So, I slept on this game for well over a decade, which flew by quicker than I’d like to admit. After having it collect dust since 2008, re-purchasing it as a trilogy in 2016 and then receiving it as a digital download with PS+, I figured it was about time to give it a go.
The first hour or so was by far the best. I didn’t really know what to expect in terms of gameplay. Introducing enemies with freaky silhouettes was hair raising and seeing the first Big Daddy got me pumped for a 1v1. Sadly, this didn’t last. The gameplay grew a little stale and after I got used to the surroundings nothing was really grabbing me in terms of action (aside from a couple of the boss battles), I was pushing on because I wanted to see more of Rapture. Ultimately, this game turned out to be a slew of fetch quests with some trickled variety here and there. I can’t recall the amount of times I rolled my eyes at having the trek back through environments just to rescue Little Sisters, because the game implied it’s importance.
Gameplay wise, it took a short time to get used to the controls, but sometimes button prompts wouldn’t register, making certain parts difficult to navigate. Occasionally I’d be clicking L3 multiple times to just to crouch under a live wire. Other times I’d try quick-swapping between weapons and the button was too sensitive. A regular glitch I often experienced, would occur whenever I was walking through an area that I’d previously cleared. If there were still weapons on the ground and I “miss-stepped”, I’d get flung several meters away.
The character designs are fantastic and some are incredibly detailed, notably Big Daddy’s and boss encounters. The effort shows more in the design of Rapture itself and is really, quite breathtaking. Everything from the sights and sounds to the steaming cogs spinning inside showed that this monstrous city was alive and breathing. I don’t think there’s a single window I didn’t look out of for a breather myself between bullets. The atmosphere was brilliant and reeked of rust and saltwater.
I’d say my play time was somewhere around 12-14 hours, stopping every now and then to read the many posters and listen to all the tapes I could spot, soaking up lore whenever possible. I could’ve breezed through it and shaved off a few hours gunning for the end and ignoring the whole “you need adam to survive” mentality, sure, but I like to give games a chance and see everything they have to show at a leisurely pace.
Overall, Bioshock carries a solid theme and atmosphere, let down slightly by character development and performance issues. Despite it’s repetitiveness, I wouldn’t be surprised if I come back for a second go, just to explore Rapture.
The first hour or so was by far the best. I didn’t really know what to expect in terms of gameplay. Introducing enemies with freaky silhouettes was hair raising and seeing the first Big Daddy got me pumped for a 1v1. Sadly, this didn’t last. The gameplay grew a little stale and after I got used to the surroundings nothing was really grabbing me in terms of action (aside from a couple of the boss battles), I was pushing on because I wanted to see more of Rapture. Ultimately, this game turned out to be a slew of fetch quests with some trickled variety here and there. I can’t recall the amount of times I rolled my eyes at having the trek back through environments just to rescue Little Sisters, because the game implied it’s importance.
Gameplay wise, it took a short time to get used to the controls, but sometimes button prompts wouldn’t register, making certain parts difficult to navigate. Occasionally I’d be clicking L3 multiple times to just to crouch under a live wire. Other times I’d try quick-swapping between weapons and the button was too sensitive. A regular glitch I often experienced, would occur whenever I was walking through an area that I’d previously cleared. If there were still weapons on the ground and I “miss-stepped”, I’d get flung several meters away.
The character designs are fantastic and some are incredibly detailed, notably Big Daddy’s and boss encounters. The effort shows more in the design of Rapture itself and is really, quite breathtaking. Everything from the sights and sounds to the steaming cogs spinning inside showed that this monstrous city was alive and breathing. I don’t think there’s a single window I didn’t look out of for a breather myself between bullets. The atmosphere was brilliant and reeked of rust and saltwater.
I’d say my play time was somewhere around 12-14 hours, stopping every now and then to read the many posters and listen to all the tapes I could spot, soaking up lore whenever possible. I could’ve breezed through it and shaved off a few hours gunning for the end and ignoring the whole “you need adam to survive” mentality, sure, but I like to give games a chance and see everything they have to show at a leisurely pace.
Overall, Bioshock carries a solid theme and atmosphere, let down slightly by character development and performance issues. Despite it’s repetitiveness, I wouldn’t be surprised if I come back for a second go, just to explore Rapture.