1960
A turbine engine listlessly shudders beyond the steel iron hull. The image of family - your loved ones - glances momentarily towards your present location. Another moment passes before the shrill screams of passengers deafen the watcher’s ears as all vision recedes to black.
Light reemerges with a title. Bioshock.
Originally unearthed for the Xbox 360 and PC platforms in 2007 the game quickly garnered not only the gaming worlds respect but one of it’s most prestigious honor: Game of the Year. In 2008 the game finally found it’s way to the Sony PS3 console with the all important “Extra features”.
As the actual game begins and the player takes the rein of our unknown player, he finds himself in quite a pickle. Surviving the plane crash “somewhere in the pacific” quickly turns out to be the simplest thing on his schedule.
A lighthouse hangs ominously over the darkened water. It being the only refuge from a watery grave, our hero sets foot on the concrete behemoth instantly bringing to life a dead structure. After the short introductory phase by one “Andrew Ryan” our protagonist is quickly unleashed to the world of Rapture – a dystopian world perpetually stuck in 1959.
Bound to progression the man hastily enters the first grisly room to finally be confronted by the resident drug/elephant in the room: plasmids. Once the two of you have been acquainted the floodgates to splicing your genes open up, each with a chemically altered characteristic. But what is a plasmid and how did it get here?
The short story: Andrew Ryan, the curator, created Rapture in the eyes of not land dwelling ideologies. In this same vein, he and other like minded individuals created gene-splicing or plasmids. Their cost? A pinch of Adam; this being their genetic wireframe holding all the little pieces together.
These “powers” work exactly the same as the firearms and act similar to how magic would in any given RPG style game. This being, of course, a first person shooter (FPS) you’ll have access to both styles of play.
And whether you decide to wield the power of electricity or set the world ablaze, remember, too much of a good thing will drain your eve (natural plasmid energy reserve) and leave you defenseless while seeking another injection. So remember, a smart splicer is a happy splicer!
When you awaken the uninviting world of Rapture is waiting. Genetically mutated freaks known as “splicers” roam the city searching for the next hit of adam. The carriers of said miracle science are itty bitty little girls covered in death’s skin wearing the torn remnants of their innocence. But to attack one of these “Little sisters” would be to anger their guardian the “Big Daddy” which has quite the temper when startled.
Once you’ve dealt with one of these colossal tin cans you’ll finally be allowed to taste the venom of Adam but only if you decide the fate of the little sister first.
But in a world where the fabrics of morality lay in tatters and the only certainty is the need for self preservation; can you heed the painful warning that Rapture cries, attempting to thwart the darkness and be their savior or will you fall forever to the alluring corruption of greed and inflated self importance?
Besides all that intoxicating game play, the main attraction to the world of Rapture (the city itself notwithstanding) is the excellently written storyline; one that contains more twists, bumps and heart then most games readily produced. The steadfast attention to detail is simply amazing. The working of every little nuisance inside the city creates such a world full of life, death, and destruction that it takes repeated viewing to fully explore the length of yarn on display. It also helps that it’s being told solely through the eyes and ears of our intrepid captive creates a much more riveting standard for video interaction narrative.
To say anymore would be telling.
Pros:
• Superb narrative that never ceases to interrupt gameplay nor disappoint
• The world of Rapture is a monument to videogame excellence. It in and of itself could self contain a game with minimal exertion
• The ability to actively effect the environment to hurt thy enemy
• Ability to actively enhance your character with tonics, weapon upgrades and crafting offers RPG like augmentation
Cons:
• Prototypical gunplay can sometimes feel antiquated and dated
• A lot of the plasmids don’t really feel very polished
• Hacking
• Ending (cut scene)
Conclusion:
To say Bioshock is anything less then a crowning achievement would be an insult. The game easily bumps shoulders with the most renowned of video games inside their “hall of fame”. And while there are the occasional hiccups, most of which are issued directly to the hacking mini game, so much of the presentation – from the story to the gameplay to the graphical prowess – is fantastically delivered that any issue feels extremely minor and unimportant. The truest testament to the brilliance is the fact that I’ve been through Rapture three times and enjoyed it more with each consecutive play through.
Bioshock is an outstanding game not to be missed by any. If for some reason you’ve not enjoyed the fruits of Eden then you owe it to yourself to take a bite today.
Final score: 95/100
As always, if you enjoyed this review head over to my amazon link to your left (under reviews) and hit thumbs up. If you didn't well... I suppose there is always next time.
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