Gaming Mojo

Well the all awaited sequel to the appealing yet quirky take on the RPG franchise is back with its 1st Sequel, Does it deliver the goods to hold up to it predecessor

You return to Rapture; an underwater utopia created in the 40’s. This time its 10 years after the 1st, but you now take on the role as Delta, the original big daddy. As per to Rapture’s renown atmosphere, this place is complicated with deranged personal, Big Sister’s and the watchful eye of Sofia Lamb. Your role is simple though, track down your little sister; Eleanor Lamb and get the hell out there. The story does dip from time to time, but the emotional tethers will keep on toe, with Lamb’s revelations amounting to grave evils, an off putting travel companion and plenty on fan pandering cameos. Regardless the story is strong with choices that will affect the outcome.

The design of the game hasn’t change much from the original, you explore and scavenge derelict environments, rescue little sisters, hack vending machines, and put the drill to anyone that stands in your way, literally. With completing the main objectives that stand in your way. What’s different this time, is that the game is designed in a linear fashion, no back tracking for forgotten sisters and hackables that you missed which kills the illusion of a living, breathing city that first provided.

A few rumours and game play videos may have given off wrong impressions, the all advertised Big Sisters striking at anytime turns out to be scripted and triggered. Also the underwater routings are actually scenic scuba transitions as you wade to the next point. Being a Big Daddy has you swapping your wrench for a fuel powered drill, just remember to re-fuel or it will remain useless. You will still fight other Big Daddy’s have to choice to adopt their little sisters to harvest ADAM for you.

Multiplayer has been added, with a chaotic 5v5 match out with weapons and powers achieved through levelling and ranks, its a nice bonus to play with but you’ll probably be down with it in a few hours and move you to your usual.

There are some truly great moments that pick up the repetition and the end game really picks up and drives the story home. Its disappoint that it picks up as its ending but multiple ending may encourage you to play it again, though this is no Mass Effect 2.

Bioshock is a FPS, with a tactical, slower feel. Accuracy and reflexes will serve you to a point, but weapon management and ammo variations is what will keep you alive. The old NPC return with some added new ones to keep things fresh, with the Big Daddy’s and new Big Sisters you and the ability to change up your approach to combat, this aspect shouldn’t tire. The old plumbing hacking game is gone, replaced with a new real-time challenge that you can attempt whilst in combat, a definite improvement but just be careful not to spam the med kits.

Even if the setting is familiar, Rapture is still deep. Art direction and voice acting stand par with the first, this excellent work make it a place that you can’t help but inhabit even as you try to escape. The hidden rooms show of great architecture that its lacks the variety that the 1st so well provided.

A feeling of “Blockbuster” just doesn’t fit this game as oppose to the 1st, having been built up from the outrageous success of the 1st, it is a bit of a hit and miss. But it might be harsh to stack up against its predecessor. It does have great combat, some truly stand out set pieces and a story you’ll want to see through to the end.

Bioshock is a thinkers FPS and it stands out for this reason.

Bioshock 2 Review – gametrailers.com