Bioshock remains a firm MyGaming favourite. Released in 2007, it was widely praised for its rich atmosphere and unique setting. An engrossing and thought provoking back story along with memorable characters and a retro film noir feel made sure it stood out against the hundreds of other FPSs that were vying for gamers’ attentions.
Although the first game’s creative mastermind Ken Levine was not present for the sequel, all 2K had to do to succeed was build on the concept of the first game, and that they have done with aplomb.
The Story
Players step back into rapture, but this time, instead of being a lost civilian discovering a secret underwater dystopia in the middle of the ocean, they play one of Rapture’s most memorable citizens; a big daddy.
The plot is completely removed from that of the original, and the game takes place 10 years after the events of Bioshock. The intro film sequence is shrouded in mystery, but things soon become fairly clear as players journey through Rapture on an instinctive quest that is ingrained in the Big Daddy’s blood.
The story stands head and shoulders above what most video games deliver, although the narrative can be confusing at times. With a number of characters chiming in with regularity, directing you or sharing information, not to mention the dozens of audio clips scattered around rapture, things can become a bit muddled. While the story and locations have depth, it could all have been tied together and delivered more neatly. Still, there is some complex, imaginative and emotionally engaging story telling going on in Bioshock 2.
Despite a slight lack of storytelling direction, the combination of rich plot, unique and complex characters and outstanding atmosphere make the world of Rapture a memorable place to visit in Bioshock 2. As great as the story is, it does not live up to the grandeur of its predecessor. Players have seen Rapture before, and unlike in the first game where players were discovering a new world, Bioshock 2 simply revisits existing intellectual property. So while it’s great, it’s nothing new.
Gameplay
We can’t blame 2K for not living up to the lofty narrative heights achieved with Bioshock, but where the game does surpass its predecessor is in the gameplay department.
In short, Bioshock 2 offers more engaging and enjoyable gameplay than Bioshock did. Playing as the Big Daddy does not feel that much different to playing as a normal person in Bioshock. Don’t expect to be impervious to damage, or to be stuck in the shoes of a lumbering oaf. While the Big Daddy does feel bigger, the gameplay does not seem any slower or less responsive.
Guns don’t kill people, plasmids kill people. And so do drills. And guns
Players have a wide variety of guns and plasmids to choose from. On top of that, there are multiple ammunition types, as well as weapon and plasmid upgrades available. Then there is the drill, and later on, the legendary drill charge which really is just ridiculously cool. Mastering the various combinations between effective plasmid and weapon usage makes killing efficient and enjoyable in Bioshock 2.
For instance, stun an enemy using the electroshock plasmid before charging them with the drill to finish them off with a single blow. Players will also be able to take advantage of environment effects. These include amplified spread damage when firing electricity at enemies standing in water, or a similar effect when using the inferno plasmid on enemies standing in oil.
Adapt, improve, destroy, rinse, repeat
Players can purchase genetic upgrades using Adam, and these range from increasing movement speed, to invisibility. The combination of being able to customize and upgrade your Big Daddy, your weapons and your plasmids makes for a dynamic and interesting gameplay experience.
Players can choose to specialise in drill improvements and melee centric gene tonics, forsaking other weapons in favour of the Big Daddy’s signature weapon and charge, or go all out with explosives or guns. It is also possible to hypnotise enemies, a great tactic when combined with hacking sentry bots.
Unlike most RPGs, it is easy to swap genetic enhancements and plasmids, meaning players are not bound to a single gameplay style throughout the game. This means trying out different tactics is easy and commitmentphobes need not get anxious about narrowing down their gameplay options by making early choices.
Slowly, slowly catchy monkey
In order to purchase plasmids and gene tonics players will need the raw material Adam. Adam, which is incidentally responsible for the creation and ultimate downfall of Rapture, is a special fluid found in the bodies of the deceased throughout Rapture. In order to obtain Adam, players will need to rescue Little Sisters from other Big Daddys.
This involves planning, and it is wise to lay traps or get a few security bots on your side before taking on a Big Daddy.
Once players kill the Big Daddy, they can either harvest the Little Sister themselves, or take them to an Adam deposit (dead body). While the Little Sister drains the Adam from the deceased, players must protect her from the wave of Splicers (humanoid abominations rendered insane and dangerous by genetic tinkering) as they go into a frenzy to try and get their hands on the Little Sister and Adam.
In both rescuing Little Sisters from other Big Daddys, as well as protecting them during Eve extraction, it is vitally important to ensure that you are prepared for the fight ahead. This includes hacking sentry turrets and bots, laying mines, mini turrets, cable traps and dart traps. And don’t even think about taking on a Big Daddy without a decent amount of armour piercing ammo.
The same applies to fighting Big Sisters, who sometimes appear after rescuing Little Sisters. Big Daddys don’t exactly make good poker buddies, but Big Sisters are quite frankly terrifying. Heavily armoured, agile, fast moving and plasmid wielding, Big Sisters are the toughest enemies you will face in Rapture.
While players may just get by with a straight forward run and gun approach, they will be better off planning and calculating their way through Rapture.
Bioshock 2’s chicks may be free, but the money aint for nothing
Using money found in Rapture players can purchase ammunition, first aid packs, and Eve (resource used when activating plasmids) from vending machines.
Players can also hack vending machines, providing them with better prices and even free items. The hacking mini game in Bioshock 2 is very different to that of the first game. Where before players had to complete a complex puzzle, they now simply have to perform a few well timed clicks on a moving needle gauge. The same mini game is used for hacking security bots and turrets, and upon doing so players gain these security devices as allies.
Guns aren’t the only thing you’ll be shooting in Bioshock 2
Researching your enemies is back, and is once again done via a camera. The more footage players gain of the various inhabitants of Rapture, the more they will learn about them. This is great for identifying weaknesses, and players also gain damage bonuses and unlocks for completing research goals.
Technical odds and ends
At the time of release, Bioshock (PC) was not as polished as I’d have liked. A variety of irritating bugs tarnished the veneer of what should have been a seamless experience. Clipping issues, as well as a number of controller device problems and other visual anomalies were fairly common. Fortunately, a patch has been released which has sorted out most of these bugs as far as I can tell.
Unfortunately, the patch adds a potentially game ruining bug to the multiplayer, so it’s not viable for those looking to investigate that portion of the game at this point. Hopefully 2K will address these issues in the next few days. Suffice to say that in the state I reviewed the game it was not quite where it should be.
The visuals are pretty much on par with those of the first game. While being decent, I hoped for at least some tweaks to the textures and lighting effects. Players could easily confuse Bioshock 2 for Bioshock at face value, and although it’s far from ugly, it’s looking a little ragged around the edges.
Fortunately, what the visuals lack in technical prowess, they make up for in artistic direction and atmosphere. Don’t expect the crispest lines, or most breathtaking physics effects, but in terms of sheer creepiness and environment depth, Bioshock 2 is amazing.
The sound is exceptionally well detailed, with top notch music and sound effects characterizing the audio experience. The sorrowful orchestral score underlines the story perfectly, and the jazzy 1940’s sound clips do a great job of lightening the mood when needed, and help cement the game’s film noir feel perfectly. The voice acting is also excellent, and although the characters interact on a purely auditory level, they are completely believable and memorable.
Multiplayer
2K went all out on Bioshock 2’s multiplayer component. The entire online section is worked into the story, and built in using a 3D interface which players navigate in first person. Players can choose a unique character to play as, as customize their weapon and plasmid load outs. Further weapons and plasmids are unlockable by progressing through the multiplayer.
Unfortunately, while the ideas are great, the implementation leaves a bit to be desired. Using Games for Windows Live and an automated match making system, we were unable to find local gamers to play with. This meant lag spikes and generally high latency, rendering the multiplayer unplayable. This may be resolved as more local gamers start playing. It is also possible to directly connect to your friends, but that’s assuming you have any friends that actually use Games for Windows Live.
While the multiplayer may represent a nifty tack on to Bioshock 2, unlike Modern Warfare 2 or Bad Company 2, this is not its selling point, and therefore we can forgive it for being essentially useless in SA at this point.
Will your PC run it?
Probably. In fact, if you’re playing modern games on your PC, then it will most definitely run Bioshock 2. Although we reviewed the game on our monster test rig – Phenom II 955 BE @ 3.8GHz, 8GB DDR3 1666Mhz RAM, HD 5870, Win 7 64x – the broader consensus is that the game performs similarly to its predecessor.
Any dual core CPU with at least a 7900GT will be able to handle the game on lowish settings. A solid budget gaming rig powered by something along the lines of a HD 4850 or even 8800GT will probably be able to handle the game on medium to high settings, provided you are not playing on anything higher than 1680×1050.
Remember, it is designed to run on the Xbox 360 and PS3, and therefore the requirements are in line with most multiplatform releases.
Originality & longevity
In terms narrative memorability, Bioshock 2 does not touch its predecessor. Having said that, it still tells a really great story, and its unique concept and artistic direction make it a worthy piece of intellectual property. On top of that, it improves on the basic gameplay in a variety of ways, and with most of the bugs seemingly ironed out in the most recent patch, there is little to criticise.
A single play through should last around 10 hours of game time, and then there is the option to replay the game making different moral choices and focusing on a different play style. Finally, there is the multiplayer which may yet take off locally and provide even more reason to get this game.
Not that we need any though, Bioshock 2 delivers everything you could realistically expect it to and more.
Reviewed on PC
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