Bioshock 2

 

 

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Hi all, for those that want the review in a nutshell...here it is.

If you have not played the first iteration of the bioshock franchise then you will be extremely enthralled by this game. It captures everything a game needs and more; atmosphere, suspense, character driven story, action, depth, puzzles and strategy. It's the complete package! The addition of Multiplayer and Trophies makes this games longevity a great investment. You will get at around 15 - 20 hours from the Singleplayer (excluding replays for alternate endings, and trophy's). The multiplayer will keep you attracted for at least 5 hours, but again if you want trophy's and to see the full scale of the online experience then you will be long into the 30 hour zone. NOTE: There has also been a recent announcement that a piece of Download-able Content for the Multiplayer will be released in the next few months which should extend the life of online play. Along with this there are also plans to extend the Singleplayer experience with further content!

Now, for those of you that have played the previous game (such as myself). I think you will greatly appreciate the changes in the mechanics (a major one would be the ability to use plasmids and guns at the same time - massive game changer!), however...one problem I had wit the game was the story. Bioshock told such a great story with twists and turns throughout (not to mention the Oh My God ending) - this isn't to say the story in bioshock 2 is not convincing, its just not as good. There arent really any twists and it feels more of an action adventure than an action thriller. Some may prefer this, however the story for me was a major selling point. I must say that the overall experience is great, just be vary of the story not being as much of a shocker this time round!
Multiplayer is good, but again unless your going for trophy's I don't think it will keep you coming back (however there are some very nice modes and little bioshock flavours that spice the experience up and stear it away from your simple run and gun multiplayer shooter)!

I hope this review helps, take care and happy gaming!

Console games are funny things, often in the world of film and books sequels are viewed with suspision and treated with derision (not always of course). Unless it's a pre-conceived trilogy for example, it can be assumed that a sequel is just a cash in. However, in gaming, no matter how good the original was, people want more. Uncharted 2 was a huge success as was Mass Effect 2, and Batman AA, Infamous and Dead Space amongst others have sequels in the works. Yet, with Bioshock, news of the sequel wasn't as well received - and this, I feel, goes to show just how uniquely brilliant the original Bioshock was - unlike so many other games, it was more about the story than the actual gameplay (though that's not to say it didn't play well). The whole atmosphere of Rapture was something unique and special, so it is understandable that there has been some negativity towards Bioshock 2, despite my view that it really is an outstanding game.

I'm sure the majority will be aware of the basic premise, but for a quick recap, you're the original Big Daddy, the game is set 10 years after the original, and you get to dual wield plasmids and weapons, boom! The array of splicers return, and we are introduced to a new enemy called a Big Sister, I won't too much as the origin of the Big Sisters are revealed throughout the game, all I will say is that every so often you will hear a shrill scream that indicates a Big Sister is coming to get you, and it's genuinely terrifying! While the feel of the game is largely similar to the original, there are a few changes - for example hacking has been improved/ruined (delete as appropriate) by removing the pipe hacking system and replacing it with a simple 'press the buttin when it's in the right zone' game. A nice touch with this is that it doesn't pause time, so you have to hack when you're sure you're safe!

A criticism I have seen reported a lot, both in magazines and on webistes, is that Bioshock 2 suffers because it is just TOO familiar, and to an extent it's hard to argue against this. However, I'm going to do just that anyway - while I appreciate that some may find this game Rapture overkill, at the end of the day in no other game do you have such a wonderful creation as Rapture - the whole ethos of the game is stunning, while it may be too familiar for some, for me it was like returning to an old, slightly damp, friend. The music, the audio diaries, the crazed splicers, the 1950s/60s aesthetics, there's nowhere quite like good old Rapture. Many other games revisit similar places and themes, however I feel it may be due to just how special and unique Rapture is that the familiarity is being viewed as a negative.

The main story is once again excellent, while the emotions never quite hit the heights of the original, I have to admit it IS better than what I was expecting, the second half really picks up and if you take the time to search every corner for those audio diaries (in my first playthrough I managed to find almost all 128 of them), not only the plot of the game, but of the whole Rapture universe, begin to piece together and make sense. While there isn't anything as memorable as the Atlas situation, there are a few really interesting ideas presented (towards the end of the game there's a section where you'll see Rapture in a whole new light). One of the problems Bioshock 2 will inevitably have is that it will be compared to the original. However it would have taken something pretty special to topple that, and I feel 2K Marin should be applauded for almost doing just that. The storyline isn't as good, but the gameplay is technically better (though if you choose not to harvest the Little Sisters, the gathering missions can be a wee bit repetitive). Being able to wield plasmids and weapons at the same time presents the ability to be a bit more tactical in your approach, and enables you to mix and match your attacks for the best effect. Graphically it's very good, however there hasn't been a whole lot of progression from the first game, but again Rapture is such a wonderful and unique place that I personally didn't mind some of the rough edges.

On a side note, multiplayer is more than just an add-on - set in NYE 1959, you have your usual games modes like free for all and team deathmatches, and variations on a theme with capture the flag (with the Little Sister being the flag). If multiplayer is your thing, you could do worse than the Bioshock version, I'm pleased to report I've so far had no connection or lag issues when playing.

All in all Bioshock 2 is more than just a cash in on a success story. It's an amazing game in it's own right and I honestly feel if the original didn't exist, the ratings for the game would be higher than they already are. It's not as good as the original, but don't let that put you off it - there's plenty here to enjoy.

(Also, just to note, I read another review that criticised the loading time the first time you put the disc in - while it does take a while, it's better to get it over and done with rather than have ridiculous loading times throughout the game).

Bioshock 2 is something of a difficult game you may think to review. Sequel to a game which many said needed no sequel. Pointless, not needed, not wanted by the fans etc. What more could it bring to the table? After having played the game extensively I can tell you it brings a lot. It has a host of refinements, improvements, and quite frankly is a game which taken as a whole, I think will struggle to be bested by any other game this year.

Set 10 years after the first game, in Bioshock 2 you play as subject Delta, the first Big Daddy to be successfully paired with a Little Sister. Delta wakes up in Rapture at the beginning with little recollection as to what has come before. All he has is an unshakeable urge to find and be reunited with his Little Sister. To complicate matters, Rapture has a new leader in the form of Sophia Lamb, a Psychiatrist who has managed to unite the Splicers under the banner of 'The Family', a twisted cult she uses to serve her will. It's a great set-up, and one which leads you further into Rapture meeting a host of interesting characters. More complex than you would normally expect from a video game story, and without the slightly perplexing and damaging twists that were found in Bioshock, the story is one of the numerous areas where Bioshock 2 shines. It won't be as highly praised as the story found in the first, primarily because Rapture isn't a new and unknown entity this time around. This is sad because it's definetly as good, if not better than the first.

When it comes to the gameplay itself, Bioshock 2 has certainly been improved. This is primarily due to the fact you are now a Big Daddy with the ability to dual wield weapons and plasmids, which makes for some hugely entertaining firefights and combat experimentation. Combat itself is also far more intense, and you will often find yourself far more overwhelmed than in the first game. This is no bad thing however, as the intensity never drops and you will find yourself excited from beginning to end. Control wise, Bioshock 2 is very smooth. It may not be as twitch perfect as other top shooters on the market such as Modern Warfare 2, but it actually works in the games favour. It's far more of a thinking mans FPS, with the ability to lay traps, call upon bots for help and dupe your enemies with the use of plasmids. As previously stated, it is very intense but you will never feel rushed or under so much pressure that you miss a shot, and if you do it's your own fault and not that of a faulty control setup.

The biggest, and most exciting addition to the gameplay though is the ability to use Little Sisters to harvest Adam from bodies. You first have to take down their own Big Daddy, and once that is done you are left with a choice of whether to harvest or adopt them. If you adopt them, you then take on the role of protector, and are able to Harvest dead bodies for Adam for use for upgrades. These scenes are where the game is at it's most intense, as you have to hold off gangs of Splicers intent on stealing that Little Sister from you. It's a very interesting role reversal of the Big Daddy fights from the first game, and one which I relished from beginning to end.

Perhaps the most well documented and hyped element of Bioshock 2 is the addition of the Big Sisters. Under the control of Sophia Lamb, the Big Sisters are beings who were once Little Sisters, who couldn't resist the call of Rapture even when returned to land. They are your toughest enemy and usually arrive when you have finished gathering Adam with you Little Sister. Lighter, faster, and more fear inducing than the Big Daddies, the fights you have with them are intense, but this is probably the games weakest new addition. Once you have upgraded enough, the Big Sisters, while still tough, become more of an annoyance rather than something you dread. They never become easy fights, but start to feel like a chore the more the game goes on.

The single player clocks in at about 10 hours, which feels ideal. Due to the multiple difficulties, vast array of Plasmids, and numerous different possible endings it is a game that is meant to be replayed. It doesn't outstay it's welcome, but still leaves you excited to replay it, one of the markers of a great game in my opinion.

Multiplayer is also a new, and rather infamous addition to the Bioshock franchise. Fans have maintained that Bioshock didn't need a multiplayer, that it was the single player story people loved the first game for. While this is true, the multiplayer is actually quite impressive. It borrows heavily from Call of Duty in it's ranking system, but due to it's use of Plasmids and setting, it still manages to feel unique. It actually plays like something of a next gen version of the Timesplitters multiplayer due to it's sense of humour and how frantic it is. It may not hold you for long, but it's definetly good enough to secure a large dedicated following.

Graphically, Bioshock 2 is on a par with the first, something of a dissapointment considering it's 2 and a half years since it was released. It still looks good, with beautiful water and lighting effects, but the unreal engine is starting to show it's age. Some of the textures are blurry and lacking in detail, and the game doesn't have any settings that break from the tradition set by the first game. It's not detrimental to the game, but if there is a third game released as planned, maybe they should try and overhaul the graphics engine.

So, what else is left to say? Well, it's a great game, the best of this year so far along with Mass Effect 2. I doubt many games will match it. Is it perfect? No. As well as the slightly ageing graphics, the game can definetly feel repetitive. About half way through you realise the game isn't going to throw any new gameplay scenarios your way, and you keep repeating the same sequences. It didn't bother me that much, but I imagine some will definetly dislike the recycled Little Sister sequences of capture, gather, release. And the Big Sister fights are something of a bore after a while.

However, Bioshock 2 is ultimately a superb game. Was a sequel needed? Not necessarily no. And I think a lot of the fans who adore the first one will go into the second determined to dislike it precisely for this reason. It does feel a bit familiar, and it worries me thinking how they are going to further delve into Rapture in the proposed third game. What more can they show us? That doesn't detract though from the sequel's achievements. It is an all round better game with an improved story and better, more intense gameplay. It is a great game, and one which shouldn't be knocked just because it's a sequel.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent game
BioShock 2 is a very unique game that puts you in the heart of Rapture, an underwater city full of darkness and madness. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Bryan

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional
A game with real depth, both in story and gameplay. Set in the 50's, but in an underwater city called Rapture which was built in the 30's and has gone to ruin. Read more

Published 1 month ago by Mark Lockett

1.0 out of 5 stars Awkward, clunky and 80's graphics
I bought this based on the positive reviews but was badly disappointed once I played it. The graphics are appalling and the flow of the game is so linear that it's just tedious... Read more

Published 5 months ago by Nicholas Rees

4.0 out of 5 stars Steampunk Odyssey
I didn't play the 1st game so I won't compare this to it.

What I like most about this is the world in itself, the dark mood, gloomy feelings, suspense & horror... Read more

Published 5 months ago by A. R. Guerra

5.0 out of 5 stars Bioshock continues to be "shockingly" good..... :P
I played the first Bioshock and was amazed by the depth and quality of the game, it had it all, great story, lots of twists in the storyline that kept you intrigued and there was... Read more

Published 10 months ago by B. Cousins

4.0 out of 5 stars Bioshock 2: The Return to Rapture
The first game entitled Bioshock had you run around an underwater city known as Rapture who's population was power wielding, genetically modified psychopaths. Read more

Published 11 months ago by Lewis Bailey

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best FPS / Puzzle Games on the PS3
I think I was like many other reviewers and put this game to the bottom of the list to buy behind Medal of Honour, Call Of Duty etc etc but what a mistake to make. Read more

Published 12 months ago by Mr. S. Newbury

4.0 out of 5 stars Una magnífica segunda parte de un magnífico juego

Un juego casi tan bueno como la primera parte, con una historia que te atrapa desde el primer momento, graficos estupendos (ligeramente mejorados respecto a la parte... Read more

Published 14 months ago by dan

4.0 out of 5 stars A decent game
I loved the original Bioshock, it was a brilliant game, it had a brilliant story and kept me hooked. Read more

Published 14 months ago by Thomas Hinchliffe

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Brilliant!
I played the first Bioshock game and loved it. I was looking forward to this one and I think its even better! Read more

Published 15 months ago by PS3 King

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