Bioshock PC
This game presents a fairly extraordinary atmosphere, but one you loathe by the end. It is claustrophobic, oppressive and bleak, informed by a body of literature headed by Ayn Rand and other pioneers of the dystopian metropolis. The effort and detail is remarkable, but the game ends on a rather undecided note. It feels like is begins to construct something sizable, rich and diverse, but concentrates so single-mindedly on building up an overwhelming atmosphere that the conclusion feels almost like an afterthought.
I played through the PC version, initially on a low-spec computer. Without the graphical bells and whistles, the story elements stand out strongly. This seems odd, as the story itself is one of fragments as various inhabitants of Rapture (the game's underwater setting) log their own personal concerns, fears, loves and hates in voice recordings. This is an effective conceit, bolstered by the steady stream of radio transmissions from the game's main characters. It's a good thing that the game promotes exploration, as loot and cash are always scarce; some of the audio recordings are quite obscure. To this extent, the game's objective indicator strips back a little bit of the immersion, but I didn't find it too much of a problem.
This feels like a title which didn't quite deliver on expectations, in spite of its phenomenal presentation values and sound mechanics. And ultimately, it is unrelenting in its darkness. The setting is bleak and dystopian, and whilst that is done extremely well, it sometimes leaves a sour taste in the mouth. This is one game I had to play in quite a number of sittings, as sometimes that atmosphere becomes a little too intense.
I still highly recommend that it be played, and more than once. It requires patience, a desire to explore, and a tolerance for violence and questionable morals - but it is a memorable, meaningful piece of electronic entertainment.
