Shocking Biology (Bioshock (Xbox 360))

Member Name: Gaven

Product:	Bioshock (Xbox 360)
Date:	11/11/09 (5 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Excellent show of the xbox 360 ability

Disadvantages: Very violent

Set in an alternative past, a liberted individual fed up with the norm of society build an underwater city (Rapture) free from oppression and political pressures. Inhabitants were free to alter their genetic make up to become the people they always want to be. Things rapidly go wrong, leaving the city decrepid and crumbling, with smuggling rife and conflicts a plenty. The protagonist arrives and assisted with the leader of the smugglers is tasked with freeing the smugglers family, defeating the now oppresive controlling regime, and escaping from the city.

A simple sounding plot, with many twists and turns which are revealed in the game. I don't want to spoil your suprise, so i won't detail them here.

Ok to the game itself. It is a 3D shooter, seen through the players eyes. Using a large selection of 50's style weapons, and a number of your own design you battle with the former inhabitants who are hooked on the genetic material which gives them special abilities. Throughout the game you are free to use this material in order to give yourself special abilities, such as telekinesis, and various other supernatural abilities.

This game also measures your good vs evil performance... in the game characters called 'little sisters' contain large amounts of genetic material which you can either take (killing the little sister and downgrading your rating, but makeing the game easier) or rescue the little sister, increasing your 'good' rating, but making the game more of a challenge. The number you save/kill determines the ending you see.

The game looks very good, with the undersea city rendered with a level of detail that you shouldn't realistically expect from a game. The sound track is also appropriate for the time it is set (50's).

Controlling your character is easy, but it takes a while to get used to the controls, as every button is used for a different function, and often times combinations also apply. As you can use all the buttons there's a lot your character can do, hack computers, build machines/weapons/search crates/interact with the robotic security, and even get drunk if your lucky enough to find some alcohol (makes your screen blurry and slows your movements). On the flip side, items such as coffee/amphetamies increase your strength and speed, as well as making some of the puzzles you'll encouter easier.

The playing area is huge, and it'll take several play throughs to discover every area.

There's very little negative to write about this game, but here's i go....it's not suitable for younger players owing to the high level of violence and gore. It's also quite challenging, some of the puzzles seem impossible to complete, almost to the point where you consider looking up walkthrough guides on the net!

Other than that, it is a superb showcase for the abilities of the x-box ability, and really should be present in any owners collection. Can't wait for the sequel. If it's half as good as this you'll be in for a treat

Summary: Should be in everyones collection