Rapture Awaits You
Bioshock 2 has a lot to live up to; the original Bioshock was a game that combine, First Person Shooter (FPS) and Role Playing Game (RPG) into one, with ease; and had one of the most well-crafted story’s ever seen in a video game. The game itself is great, it has lots of action, and good story, but all the atmosphere and tension from the first game doesn’t carry over well, and there are many technical issues the make the experience not as enjoyable as the original.
Bioshock takes place in an underwater world called Rapture, which was made in the 1960’s in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, by a man named Andrew Ryan, who wanted to escape from the government and religion, and create a society were science ruled, and were the best scientist in the world could work unfettered by the chains of government. He also believed the if you take work away from the man, then he is no longer a man, and that god is a parasite; the opening quote as one enters Rapture is “No Gods or Kings, Only Man.” Bioshock’s back to story is very intricate and to full in enjoy this game I recommend playing the original first, it is available on both the PS3 and Xbox 360.
In Bioshock there is a form of energy knows as ADAM, which is used to artificially alter your genetic code, to give you special and enhanced abilities, such as Electro Bolts, Fire bolts, and Freeze abilities, which all are released from the player’s hand. However ADAM is a very addictive, and the more you use it the more it disfigures and alters you until you are nothing like your formal selves and become what the citizens of Rapture call: Splicers. The only way to obtaining ADAM is via Little Sisters (these are little girls that have been infected with a parasitic slug, that makes them able to seek out and extract ADAM). The Little Sisters are guarded by what are called Big Daddy’s (genetically enhanced human beings whose sole purpose is protecting Little Sisters, they were heavy armor and are almost indestructible when faced by people who are ill prepared. Because of all of the genetic manipulation Rapture, has fallen from glory, and has become a decrpeded city which is slowly falling apart around you, as it starts to take back by the ocean.
Bioshock 2 takes place 10 years after the original and Rapture is still falling apart; and the actions of the protagonist: Jack in the first game is everywhere, many characters revere him as a god, and his influence impacts the story as you progress. In this game you play as a Big Daddy, who is killed in the beginning of the game, is awaked 10 years later in 1969. How you are revived and who did it, is explained as you complete the games story. However unlike other Big Daddy’s you are the very first every Big Daddy called Subject Delta, you are tied to one Little Sister, and if you are away from her to long you die. The bond between you and your Little Sister is so strong you will do whatever it takes to find her. As you search for her, you travel to varies vista, one level in the game stands out above all else: Ryan’s Amusements. This level is a museum which shows how the surface world is corrupt and evil, and that science is everything. This level shows the sophistication of the political ideology of the game. As you progress through the game you can also find Audio Diary’s which show the fall of Rapture, and are a true joy to listen too.
The game is very action packed, and focuses more on combat than the original, where the original was slowed placed and try to build tension this one is about pure action. And to the games credit it is fun and a nice change of pace. However this detracts from the atmosphere that the first one created. The best parts of the game is when you have to defend Little Sisters as they gather ADAM, which attracts all the Splicers, these battles are heart pounding and very exciting.
For all the games good aspects there are some things that draw you out of the experience. The main antagonist Sofia Lamb isn’t very charismatic as Andrew Ryan from the first game, and all she does is babble on about herself. There are also technical issues, like texture pop ins, and system freeze which happen every now and then. Also the fact that your character doesn’t speak, doesn’t help the player connect to them emotional, and you kina fill like a puppet playing for someone else. Also the new addition of multiplayer isn’t very good; it tries to draw you in ting it to the fall of Rapture, while this works for a while, the multiplayer component is broken. The game lags a lot, and weapons have no power and plasmids seem to have no effect, and the tonics (add on’s the give you special abilities like heal faster and do more damage) aren’t as effect has they are in the campaigns, it isn’t as enjoyable as Halo 3 or Call of Duty 4’s multiplayer.
Despite all of this Bioshock 2 is a great game, it isn’t as good as the original but it’s a fun and enjoyable experience that everyone should want to experience the joys of Rapture.
