Difference in Opinion

From the first screenshots and videos, Bioshock built up a lot of hype and excitement. All with good reason though since many consider Bioshock the best game of the year. That is a mighty achievement when its competitors are Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, Mass Effect, Assassin’s Creed and Rock Band. Bioshock offers an extensive number of power-ups, abilities, and weapon variations which adds strategy and RPG elements to what would normally be a regular first person shooter.

The setting and time period of Bioshock is what sticks out the most. Throughout the game, there are old songs playing on the radio, retro posters plastered over all the walls, and a general feel like you are living in the 1940’s. It is an amazing atmosphere and setting, and really unique to have an game set in this time that isn’t about WWII. The story is rather intense. It has some graphically violent scenes and images that put you on edge and get your nerves up.

Bioshock has enough extra content to occupy RPG lovers for a while. There are a number of different weapons at your disposal as you journey through Rapture, the underwater city. Each of your weapons have a variety of types of ammo including but not limited to armor piercing, anti-personnel, electric buckshot, homing missiles and mines. If that isn’t enough, each weapon can be upgraded twice. One upgrade usually involves improving the damage, while the other can be anything from range to reload speed. You upgrade weapons at your own speed and your own priority. There are weapon upgrade machines scattered all over Rapture that can only be used once. You can pick which weapon and which attribute you would like to make better. Each of these variations will prove extremely useful when fighting the many wild things that inhabit this dark city.

When weapons become too square and too 20th century, then how about finding some plasmids? Plasmids are liquids you find that when injected, upgrade your DNA and give you superhuman powers. You will need these plasmids to melt through ice, override broken doors with electricity, and blast back enemies, and those are just 3 of them. Plenty of strange and amazing abilities are at your disposal. The recently released downloadable content (which is free) adds a few more plasmids for you to play around with.

On top of all the bullet throwing and flame heaving, there are Gene Tonics to help you along on your journey (Did you think I was kidding when I said RPG elements?). Physical, Engineering, and Combat Genes will help give you more general upgrades to your strength, hacking skill and weapon damage. Gene tonics are hidden all around Rapture, in some of the most obscure places that you would have to go out of your way to find. You can unlock more spots, by spending ADAM, to be able to carry more Plasmids and Tonics and make your character much stronger. Along your journey you will come face to face with lot of Big Daddys and similar monsters that protect possessed children called Little Sisters. After you kill their protector, the Little Sisters can be either harvested (kills them, but you get more ADAM) or saved (restores them to normal and you get some ADAM then, and bonus ADAM later).

Bioshock sets a new standard for offline first person shooters. Most developers feel that multiplayer is necessary in order to have a successful and solid game. I would have almost agreed until I played this game. I am not sure what effect multiplayer would have on it. If it took any time away from the development of the single player then it would not be worth it. If it was not well rounded, and poor gameplay then it would bring the overall feel and quality of the game down. The only way a multiplayer would be good is if it was a solid and sturdy system, and we would have to wait almost another year for them to add that on to the game. I HIGHLY recommend you grab this title regardless of your usual gaming preference. You are sure to find lots of enjoyment and replayability.

Final Score:
Gameplay: 10 out of 10
Graphics: 9 out of 10