Bioshock Infinite review

[rmoxon]

So you think it's boring, but also the greatest game ever? That's a new one.

Played about 2 hours of it so far. Boring is not a word I would use to describe it. It's an utterly absorbing and compelling gaming experience that filled me with absolute wonder from the get go while blowing my mind at every turn so far.

[eastyy]

intitial impression is i felt it moves at a greater pace then bioshock did seemed to get vigors really quickly and also got to elizabeth quicker then i was expecting would have really liked to explore the world more first though

[rmoxon]

I didn't get to her quick. But I spent about an hour just marvelling at things, so that's probably why.

[Spatial]

Four plus hours in and this has taken a pretty big nose dive for me after the brilliance of the first two or so hours. In fact it all fall apart the moment I got outside with Elizabeth.

So much is made of her as a companion (it's not your adventure, it's hers according to one reviewer), yet it's incredibly hard to be vested in someone who has been pretty much mute and uninteresting for at least 90% of the time she's been with me to date. She gets in the way, ambles around doing... well, pretty much nothing really. Unless my game is bugged, it's a classic case of the emperor having no clothes on so far (unless that changes dramatically before the end, and I'm doubting it right now).

It seems like they had a tonne of ideas for this game but it lacks some proper polish on the little things too. Vox recordings clashing with characters speaking (even though the character in question has been mute the entire time I've been in an area and the only thing I've done different is pick up the recording, which somehow prompts them to start yammering on at the same time) and, my pet hate of the moment, having lots of little cool things happen but not really directing you to see them. If you have a `Press button whatever` to focus in on events, then make use of it all the time, not just some of the time (a good early example is apparently Dewitt knew to use the skyhooks because he saw the police arriving on them at the start of the game. Except I didn't see that. I'm all for player freedom, but when it's done so you miss little things, what's the point of either?)

Oh and it also committed the cardinal sin of having a cool scripted moment which it was possible to miss, all because an object you'd been spoon fed to collect up to that point was placed right opposite it and I had the temerity to instinctively head for that.

It's turning into a massive shame for me that it's not living up to expectations (which have been tempered as I've seen zero footage since the initial release). I'm praying it does do a massive turn around because I feel like I should be loving it.

[Tobal]

I seem to be having the opposite time with my adventuring around with Elizabeth so far, I think i've taken about 6/8 hrs just reach the slums but i've searhing every corner i can find and she seems to always find something to say from going into the toliets, side quests, race stuff, entertianment, not being happy with the way i killed innocents, gasping at my brutal beat downs, pointing out supplies and lockpicks i've missed. She has had a crap ton say since meeting the gunsmith.

The only knock i have against the game so far is the lack in needing to vary my play styles, the vigors all come in the same attack/trap form and for all intents and purposes outside of possession might as well be the same power as the enviromental traps barely come in to play in such a wide open game and (mostly)moblie enemies, and the same goes for the guns... as along as you have a carbine/sniper rifle the 2nd weapon can be whatever. So i'm only changing it up to get achievements.

[dataDave]

The combat is ****ing wank.

[Synthesthesia]

It's a lot shorter than I thought it'd be to be honest. I'd be surprised if it took me more than 8 hours. By the time I was an hour from the end of the game I felt like I was half way. And that's on Hard, looking for everything (missed a few recorders and views).

It's weird because in some ways I think Bioshock 2 was much better than this game (combat, length), but I still loved this game. It just feels a bit more limited in terms of level design etc. You could usually always go where ever you wanted in the old Bioshock games and in this one you're just constantly moving forward.

[jim g]

I have now reached Elizabeth and began to follow her. So far all I seem to be doing is checking ever box, bin, till etc. for loot and health and it is really boring. Yes there was combat early on, but it was nothing to get excited about.

The production values are very high with great graphics, sound etc., but gameplay is underwhelming for me so far. I remember losing interest with the first Bio Shock as it was too much collecting stuff, hopefully this will not be the same...

[QualityChimp]

It's a lot shorter than I thought it'd be to be honest.

Don't worry, there's soon to be a load of exciting DLC you can buy!

[Dogg Thang]

It's weird because in some ways I think Bioshock 2 was much better than this game (combat, length)

Ooh, controversial! I so want to play this game...

[Neon Ignition]

Just met Elizabeth, properly taking my time. I don't think Columbia is quite up to Rapture's standards as far as compelling settings go but in most ways as a game it's a step up for the series. Loving it so far, damn sight better than the wave of disappointments (TR aside) of this year so far.

[Wools]

I'm several hours in and mixed impressions so far.

Just like the original, the opening is fantastic and the introduction to Columbia is perfectly handled. I spent several minutes in the church just gawping at the details and absorbing the wonderful music. However, after being introduced to the world & meeting Elizebeth, the game has dulled somewhat.

I'm finding the minute to minute gameplay very mundane, the shooting is okay but nothing we've not seen hundreds of times before this generation and arguably, there's nothing to do. Now the shock of the beautiful art design has worn off, I'm left just walking from scene to scene shooting very dull enemies.

The graphics are beautiful, the location is unlike anything I've ever seen but the actual gameplay is the same as every other FPS, there's no exploration and so much hype has been placed upon Elizebths shoulders, that I'm failing to see why she is such a draw...

Hopefully it picks up & I want to love it but there's no denying that I was glad to put the controller down 20 minutes ago. Very disappointing so far.

[Pikate]

So you think it's boring, but also the greatest game ever? That's a new one.

Not really, in terms of entertainment and production values etc it's another level for video games as a medium. The characters are a step up from even BioShock which itself was a benchmark in terms of storytelling. It's not as convoluted or indulgent as Metal Gear Solid games can be. It doesn't suffer from the hammy cliches Resident Evil et al fall into. The only thing on this level is probably Uncharted 2 and even then if this was anything but a video game (i.e. a film or book or graphic novel it would be miles ahead of Uncharted's story/world, i.e. "National Treasure" vs. "Looper").

BUT I'm not going to come back to this game time and again. Maybe once in 1999 mode to 100% the achievements and for the DLC they've announced but it's not like a Super Mario Galaxy or Portal 2 or SSF4 where I'll come back for the fun of playing it. There's just too much plodding from point A to B, looking in crates and desks for silver coins/ammo/food as I go and the battles are strange as in a few place it's brutal but it's totally negated by the fact there's no real penalty for dying. It's like the developers wanted me to see their new world/story and take the journey but forgot about making the game fun in the way you imagine other devs sitting around designing level lay-outs for NSMB games or Portal's chambers.

Another weird thing is before this game came out I loved original BioShock and was lauding the choice not to include multiplayer in Infinite as I quite dislike COD/Battlefield but now I'm thinking I'll actually buy/get into Battlefield 4 or something, compared to this those games seem razor-edged with action and they're a lot more fun. I really enjoyed the shooting parts of BioShock Infinite, there just wasn't enough of them, as a FPS it's left me a little unsatisfied for the exact reasons I previously disliked/avoided the genre. That may be a new one...

[Kit]

For those on PC, is the FOV borked like the previous two? no report up yet on WSGF.

[Dogg Thang]

What was wrong with the FOV of the first two? I only ever played them on PC so never really compared.