Bioshock Discussion Thread - 9.0! (Unstickied now)

[QUOTE="SgtWhiskeyjack"]

Out of interest, how many games have scored 9 since the new review system?

_en1gma_

Nada.

I think...

That's what I thought, but didn't know for sure. So all these people knocking the score because it's not as high as X game, haven't really got a reason to.

If this game is the first 9 under the new review system, then you'll know just how good a game is if it scores higher. There was no point giving it a 9.5 or 10 because then there would be know way to visually show that another game is better.

[QUOTE="SgtWhiskeyjack"]

Out of interest, how many games have scored 9 since the new review system?

CaseyWegner

just sigma and re4 wii, i think.

Both I would imagine are better than there predecessors NGB 9.4 and RE4 GC 9.6, so the bar has been raised.

[QUOTE="_en1gma_"][QUOTE="SgtWhiskeyjack"]

Out of interest, how many games have scored 9 since the new review system?

SgtWhiskeyjack

Nada.

I think...

That's what I thought, but didn't know for sure. So all these people knocking the score because it's not as high as X game, haven't really got a reason to.

If this game is the first 9 under the new review system, then you'll know just how good a game is if it scores higher. There was no point giving it a 9.5 or 10 because then there would be know way to visually show that another game is better.

Casey just brought Sigma which totally went over my head.

RE 4 Wii wasn't under the new system, was it?

So the con for the PC version is: "Suffers from some fairly nasty technical issues on some PCs, up to and including a total lack of in-game audio"

I'm going to guess that nobody else has experienced this either.

But BioShock isn't without flaw. The game has been released with a host of technical issues, ranging from a total lack of audio on some machines to issues with the SecuROM online activation, which under normal circumstances is designed to prevent you from activating a retail copy on more than two machines. The game is also available through Steam, though all of the same audio stuttering and other issues that some players are experiencing in the disc-based version carry over to the digital version as well. While it's a sad truth that no game is ever released in a completely bug-free state for 100 percent of its users, these issues appear to be pretty widespread, and if you're at all skittish about waiting for a patch after you've purchased something, you might want to wait until at least one patch is released before buying BioShock. In our experience, we got the game running with some minor audio stuttering on a Windows XP PC, and can't get any audio at all on our Vista test machine. All of this makes the Xbox 360 version's stuttering issues (which seem to only happen on some consoles) pale in comparison.Jeff

This is ridiculous. Is anyone running it on PC experiencing these kinds of problems? I run it in Vista and audio is flawless, as well as everything else. He didn't even mention the two real issues, the widescreen problem and the lack of AA, which aren't even that big a deal in the long run. Why is it that so many people with relatively older machines have said they can run it at max or near-max settings smoothly. The game seems brilliantly optimized. "Host of technical issues"? Give me a break.

[QUOTE="SgtWhiskeyjack"][QUOTE="_en1gma_"][QUOTE="SgtWhiskeyjack"]

Out of interest, how many games have scored 9 since the new review system?

_en1gma_

Nada.

I think...

That's what I thought, but didn't know for sure. So all these people knocking the score because it's not as high as X game, haven't really got a reason to.

If this game is the first 9 under the new review system, then you'll know just how good a game is if it scores higher. There was no point giving it a 9.5 or 10 because then there would be know way to visually show that another game is better.

Casey just brought Sigma which totally went over my head.

RE 4 Wii wasn't under the new system, was it?

You're right, I just checked - 9.1

By the way, I'm not one of these complainers, I just think it's daft for people to think it would score higher when a standard hasn't (till now) been set on the new system. Like Casey says, it's in the written word.

You're right, I just checked - 9.1

By the way, I'm not one of these complainers, I just think it's daft for people to think it would score higher when a standard hasn't (till now) been set on the new system. Like Casey says, it's in the written word.

SgtWhiskeyjack

Then Bioshock should have set the standard to 9.5.

I personally think the score was knocked for pretty dumb reasons I have not even come across. But that's just me...

[QUOTE="SgtWhiskeyjack"]

You're right, I just checked - 9.1

By the way, I'm not one of these complainers, I just think it's daft for people to think it would score higher when a standard hasn't (till now) been set on the new system. Like Casey says, it's in the written word.

_en1gma_

Then Bioshock should have set the standard to 9.5.

I personally think the score was knocked for pretty dumb reasons I have not even come across. But that's just me...

I know what your saying, but if Crysis or Halo 3 are better and then Spore or some other game is better still, there would be no way to show this.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma is an action game, so it's score of 9 will allow us to see how better or worse games like heavenly sword or Ninja Gaiden 2 are in comparison to it. It's a shame Forza 2 was under the old system, I think that game sets a standard too.

Out of interest, how many games have scored 9 since the new review system?

SgtWhiskeyjack

This is ridiculous. Is anyone running it on PC experiencing these kinds of problems? I run it in Vista and audio is flawless, as well as everything else. He didn't even mention the two real issues, the widescreen problem and the lack of AA, which aren't even that big a deal in the long run. Why is it that so many people with relatively older machines have said they can run it at max or near-max settings smoothly. The game seems brilliantly optimized. "Host of technical issues"? Give me a break.

Zeliard9

[QUOTE="SgtWhiskeyjack"]

Out of interest, how many games have scored 9 since the new review system?

RobbieH1234

Not sure Paper Mario compares. I know XBL games that score well and are fun, but I wouldn't compare that score to a modernly developed proper game, if you know what I mean.

[QUOTE="SgtWhiskeyjack"]

Out of interest, how many games have scored 9 since the new review system?

CaseyWegner

just sigma and re4 wii, i think.

And Paper Mario for Wii, and Rainbow Six Vegas for PS3.

[QUOTE="Zeliard9"]

This is ridiculous. Is anyone running it on PC experiencing these kinds of problems? I run it in Vista and audio is flawless, as well as everything else. He didn't even mention the two real issues, the widescreen problem and the lack of AA, which aren't even that big a deal in the long run. Why is it that so many people with relatively older machines have said they can run it at max or near-max settings smoothly. The game seems brilliantly optimized. "Host of technical issues"? Give me a break.

Teufelhuhn

There are so many combinations of PC components, surely they all have slightly different naunces. You only have to look at 3D Mark score to see that.

[QUOTE="_en1gma_"][QUOTE="SgtWhiskeyjack"]

You're right, I just checked - 9.1

By the way, I'm not one of these complainers, I just think it's daft for people to think it would score higher when a standard hasn't (till now) been set on the new system. Like Casey says, it's in the written word.

SgtWhiskeyjack

Then Bioshock should have set the standard to 9.5.

I personally think the score was knocked for pretty dumb reasons I have not even come across. But that's just me...

I know what your saying, but if Crysis or Halo 3 are better and then Spore or some other game is better still, there would be no way to show this.

Ninja Gaiden Sigma is an action game, so it's score of 9 will allow us to see how better or worse games like heavenly sword or Ninja Gaiden 2 are in comparison to it. It's a shame Forza 2 was under the old system, I think that game sets a standard too.

That's true. I guess this just shows us that Gamespot is not willing to give out a 10 to anything. They're only leaving the space for 9.5's.

[QUOTE="Teufelhuhn"][QUOTE="Zeliard9"]

This is ridiculous. Is anyone running it on PC experiencing these kinds of problems? I run it in Vista and audio is flawless, as well as everything else. He didn't even mention the two real issues, the widescreen problem and the lack of AA, which aren't even that big a deal in the long run. Why is it that so many people with relatively older machines have said they can run it at max or near-max settings smoothly. The game seems brilliantly optimized. "Host of technical issues"? Give me a break.

SgtWhiskeyjack

There are so many combinations of PC components, surely they all have slightly different naunces. You only have to look at 3D Mark score to see that.

[QUOTE="SgtWhiskeyjack"][QUOTE="Teufelhuhn"][QUOTE="Zeliard9"]

This is ridiculous. Is anyone running it on PC experiencing these kinds of problems? I run it in Vista and audio is flawless, as well as everything else. He didn't even mention the two real issues, the widescreen problem and the lack of AA, which aren't even that big a deal in the long run. Why is it that so many people with relatively older machines have said they can run it at max or near-max settings smoothly. The game seems brilliantly optimized. "Host of technical issues"? Give me a break.

Teufelhuhn

There are so many combinations of PC components, surely they all have slightly different naunces. You only have to look at 3D Marks score to see that.

My reply was more for him than you. I was trying to tell him that just because your system with it's X brand 8800Ultra doesn't suffer with freezing etc, doesn't mean someone with Y brand 8800Ultra, doesn't.

[QUOTE="SgtWhiskeyjack"][QUOTE="Teufelhuhn"][QUOTE="Zeliard9"]

This is ridiculous. Is anyone running it on PC experiencing these kinds of problems? I run it in Vista and audio is flawless, as well as everything else. He didn't even mention the two real issues, the widescreen problem and the lack of AA, which aren't even that big a deal in the long run. Why is it that so many people with relatively older machines have said they can run it at max or near-max settings smoothly. The game seems brilliantly optimized. "Host of technical issues"? Give me a break.

Teufelhuhn

There are so many combinations of PC components, surely they all have slightly different naunces. You only have to look at 3D Mark score to see that.

My friend is running Vista (Ultimate) and has zero problems as well. He said it runs perfectly.

I don't see what the big deal about the Vita-Chambers is when in most other FPSs you can just quick save/quick load. Isn't that basically the same thing? And people hate most checkpoint systems. The Vita-Chambers are actually kinda cool since the world stays persistent. Throw a few of those enrage plasmids at enemies in a Big Daddy fight, and if he kills you, you can come back to the scene to see him fending off those enraged Splicers. It's pretty cool.

I do quick load a lot, though, but I mostly do that just to try out new strategies since it's so fun, or just to see how enemies will react.

I don't see what the big deal about the Vita-Chambers is when in most other FPSs you can just quick save/quick load. Isn't that basically the same thing? And people hate most checkpoint systems. The Vita-Chambers are actually kinda cool since the world stays persistent. Throw a few of those enrage plasmids at enemies in a Big Daddy fight, and if he kills you, you can come back to the scene to see him fending off those enraged Splicers. It's pretty cool.

I do quick load a lot, though, but I mostly do that just to try out new strategies since it's so fun, or just to see how enemies will react.

Zeliard9

well thats the thing......you can slowly wear down a big daddy using that method...meaning you can be totally horrile at the game and slowly wear it down untile you beat it.

other then that though...I have no complaints.

[QUOTE="Zeliard9"]

I don't see what the big deal about the Vita-Chambers is when in most other FPSs you can just quick save/quick load. Isn't that basically the same thing? And people hate most checkpoint systems. The Vita-Chambers are actually kinda cool since the world stays persistent. Throw a few of those enrage plasmids at enemies in a Big Daddy fight, and if he kills you, you can come back to the scene to see him fending off those enraged Splicers. It's pretty cool.

I do quick load a lot, though, but I mostly do that just to try out new strategies since it's so fun, or just to see how enemies will react.

cobrax25

well thats the thing......you can slowly wear down a big daddy using that method...meaning you can be totally horrile at the game and slowly wear it down untile you beat it.

other then that though...I have no complaints.

The plasmids ads remind me greatly of Fallout.

Very funny.

I think the great thing about Jeff is that he doesn't let the hype of the game affect his review and he reviews the game for what it is.

I mean, when TP was reviewed there was a massive outcry in SW about the score being too low, but looking back over it now, the score seemed fair (I know some will disagree, but I'm talking about the majority).

Anyway, looks like everyone is enjoying Bioshock though which is great considering how hyped it was.

I think the great thing about Jeff is that he doesn't let the hype of the game affect his review and he reviews the game for what it is.

I mean, when TP was reviewed there was a massive outcry in SW about the score being too low, but looking back over it now, the score seemed fair (I know some will disagree, but I'm talking about the majority).

Anyway, looks like everyone is enjoying Bioshock though which is great considering how hyped it was.

the-very-best

Yeah now that I have played more of the game I agree with Jeff.

I think the whole no death thing and respawning with everything is a big problem but also this game is VERY linear. There isn't a HUGE amount of differents paths really. I have only saved little sisters so I don't know if harvesting them changes much of the game but yeah I agree with the 9.0.

It's not an open world thing like I thought it would be. I thought it was gonna be a huge place you can walk around in but it's in sections with levels etc...

I mean don't get me wrong, since this game is VERY much focusing on the plot and wanting you to as well, like a film, sometimes it has to be done that way. But a 9.0 is deserving to me.

I just enterered Arcadia right now. I'll play more tomorrow.

[QUOTE="the-very-best"]

I think the great thing about Jeff is that he doesn't let the hype of the game affect his review and he reviews the game for what it is.

I mean, when TP was reviewed there was a massive outcry in SW about the score being too low, but looking back over it now, the score seemed fair (I know some will disagree, but I'm talking about the majority).

Anyway, looks like everyone is enjoying Bioshock though which is great considering how hyped it was.

kcpp2b

Yeah now that I have played more of the game I agree with Jeff.

I think the whole no death thing and respawning with everything is a big problem but also this game is VERY linear. There isn't a HUGE amount of differents paths really. I have only saved little sisters so I don't know if harvesting them changes much of the game but yeah I agree with the 9.0.

It's not an open world thing like I thought it would be. I thought it was gonna be a huge place you can walk around in but it's in sections with levels etc...

I mean don't get me wrong, since this game is VERY much focusing on the plot and wanting you to as well, like a film, sometimes it has to be done that way. But a 9.0 is deserving to me.

I just enterered Arcadia right now. I'll play more tomorrow.

[QUOTE="the-very-best"]

I think the great thing about Jeff is that he doesn't let the hype of the game affect his review and he reviews the game for what it is.

I mean, when TP was reviewed there was a massive outcry in SW about the score being too low, but looking back over it now, the score seemed fair (I know some will disagree, but I'm talking about the majority).

Anyway, looks like everyone is enjoying Bioshock though which is great considering how hyped it was.

kcpp2b

Yeah now that I have played more of the game I agree with Jeff.

I think the whole no death thing and respawning with everything is a big problem but also this game is VERY linear. There isn't a HUGE amount of differents paths really. I have only saved little sisters so I don't know if harvesting them changes much of the game but yeah I agree with the 9.0.

It's not an open world thing like I thought it would be. I thought it was gonna be a huge place you can walk around in but it's in sections with levels etc...

I mean don't get me wrong, since this game is VERY much focusing on the plot and wanting you to as well, like a film, sometimes it has to be done that way. But a 9.0 is deserving to me.

I just enterered Arcadia right now. I'll play more tomorrow.

So the con for the PC version is: "Suffers from some fairly nasty technical issues on some PCs, up to and including a total lack of in-game audio"

I'm going to guess that nobody else has experienced this either.

[quote="Jeff"]

But BioShock isn't without flaw. The game has been released with a host of technical issues, ranging from a total lack of audio on some machines to issues with the SecuROM online activation, which under normal circumstances is designed to prevent you from activating a retail copy on more than two machines. The game is also available through Steam, though all of the same audio stuttering and other issues that some players are experiencing in the disc-based version carry over to the digital version as well. While it's a sad truth that no game is ever released in a completely bug-free state for 100 percent of its users, these issues appear to be pretty widespread, and if you're at all skittish about waiting for a patch after you've purchased something, you might want to wait until at least one patch is released before buying BioShock. In our experience, we got the game running with some minor audio stuttering on a Windows XP PC, and can't get any audio at all on our Vista test machine. All of this makes the Xbox 360 version's stuttering issues (which seem to only happen on some consoles) pale in comparison.Zeliard9

This is ridiculous. Is anyone running it on PC experiencing these kinds of problems? I run it in Vista and audio is flawless, as well as everything else. He didn't even mention the two real issues, the widescreen problem and the lack of AA, which aren't even that big a deal in the long run. Why is it that so many people with relatively older machines have said they can run it at max or near-max settings smoothly. The game seems brilliantly optimized. "Host of technical issues"? Give me a break.

Actually I just beat Bioshock yesterday and played the game in XP with an very up to date PC running Bioshock on max while consistantly getting an average of 60-70 fps. Jeff is right though, I did experience the "techinical" problems and the sound studders for no real reason whichcan be really annoying. It could bea problem with Bioshock's compatibility with soundcards but simplycheck out the Steam forums, Jeff is spot on with the audio problems.

BUT with that said, I think if you have an up to date PC then it's still an very obvious choice.

[QUOTE="kcpp2b"][QUOTE="the-very-best"]

I think the great thing about Jeff is that he doesn't let the hype of the game affect his review and he reviews the game for what it is.

I mean, when TP was reviewed there was a massive outcry in SW about the score being too low, but looking back over it now, the score seemed fair (I know some will disagree, but I'm talking about the majority).

Anyway, looks like everyone is enjoying Bioshock though which is great considering how hyped it was.

Harbadakus

Yeah now that I have played more of the game I agree with Jeff.

I think the whole no death thing and respawning with everything is a big problem but also this game is VERY linear. There isn't a HUGE amount of differents paths really. I have only saved little sisters so I don't know if harvesting them changes much of the game but yeah I agree with the 9.0.

It's not an open world thing like I thought it would be. I thought it was gonna be a huge place you can walk around in but it's in sections with levels etc...

I mean don't get me wrong, since this game is VERY much focusing on the plot and wanting you to as well, like a film, sometimes it has to be done that way. But a 9.0 is deserving to me.

I just enterered Arcadia right now. I'll play more tomorrow.

for me, the game was non-linear the second I entered Fontaine Fisheries (Neptune's Bounty, whatever)

Post here or be suspended??? What if I don't want to talk about BioShock? Oh Well... The 2007 GOTY is NOT going to be just a 9.0, so I think this officially dispells that rumor. If it truly is GOTY then it certainly could've gotten a 9.5. Jeff was right in his assessment. Also, I find it concerning that Casey tells lemmings to "be happy." Everyone knows the 360 owners aren't the ones claiming mass ownage on everybody, it's the *shoxxorzz* hermits. They claim ownage on everyone including even lemmings, even though it's THE EXACT SAME GAME. I guess their hatred of 360 users knows no bounds.

In summation; superb, but not GOTY. Now it's just down to Mass Effect and Halo 3. Major odds on ME for GOTY.

for me, the game was non-linear the second I entered Fontaine Fisheries (Neptune's Bounty, whatever)

Mordred19

The plasmids ads remind me greatly of Fallout.

Very funny.

Panzer_Zwei

Well they are 1950s era ads, so they shoulds remind of them.

You know, SW-logic still amazes me to this day.

What amazes is the fact that this game (Bioshock) is not playable on the PS3, yet somehow this fact makes the PS3 look good in comparison to the x360. Gotta love that 'ol SW logic!!

On Topic: YEt another AAA game Xbox360 gamers get to play while PS3 owners just get to read about it.:)

Looks like BioShock managed to steal the number two spot at Gamerankings from Soul Calibur. I honestly don't think that BioShock is better than a lot of games on that list though... definitely not better than Metroid Prime, Resident Evil 4, or Super Mario 64.

Ocarina of Time is still sitting on its throne at #1 though. :)

i think a lot of people owe jeff an apology. :?CaseyWegner

what was it like, in all honesty when the review came out. I only came back when this thread was set, but i hear there was lots of whining.

worse than tp :?

[QUOTE="CaseyWegner"]i think a lot of people owe jeff an apology. :?samusarmada

what was it like, in all honesty when the review came out. I only came back when this thread was set, but i hear there was lots of whining.

worse than tp :?

i don't think anything will ever be worse than the zelda aftermath but it was pretty bad. lots of jeff bashing before most people even played the game. now that people have, we're seeing a lot of "jeff was right" statements.

[QUOTE="samusarmada"]

[QUOTE="CaseyWegner"]i think a lot of people owe jeff an apology. :?CaseyWegner

what was it like, in all honesty when the review came out. I only came back when this thread was set, but i hear there was lots of whining.

worse than tp :?

i don't think anything will ever be worse than the zelda aftermath but it was pretty bad. lots of jeff bashing before most people even played the game. now that people have, we're seeing a lot of "jeff was right" statements.

do u agree with it?

do u agree with it?

samusarmada

yeah. it's amazing game but it has its flaws.

[QUOTE="samusarmada"]

do u agree with it?

CaseyWegner

yeah. it's amazing game but it has its flaws.

do u still think its a GOTY contender?

[QUOTE="CaseyWegner"][QUOTE="samusarmada"]

do u agree with it?

samusarmada

yeah. it's amazing game but it has its flaws.

do u still think its a GOTY contender?

it'll be nominated, of course, but it's only august and the big game season is just starting.