So very disapointing (Bioshock (PC))

Member Name: scola_p

Product:	Bioshock (PC)
Date:	13/11/07 (110 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Looks great

Disadvantages: So very easy

Bioshock was one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the year, being produced by 2K games, formerly Irrational Games, the creators of the almost legendary System Shock.

Within Bioshock, you are Jack, who survives a plane crash into the sea and manages to swim to the entrance of the underwater city of Rapture. The intro sequence, which includes the crash, sets the scene very well, and also demonstrates the awesome graphics. The plane sinks into sea, whilst the plane’s fuel burns on the surface of the rolling waves. Wow!

So, you get into Rapture, and go down in a lift. It is at this point that the though that has gone into the look of Rapture hits home. As you descend, you pass statues and decorations in an art deco style. It looks really retro yet futuristic at the same time.

The first few moments of the game give you your first weapon, a wrench, and introduce you to some of the other denizens of Rapture, however, not long after starting the game, you get introduced to the first real difference about Bioshock – the plasmid. Plasmids are genetic modifications that you can apply to yourself to give special abilities. The first one you get is electrify, which allows you fire bolts of electricity around. Not only do these cause damage, but they can stun some of the You even get taught the trick of firing a bolt at water, if there are enemies stood in it, and it will zap all of them at once.

As you progress through the game, a larger variety of plasmids become available, such as telekinesis, which allows you to pick up any loose object in the game and use it as a weapon and throw grenades back at people, to more directly offensive plasmids, such as incinerate, which sets people on fire. As is the case with electrify, there are often places where you can make the environment react to your chosen plasmid to cause more damage.

All of the offensive plasmids are powered by Eve, which can be recharged by eating certain types of food or Eve hypos. Once you are out of Eve, you are unable to use offensive plasmids.

There are also constant effect plasmids which give you continuous abilities. There are plasmids that increase your ability to hack machines gain more Eve and health from various items, reduce the damage you take etc. The list is very large, with a large range of options to choose from. However, you are only given a limited number of plasmid slots of each type to use, so you have to choose which ones you want to have equipped wisely.

Whilst you use Eve to power plasmids, you need to acquire Adam to buy plasmids. The first couple of plasmids you get are just lying around, but once you get into the game proper, you have to buy them from vending machines. Of all the things you need in Bioshock, Adam is the hardest to come by.

Most of the Adam you gather will come from Little Sisters. These are little girls who have been corrupted and gather Adam from around Rapture. However, in between you and each Little Sister you encounter, there is a slight obstruction. These are the Big Daddies.

A Big Daddy is basically a giant armoured suit with a drill and a big gun, and they are incredibly difficult to kill. Once you do, however, you can get at the Adam the Little Sister possesses.

So you see, the world Bioshock is set in is very clever. More and more of the back story unravels as you progress, liking everything together and describing the fall of rapture into it’s current state. So why, you may ask, does this game not deserve five stars?

The first thing about Bioshock that I struggled with was how linear the game is. There is only one real path through each puzzle, with little or no variation possible. Admittedly, due to the range of plasmids and weapons on offer, you can kill people in interesting ways, but the actual path through the game is very one-dimensional.

The next issue I encountered was the one that killed the game for me. The way Bioshock handles your death is very, very poor. Scattered pretty liberally about Rapture are Vita-Chambers. When you walk up to one, they do not seem to do anything. When you die, however, you are whisked back to the closest Vita-Chamber, with all you inventory intact, and with a small amount of health.

The problem this poses is that any damage you have done to the bad guys is not healed (unless they use a health station), and you just head back after them. You can repeat this process forever, even if it means that you are clanging a Big Daddy with your wrench. Unfortunately, I actually did this, and that was the point at which I stopped playing.

Bioshock, to me, was a real disappointment. It comes from such a good pedigree, and expectations were so very high for it. Graphically, it is marvellous, especially the water effects, and the plasmids are a great idea. However, these are not enough to drag the game above the poor end of mediocrity.

Apparently there are twists in the plot towards the end of the game, and your actions through out the game can change the ending, but I just did not feel involved enough to see it through to the end.

Summary: Don't believe the hype!