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In 2007, 2K Boston, formerly Irrational Games, delivered Bioshock, one of the most memorable first person experiences in gaming. Bioshock was a game unlike any other thanks to its rich, immersive world and solid combat mechanics. Now, on the eve of the year’s second high profile release, we find ourselves enthusiastic and excited for our sophomore return to Rapture. Anticipation and hype is definitely part of what makes gaming such an exciting hobby but when it gets out of control, we can sometimes be the cause of our disappointment. Before you begin your play through of Bioshock 2, take the time to remind yourself of the following.
DISCLAIMER: I am a shameless victim of hype. In order to enjoy Bioshock 2 the best I can, I have been on media blackout for the past 3 months or so. I have not watched any game play footage outside of the first few videos that were every shown. However, there are a few things that I think everyone should understand about Bioshock 2.
1.) Bioshock 2 is not developed by 2K Boston- I will be the first to admit that handing an established IP off to a different developer for the sequel is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, I am typically excited about seeing what a different developer can add or change to keep an IP feeling fresh. However, the look and feel of the world of Bioshock was an integral part of what made the game great in the first place. If that aspect of the game is not handled with the same level of care as the original, the whole game could fall apart. By entrusting the game to a different team, 2K is definitely gambling with the series. Especially when you consider, Ken Levine, the lead designer of the original Bioshock, Thief, and System Shock 2 has nothing to do with the project. With that said, 2K Marin is a team responsible for the PS3 port of Bioshock and is comprised of several former members of the 2K Boston team.
2.) This is the same Rapture- Many people consider Bioshock to be fantastic stand alone title which was in no way, in need of a sequel. As it turns out, Sequels are major part of this industry now and Bioshock was a major success for 2K so a sequel was inevitable. However, rather than taking the player to a new location or doing something crazy with formula of the first game, 2K Marin has players once again exploring the underwater city of Rapture 10 years after the events of the original game. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, a new setting or depicting the fall of Rapture would have been a welcome change to the game. (And No, the multiplayer “prequel” does not count). While I can’t wait to wander the gloomy halls of this fallen utopia again, I can’t help but feel like they might have missed or passed on an opportunity to give players something new.
3.) This game has an unnecessary multiplayer component- don’t get me (or any other hardcore gamer for that matter) started on the problems with including a multiplayer component in a game that is so obviously a single player experience. Unfortunately, with the ever growing emphasis on online multiplayer, not having a multiplayer bullet point on the back of a box can be a major deterrent for gamers today. So many other developers have devoted too many resources to developing an unnecessary multiplayer mode to appeal to the masses and the single player campaigns have suffered because of it. I am frightened by what this may mean for the quality of the single player campaign in Bioshock 2.
4.) You play as a Big Daddy- This is where my concern really lies. The protagonist of Bioshock, while not the most developed character, was definitely a character that players could relate too. He was an inexperienced, unlucky individual who had this unfortunate connection to this fallen city. His story was impactful and the obstacles he had to overcome to discover the truth were brutal. In Bioshock 2, players take the role of a prototype Big Daddy, drill and all. My first reaction to this was of intrigue but the more I thought about it, the more I began to dread the implications of this design decision. Big Daddy’s are huge, lumbering behemoths that are incredibly dangerous foes. If you now take control of this character, doesn’t that make you the biggest, baddest character in Rapture? How is the player supposed to feel threatened in most combat situations? The team did include the Big Sister character to provide the player with a formidable opponent, but what about smaller skirmishes? In addition to that, how is this Big Daddy going to be received as a character in relation to the story?
5.) The emphasis is in the wrong places – Lastly, from the game play that I have actually seen, 2K Marin seems to have taken steps toward making Bioshock more of a shooter than an adventure game. Sure, the FPS elements are solid and fun, but I have always felt like exploring this tragic world and learning about it’s troubled past was the game’s biggest draw. If exploration takes a back seat to the shooting mechanics, I am going to be sorely disappointed in the way Bioshock turns out.
I hate to be a downer, especially on the eve of the game’s release, but I figured that I really should put my anticipation in check. The game is just a few hours away from release and the first review scores are pouring in. Luckily most scores have been positive but when left unchecked, hype can ensure that your view of a game has nowhere to go but down.
Comments
14 years, 2 months ago
I'm really hoping I can pick this up soon. I love to watch 4PP, Ven, cous, etc. but during game releases I simply can't if its something I'm hyped for. And the game only popped on my radar within the last week with a "Wow the games coming out next week". Only problem I see is that you can't go back to past levels, which is a bummer for the collector inside me. I'm expecting more Bioshock but less atmosphere I guess. But I hope you like it Nick.
14 years, 2 months ago
When I saw the trailer for this game, I knew they pulled the same shit they did with MP3.
Metroid prime 1 was an amazing adventure/platformer with a beautiful and alive world that made you interested in exploring and finding these wierd yet earthly things. MP2 was a tad of a dissapointment. It gained many gameplay add ons and such but it lost the feel of the first one. It wasn't organic, it felt stale and inorganic.
Then came along MP3, and dear god was that the biggest let down as a metroid fan.
Bioshock 2 will appeal to more people, but will alienate the fans of the original. But I must wonder if they had stayed true to the experience and made the game like they did the first one, would fans still like it or would they be tired of the formula?
14 years, 2 months ago
Well I didn't want to be the one to say this, but "squirmishes" is a mispelling for skirmish right?
I also wish to say that the multiplayer component as you have most likely hear is being developed by a different devoloper and thus will not drastically effect the quality of the single player.
14 years, 2 months ago
1. There have been many sequels not developed by the same company that have been just as good as if not better than the original. Now, don't get me wrong, Bioshock 1 is held very highly in the gaming community as a wonderful form of art, but members of 2K Marin were also part of that original developments process as well. Some of the devs worked on what is considered to be the best, most atmospheric part of Bioshock 1 ; Fort Frolic. I think this company shouldn't be underestimated, just because they aren't 2K Boston.
2. Arguably, Rapture could be considered the biggest character in all of the Bioshock lore. Having seen it's already decrepit appearance after the fall of Andrew Ryan's Utopia vision and being absorbed in it, it's no wonder that they would have chosen the same place again only 10 years later. Seeing Rapture now, from a completely different perspective, both in terms of main character and philosophical viewpoint of Altruism, makes for a very interesting new take on the city. Sure, it's the same art-deco style atmosphere and has the same people in it, but thats the point. It's about the transformation, from good to bad and the attempt back to good again from the views of Sofia Lamb, Andrew Ryan and Sinclair. Out of many, one, and out of one, many.
3. While the multiplayer does seem 'tacked on' so to speak, the concept of it remains very interesting. Having at least an original approach to the online experience, you take on the roll of someone before and during the major events of the Fall of Rapture. This makes for an intriguing sort of prequel within a sequel aspect. You see and interact with parts and areas of Rapture not seen before Bioshock 1. The inclusion of plasmids and weapons also seems fresh, although we'll see how it is gameplay wise. Certainly it doesn't compete with Modern Warfare 2 or Bad Compnay , etc, but maybe thats not the point. A Single player story within an online multiplayer is something to try to embrace.
4. The Good ol' Big Daddy. You play as the very first one, and the suit design is less than 'Big'. You are the first prototype. You're tied to a little sister that still lives in Rapture. It may seem like there isn't story there, but it can be pulled off. Perhaps a story about the driving force of being selfless while entrapped in the new Sofia Lamb Society of All over One can work? It may prove to be a sad tale, about hopeless redemption in sight of everything failing. That last push to save things, even if the Big Daddy is emotionless or whatever....who knows..
5. I kind of agree on this part. The biggest draw of Bioshock is indeed in how it tell it's sorrowful tale through recordings and the environment. Of course, the big daddy is going to be more action- oriented than Jack from the first game, but that doesn't mean it should be all about combat. Who knows on that. We'll see.
14 years, 2 months ago
gameinformer has the most complete review so far, and pretty much just what I expected:
http://gameinformer.com/games/bioshock_2/b/ps3/archive/2010/02/08/review.aspx
14 years, 2 months ago
I thought I was the only one dissapointed with playing a Big Daddy. You said what I was upset about. I really couldn't figure out why that bothered me.
14 years, 2 months ago
I got the game a day early and from what I've played, it's surprised me. I didn't expect it to come near matching Bioshock 1 but it really does. They have pulled off playing a big daddy surprisingly well and the world still gives me the same (good) vibes that the original did. Not to mention the multiplayer is kinda fun!
14 years, 2 months ago
I'm still very iffy on this game;the first one had a viceral grip on me..this one is kind of a loose one...will pick up later but not at full retail...at least not yet :)
14 years, 2 months ago
someday when i think to myself "man, i really wanna play bioshock again", i'll go pick up bioshock 2. i feel like i should really want to revisit the world of rapture before i buy this. it's not now, but maybe later this year. i'm sure it'll be more enjoyable that way, for me at least.
14 years, 2 months ago
I pre-ordered this, and I'm going to pick it up tomorrow.
I'm having the same worries that you and other Bioshock fans are having, Nick.
I'm most likely not going to play the multiplayer for a few days because to me it honestly doesn't sound very fun, and lately I've mainly been drawn to my single-player games or the single-player part of my games.
I know it's not going to be near as good as the first, but it will be good. No doubt about it.
14 years, 2 months ago
"Big Daddy’s are huge, lumbering behemoths that are incredibly dangerous foes. If you now take control of this character, doesn’t that make you the biggest, baddest character in Rapture? How is the player supposed to feel threatened in most combat situations?"
Yes! This was my whole concern with the game. I didn't mind multiplayer too much, but the whole idea of playing as a Big Daddy throughout the game just didn't sit well with me. Sure I'm hyped for tomorrow, but I'm afraid of not enjoying the game.
You're a Big Daddy, specifically a one that can use the drill, the rivet gun, AND you can use plasmids. You're the toughest guy in Rapture. The Big Sister doesn't concern me as a threat. Remember Big Daddies in the first? We were scared shitless by them. We thought they'd be the toughest things in the game to kill. Yeah well Trap Bolts and Prox Mines have something to say about that. I'm not going to have that sense of fear or worry anymore. I'm a Big Daddy, nothings going to scare or harm me.
As for the Big Sister..
I feel that the Big Sister will appear in encounters with you, do some kind of event, and then run away, or maybe fight you in a fixed battle until you do enough damage to her for her to run away. All in all, I don't think she's going to be as threatening as everyone thinks.
14 years, 2 months ago
I don't quite understand the pick with playing a Big Daddy. I didn't necessarily feel anything toward the main character in the first game, much less gave a damn about his story. It's practically going from a speechless man to a speechless monster, which doesn't make that much difference to me. Maybe it's the idea of being a hunk of crap, feeling so heavy and that you felt more flexible as a regular guy in the first? Maybe.
Anyway, I don't have too many worries about the game, or even hype for that matter. I think I'll enjoy it regardless.
14 years, 2 months ago
I can fully understand where your concerns are coming from. I had the same concerns for the better part of 6 months, and I was probably one of the biggest vocal detractors of this game on the many forums I frequent. As such a huge fan of the first, I thought to myself "How could this not suck?", every new bit of information I discovered over the course of the past 6-8 months had me biting what was left my nails in nervousness.
All that said, I picked up the game at midnight (EST) at my local wal-mart tonight, have been playing the past 4 hours and DAMN...Its fucking good. Thats all I will say, I won't compare it to the original yet or leave any impressions but I think you will be VERY pleasantly surprised. Most importantly it stays respectable to the solid groundwork laid down in first.
14 years, 2 months ago
My main concern for Bioshock 2 would be the overall feel of the game. In a lot of so called "scary" FPS's, as you progress through the game and get better weapons, a lot of the things are no longer a threat, thus no longer scary. I was afraid the original Bioshock would have this problem, but it kept things interesting with new types of splicers and of course the Big Daddies. But in Bioshock 2, honestly what is a threat to you other than the Big Sister? Plus, the parts where you protect Little Sisters seem just like a gimmick.
14 years, 2 months ago
Just in case you did not know, Bioshock wasn't only made by 2k Boston. But also by 2k Australia who actually had a big part in making the game. I know its just me being picky but when the only good game developers in Australia help make a critically acclaimed game and never receive credit for it... ahh it just frustrates me.