Bioshock Review ... (10 out of 10)
September 9, 2007 ... Review by Derek
It is my pleasure to write the first ever Headshot Radio Rebuttal Review. On the show this week, I have a conniption fit over Mike's previously posted review of Bioshock in which he said the game was an amazing, one of a kind experience, and was a....9.5. I am here to rectify that. Bioshock is a 10 if there has ever been one, and largely because of, and not in spite of as Mike claimed, the story.
So a Damon review, will be a bit different from Mike's (and Chad's). I break games down into 3 key categories, Game Play, Presentation, and "The Hook."
The first two are standard, how the game plays, and how it looks, feels, what the story is like, etc. The Hook are those intangibles that either make or break the game.
Gameplay: 10
Bioshock is not a twitch shooter, nor one with the excellence controls of a Halo. It makes up for it with brilliant enemy A.I., high tension action, and the great plasmid/tonic genetic powers mechanic.
There isn't much more I can say about the game play that you haven't heard elsewhere, or even by Mike on this page, other than that I can't stress A.I. enough. The enemies are fast and tough. And they will flank you, flee, out position you, do everything but sit there and take your b.s.
And wait till you fight your first Big Daddy-O.
Presentation: 10
I would give this a 15 if it made sense. This game is, bar none, unequaled in creation of mood, atmosphere, and a unique and immersive world. Welcome to Rapture, you've never been anywhere like.
And to my beef with Mike. The story is top notch. I feel like he was beat over the head or something. It's also up to you how much you enjoy it. It's your responsibility. You need to pick up, look for, and listen to the audio diaries to get the full and gruesome picture of what happened to the people of Rapture.
Additionally, it requires you to infer. It may seem like the story is kind of streamlined. But when you really think about what's at play; what Rapture was trying to be, why it fails, and the role of morality and limits to science and industry in a society. It's all there, just under the surface.
And there is a twist to die for.
So I don't know what Mike was smoking when he called the story a C-. That's all I'm saying.
The Hook: 10
There are a whole lot of intangibles that make this game unique. The obvious is the art direction. But also that game is really scary and tense. The game also is morally interesting. Because the game holds out your identity for a large portion of play, I found myself questioning the violence like I hadn't before in a game. Why was I killing these crazed people, other than self defense? What is my motivation?
Bioshock is one of those video game experiences that both moves the industry forwards and gives you an experience which makes you fall in love with games again. That's right. I'm this hot for it.
Overall 10.
Bioshock At A Glance |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
10 |
The Goods |
|
The Flaws |
|||
Kane & Lynch |
The Verdict |
|
|