Review
Played on: Xbox 360
Released: 2013
Released: 2013
There really are few games that represent this generation better than the first Bioshock from 2007. It completely blew me away with it's atmosphere, amazing story and setting. The original team have returned and Infinite is a very similar affair, set in the same universe as Bioshock. Only this time, it's about a city in the sky, rather than beneath the ocean surface.
Bioshock Infinite begins with a very familiar setting for Bioshock fans, and in a way it feels a lot like the hugely popular original, only with a new setting and visual style. It reminds you of how fantastic the original was, and perhaps this sets an, almost unfair, high expectation of what Infinite should offer.
Infinite is a far brighter and more pleasant environment, compared to the dark city of Rapture, in flooded tunnels at the bottom of the sea. It does, however, contain a dark story and while not being as directly scary as it's ocean based predecessor, it tells a fascinating story of a broken Utopian dream of a city that is constantly airborne and flying across America.
Gameplay in Infinite is familiar ground for Bioshock fans, the fundamentals are much the same. You have elements of "magic" in one hand and a classic firearm in the other. Items, money, health and ammo are found around in various objects in the environment, begging you to loot every desk, cupboard, drawer and body you come across.
Bioshock Infinite begins with a very familiar setting for Bioshock fans, and in a way it feels a lot like the hugely popular original, only with a new setting and visual style. It reminds you of how fantastic the original was, and perhaps this sets an, almost unfair, high expectation of what Infinite should offer.
Infinite is a far brighter and more pleasant environment, compared to the dark city of Rapture, in flooded tunnels at the bottom of the sea. It does, however, contain a dark story and while not being as directly scary as it's ocean based predecessor, it tells a fascinating story of a broken Utopian dream of a city that is constantly airborne and flying across America.
Gameplay in Infinite is familiar ground for Bioshock fans, the fundamentals are much the same. You have elements of "magic" in one hand and a classic firearm in the other. Items, money, health and ammo are found around in various objects in the environment, begging you to loot every desk, cupboard, drawer and body you come across.
Infinite's gameplay works well in firefights, it has it's own distinctive Bioshock feeling, which sometimes feels a bit large and heavy, but is entertaining. Especially, combining your Vigors, which works like magic in a traditional RPG, or like the Plasmids in the previous two Bioshock games, with traditional weapons. Learning to handle this duel wielding combination well, makes the weapons and Vigors more powerful than simply using them separately on their own.
One cannot review this game, without mentioning the grapple hook and zipline system! It lets you traverse the large flying city parts easily and fast. It's really fun to jump from wire to wire speeding away and jumping down from it at the destination you desire. Killing enemies while jumping down is even more satisfying! It, kind of, reminds me of the skating tracks from the first Ratchet & Clank game.
I would have enjoyed a more advanced A.I. and variation in enemies though, the fights end up being a bit of a chaos, throwing Vigors and gunning around yourself in panic until everything settles. It's much like the original Bioshock, but less cramped and more open-spaced over larger distances. I never felt the true need for Vigors this time though, and they just aren't as well implemented as the Plasmids in Bioshock 1 and 2.
Lets talk about one of the main features in Infinite, your A.I. partner Elizabeth. I felt the trailers, prior to the release, showed a far more advanced Elizabeth behaviour. Partaking in the fighting and making rifts at her own will. The end result is a tag-along partner, which does nothing. She serves no purpose other than opening predetermined rifts, which either contains a weapon, an automated gun or a hook to grab.
One cannot review this game, without mentioning the grapple hook and zipline system! It lets you traverse the large flying city parts easily and fast. It's really fun to jump from wire to wire speeding away and jumping down from it at the destination you desire. Killing enemies while jumping down is even more satisfying! It, kind of, reminds me of the skating tracks from the first Ratchet & Clank game.
I would have enjoyed a more advanced A.I. and variation in enemies though, the fights end up being a bit of a chaos, throwing Vigors and gunning around yourself in panic until everything settles. It's much like the original Bioshock, but less cramped and more open-spaced over larger distances. I never felt the true need for Vigors this time though, and they just aren't as well implemented as the Plasmids in Bioshock 1 and 2.
Lets talk about one of the main features in Infinite, your A.I. partner Elizabeth. I felt the trailers, prior to the release, showed a far more advanced Elizabeth behaviour. Partaking in the fighting and making rifts at her own will. The end result is a tag-along partner, which does nothing. She serves no purpose other than opening predetermined rifts, which either contains a weapon, an automated gun or a hook to grab.
It's disappointing compared to how she was portrayed in the trailers and how advanced the rifts looked there. She's well presented though and has an interesting back story and colourful personality.
Infinite is a beautiful game, much like Bioshock it's more about art direction rather than raw graphical detail. Visually, it's really colourful game and almost looks like an art piece at times. I love the fact that they've dared using a so bright, colourful and daring palette, there's even a large use of pink and purple lighting.
Infinite is a beautiful game, much like Bioshock it's more about art direction rather than raw graphical detail. Visually, it's really colourful game and almost looks like an art piece at times. I love the fact that they've dared using a so bright, colourful and daring palette, there's even a large use of pink and purple lighting.
They really know how to build an imaginary and captivating world, the beginning of the game where you are baptised springs to mind, it's an incredible and very visual experience. Once again proving, that Irrational Games games know how to amaze and pull players into the experience with an incredible beginning. Just like it's underwater predecessor, Infinite has an amazingly atmospheric and stunning world.
Character models are fairly simple though, especially the facial details are quite basic. I would also have liked more small details in the environments too, with more items scattered around in Infinite's rather empty streets. There are just too few citizens, I would've loved the crowded and buzzing streets from Assassin's Creed for instance.
Character models are fairly simple though, especially the facial details are quite basic. I would also have liked more small details in the environments too, with more items scattered around in Infinite's rather empty streets. There are just too few citizens, I would've loved the crowded and buzzing streets from Assassin's Creed for instance.
The lack of citizens roaming about suits the story later on, where they build a creepy atmosphere, by leaving you on your own. While this works, it's kind of sad we can't see more buzzing areas, like the beginning and the beach area.
Bioshock Infinite is a game you should definitely be playing this year, without doubt. It's a pick-up essential for Bioshock fans, who'll find everything very familiar and in true spirit of the series. It perhaps could have done with pushing itself further in some departments.
Bioshock Infinite is a game you should definitely be playing this year, without doubt. It's a pick-up essential for Bioshock fans, who'll find everything very familiar and in true spirit of the series. It perhaps could have done with pushing itself further in some departments.
I felt the ending was somewhat of a let down, a rather tame conclusion in my opinion. It lacked that massive "would you kindly" plot twist which blows you completely away, but I guess they can't use the same trick again.
Rest assured though, there's a very cool place you end up at the end, which will make most fans of the series smile from ear to ear! Definitely a pick up this year, but lacks the impact the first game had.
