Bioshock Infinite review

[Wools]

My only wish is with the controls. Having to click R3 to bring up iron sights feels a bit of a gaff

Go into options and you can change the controls to make Iron Sights L1 if you so wish.

[mikewl]

Just finished, fantastic presentation, amazing detail in the game world, story was good but the combat and fighting sections started to grate about 3/4 of the way through, other than that I found it to be a solid game.

[dataDave]

Anyone who's finding this boring or "on the fence" needs to crank up the difficulty. Later on things become brilliant when you have to strategise your approaches and utilise the various tears and sky lines scattered around. You can't piss around out in the open because the enemies are really good shots.

I wish I was playing on a PC for M/KB... It always feels like I'm playing a port when I use a pad. I reckon I'll have a bash at Bioshock on my laptop once I'm done.

[rmoxon]

Yeah even on normal difficulty you have to use cover and strategise. I wouldn't say it's an easy game at all. However the combat is still probably the worst part of the game, it just doesn't feel that good to kill things, and it's a shooter... So I can understand why some people might be disappointed with that.

It's loads of little problems really. The guns have no weight, the melee attack aim to look cool, in a nasty way, but just look plain crap, and you really don't even need to utilise all the abilities at your disposal. Course that last one was a complaint about the first Bioshock too, you could finish that with the wrench and a single plasmid, but it was also more enjoyable to do so than the combat is here.

Bioshiock 2 still has the best combat in the series by miles though.

[dataDave]

I got Bioshock 2 for free with this so I'll finally get around to that as well.

Bioshock on my lappers first.

[nakamura]

Yeah even on normal difficulty you have to use cover and strategise. I wouldn't say it's an easy game at all. However the combat is still probably the worst part of the game, it just doesn't feel that good to kill things, and it's a shooter... So I can understand why some people might be disappointed with that.

It's loads of little problems really. The guns have no weight, the melee attack aim to look cool, in a nasty way, but just look plain crap, and you really don't even need to utilise all the abilities at your disposal. Course that last one was a complaint about the first Bioshock too, you could finish that with the wrench and a single plasmid, but it was also more enjoyable to do so than the combat is here.

Bioshiock 2 still has the best combat in the series by miles though.

One of the reasons I didn't go potty over Bioshock like so many others was that the actually combat gameplay wasn't actually very good. The setting certainly made the game.

[rmoxon]

One of the reasons I didn't go potty over Bioshock like so many others was that the actually combat gameplay wasn't actually very good. The setting certainly made the game.

Yeah. I'd agree with that. It was better playing it again once they released the patch to turn off the respawning chambers, as at least that gave the game some challenge, but the combat was still a bit lightweight.

I got Bioshock 2 for free with this so I'll finally get around to that as well.


Bioshock on my lappers first.

They are certainly both worth playing, but Bioshock 2 is the better game. As I mentioned above, make sure to turn off the respawning chambers in both games if you want a decent challenge.

[Largo]

Games ok, had fun, will play thro on 1999 again etc.

But its not rocking my whole world. 10/10 ive seen the light! etc hehe. But its certainly well produced, good fun, and a nice 3rd to the bio series, if anything it should encourage new comers to play 1 and 2.

Lots of stuffs not in the game that was in earlier gameplay trailers etc.
Managing elizabeths powers or it slowly kills her, how you deal with song bird which effects your relationship with elizabeth, deciding the fate of Columbia founders/vox etc. all cut.
Elizabeth opening rifts where modern buses come out and hit enemies, etc. cut.

All in all pretty fun, check it out, but id recommend bioshock 1 and 2 also, those are great, i really love 2 which probably alienates me a bit.
Stick bio1/2 on hard for some really good hard 1st person games.

[Shez]

I adored Bioshock 2 but this falls far short of that at the moment. I've not completed it yet, so maybe it improves, but the more I play it, the more it feels like it has been rushed to market in a patched up unfinished state.

[jim g]

Go into options and you can change the controls to make Iron Sights L1 if you so wish.

call me thick I couldn't do that?!

[Chief H]

Clocked this one last night, done in two sittings, really thoroughly enjoyed it. Must admit, I was pretty much only really excited in the world, characters and story as the original Bioshock's gameplay didn't interest me too much but the world and characters did (subsequently I skipped on Bio 2 as a result but reading some of your comments here I might give it a look), however I was pleasantly surprised to find some fun gunplay thrown in there.

It takes a while to get into the flow of the combat as it doesn't play like many other FPS's I've played recently: the ironsights are clumsy but you don't really need them; the melee (especially when powered up with gear) is really satisfyingly effective until you meet the more heavily-armoured enemies later on; you get used to looking and listening out for people coming up beside or behind as enemy spawns come from all over the place.

But I think the compliment is that it can be compared alongside full and proper FPS's (even if it doesn't come off favourably against any of them) and that the game is fun, even if that isn't the main reason for being. The movement and tear mechanics are really fresh, fun and open it up, even if the enemy design, weapon/ammo placement and AI movesets did push me to take a more conservative play style.

But I love, love, love the world, characters and plot. The fact that I'm still discussing with The Lady what happened and how what you learn over the course of the game changes the significance of moments and conversations earlier on with the game is what I really enjoy and something I wish I could see more in games.

I know we all appreciate games in different ways but I'd almost want to say to those who aren't enjoying it as much not to get hung up on too many of the details that bother you as those bits aren't the brilliant things that this game is doing. Elizabeth is a pivotal character to the narrative, sure, but my absolute favourite characters are the Lutece twins; throughout the game I couldn't wait for the next encounter with them. Their banter is really witty, teasing up enough in the way of mystery with a dash of sibling rivalry and co-thinking. But the delivery is the kicker, they come across as all-knowing but sparing to give, and each meeting is so sharp and brief that they left me reeling each time, wondering what they're up to long after they vanish.

Okay, to start getting into the ENDING SPOILER stuff:

->Open Spoiler<-

Well, not exactly ending stuff (although the Booker Comstock revelation is amazing, I honestly didn't see that coming but it instantly made sense) but it is related to stuff you learn through the ending, the bit I've really been enjoying thinking about this morning regarding the Luteces is the whole concept of choice that they bring up with the infinite alternate timelines. Initially I saw them as a rivalry, where Rosalind Lutece was outwitting Robert Lutece by finding the one timeline out of the infinite possibilities where the improbable would happen, which Robert Lutece wouldn't think possible e.g. tossing the coin as heads over and over, Rosalind chastises him for being a sore loser on that occasion and on many others.

HOWEVER the more interesting concept is that of fate and how even though there are infinite possible timelines, what happens on this timeline CANNOT CHANGE. In this case they're tearing through time to the same point repeatedly, where Booker always flips heads. Robert Lutece believes there is choice, but Rosalind Lutece always proves him wrong when the same thing happens again. In a way this is Infinite's interpretation of 'would you kindly'; playing the game we follow the path before us, just as Booker and everyone else on this timeline must also do.

This establishes the logic of branches and interactions and that we will always see the events of Infinite until Booker Comstock is drowned in the baptism. Unless that happens there will always be a Comstock that will always steal an Anna from a Booker who will give her up and try to get her back. Breaking that branch off, drowning the s.o.a.b. before he is born allows for a possible timeline where Booker lives with Anna, though to my mind Elizabeth can't exist (even though the drowning scene cuts away before we see Elizabeth disappear like all the others do).

I could go on and on but only a few days after release I feel it's almost too early to do so

[Neon Ignition]

I had moments where things didn't seemas strong as I'd hoped but in the end the game nailed it. I don't care about the fps mechanic, they're solid and they do the job. In a way the game gives fans what they wanted and several strengths and weaknesses come from that. After B1 many wanted a prequel to see the fall of Rapture and to me it felt that would lessen Raptures impact,

->Open Spoiler<-

Infinite effectively does that through Columbia with similar characters, story archs and outcomes as the ending details and whilst I loved the setting it allowed for answers without diminishing Raptures appeal. The ending was great and brings a lot of closure whilst leaving the door for the series wide open. Critics be damned, story wise the game is very well told and after the fun I had I look forward to replaying Bioshock 2 (which now holds a fascinating place in the Bioshock universe) and seeing where the lighthouse in Bioshock 4 takes us

[teddymeow]

Go into options and you can change the controls to make Iron Sights L1 if you so wish.

There's an option to swap L1 with L2 and R1 with R2 but no trigger related iron sights.

[dataDave]

Done. Good stuff in the end. Not one for stories in games but this was nice.

[jim g]

Well I am still plodding through this as I want to complete it before selling, but honestly, I have no idea where the 'love' for this game is coming from. I have spent at least 50% of the playtime searching corpses, trashcans, chests, desks etc. and it is boring as hell. The boredom is interrupted by short bursts of FPS action which is not great.

Yes, it looks very good, but that is about it. for me so far this 5/10 it just an average game. (I am about 80% through it). As for 10/10 no way, I mean NO WAY!! Lol