To start off this game was highly anticipated and in my opinion, has lived up to the hype it had received. It is very fun to play and has that ‘maybe ill play for another hour’ appeal. From the very beginning of the game where you first crash into the Atlantic Sea you are pulled into the under-sea world of Rapture! The messed up society that was once thriving with activity. Rapture was built by a guy called Andrew Ryan, his idea for rapture was to keep all the superior mind under the sea and create a super community with all the greatest minds off the time all under one roof (so to speak). The game is set in the 60’s and has a very art deco style to the environment. The weapons are also in the time-zone, you still have your basic weapons but in different styles. You have your pistol (standard), machine gun (not very accurate, although they weren’t that accurate at those time anyway), sniper rifle (this comes in the form of a very powerful crossbow) and your standard shotgun. Each of these comes with 3 different types of ammo (standard, anti-personnel, exploding), you can also melee your foes using a wrench. All of this is attention to detail to further immerse the player into thinking they actually are in that current time-zone. While playing through the game you really do get the impression that rapture was a fully functional society that was fully living and breathing. To add to this you’ll find audio logs left behind by occupants of rapture leaving behind vital information or story points to guide you and give the impression. As rapture is full of the brightest minds, naturally they found out how to splice there genes to genetically change there appearances and powers. Throughout the game you will pick up and find gene-tonics (automatically alter your DNA) and the powers. These are called ’Plasmids’. these will genetically change your DNA to allow you to do supernatural things like shoot electricity, fire or even ‘bees’ out of your left hand (left hand for powers, right for weapons). Along with you, there are many opponents against you. The former residents of rapture. They are just like you in the way that they have spliced there genes and have been genetically modified. Naturally they are called ‘splicers’. they are all after one thing, and this is called ADAM. If you die in the process of fighting a splicer, you are brought back to life in a nearby ’Vita-chamber’. Because of this the result of death goes un-punished. And to add to this any damage that was dealt to your foes is carried on. You will respawn will all you ammo (at the point of death) and most of your health and EVE (the substance that enables you to use your genetic powers) this makes the game carry on its speed but also makes the game very easy. ADAM is almost like the currency of rapture (although there are American dollars used for the shops and various vending machines that stock weapon ammo or supplies). The main source of ADAM is from the ‘little sisters’, these lil sisters gather the ADAM and stock it. ADAM is used to upgrade your genes and DNA, by collecting the ADAM you can then use them at vendors called ‘gatherers gardens’. these upgrades will include such things as new tonics and new Plasmids to ‘trick your character out’ to be a genetic god. But just simply finding the ‘little sisters’ and harvesting the ADAM out of them, is not the case. They are guarded by huge behemoths called ‘big daddies’ dressed in diving suites. There are two types of big daddies, the first is called a ‘Bouncer’. these giants carry around a massive gun/grenade launcher. The second is called a ‘Rosie’. this is the first type of big daddy you will ever see in the game. These are the guys that carry an enormous drill and rush at you very fast (you’ll be surprised when you face them how fast they will move considering they are wearing huge metal diving suits, I know I was when I first saw one!) these guys focus on the melee side of combat and let the ‘Bouncers’ focus on range fighting. Once these guys are eventually dead you can then deal with the ‘little sisters’, as you cannot harm them until you do (they have a symbiotic worm inside of them that alters there hosts stem cells that can instantly regenerate and strengthen damaged cells). Once killing the protectors you have 2 choices, 1 is to harvest the little sister. This will yank the sea slug out of the host and ultimately kill them. And 2 is to rescue them, you receive a plasmid to kill the slug internally and save the sisters. This will result in you receiving less ADAM, but in the long run will grant you a greater amount than if you just harvest them. Of course there are plot points to consider, if you save or harvest the sisters you will receive different endings depending on what you’ve done to them. This can add the extra replay value for players that want to see both endings (there are actually 3 endings but one of them just has a different narration). The graphics in the game are highly immersive and adds the feeling that you actually are under the sea, the water effects are top notch and the best if seen. The way the waters dribbles down the walls and down the steps of wet cold paving. Even the static puddles that drips from the ceiling are highly detailed and is a main focus in the game. Not only does water play a vital role in BioShock, shadows are also very important to scare and give visual clues of their surroundings. Enemy AI is OK but IMO could be better. Once an enemy is on fire it will find some water and jump in it to put themselves out. Also when they are low on health they will ‘try’ and run to the nearest health station to heal themselves before you gun them down. To summarize this game is hard, its is very complex and has a vast background that isn’t told to the player very well and could of have been done better. Maybe this will lead on to be BIOSHOCK2? If you haven’t played BioShock and have the opportunity too, I think you should. it’s a fantastic game and gets a HUGE thumbs up from me! This is in no way overrated and lives up to the expectations!
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