So, I signed up for Gamefly last week because there are a lot of games out there that I want to try out but few that seem solid buys. I don't get a lot of money to spend on gaming, so I want to make adding something to my permenant collection count. The first game that has arrived for me is Bioshock for the 360.

And I like it. I've just finished off my first "mini-boss", a wonderfully disturbing plastic surgeon, and have gotten a taste of the gameplay elements like plasmids, tonics, weapons, and hacking. So far, while I enjoy the capabilities of hacking a security bot, turrent, or camera to watch my back... the hacking mini-game itself has become annoying, having lost its novelty after only a handful of hacks. Much like Mass Effect's own hacking mini-game, I enjoy the detachment from the primary gameplay but unlike Bioware's offering, this relies heavily on chance and no matter how good or fast you are, you can still be screwed by random placement. It is more of a time-sink than a game of skill and the rewards aren't always worth the investment. Even more, again like Mass Effect, you have the option of avoiding the mini-game if you wish by spending cash... but just like playing the game, the investment is larger than the return.

So hacking is a buzzkill.

Thankfully, the graphics and sound are superb, creating a beautifully rich environment that is really hypnotic. More than once I have found myself wandering around taking it all in only to stumble into an enemy unaware or get myself momentarily lost. With the lights turned down and the room quiet, it was a great experience. I look forward to putting in a few more hours tonight.