A true evolution in console FPS, combining an amazing plot with immersive graphics and sound to create a true epic.
The plot of BioShock revolves around a man (identified as Jack in the first cutscene in the game), who finds himself stranded in the middle of the Atlantic after the plane he was a passenger on crashes into the ocean. Everyone onboard dies except for Jack and just as he's about to give up hope, he sees a lighthouse near the wreckage. Inside, a bathysphere carries Jack down below the ocean surface, countless fathoms below to the breathtaking sight of the city known as Rapture. This man-made city at the bottom of the ocean quickly goes from being the saviour for the main character to becoming a trap where he is attacked at every corner from people known as Splicers. As he explores the city he is contacted by Atlas, a resident of the city, who helps him on his journey to find a way to return to the city and back to the mainland. Atlas explains much of what has happened here but he's just the tip of the iceberg. Audio diaries are strewn all over Rapture and each diary contains little tidbits of information that help you understand why Rapture was created in the first place, who and what Splicers are, as well as what went so terribly wrong in a city that was meant to be a utopia for mankind. Just as you peel back the depth of the story and learn new information from Atlas or diaries, you find even more questions that make you think not everything in this would be utopia is as it appears. The story is absolutely top notch. I can only wish more developers would take notice at the way 2K Games deftly weaved such an intricate storyline. Many games in this generation (as well as last generation) seem to overly rely on 20 minute cutscenes to hand hold the player through all the plot and all the dialogue. In BioShock, Atlas does help you along to the game's conclusion but if you only listen to him during your playing time through Rapture, you will be missing most of the story. Those audio diaries, seemingly a collection quest for those wanting some achievement points are actually vital to understanding how Rapture works and how it doesn't. Most of the diary entries contain important information and some even foreshadow key events later on in the story. The game also has a few twists to keep you attentive as well as complete an epic story. If more games forced players to actually explore their environment fully to understand it as BioShock does, the gaming community would be able to enjoy games that much more. One key word to describe the game is immersive and it really accurately sums up the game in one word if one word could ever sum up this masterpiece. The story of little girls draining people in Rapture of their Adam is just one part of the game that speaks volumes about the goal of the developers. Part of the immersive experience are the denizens of the city themselves, frequently they will pop in from nowhere to attack. Even though its meant to be a shooter, there's elements of suspense and horror thrown in for good measure. The game plays out as something of an Ayn Rand novel (and characters and certain things within the game even make reference to her works). The game places you in a difficult moral dilemma, save little girls or kill them to make yourself much stronger. Its this sort of interaction that makes the game much more interesting than the typical shooter. Whilst I have raved about the plot, there is two distinct weaknesses in it that must be addressed. The plot is absolutely perfect..right until the ending of the game. The two endings of the game just don't seem to really flesh out the events that transpired in Rapture. It was disappointing to see only two endings in the game and the fact that the only determining factor in which ending you see is whether you save or harvest the Little Sisters. You either save them all or you get the other ending. There is no grey area and you're treated the same whether you harvest only one Sister or harvest them all. For a game so well thought out, it just seems ill conceived to have endings so black and white. The other negative plot-wise is that early on the game seems to make sure you're cautiously exploring the area you're in, unsure if something will cave in or something will pop up out of nowhere. As the game progresses, this becomes less and less common till there's a point where suspense-wise, its not particularly different than any other shooter. I would have liked if the same scripted events that happen early on in the game carry over into the later half of the game.
Outside of its plot, BioShock's strongest feature is its gorgeous graphics. From the first time you float on top of the ocean and enter the lighthouse to when you first see Rapture, every single detail is painstakingly designed to be as authentic as possible. As I mentioned when commenting on the plot, the game is immersive and that is in no small part due to the graphics. From some of the most realistic water effects ever featured in a console game to lighting effects that both brighten up sections of Rapture and make more eerie sections that much more eerie with their lack of lighting. The atmosphere of the game is complete graphics-wise. Close in on something you see from a distance and you can look at it in detail. Fish swim by in rooms as you explore them and look out the large glass structures that contain many of the cities buildings. Speaking of the buildings, to add to authenticity and realism, the buildings in Rapture are based mostly in the Art Deco style that was popular during the 1950s and 60s when Rapture was built. There's absolutely no slow-down or graphic glitches to be found in the game and considering how detailed those graphics are, its quite remarkable. Shooter games nowadays are pretty much required to have great graphics or they're considered inferior. Happily, BioShock not only has great graphics but it has everything you'd see in the real world. When exploring Rapture, it really feels like this city could exist and that you're the one exploring it to get out.
With Rapture, 2K Games made certain that no area of its creation was ignored. The plot and graphics create an immersive experience and the sounds of the city continue the experience. The weapons sound as you'd expect but its the music that really takes you into the world. 60s music is played in bars, over the PA system and in small stores throughout the city. As with the graphics, the music you listen to throughout the game really makes you feel like you're at the bottom of the Atlantic trying to get out of the Art Deco nightmare the main character has found himself in. Add to that, dramatic music that both alerts you of impending danger and increases the suspense and you have a great atmosphere to explore in.
The controls don't really need any comment, they're exactly what you'd expect from a console shooter and they control smoothly. The ability to quickly switch between plasmids and weapons through a easy to use selection circle where weps and plasmids are mapped.
BioShock does everything right in gaming and very little wrong. Outside of the endings and the slowly decreasing 'horror suspense' action into a more standard type of shooter action, the game is flawless. Every detail expertly crafted, every image on screen made as if it were painted by a painter from the Renaissance, every sound reverberating inside the failed utopia at the bottom of the Atlantic. Without a doubt this is one of those games that simply must be played to fully understand and appreciate what 2K Games have done with BioShock, namely having created an epic masterpiece that should be praised for years to come.