BioShock
Release Date: August 21, 2007
Action, FPP, science fiction, FPS, RPG elements, dystopia, shooters, 60s and 70s, immersive sim, singleplayer
Steam
BioShock is a combination of an action game, first person shooter, cRPG, and survival horror created by Irrational Games (developers of System Shock 2, SWAT 4, and other titles). The story takes you into the submerged city of Rapture, where the main protagonis, named Jack, arrives after having survived a plane crash. This ruined metropolis hides many dark and deadly secrets.
Last Update: September 11, 2007
Bioshock Game Guide
The Bioshock Guide is a compendium of knowledge about this unique FPS game. In our walkthrough you will learn how to go through each mission, find all ADAM syringes, collectibles and recordings. There was also a detailed trophy guide here.
Videos and Screens
[4:39] BioShock sample game level
[2:10] BioShock Challenge Rooms
The main pros of the game
- Captivating Storyline: The narrative is deeply engaging, exploring themes of individualism, capitalism, and moral choice in a dystopian setting. Players find themselves immersed in a rich, philosophical story that raises existential questions.
- Unique Atmosphere: The game excels in creating a haunting and immersive atmosphere through its art deco design, soundscapes, and retro music, which contribute to the eerie experience of exploring the underwater city of Rapture.
- Variety of Gameplay: Players can utilize an arsenal of weapons and plasmids (genetic modifications granting special powers) to customize their playstyle, leading to dynamic combat scenarios. Encounters with iconic enemies, like Big Daddies, provide thrilling challenges.
- World-Building: The detailed environment, filled with secrets and lore, encourages exploration and adds depth to the narrative, making Rapture a memorable location.
The main cons of the game
- Repetitive Gameplay: Some players note that the gameplay can become monotonous, particularly in the latter half of the game, where enemy types may feel repetitive and the exploration-combat-collect cycle can grow stale.
- Limited Impact of Choices: While the game features moral choices, such as saving or harvesting Little Sisters, the overall impact of these decisions on the game's flow is perceived as limited, disappointing players expecting deeper consequences.
- Technical Issues: Many reviews mention bugs, particularly with audio and controls, affecting immersion. The PC port has been criticized for stability issues, making it difficult for some players to enjoy the experience fully.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Polished Controls and Support for Gamepads: Users have expressed dissatisfaction with the control schemes, particularly on PC, citing issues with sensitivity and configuration that detract from the gameplay experience.
- Depth in Moral Choices: Players desire more substantial consequences for their choices, which would enhance the ethical dilemmas presented throughout the game.
- Improved AI Behavior: Some reviews mention that the AI can be inconsistent, which can disrupt the tension during encounters and reduce immersion.
- Enhanced Crafting and Hacking Mechanics: Users noted that crafting and hacking could be improved, as they felt underutilized compared to other gameplay elements.
Summary
- Overall, BioShock is lauded as a classic that combines an engaging story with a unique atmosphere, despite some gameplay and technical shortcomings.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 11721 votes. 122 players anticipated the game.
BioShock Description
BioShock for PC, X360 and etc. is a first-person shooter developed by 2K Boston and 2K Australia (previously known as Irrational Games), the creators of Freedom Force, SWAT 4 and Tribes: Vengeance. Moreover, some of the developers’ employees previously worked on the cult System Shock 2. BioShock should be considered a spiritual successor of the latter of the above-mentioned titles, as it combines typical shooter game elements (predominant) with those of an RPG. Furthermore, the game's dense and overwhelming atmosphere reminds one of a survival horror, where the player constantly experiences psychedelic moods.
Story
The story of BioShock starts in 1960, as its protagonist, Jack - passenger of a crashed plane, ends up in the ocean and begins to drown. Having assumed control of him, the player has to keep him alive and guide towards a light shining in the distance. After a while, it turns out that the source of the mysterious glow was the lighthouse of an underwater city, Rapture. This is where the entire adventure takes place.
The underwater metropolis is a huge complex which was built in 1946 by an American businessman, Andrew Ryan, in order to create a shelter for the most prominent representatives of mankind, such as scientists, artist and so on. A few years after the end of World War II, the project was abandoned and the city left to its fate. However, in the meantime, two researchers discovered a previously unknown species of sea slugs living at the bottom of the ocean. These animals had the ability to produce ADAM, a substance that could change human tissue into stem cells, allowing people to develop and enhance special abilities if used properly, or even offer them immortality. The unusual characteristics of this chemical became the subject of numerous controversies. At some point, the two factions that distributed the substance started to fight one another, leading to a civil war in Rapture. During the conflict, it was discovered that ADAM can also cause mutations and addictions. As a result of the fighting, the underwater metropolis was ruined, and those who survived lost the remains of their humanity; their existence was reduced to searching for leftovers of ADAM.
Gameplay
Jack, controlled by the player, has to secure his footing in the dystopian world and progressively uncover the rules that govern his new home, where danger lurks around every corner. To to be able to face them effectively, we have to rely on ADAM. Acquiring it is no easy task, though, as the only creatures that possess the substance are little unimposing girls, the so-called Little Sisters. In order to defeat them, first we have to face their powerfully armed bodyguards, the Big Daddies. To make things worse, the city is full of other monsters, and what's left of the public order is maintained by ruthless robots. Luckily, enemies can be dealt with by the use of lethal force or, alternatively, more sophisticated means, for example: hacking various devices (in the form of a simple mini-game).
The players can also upgrade their weapons (pistols, shotguns, rocket launchers among others) by attaching scopes and larger magazines or using more effective ammunition. Moreover, we can enhance the mental and physical abilities of the protagonist with power-ups called the Plasmids. These genetic code modifications allow us to act more effectively in the game world, where each choice has a real impact on the way the story develops. Another thing worthy of mention is the fact that the plot is non-linear. During our missions, we will make use of numerous gadgets, as well; these include night vision goggles or a device that shows us the weak points of our enemies.
Technology
BioShock for PC, X360 and etc. is powered by Unreal Engine 2.5. The unusual atmosphere of the game is intensified further by the unique soundtrack composed by Garry Schyman, the composer of musical score for Destroy All Humans!. It must be remembered that the PC, X360 and etc. version of BioShock requires an Internet connection to be activated. What is more, the game uses the Games for Windows Live service, thanks to which we can unlock a number of interesting achievements, designed in the likeness of those from Xbox Live.
Last updated on December 22, 2015
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7
GAMES
in BioShock Game Series
Game Series
BioShock Series
BioShock is an action game series set in a dystopian science-fiction universe, with elements of first-person shooter (FPS) and cRPG. The series was created by Ken Levine and the development team of Irrational Games studio.
7 video games
BioShock Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows August 21, 2007
Apple iOS August 28, 2014
PlayStation 3 October 17, 2008
Xbox 360 August 21, 2007
Developer: Irrational Games
Publisher: Take-Two Interactive
BioShock System Requirements
PC / Windows
Recommended: Core 2 Duo 1.86 GHz, 2 GB RAM, graphic card 512 MB (GeForce 7900 or better), 8 GB HDD, Windows XP/Vista
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