BioShock

By Tristan Clark

To say that Bioshock is highly anticipated is something of an understatement. This is a game that won many ‘Best of Show’ awards at E3 in 2006 – and then won many again at the new-look E3 this year. So for the couple of you out there who haven’t hopped on board the hype train (arriving at the station in late August), here’s what the fuss is all about.

At its most basic, Bioshock is a first person shooter. But there are several things that set it apart, not least of which is the setting, which looks both intriguing and terrifying. The game has you explore the underwater city of Rapture, a failed utopia from the 1960s. Its downfall is inextricably (and mysteriously) linked to a substance known as Adam, a genetic substance with the power to give ordinary humans amazing abilities. At the heart of all this is Andew Ryan, the (mad) scientist who formed Rapture in the first place. But to find out all the secrets of this place, you’re naturally going to have to venture deep into the underwater city, fighting off countless foes along the way.

The gameplay itself combines first person action with role playing elements – as the game progresses you’ll use whatever Adam you can find to imbue yourself with superhuman powers, from shooting lightning from your hands to telekinesis. You’ll also get to use an array of guns if your energy levels run too low. One of the most intriguing parts of Bioshock is the promise of interacting with the environment around you during battles. The developers have promised a myriad of ways to get through each encounter – and from what we’ve seen, they might well be right. As an example, you could throw a foe back into a puddle, then aim some lightning at the water for massive damage.

The enemies themselves look extremely interesting, especially the pairing of big daddy’s and little sisters. Essentially, the task of the little sister is to gather up all the Adam that you ideally want for yourself – and the role of the big daddy is to ensure her safety. Needless to say, if you upset the girl, you’re going to be in big trouble. It’s this kind of dynamic that potentially sets Bioshock completely apart from other shooters.

It also doesn’t hurt that the game looks amazing. The combination of extremely sharp visuals and an art deco design really help to suck you in to the game world. If Bioshock can maintain the level of intensity and fear that we’ve seen throughout the whole game, people all over the world should be in for a treat – even if it is the kind of treat that makes you want to play with the lights on. Look out for our full review at the end of the month!

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ReplyPosted by Mach1_9pants on 17 November 2008, 06:08PM

Way too repetitive with the corridors and creatures repeated sayings, very disappointed after all the hype