BioShock

"Supreme"

Introduction -

Imagine the odds, you the sole survivor of a plane that crashes and burns in the middle of the ocean. You make your way to some structure jutting through the water's surface. Reluctantly, you enter, and take the transport inside to who knows where. You are now a cast-away in an underwater Utopia torn apart by civil war. Here you never know what you'll see next. Little girls draining blood from corpses, genetically modified humans, giant drill-armed sentinels, and ADAM and EVE. Ain't life grand in the world of Rapture?


Graphics - 9/10

Spectacular. There are times when a screen shot of Bioshock will look photo-realistic. The game is very dark in general and maintains an overall spooky feel throughout its entirety. This allows for the creators to employ to some very intense lighting situations to cause dramatic effect. Gun fights that light up the room are amazing, with new detail appearing and disappearing with each flash. The textures are top notch and make it worth it to just circle a room to see how a ray of light gleams off different objects as you move. They did their best to make it feel as if you were there. From the tiny details like grime and debris to the way the camera wobbles when you take hits, it feels like you are there. Nothing beats the moment when that first Big Daddy slaps you across a room and your screen blurs from the hit, then begins to re-focus as you fly through the air and your view takes a violent shift to all sides as you smack the far wall. It was truly a beautiful experience. That said, sadly, there were a few minor flaws which unfortunately I could not help but notice. I saw some (like 3 or 4) areas where a column of water was pouring from the ceiling, suspiciously, and not onto the floor creating a puddle, (like most other waterfalls in the game) but just through the floor for some magical reason. And sometimes, but not often, reflections would look terribly pixelated. I also experienced many times where the framerate dropped to unacceptable levels when things like water, sparks, bots, and Big Daddies would enter the same screen. This is of course was NOT the games fault. But, still it was there. My CPU just could not handle it and I wasn't willing to turn the graphics down to compensate. It just looked so nice. On the bright side most of the game still played near perfect. Now for the kicker, the point reducer. Your character does not cast a shadow... at all. None. Yes, its true, I was just as shocked when I figured it out.


Sound - 10/10

If any game ever deserved an 11/10 this is it. Perfect sound would mean that everything sounded correct, without error, and that the music was suitable. It would mean they included all that was necessary to make it feel right. Well, Bioshock does so much more than that. The atmosphere created in this game is indescribable. It is by far, the best sounding game I've ever played. And I've played some good games. The sound keeps you on your toes. It makes you wary. The music gives you a rush. And it calms you back down. Its brilliant. Everything is always paced perfectly with the action. Out of place carnival music and gimmicky sales pitches from vending machines keep the vibe eerie. Ricocheted bullets, broken glass, and tv announcements are less than a millionth of the ambient sounds in the game. Enemies babbling, and little girls singing and screaming keep you looking over your shoulder. Ripping flesh and drill's spinning leave you wondering whats gonna happen next. Lights flickering, wires buzzing, and all the clanks, bangs, and booms create of symphony of chaos. Not to mention, the voice acting is absolutely perfect . Every character is just right. And it's always a treat to hear what the next person has to say. Some people may argue with my rating because some things will get repetitive, but even so, the game never loses its vibe... for a second.


Gameplay - 8.5/10

I read other reviews and I realized that I agree on a couple drawbacks of the gameplay. There is much repetition in what you do and the goals you accomplish. Also, many of the weapons and plasmids have overlapping functions. I will also bare my hatred of the map system in this section. The game does involve, many of what have been referred to as "fetch" quests. Yeah, you do have to go here to get this to go here and use it for this, endlessly. But, its always introduced logically and it always feels fresh. Plus, most quests in most games, can be criticized in the same manner. The overlapping functions are somewhat redundant. But, since they are all used in a different fashion it is still acceptable, and most importantly, still fun. The map system... is just bogus, utterly unacceptable. It got me lost quite often. And most surprisingly it displayed things that weren't there and vice versa once in a while. I had a better time making mental maps of most levels. I went through unlimited re-explorations of the same areas. But, there is a plus side for that as well. This game has items everywhere. I really mean EVERYWHERE. I don't remember a single time that I retraced my steps not finding something new. Really, the main problem with the gameplay is that it stops evolving too early in the game. By half way through the game you've used most of the attacks and skills that exist. There are many tricks to use, and awesome ways to use your environments in combat. But, in the end I wished there was just a little bit more. Maybe that's because I saw what it was hyped up to be before its release. But, its great for what it is, and most importantly it's fun.


Story - 10/10

Flawless. It might not even be so much the story itself as the way it is told. It's almost optional, left behind as recorded audio by people during events that have taken place prior to your arrival. If you don't look around and listen to what the people say you may miss very integral parts to the story. It all seems to unfold in such a lifelike manner, as you learn tidbits of information and hear short outbursts of the people of Rapture. The era, the history, the current status of Rapture is so intriguing. It seems so far fetched but so possible. The sciences introduced are true to life sciences conducted in an unrestricted manner. They make what seems to be magic feel like it can happen. And somehow the most realistic part is that its happening with dope head, vein stabbin, shootin up, needle junkies. Its a trip. And its addictive. It's definitely one of those video game stories to remember.


Final Recommendation - 9.4 - Must Play

A glorious experience. This game is supreme. It shines in all aspects. It even has a great ending, or endings, actually. I will play this game atleast twice. I recommend it to everyone who isn't either blood shy, or hates FPS. Even if you hate FPS you should still play it. I myself have never played Half Life 2, System Shock, or COD 4. Which may contribute some to the pedestal on which I hold this game. However, I do seriously feel that it has the best atmosphere of any game I've ever played. And it is without doubt the best FPS that I've ever played. Congrats to Sega and Take Two. Definitely worth the buy.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 04/14/08

Game Release: BioShock (US, 08/21/07)