Bioshock 2 Decide Now

I'm a little late to the Bioshock 2 bandwagon but I wanted to make a few comments for those that are considering purchasing the game. It is not necessary to play the original Bioshock but you will probably enjoy it more. Since this is a sequel and the original was extremely popular, it is inevitable that the two are compared. To be honest, that probably accounts for the majority of the negative comments but here are what I feel are the pros and cons:

Pros:
~ The atmosphere of the game is every bit as good as the first. While you are still within the city of Rapture, you explore different sections and I found accessing areas to be more straightforward with far less back tracking. For those that played the first one, it is true that some of the shine has worn off Rapture. The art work and details just aren't as interesting and exciting as the initial playthrough of Bioshock but overall, the game holds true to the atmosphere of the original and it still looks good. While there was no noticable upgrade to the overall graphics, some of the enemies and moving parts look cleaner and more defined. The PS3 version looks polished and complete and I saw no issues with clipping, etc.

~ The story line, while not nearly as intricate and detailed as the first game, still holds your interest throughout. Don't expect a lot of twists and turns and you won't be disappointed.

~ I really enjoyed playing as a Big Daddy. Its just more fun and more original. Also, I felt that the Little Sisters were more engaging this time around and the developers did a good job of making you want to protect them. You still have choices that will directly effect which ending you get and there are 4 total.

~ The mechanics and movement are essentially the same as the first game but thankfully, the peripheral vision has vastly improved.

~ You have both your plasmid and your weapon accessible simultaneously. The first game forced you to choose which was armed at any given time.

~ Hacking has changed. In my opinion, this is the greatest improvement in the game. While some may find it too easy, I detested the pipe reorganization in the first one. It just felt like it ripped you out of the game and it was tedious and annoying. Now you just stop a needle in a colored portion of the dial and you are good to go. You also get bonuses for stopping in the blue sections and its well worth your while to make the effort. I also didn't have a problem with the remote hacking darts, which apparently caused some players problems.

~ The first game had your default melee weapon as a wrench, which I used frequently because there is nothing like getting up front and personal. This time around, you get a drill, which can use fuel to actually drill into things or you can just swing it and beat the crap out of someone. Its quite effective, especially as you progress through the game and get upgrades. I used it more than any other weapon in the game. Keep in mind that you can use any weapon as melee but there is just something about that big old drill. Muhahahaha.

~ Controls are fine. While some players complained that the controls weren't responsive and they couldn't pick up items, I didn't find this to be an issue at all.

~There are TONS of pick ups. First aid kits, money, eve, ammo, etc. In fact, if you spend a little time looking around, you often find more items than you can carry. I really don't understand the complaints unless other reviewers are just plowing through the game without even looking. There are also lots of plasmid upgrades and level up items around. Take a few seconds and search!

~ The Power to the People stations are in this game so you can upgrade your weapon of choice but the U-Vent machines are gone. Personally, I didn't miss them or the requirement to search for 7 different parts to make one weapon or item to continue. Finding those parts involved even more back tracking which bogged down the original game.

~There are plenty of Trophies for those perfectionists out there.

~The multiplayer games are surprisingly fun. There are plenty of on-line players and it adds a different aspect to the game. There is player customization and a ranking up feature that unlocks trials and weapon/plasmid upgrades. You can play as part of a team or in a match where it's every man for himself. One room allows you to play a capture the flag type game where the flag is a Little Sister. While the gameplay does not change, each match occurs in different areas from the original Bioshock...ah, nostaglia. You can easily get sucked into the on-line games and end up wasting hours there. There are Trophies to be earned in the multiplayer games as well.

~ Like the original, during load screens you will get hints on gameplay. They can be helpful for players that have run into problems and you can fast forward or reverse through them as needed.


Cons:
~ Just like the first one, the initial load is PAINFULLY slow. I mean, like 20 minutes long. Come on, seriously.

~ The plasmids and weapons (except the drill) are also about the same. There are a few upgrades here and there but nothing stellar, which is disappointing and really a missed opportunity.

~ The over-hyped "explore outside Rapture" is a joke. You move along a very linear path for about 15 total minutes of game play. There are Adam slugs to look for but no enemies or challenge so it is gimmicky at best.

~ While the overall story is fine, there are plot holes. Dr. Tennebaum makes a reappearance but then suddenly she just disappears, never to be heard from again. Also, for some reason the Big Sisters feel the need to attack you even if you rescued the Little Sisters. Another issue is that despite the fact that you are a Big Daddy, the amount of damage you take is the same as if you were a puny human. A few smacks from your averge Splicer and you're toast. As you level up your max health, the enemies get more difficult obviously so that aspect doesn't really change much.

~ The music is not as good or as original as the first.

~ Most of the enemies that you encounter are almost exactly like the original game. They've added a few new ones like the Big Sisters but another missed opportunity. There is also repetition with the Adam collection process and you'll see the same enemies with the same comments repeatedly.



All in all, Bioshock 2 is an exceptional game. If it wasn't compared to the orignal, it would get rock solid reviews all around but as a sequel there were a few disappointments and missed opportunities. Still, I found the game to be very engrossing and enjoyed every last minute of it. It's one of those games that once you finish, you want to start all over. Definitely fun and definitely worth the purchase!Get more detail about Bioshock 2.