Having played all of the BioShock games within a relatively short period of time, it’s easy to see how much Infinite deviates from the first two. The first, and most stark difference you’ll notice is the setting. The floating city of Columbia is vibrant and full of life, which instantly sets it apart from the dark and decrepit setting of Rapture. I enjoyed this change, as it felt like a breath of fresh air to me.

The gameplay of Infinite feels much more “mainstream shooter” than the first two entries did. In fact, I think it would be hard to even identify Infinite as a BioShock game if vigors hadn’t taken the place of plasmids. Some notable differences include the following:

-Only being able to carry two weapons, instead of possessing an entire weapon wheel
-The upgrading is streamlined, as money is the only currency in the game used to purchase upgrades
-Exploration is limited, making the gameplay quite linear

Some people will like these changes, others won’t. I was fairly indifferent, having a slight preference for the gameplay of the first two games. Story-wise, the narrative of the game was compelling enough for me, even if the end of it was a little wack.

In essence, the BioShock formula was simplified with Infinite. But that doesn’t stop it from being a worthwhile entry to the series.