Games
Bioshock for Xbox 360
Some games are awesome. Some are awesomely awesome. Bioshock is one of those games. Developed by the guys at Irrational who have now been absorbed into 2k games, it is one of the few games made in the last 3 years that is truly a leap forward in next generation gaming. And it’s not even multiplayer. Bioshock is so different is because Irrational games took a holistic approach to their little project. Every single aspect of the game was lavished with attention. And it really shows
The scene is set in Rapture, an underwater metropolis that was destined to be a real-world artistic utopia. You land there by accident, having barely survived a plane crash and slowly piece together the downfall of the civilisation. Designed by eccentric visionary billionaire Andrew Ryan, the idea imploded along with the infrastructure and Now it’s a massive hulking wreck at the bottom of the sea. It’s inhabitants have long since become scavengers who prey on the weak to survive in the murky abyss.
The story is told through character diaries, ghostly holographic transmissions and snippets of conversations you pick up along the way. But the events that unfold aren’t particularly linear – Bioshock is more about the actual experience of Rapture, the dank corridors, the delapidated theatres, the incredible sound design, again – it’s all in the details. Besides we don’t want to give too much away.
Your enemies, the walking damned, are the splicers, the genetically altered humans who exhibit as much personality as the rest of the cast. The characters are beautifully designed from head to toe, but not just in terms of visuals. Each NPC has a personality. These aren’t mindless zombies; they're totally aware and ashamed of what they’ve become. You really feel the sadness of their hopeless condition. From the hulking big daddies who look like futuristic deep sea divers to the creepy little sisters who scavenge Rapture looking for bodies to reap their dna. Eh yeah.
This unpleasant process yields atom, a juice that can be used to perform genetic upgrades called plasmids. Different plasmids can be discovered by exploring various areas of the underwater citadel or eventually they can be built using a machine that’s found in the later levels. Plasmids provide you with an arsenal of magical powers such as upgrades to weapons, electro bolst someone, creating a decoy, telekenisis and so on.
The problem is getting your hands on the atom in the first place. Once you’ve located a little sister you’ll need to dispatch her guardians and then you’ll find yourself presented with the ethical decision of whether to harvest her atom or rescue her. Each decision will affect how the rest of the game plays out.
Let’s not forget that Bioshock is a 1st Person shooter though and the joy of the game is in applying creativity to your situation. You’ll be constantly problem solving and trying out new ways of dealing with your enemy as your environment is almost entirely interactive. You can set a chair on fire and then use telekinesis to turn it into a fireball or you can electrocute the puddle your foe is standing in and then attack him with bees. The possibilities are endless.
Should you die, which as long as you're not playing in easy mode you certainly will, you get revived at checkpoints called Vita-Chambers. Though you get back some health enemies don't, so if you've been hammering away at a Big Daddy for five minutes and gotten him down to around a quarter of his health, that's exactly how much he'll have after you die and return to battle. It ensures enemies can eventually be killed with enough persistence, which might be a nagging feature for some.
There is an minigame element in the process of hacking, which is reminiscent of pipe dream which can be fun for a while and evolves as a puzzle as the game turns on.
Drenched with a clammy tangible atmosphere and cloaked in truly 3d cinematic sound, Bioshock is a cornerstone in videogaming and this experience alone is worth buying a 360 for.
Jonathan McCrea
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