Game Review: Bioshock (2007)

The game I'm reviewing today is a pretty well known one: Bioshock! This game is probably one of the best video games which I've ever played. It was developed by 2k Boston/Australia, and published by 2k Games in 2007 and is a FPS action/horror game. The version I will be reviewing is the original port for the PC, and not the remastered version which is a giant hot mess. 

The stuff that makes this game so outrageously great are things you can find in other games, but getting them all in a single game is something I find to be very rare. The weapon options, voice acting, storyline, dialogue, lighting, sound and level design, collectibles, artwork, atmosphere, tone, etc. are all done to an incredible level for it's time. And, the first 20 or so minutes of this game is probably the best opening of a game I've ever played, even to this day. 

The setting of the game places us back into the 1960's to the underwater city of Rapture. You'll unravel the history of how rapture came to be and what happened via audiologs which you collect while you play. The game opens with our main character known as Jack sitting in a passenger seat on an airplane which proceeds to crash into the middle of the Atlantic ocean. Jack is the only survivor, and swims his way to a nearby lighthouse. Once he enters, he discovers a terminal which houses a bathysphere inside. With no where else but down to go, Jack enters and begins his journey to Rapture. 

One of the features that I love in this game are the plasmids. Rapture has developed the technology to alter genetics, which allows for people to inject themselves with a genetic material called ADAM and gain superhuman like abilities. You fuel these powers by using another genetic solution called EVE, and injecting it into your veins as your meter falls empty. 

The powers are all pretty great, and range from things like shooting out electricity to shock your enemies, setting your enemies ablaze with fire at your finger tips, or even things like telekinesis and summoning insects. There are special tonics you can pick up which will also enhance these abilities further throughout the game. 

Besides having superhuman abilities, you have another method of fighting in this game, which is blunt weapons and firearms. Remember that the game takes place in the 1960's, so every weapon you find in this game will reflect that. There's the basic style stuff such as a shotgun, handgun, and machine gun. Then, there's more whimsical styled weapons like the grenade launcher, chemical launcher, and crossbow. 

You can upgrade these and get special ammo for them as well. Another item in your arsenal is the research camera which can't do any damage on it's own, but can give bonuses on enemies after you photograph them. The final weapon is also the first and only melee weapon you get, a monkey wrench. Clearly, the best choice of them all. 

The enemies in this game are both wonderfully creative, while also being creepy and brutal in the way they behave and how they're designed. The humanoid enemies you encounter in the game are called Splicers, and there's quite a variety to them. To sum it up, they're citizens of Rapture which have went insane due to their massive use of ADAM/EVE, which led to their brains and bodies becoming deformed.

Besides these enemies, we also have to contend with the Big Daddies, the guardians of the Little Sisters which are a very important aspect of the game. You can either choose to save or harvest the girls once you defeat the big daddies, which will determine what sort of ending you get. I don't wanna go into these characters too much, since I don't wanna spoil anything for anyone who may have not played the game yet. But, I will say both the Big daddies and Little Sisters are fascinating, and sometimes creepy. 

The story itself is honestly fantastic in many ways. At some points it gets fairly dark, and you are amazed at the events that have occurred and left Rapture it it's tragic state. For the first couple of hours while you play, you'll really have no idea on where the story is headed, and what your part to play really is. You'll slowly start piecing things together and then maybe 5 or 6 hours in you'll believe that you know how things are now. 

But, very quickly you find out you're wrong, very wrong. The game has some great twists to it, in particular one that made me go "woah, what the fuck?!" my first playthrough. While the ending of it is satisfying, it really leaves you craving for more. I can only say that they've crafted the story for this game extremely well, and while they're are some plot holes throughout it, it's still easily one of the best to come out of video games in a very long time.

Another amazing aspect of the game which I cherish is the art design of Rapture. The way they've designed it is honestly breathtaking to me. It provides an amazing backdrop to the story, and really helps set the mood and atmosphere of the game by showing how Rapture is a paradise which has begun to rot from the inside out. You'll find many areas that were once gorgeous, but have been reclaimed by the ocean in so little time. 

I will say that the graphics have aged a bit, considering that the game is 10 years old now. However, they still hold up pretty well, and for their time when the game was released they were definitely outstanding. The neon lighting mixed with the dark broody corridors, the gorgeous ocean, and chaos strewn buildings still look pretty nice on the eyes. I notice a few low res textures every now and then, but for the most part everything is still good to go. 

Now, I do have to say although I absolutely love this game, it is not perfect. It definitely has some issues which I think hold it back a tiny, tiny bit. The only thing I'd like to address in my review though would have to be the enemy AI. Specifically for the splicers, I suppose since that's where I noticed it more than with the Big Daddies. In general, I wish they had just made them a bit more crafty, instead of just relentlessly trying to murder you. 

Often splicers will stampede at you as soon as they notice you in the nearby area, even if you have traps set up all over that they'll hit, or if there's obviously a giant puddle of water for you to electrocute them in. At other times, I've seen the AI get stuck in certain areas where they can't move and you can easily dispatch them. These sorts of things take away from some of the intensity of the game in my opinion, although there's still plenty of tense moment for you to play through. 

Overall, I definitely would recommend this to just about anyone. I feel that there's at least one thing you'll find in this game which you'll love. This is an extremely smart, well designed, engaging, and sometimes distrubing game which will leave you wanting more by the time you get to the end of it. The enemies are interesting and horrifying at the same time, and the combat can be really entertaining for the most part. If you have a spare 15-20 hours to run through this, I can only say please, get it and try it. 

Hope you've enjoyed this review! If so, then I would greatly appreciate it if you could upvote and even maybe resteem the post! Thanks for checking it out!