GAME REVIEW: BioShock (XBOX 360)

Leaks. Lunatics. Rebellion. And now bleeding ghosts. Ain't life in Rapture grand?
-Bill McDonagh

I'm going out on a limb and saying that BioShock will beat HALO 3 as the best game of the year for the XBOX 360. To date, it is the greatest game I've played on the system, and I'm not even that big a fan of first-person shooters. It's creepy, fun, challenging, and downright addictive. Like the other two big XBOX 360 games, Gears of War and Crackdown, you will have that same excited feeling you got when you first started playing, only it won't go away as quickly!

The Story

The game starts when the plane you are on crashes in the North Atlantic. You swim to a nearby lighthouse for safety and end up in Rapture, a man-made underwater city. As soon as you arrive, you can tell something is not right. You find out that Rapture was created by a man named Andrew Ryan. It was built as a Utopia of sorts, a place where people could be free - scientists could work without government control, artists could work without censorship, etc. Something went obviously wrong though, because the atmosphere is eerie, and Andrew Ryan wants to control you - not help you!

Look & Feel

There is a classic Hollywood feel with a little b-movie vibe added for fun. The game is visually stunning, from the rotting corpses and blood splatters, to the fine, twisted details of the enemies. The sound is even better! Characters talking and thumping off in the distance, announcements over the PA system, and the sound of dripping water (or blood?) sends shivers down your spine. For the best experience, play the game after midnight, alone in a dark room.

BioShock is a beautiful game

Enemies

BioShock has three main enemies: Splicers, Big Daddies, and security equipment. Splicers are mutated citizens of Rapture that come in all different forms. They throw grenades at you, shoot you, set you on fire, attack from above - they are relentless! Big Daddies guard Little Sisters; you must take out the Big Daddies in order to harvest the Little Sister to get ADAM - the lifeblood of Rapture. Security equipment consists of turrets, cameras, and security bots (flying pests that shoot at you). You can take out the security equipment or hack it so that it fights with you and not against you.

A Big Daddy with a Little Sister

Weapons

There are plenty of weapons lying about in Rapture. From the wrench you are given at the beginning, to pistols, shotguns, machine guns, and any other type of gun - you will always have something to take out an enemy. This is just the beginning though. One of the greatest features of BioShock is the ability to modify standard weapons so they become stronger. A great example of this is the wrench: after modifications, this can be the most powerful tool you have in your arsenal.

One of many weapons you will find in Rapture

The other type of weapons are called Plasmids. These are genetic modifications made to your body that allow you to do non-human things, such as set people on fire, or pick up objects with your mind and throw them. The ADAM you receive from the Littles Sisters is used to purchase Plasmids, and EVE (a serum you can find or purchase) is used to charge them. Switching between Plasmids and weapons is when the game really becomes intense. A wicked combo: set a Big Daddy on fire, pick up a dead Splicer and throw it at him, then attack with a machine gun.

Plasmids are fun to use

Online Play

Some people might be disappointed to know that there is no online play for BioShock. This could be the biggest downfall of the game to some. Personally, I feel the game works better in a stand-alone world. It's a creepy game; adding your friends to the mix would just kill the atmosphere.

Bottom-line

BioShock is a big game that has a lot going on. It needs to be experienced first-hand in order to get the full effect of how amazing it really is. If you don't already own an XBOX 360, BioShock is what makes it worth running out to buy one. This is not some straight-forward game, and I know I'll still be enjoying it long after I finish it.

BioShock **** (out of 5)
2K Games, Rated M
Related links: 2K Games

Review by Brian McKechnie

Agree? Disagree? Email Brian at brian@bamcat.com