A unique FPS gameplay style, atmospheric setting and fitting soundtrack make Bioshock one of the best of its generation.
Bioshock has every element of a game that I like: except in one field. The soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal; classic 1950's tunes add an ominous tone to levels along with a class A orchestral score. "Cohen's Masterpiece" is one of the better tracks. The fact that this type of music was included in the game was also a factor that drew me into buying it.
In addition to the amazing soundtrack, a Hollywood worthy storyline was also present. The main character, Jack is involved in a plane crash in the Mid- Atlantic. Surviving, his only refuge is an ominous bathysphere. As most know, this leads to the breathtaking underwater failed utopia of Rapture. Although the dialog could be quite scripted at some points, the story stayed quite true to the values in Atlus Shrugged. In fact, there were many references to the novel; for example, one obvious reference is that one of the main characters is named "Atlus". Atlus Shrugged is a novel based upon the philosophy of Objectivism. Objectivism mainly argues that man makes choices based upon self interest or free will. I was amazed and impressed to see this aspect included in the game, as there were many moral choices that affected the game's turnout. As an avid fan of utopian style stories, I knew that Bioshock would be extremely deep in terms of symbolism and interpretation. My expectations were more than met.
Graphically, Bioshock is sleek, beautiful, and up to date. Environments are well thought out, physics are realistic, and slowdown is minimal. Surroundings, such as buckets, corpses, etc can be interacted with when they are shot at. To say the least, this game does not need any graphical explanation, as it is up to par with almost every modern game.
Finally, we get to the good stuff: gameplay. As many of my followers know, I hate first person shooters. Most are repetitive, brainless, and easy. Bioshock isn't like "most" FPS's. Just as a reminder, this game could not accomplish what it did as a FPS if it were a third person game. As the player enters the world of Rapture, they will notice one thing; everything is presented fully, without any interruptions. As you acquire weapons, the screen still isn't cluttered at all, therefore not interfering with the overall experience. One unique aspect of the gameplay is the use of "plasmids". In the game, plasmids are used like "magic" or "materia" in other games. Upon injecting himself with one, the player has the ability to vary the way he plays the game. For instance, the "incinerate" plasmid allows for the player to shoot bursts of fire from his hand. This can be used to advantage if there are oily or icy surroundings. The list of plasmids goes on forever, thus making your gameplay different every from another player. If it were not for this strategic FPS aspect, I would not have enjoyed this game. (Although I'm sure those who do like FPS's would have liked it just the same)
Overall, Bioshock is a one of a kind game that requires strategy, intellect, and patience. Many moments of this game are unforgettable; with all of the plot twists, haunting visuals, and of course, the unique "Big Daddy" fights. In short, if you own an Xbox 360 or PS3 and have any intellect at all, by all means buy this "smart person" game as soon as possible.