Bioshock Infinite review

[rmoxon]

Just had a replay of this yesterday. Got about half way through the game on 1999 mode, and for some reason the damn thing hasnt saved at the last checkpoint. Instead it is still at the save point from my first play through on hard. I hope the idea isn't that you have to do the whole thing in one sitting. Pretty sure i could save System Shock 2 when i wanted back in 1999.

In system shock 2 you actually had to save your own game didn't you?

maybe that's what you have to do in this? I don't know, I haven't tried the mode yet.

[Garny]

You did indeed. Not an option here for that though (i am on the 360 version)

[Chief H]

Pete, you've pretty much got it as far as I'm aware of how it works (I have a few minor interpretation differences to you but then I didn't find all the voice recordings either). One interesting bit:

->Open Spoiler<-

Yes, Slate knows DeWitt from Wounded Knee and claims Comstock wasn't there, but he was, just as DeWitt! So when Comstock glorifies himself as the hero of Wounded Knee, he's not technically wrong, but it makes sense why Slate appears mad with his own version of events which are actually true as well.

But the INTERESTING bit is when you have the choice to kill or spare Slate at the end. I spared him and DeWitt comments to Elizabeth that there isn't really any sparing in store for Slate, which turns out to be the case later on when you find his corpse in a prisoner cell; so whichever choice you make DeWitt does kill Slate, either as DeWitt or Comstock, reinforcing the whole idea of fate, lack of choice and following the set path in front of you.

It's such a clever theme that Irrational have been following since Bioshock ("would you kindly?") and they're really good at putting this concept into Infinite many times over without leaving you feeling like you've been beaten over the head with it. Every time the setup, timing and dialogue made me feel like it's a forking path and then it just turns out to deliberately be a single path. It's a smart comment on game design.

Just like the multiverse concept, which is another comment on game design taken straight out of Metal Gear Solid 2. Players want to repeat familiar experiences that they enjoy, and so the most straightforward route to sequel design is to give them what they want. Again. And so Irrational have made another Bioshock world that matches the first. And they will do so again. I think this is more the message they wanted to get across with the brief Rapture cameo (as well as being an ABSOLUTELY AWESOME moment) more than any direct link to Jack and Andrew Ryan, which is why it doesn't last long at all. That is a possible way to interpret it though.

[iloveannie]

Trouble with playing late at night with the sound low is I think I missed the story. The comments here sound like another game than the one I played

[Fader209]

Might want to edit that last bit with spoiler tags...

[fuse]

Well, if that last comment I complained about wasn't a spoiler, I'm fairly sure this one was. ****s sake.

[MrKirov]

Bit of a dickish move there.

[teddymeow]

Just finished this!

Wow! That is all.

Maybe learning to use spoiler tags should be a pre-requisite before posting?

[gambit6613]

Just finished this and have to say wow, just wow. From start to finish this has been one of the best stories told in a game i have spent all week playing it and its gripped me all the way, especially the second half. This for me has without doubt been one of the most enjoyable games this gen. Brilliant story telling. Only sad thing is now i have finished i think its going to be many more years until we see another Bioshock game. Best ?35 i have spent in ages

[iloveannie]

Sorry, iphone . Thought I'd pressed the right things

[capcom_suicide]

What a second half! What a story! Shame the FPS parts are not a bit more exciting/more enjoyable.

An 8 game in a 10 story, so that must be a 9 then.

Respect to irrational and the game team. Innovation in story telling is not dead!

[zeroboo]

So after being really impressed with bioshock infinite, should I play bioshock 1 or 2 first and if 2, should I even bother with 1?

[H-Man]

You should play the first for sure.

[mugetsu]

excellent game but imo the latter half really turned into call of bioshock.

[H-Man]

excellent game but imo the latter half really turned into call of bioshock.

Agreed. For me it happened earlier actually - oodles of variety and set pieces in the first 1/4, then a little dull after. Still very worth playing.