way, you’ll pick up magic-like upgrades called
Plasmids which enhance your genetic abilities. You’ll be able to freeze people,
flame ’em up, turn security cameras on ’em, cast dummies of yourself to divert
attention, make them go crazy and attack each other, the list goes on and on.
These powers are essential both in combat and in problem solving, as many of
them interact with the environment quite often. Your plasmids are controlled
with the left bumper, and your weapons on the right. It takes some getting used
to, but becomes second nature after awhile.
This game is intense and atmospheric. The first time you face
a huge, helmeted Big Daddy boss, you will be frightened. Oh, and you’ll have to
face them to get the precious genetic material you need to upgrade your skills.
Most of the game is spent creeping around corners listening to enemies shrieking
nearby or for other sounds that may alert you to trouble. It’s a scary game, no
doubt about it, and plays out really well story-wise, especially around the
second half of this 20+hr ride through Rapture.
You’ll pick up streaming audio
diaries as you go along to avoid cutscenes a-la Doom 3, which is nice. Also
along the way you’ll be hacking into machines for health, ammo, and even turrets
and security cameras to make them work for you. This is all done via an intense
tile-switching, match up the pipes before they overflow into the circuitry game.
It’s frustrating, but as you go along you’ll develop your skills. I thought this
was an awesome addition to the gameplay, I really like having an optional
advantage if it means you have to work for it.
The weapons are pretty cool too. You can eventually create
your own ammo for weapons, along with other things, which can be so beneficial.
You’ll pick up a ‘research camera’ which will allow you to learn more about your
enemies’ weaknesses as you go along to find out which type of ammo is best
suited for your foes. These innovative systems make the game’s possibilities
endless and you’ll never play the same game twice as you have to make informed
decisions on how many items and abilities you can possess at once.
Gameplay: 9/10
GRAPHICS:
BioShock is easily one of the most beautiful games I’ve ever
played, and that says a lot. From the outset when you first encounter the water
effects, you may tear up because they truly are that damn good. Water will
ripple, spill, drip, and collect around objects. You’ll also take note of the
dynamic, beautiful lighting effects that illuminate rapture. Enemies are
incredibly detailed and there are so many little graphical touches. I noticed
that the game somehow runs super-smoothly, but if that isn’t the case on your
system, maybe crank down to ‘lo-res’ in the options menu.
Graphics: 10/10
AUDIO:
BioShock is also an aural masterpiece that has virtually no
rivals, anywhere on the gaming scene. Voice acting is impeccable, and like in
Resident Evil 4 and other quality games, a surround sound system will benefit
you tremendously in the sense that the game’s audio will give you clues about
your surroundings. Sound effects are top notch and watching the relationship
between the Big Daddies and Little Sisters they protect can take up ten minutes
of your time due to the masterful audio presentation. Grade A stuff, beyond
grading!
Audio: 10/10
FINAL VERDICT:
BioShock is one of the most fun games I’ve played in a long
time. It’s different and original while sticking true to a tested formula. It is
a game that all developers who crank out lame sequels or silly rehashes of games
we’ve played before should take note of. If you like video games, you owe it to
yourself to enjoy this game at least once. It can be frustrating and you may
find yourself quitting a lot at a seemingly impossible part, but you’ll always
come back and be ready for more when you do. The story is enveloping, the
graphics and sound are beautiful, and I really can’t recommend a trip to Rapture
any more heartily.
FINAL SCORE: 10/10
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