BioShock 2 Review

By | May 5, 2010

BloShock was a game that invigorated the first-person shooter genre and engaged garners in a unique adventure in the dysfunctional underwater city of Rapture. The title was a great success and left fans eagerly anticipating a sequel. Fortunately, BioShock 2 brings back most of what made the original a hit and adds new elements that definitely warrant a play-through.

Plot and Gameplay
The story has you waking up as Subject Delta — the original Big Daddy — 10 years after the events of BioShock. You journey through Rapture, now a dystopia of the briny deep, in search of your long-lost Little Sister, Eleanor. Along the way, a psychiatrist — Dr Sofia Lamb — who now controls the city and most of its inhabitants, constantly thwarts you by sending hordes of mutants after you. Audio diaries and the few sane citizens that you encounter, help drive the plot forward, which is often eclipsed by elements such as the overwhelming atmosphere, political and psychological intrigue, and emotional tethers of the game’s revelations.

Regardless, the story is strong, characterized by difficult choices that may result in any of the six possible endings to the game. Newcomers to the series will be easily immersed into the game’s environment, while veterans will feel at home.

BioShock 2 recycles many elements from the prequel — weapons, Plasmids and Tonics etcetera. You’ll be exploring and scavenging the derelict environment, rescuing Little Sisters, hacking vending machines and jabbing your trusted drill into anyone who stands in your way of completing objectives that unlock the next area. This time, the gameplay is more linear — if you miss anything along the way, the opportunity is lost for good.

Combat is more complex and requires more thinking on your part, and the ability to simultaneously wield guns and Plasmids are welcomed. The Big Sisters are very agile and formidable enemies, though encounters with them feel scripted and predictable. Adopting Little Sisters will help you procure ADAM — the resource that upgrades your arsenal of Plasmids and Tonics. Though Little Sisters can guide you, they also have to be protected. Choosing to either rescue or harvest them at any point, affects the gameplay, so choose well.

Enhancements
Perhaps the most obvious upgrade in BioShock 2 is its story-driven multiplayer mode, which allows you to assume the role of a Rapture inhabitant in competitive fights — game modes now feature variation. The game adds exploding corpses, the ability to take pictures of victims and the use of multiplayer specific Plasmids, to let you experiment during combat. The hacking mini-games have been completely reworked for real-time operation and items are scattered throughout levels, making the interplay between gunfights and looting much more enjoyable. Maintaining your perishable health adds another tactical layer, making med-kits extremely valuable resources. The real skill is the management of different powers and ammo types for the best advantage.

Verdict
The world of Rapture sounds and looks as mesmerizing as it did in the original title. The spooky and eerie setting is magnetic, as is the top-notch art direction and voice-acting; it is disappointing how each environment fluxes into the other, clouding the uniqueness of each. As far as character designs go, the crazed Splicers look extremely disturbing, the Big Daddies are imposing, and the Big Sisters give one the chills.

BioShock 2 is a game that constantly evokes feelings quintessential of its predecessor. The title has great combat; entertaining multiplayer modes, some brilliant set-pieces, and a story that’ll keep you coming back for more. The original may still be engraved in the hearts of garners, but this is a title worth playing on its own merits.

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