Bioshock is the instant classic released by 2K Games in 2007. Bioshock showed us that yes, video games are great literature. It also showed us that video games can tell compelling stories which could not be told effectively in another medium, that video games really can make you think, and that video games are indeed art.
Premise:
You are playing as Jack. Jack is the sole survivor of a plane crash, stranded in the middle of the ocean. Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, Jack finds a lighthouse near the crash site which is an entrance to a fascinating underwater city.
Enter the city of Rapture: An underwater city engulfed in anarchy, disarray, immorality, and confusion. Rapture is the failed experiment of Andrew Ryan to create a society completely free of the confines of government and religion. A society free to do scientific research as they see fit, without anyone to stop them from pursuing their interests, and nobody to force morality upon them. Without the confines of law or the morality of a religious order, Rapture has become a desolate underwater wasteland which is slowly collapsing around Jack. Murder isn't just common, it is a way of life in Rapture.
Jack must find find a way to survive in this hellhole and get out alive, while also retaining his humanity.
Story:
The storyline is in Bioshock isn't necessarily the most incredible. That is, not until you reach one point in the storyline which absolutely blows your mind. This plot-twist is so masterfully crafted that I would feel terrible spoiling it for you. You NEED to play this game to experience it.
Visuals:
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| Impressive architecture upon entering Rapture |
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| The surgeon has gone insane |
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| A little sister gathering Adam from a corpse |
Aside from the 1950's feel though, Bioshock succeeds in showing us the gruesome side of humanity. Be warned; this game is not for the light of heart. Expect gruesome disturbing scenes, and people killing each other in the most horrendous ways. At one point, we run into a surgeon who is obsessed with operating on people, and mutilating their bodies in horrific ways in what he thinks is an artistic expression. Through these disturbing images, Bioshock instills in us a sense of fear and disgust at this horrendous failed society. At times you might find yourself afraid to move your character because of what horror may lie around the next corner.
While I find that in most games violence and gore serve no purpose aside from the fact that people like violence, I find that the gruesome scenes in Bioshock convey a message about the dark side of humanity and what could happen if we were not held to a higher authority.
Menus/Interface:
Menus are well laid out and self-explanatory.
Gameplay/Controls:
The combat controls are somewhat strange to use. You are given two sets of weapons to use: Physical weapons like guns, and plasmids which may have all kinds effects ranging from electricity to telekinesis. The odd part is that, since you are not able to dual wield, you must constantly switch from guns to plasmids with the right mouse button, and fire the weapon with the left mouse button. In my opinion they should have employed a dual wield system: One gun and one plasmid at a time, which allows for quicker reactions in combat.
Not the worst combat system ever, but not the best either.
This being said, gameplay is more based around exploration than combat, and Bioshock pulls this off extremely well. As I mentioned before, the game has incredible visuals, and this makes exploring new areas very intriguing.
Summary:
There are many clichè stories about the evils of tyrannical big governments with too much power, and the rebellions that rise against them them to destroy their oppressors. Bioshock is not one of those stories. In fact, Bioshock goes in the complete opposite direction and tries to show us what would happen if we completely did away with the government and organized religion. The story isn't necessarily the greatest, but through gameplay, Bioshock shows us more about human nature than any book i have read or movie I have watched.
Since the initial release, many games have surpassed it in technical and graphical prowess, including its own successor in the franchise, Bioshock Infinte, but not many games have managed to surpass the care and heart put into Bioshock.
Despite its lack of combat prowess, Bioshock could possibly be the greatest game of all time. Quite simply put, Bioshock is an incredible masterpiece.
SCORE: 10/10
What do you think? Did you like Bioshock as much as I did? Let me know in the comments below!
Menus/Interface:
Menus are well laid out and self-explanatory.
Gameplay/Controls:
The combat controls are somewhat strange to use. You are given two sets of weapons to use: Physical weapons like guns, and plasmids which may have all kinds effects ranging from electricity to telekinesis. The odd part is that, since you are not able to dual wield, you must constantly switch from guns to plasmids with the right mouse button, and fire the weapon with the left mouse button. In my opinion they should have employed a dual wield system: One gun and one plasmid at a time, which allows for quicker reactions in combat.
Not the worst combat system ever, but not the best either.
This being said, gameplay is more based around exploration than combat, and Bioshock pulls this off extremely well. As I mentioned before, the game has incredible visuals, and this makes exploring new areas very intriguing.
Summary:
There are many clichè stories about the evils of tyrannical big governments with too much power, and the rebellions that rise against them them to destroy their oppressors. Bioshock is not one of those stories. In fact, Bioshock goes in the complete opposite direction and tries to show us what would happen if we completely did away with the government and organized religion. The story isn't necessarily the greatest, but through gameplay, Bioshock shows us more about human nature than any book i have read or movie I have watched.
Since the initial release, many games have surpassed it in technical and graphical prowess, including its own successor in the franchise, Bioshock Infinte, but not many games have managed to surpass the care and heart put into Bioshock.
Despite its lack of combat prowess, Bioshock could possibly be the greatest game of all time. Quite simply put, Bioshock is an incredible masterpiece.
SCORE: 10/10
What do you think? Did you like Bioshock as much as I did? Let me know in the comments below!
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