A Rapturous Return
Burial at Sea takes you back to the underwater city where the series all began, with the familiar sound of fine shoes clunking against wooden floors and a giant blue whale passing just a few metres away oblivious the political turmoil going on nearby. This time around, though, the titular character isn't a sweater wearing puppet or a hunking armoured guardian, but rather one Booker DeWitt, who is as always joined by a curious Elizabeth (who will henceforth be referred to as "Elizabeth"). It's an interesting premise, and one that by the end has generated many more questions than answers. It would be wrong the evaluate the strength of the narrative whilst only knowing half of the tale, but suffice to say that if you enjoyed BioShock: Infinite's deep rabbit holes then you will not be disappointed by the end of Part One.
If you've played the latest entry in the franchise (you probably should have if you're reading this) then you'll feel right at home from the moment you take control of Booker. Much of your arsenal returns, both in terms of weapons and vigors, and Elizabeth takes a supporting role alongside you once again, throwing you helpful items when you're about to take a dirtnap and tearing open portals at your command.
However, your return to Rapture is not just a superficial one; many of the design ideas from the original make a return and do a surprisingly good job of complementing the more action oriented features of it's younger brother. The environments that you'll roam around feel distinctly Rapturian, promoting the frequent exploration of side paths for extra goodies and voice tapes. It's an enjoyable throwback, and one that I hope Irrational brings back in a more permanent fashion. What's more, the steel corridors and water logged stairwells provide a much fairer and funner combat experience compared to the multilevel mayhem of Columbia.
Some new (or rather returning) features include the ability carry all of your weapons at the same time, with their access governed by the weapon wheel, which is mapped to the "E" key by default. It's a small addition, but goes a long way to alleviating some of resource issues that plagued Infinite's combat. There are also a couple of new weapons and vigors, although they largely feel like reskins of some of the original game's content and don't offer a huge amount of tactical variety.
By combining the original Bioshock's level design and atmosphere with Infinite's storytelling and combat, Burial at Sea Part One manages to a create a unique middle ground that feels both fresh and familiar. While the whole package might seem a bit more cohesive once Part Two arrives, it is still a very compelling evenings worth of entertainment. Just try not to stare too deeply into the abyss.
