BioShock Infinite review: ambitions fulfilled
With BioShock Infinite, developer Irrational Games has the daunting task of creating an experience that is as engaging as its genre-defining predecessor, BioShock. Through its fleshed-out characters, believable performances, and thought-provoking themes, Ken Levine and company have created an emotional roller coaster ride that's not unlike grabbing onto a Skyline.
Vigorous!
This BioShock Infinite review was based on a pre-release PC version of the game on Steam provided by the publisher. The game was tested on a system featuring an Intel i7 2600 3.4 GHz quad core CPU, 64-bit Windows 7 OS, 16 GB RAM, and an nVidia GeForce GTX 660. All graphics options were set to "ultra." The game will also be available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
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Shacknews
replyAlice O'Connor posted a new article, BioShock Infinite review: ambitions fulfilled.
With BioShock Infinite, developer Irrational Games has the daunting task of creating an experience that is as engaging as its genre-defining predecessor, BioShock. Through its fleshed-out characters, believable performances, and thought-provoking themes, Ken Levine and company have created an emotional roller coaster ride that's not unlike grabbing onto a Skyline.-
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Although I still thought Bioshock 1 was good overall, I was very disappointed how shallow it was in terms of RPG character development.
I came in expecting something like Deus Ex, the game was ridiculously easy even on highest difficulty, and not using Vita Chambers. You can pretty much wipe the floor with anything you want to use, unspecialized. I never really found a reason to play it again, and I passed on Bioshock 2 entirely.
I doubt the core game changed much on this one, but 1999 mode gives hope. Either way, I can wait until this goes on sale.
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Pre-order justified
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Having to avoid all the reviews and everything until I can play this :/
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Er. John wrote this review. I just copy and pasted and added pictures. Shhhh.
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Thanks Alice and her helpers for this review!
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The pictures are the most important part of any article.
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Is it still very Objectivist themed?
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I saw his interview on GB and it seemed to imply this one is about racism and religion in the same way the first one was about objectivism. Spoilered just in case someone wants to go in blind.
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Maybe I misheard.
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Yeah, that's what he said.
I kid, I kid
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Nah I think this is all about Nationalism or some other such nonsense.
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Great review, it still feels like a shooter first and foremost but the Vigors (plasmids) add some much needed flavour to the mix. The story is it's strongest point and does a good job of making the player feel like a part of the games universe. I really miss the puzzle mini games though if I'm honest, they were a nice break from all the shooting. Oh and although the Vigors are a lot of fun, you could easily shoot your way through all of the enemies without using them, in fact, a lot of the time I forget they are there and mostly use them just to conserve ammunition. I've yet to finish the game, I'm mostly taking my time and exploring all the nooks and crannies finding upgrades and voxophones.
The opening though.. Wow.. I Just wish it went on for a little while longer so I could soak in more of it's strange euphoric atmosphere, but in a way it makes it that much better.-
I am curious on everyone's feelings on the ending. We'll need to set up a separate thread that is heavily labeled SPOILERS!
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Sounds like a good idea, I felt that the opening was a great set up for the characters but did youmiss exploring without any kind of immenent threat? I wish it was a free roam game because the setting is mind blowing. But it works because the character is a threat, like a form of antichrist. Without spoiling, can you tell whether or not everything becomes absolutely clear by the end?
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The ending was my biggest problem with the game (as I said in the review). So in my mind no. i had said in the review (but later took it out) that the ending here makes Mass Effect 3's unpatched ending look brilliant by comparison. But again, just one man's opinion.
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Yes please do. The ending really what I'd like to discuss in a spoiler thread. I reloaded the ending twice just to see what I was missing and if I could grasp it a bit more.
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I've played through the whole game twice and wanna talk to somebody about it! I think I have a decent grasp on it at this point. What's your puzzlement?
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What do you mean? It requires one playthrough or the Konami code entered at the menu screen.
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Yes. There are some old film viewers that give you some background on Columbia and the prophet as well. Lots of extra story info.
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Bioshock didn't really define the genre (Ultima Underworld? System Shock? Half-life?), but I'd say it was one of the first to bring many modern game elements to the FPS/CRPG world, like using checkpoints/not dying instead of millions of save games, and it was generally polished beyond most RPGs (though this is largely due to the fact that it's a much, much simpler game than an RPG in most ways).
Anyway, not dissing Bioshock and all, it was a great game, and I suppose it helped defined the genre, even though it didn't do anything that hadn't been done before it in one way or anything. The sum is greater than the parts... Bioshock combined FPS/CRPG elements in a cool way, made the plasmid gameplay really fun, and has a rich world/story/art direction to tie everything together well. Bioshock was more about great execution than about innovation, and that's a-ok with me. -
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Same here. Thats why I am waiting for this one to come out before making the decision to buy or not. Bioshock 2 had everything I disliked from 1, as the main game (slow moving, thundering footsteps, etc). If this one is the same, I will have to pass on it.
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Bioshock 2 was not made by the original people. This is what you've been waiting for.
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Eh, 10/10 means nothing anymore, after reviewers have diluted the review industry with a million and ten 10/10 or 100% scores for a million and ten different games.
100% used to mean an unattainable mark, pure perfection. Sometime after Half-Life 2, or maybe with Half-Life 2, that completely changed, and games started to receive perfect scores all across the industry, like they were cheap candy. Part of that was almost surely due to Bethesda payingfor /incentivizing top scores. Now, reviewers are just as sleazy and untrustworthy as used-car salsepeople.-
Yeah that's it. Bethesda must have paid people off. That's the only reason why their games get good reviews. Good thing you didn't let them get away with it!
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Is it me, or are the Shacknews reviews getting shorter and less descriptive with each iteration? Is this really all you could manage to write after having played a game that was, according to you, top notch with deep storytelling etc? I learned almost nothing from this review that I couldn't garner from a so-called "preview" or a game trailer... I think the Shack staff needs to take some creative writing classes if they're going to be reviewing games on launch day.
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**BioShockInfiniteSpoilers**
Still confused about the ending well i created a timeline showing what happens #Bioshock
http://tinyurl.com/cm5kk44
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