Bioshock 2 Review (360)
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Skippy
- Member
- Joined in 2008
Bioshock 2
The story of Rapture is one of many parts and both games in the series have yet to uncover all its mysteries. The original was an introduction met with universal acclaim from both the critics and the public so a sequel, no less one handled by different developers, was always going to be met with scepticism. With such a large fanbase full of memories of the underwater utopia, meeting their expectations was easily the most daunting task for 2K Marin. The original was helped no end by its success out of nowhere and just how unique it was alongside other games in the over-loaded FPS genre. So with a great deal of that unique-feel gone and with a weight of expectation on its shoulders, it’s even more impressive that Bioshock 2 delivers.
If the original suffered at all, it was from basic first person mechanics and the often clunky way of changing from plasmids to weapons. The natural solution was to introduce the dual-wielding of both attacks and it works a lot better than one would imagine. Combat becomes a lot more enjoyable so the game’s larger focus on action becomes forgivable over time. There is still plenty of exploration to be had, in fact some players will pressing the A button more than they pull the trigger, but it’s not encouraged as much and fights are closer together than before. At first this grates as the game feels more restrictive than the original but as you get to know the ins and outs of combat it becomes enjoyable enough to forgive.
10 years on and Rapture is a rotting hole. Barely a single room is untouched by the reclaiming ocean, with plant life and barnacles littering the environment. For us though, it only makes the city look better. It’s an astonishing example of design, if not slightly less imaginative than the first and looks truly beautiful in 1080p, more so than any other title this year or for that matter most others.
In terms of the story Bioshock 2 is more than a match for the original. It may not have the uniqueness (as mentioned earlier) but in terms of emotion it’s something else entirely. As many will know you play as Project Delta, one of the original Big Daddies. Around the time of Rapture’s decent into chaos your Little Sister, Eleanor, is taken from you and you’re forced, in front of her, to shoot yourself in the head. Ten years later you awake through dubious means and the objective is clear, Eleanor must be found. Anything else would be venturing into spoiler territory but it’s safe to say you’ll meet a host of characters along the way and the voice work is as stellar as ever. There are several different endings depending on your actions throughout the game with the “good” ending being easily the best. In fact I’d go as far as to say it’s one of the best endings I have ever come across in a video game.
I’ll tip-toe around spoilers as best I can here but towards the end there is a segment that serves as a clear change of pace before the action-heavy finale. It provides a different take on Rapture and an insight into how it works. It may not last very long but it’s easily the most memorable part of either Bioshock game.
With so many people approaching the bulk of the game with uncertainty, the addition of multiplayer wasn’t a massive deal. Some frowned upon it but once details emerged, worries subsided. It falls within the narrative of Rapture with each player having a home to customise their gear and weapon sets before heading out into combat. Levelling up and earning experience comes from “testing out” weapons and plasmids in the field and with the all-round more enjoyable combat it’s a good online experience. It’s certainly a nice addition to other online shooters. If the multiplayer can be faulted for anything it’s for possibly being the reason behind the short single player story.
This is how a sequel should be handled. There is nothing but the utmost respect for what the original created and stood for with near-enough every part of that original improved upon. The fact this all comes from a different development team is staggering, even more so that they’ve created a better game entirely. After the first game I didn’t think a sequel would ever be worthy of another trip to Rapture but now, I can’t wait to go back.
9/10
Feedback welcome as always
The story of Rapture is one of many parts and both games in the series have yet to uncover all its mysteries. The original was an introduction met with universal acclaim from both the critics and the public so a sequel, no less one handled by different developers, was always going to be met with scepticism. With such a large fanbase full of memories of the underwater utopia, meeting their expectations was easily the most daunting task for 2K Marin. The original was helped no end by its success out of nowhere and just how unique it was alongside other games in the over-loaded FPS genre. So with a great deal of that unique-feel gone and with a weight of expectation on its shoulders, it’s even more impressive that Bioshock 2 delivers.
If the original suffered at all, it was from basic first person mechanics and the often clunky way of changing from plasmids to weapons. The natural solution was to introduce the dual-wielding of both attacks and it works a lot better than one would imagine. Combat becomes a lot more enjoyable so the game’s larger focus on action becomes forgivable over time. There is still plenty of exploration to be had, in fact some players will pressing the A button more than they pull the trigger, but it’s not encouraged as much and fights are closer together than before. At first this grates as the game feels more restrictive than the original but as you get to know the ins and outs of combat it becomes enjoyable enough to forgive.
10 years on and Rapture is a rotting hole. Barely a single room is untouched by the reclaiming ocean, with plant life and barnacles littering the environment. For us though, it only makes the city look better. It’s an astonishing example of design, if not slightly less imaginative than the first and looks truly beautiful in 1080p, more so than any other title this year or for that matter most others.
In terms of the story Bioshock 2 is more than a match for the original. It may not have the uniqueness (as mentioned earlier) but in terms of emotion it’s something else entirely. As many will know you play as Project Delta, one of the original Big Daddies. Around the time of Rapture’s decent into chaos your Little Sister, Eleanor, is taken from you and you’re forced, in front of her, to shoot yourself in the head. Ten years later you awake through dubious means and the objective is clear, Eleanor must be found. Anything else would be venturing into spoiler territory but it’s safe to say you’ll meet a host of characters along the way and the voice work is as stellar as ever. There are several different endings depending on your actions throughout the game with the “good” ending being easily the best. In fact I’d go as far as to say it’s one of the best endings I have ever come across in a video game.
I’ll tip-toe around spoilers as best I can here but towards the end there is a segment that serves as a clear change of pace before the action-heavy finale. It provides a different take on Rapture and an insight into how it works. It may not last very long but it’s easily the most memorable part of either Bioshock game.
With so many people approaching the bulk of the game with uncertainty, the addition of multiplayer wasn’t a massive deal. Some frowned upon it but once details emerged, worries subsided. It falls within the narrative of Rapture with each player having a home to customise their gear and weapon sets before heading out into combat. Levelling up and earning experience comes from “testing out” weapons and plasmids in the field and with the all-round more enjoyable combat it’s a good online experience. It’s certainly a nice addition to other online shooters. If the multiplayer can be faulted for anything it’s for possibly being the reason behind the short single player story.
This is how a sequel should be handled. There is nothing but the utmost respect for what the original created and stood for with near-enough every part of that original improved upon. The fact this all comes from a different development team is staggering, even more so that they’ve created a better game entirely. After the first game I didn’t think a sequel would ever be worthy of another trip to Rapture but now, I can’t wait to go back.
9/10
Feedback welcome as always
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United_Journey_uk
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- Joined in 2008
- Location: leicestershire
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