BioShock Infinite

Oh Ken Levine. How you have raised my expectations to what I should behold as a brilliant gaming experience yet again.

I literally just got out of the game after playing it through to completion and I have to say that the main feeling I have after my stint on Columbia is a feeling of loss. Irrational games have always excelled at providing its consumer base with a living, breathing atmospheric world that not only feels believable, but also lived in. by its residence. the sheer beauty of the environment is a testament to anyone who worked on this game in a creative stand point. And now that its over, I just want to go back. Not to fight or relieve the story elements. But to just walk around during the less tense moments of the game. Just watching people live their lives during what seems to be a joyous time of celebration within the city. And of course once Elizabeth joins you stand back and see how she plays with the environment around her.

Speaking of which just like Columbia, Elizabeth is just as much of a marvel but in an A.I. and a charm level. She comes across as believable and has very real traits for a character in a game. When you are around her you feel this need that you need to protect her from harm. (Even if the enemies simply ignore her as she cowers away in a corner somewhere. Only showing her face to give you ammo, salts or a health pack.) This feeling is only added to as you watch her respond to the events unfolding around you. Her emotions go everywhere from pure joy, guilt, anger, nervousness and distrust. And throughout all of this you don't feel like your just a bystander you feel like Booker. You actually urge yourself to get out there and do whatever it takes to earn this girls trust. You want to keep her happy. not just because Booker deems it so. But because you want to.

The game play in this game is the classic formula of gun in one hand cool magic powers in the other. But unlike the other ones over the top system of drop in drop out plasmids and and unreal tournament style you can hold 10 guns. you now only have 8 vigors to choose from which can be upgraded and 2 guns which takes on the style of a typical modern shooter like Call of duty or halo. Instead of using backgroung plasmids to adjust certain espects of gameplay you now just pick what gear you wear, which in turn causes certain effects when equipped. For example I had a hat that could set people on fire when you melee attack. And finally Instead of carrying 9 evo hypos and health packs around with you, you now have to scrounge the streets of Columbia for whatever salts and health kits you can find. And once picked up, you use them instantly. Just like Bioshock though in the enemies come in all shapes and sizes and fight you in increasingly greater numbers and as you fight you can really start using your brain and quick wit to get the job done. There are also tears in the environment which appear whenever Elizabeth is with you. She can open these up on your command and each aid you in some way. this takes out the need for all that needless grind from hacking items to aid you as you now just summon it through Elizabeth instead. It feels a lot more streamlined and compared to the previous title I feel like its a vast improvement.

I'm not going to go into the story here other than to say that this story is the single greatest achievement ever compiled in a modern day games story line. It has its countless moments of jaw dropping greatness and excellent narrative but with enough mystery and suspense to keep you playing so you can find out what happens next. Imagine something like Lost in terms of suspense and how that made you feel in its big reveals. And we all know everyone is asking if theirs a twist. And there is one and my god it makes the whole "would you kindly" moment in Bioshock look like childs play in comparisson

SO Bioshock Infinite is worth every single penny of your hard earned cash, sure it has minor flaws that take a small bit away from the overall experience but in general this is quite possibly one of the greatest gaming moments not just of this year but of all time. The atmosphere, the tension, the people you meet and the story they tell all take you off into this believable alternate world where not all is as it seems. So stock up get this game and prepare for a enjoyable ride. Bioshock is back and my god its better than ever!