In nearly every way, BioShock Infinite is a great game. It's a brilliant example of art direction that negotiates the limitations of our aging technology with a stylishly unrealistic, beautiful and meticulously crafted world. The sound design is magnificent, from the music soundtrack that spreads its references throughout history, to the sound effects that evoke the machinery of Rapture. The combat is gripping, taking a successful formula and bulking it out in ways that make it more demanding, tactical and entertaining.
You're expecting a 'but', and we've got one. The only place where Infinite falls any distance short of brilliance is in its own audacious plot. Only the last six years of modern Doctor Who prepared us for the confusion, frustration and furious desire to talk about it that BioShock Infinite generates. Ye Gods, will you want to talk about it. You'll hunt down people who've shared the experience, with the words "but wouldn't?" and "surely if?" returning stubbornly to the tip of your tongue.
Walk full speed through the baptismal chamber, and you might miss the way the floating candles tip and extinguish as you pass. This brought out our GCSE English instinct, reflecting on the symbolism of extinguishing candles in a church. That's the beauty of BioShock Infinite. It begs to be stared at, and deserves to be analysed.
It's such a harmonious place that the beginnings of combat are abrupt. It's entirely natural, though. Even before everyone else knows, you're made aware from the posters around Columbia that the AD tattoo on your hand marks you out as the False Prophet. But it's only when the open racism of Columbia becomes apparent, that your hand is literally forced. The tableau at this uncomfortable event is as theatrical as it is obnoxious, and it arrives with your first binary choice: do you react against this atrocity, with the righteousness of your modern gamer's eyes? Or do you try to blend in with those cheering racists?
One vision
BioShock Infinite isn't a game of choices. Most frequently, it revels in the singular option, wisely avoiding the awful multiple endings of BioShock, and the Molyneux-esque moral stupidity of "Kill Child? (Y/N)" Whatever you choose at this spectacle of contemporary intolerance, you're exposed as the prophesised enemy of Columbia, and that's when the combat begins.
It's easy to forget, what with the celebrated sense of importance, that BioShock is a game of simple, creative violence. Booker DeWitt steals, refines and perfects the old physical-magical combo system that BioShock began with a wrench and an Electric Bolt. The range of Vigors may be smaller than the Plasmids (eight, as opposed to 11), but each has a dual function: Devil's Kiss acts as either a grenade or a mine, depending on a tap or a squeeze of LT. Undertow can propel people off ledges for a potential instakill, or draw enemies in for a melee strike. Others are appropriate only on certain enemies: large enemies are immune to the incapacitating bounce of Bucking Bronco, possessing humans requires an expensive upgrade, and using yourself as a battering ram with Charge can leave you in a seriously stupid position.
26 comments so far...
Metalrodent on 25 Mar '13 said:
awesome, I'l have to look at getting money together. Shame about the Doc Who style plot, but at least it should reward multiple playthroughs.
One thing that wasnt clear is how Elizabeth works in combat, as you said she wsn't a problem
LTwitt3R on 25 Mar '13 said:
I'm going to love this, I just know it, I trust in Ken Levine.
OXM Log on 25 Mar '13 said:
Elizabeth doesn't participate in combat. Her role is to throw you health, salt, and ammo as you need it (it's regular, but time-limited. If she decides you need salt, and you wanted health, then you'll have to survive a bit longer).
The other thing she does is summon objects into existence from parallel dimensions. These are fixed items that appear greyed out, and you can bring them into this world by tapping X. That could be cover, an anchor point to hook onto, or a pile of ammo, or a weapon. You can only have one open at a time, but you can swap them in and out as regularly as you like.
Elizabeth will never get hurt, or need reviving. This was a good decision.
ChopperCampbell on 25 Mar '13 said:
I was never the biggest fan of the first one, and skipped 2 altogether. I wasn't really bothered about Infinite either, however I'm starting to come round to the idea. I does look pretty stunning.
Metalrodent on 25 Mar '13 said:
ah fair enough, good to hear about no revivals needed, could be quite annoying having to run around in circles waiting for her to heal you though
OXM Log on 25 Mar '13 said:
This one is definitely my favourite. Even though the story of 1 was more consistent and coherent, the ambition, design, and combat of Infinite is stunning.
fracturedrich on 25 Mar '13 said:
Yes,great score and spoiler free review ime really looking forward to playing this tommorow,this game has recieved great reviews everywhere with the story the main point of minor grumble,not as good as the first but way better than the second,as someone who enjoyed the second one ime happy with that.I think the first game is one of the only first person shooters to ever receive a ten.
vadersmyfather on 25 Mar '13 said:
That's I relief. I was a bit concerned it might be one big escort mission.
fracturedrich on 25 Mar '13 said:
uote]This one is definitely my favourite. Even though the story of 1 was more consistent and coherent, the ambition, design, and combat of Infinite is stunning.You favour the combat of infinate,now ime really excited
EdDeRs1 on 25 Mar '13 said:
wait so you lot didn't give it a 10 because you can't talk to us about the plot? or because it needs "talking about"? for the love of Bruce Campbell guys now i have to get it just to find out what your talking about
msbhvn on 25 Mar '13 said:
I'm hoping by "needs talking about", Log isn't implying that the plot is a load of vague pretentious bollocks like Prometheus. I'm all for nuance and not hitting people over the head with themes, but finishing a game and wondering what the hell it was all about isn't the best feeling in the world when you've paid £40+ for the privilege. I'd rather be talked down to a little and understand where things are going.
ItchyRash on 25 Mar '13 said:
As the reviews trickle out from other places it seems to be overwhelmingly positive. Many are even praising the story and saying the combat, if anything, is the weak point. All in all though I really can't wait to get my hands on it. I knew I'd buy it having loved Bioshock 1 and 2 and have purposefully ignored all previews, news etc so everything should be a surprise. I just don't know when I'll be able to pick it up. Got a lot of games than I'm half way through right now.
Also incredibly happy to hear that you won't have to chaperone the lady. Playing Resi 4 HD right now and detest having to look after someone and protect them. Ruins a game and makes me feel cheated
Darkfear44 on 26 Mar '13 said:
Bioshock is perhaps one of the most overrated franchises in gaming history, Reviewers and consumers in general praise the game due to its “avant-garde” feel…
History often repeats itself, and its seems that Infinite has fallen prey to the same problems that plagued the previous installments.
All Bioshock titles from a distance or the first 20-45 minutes seem like an incredible game, they all explore social and political utopias no other games this generation have offered… however the problems start when you delve deeper. The combat is sub-par at best and the devices that should only aid a story or game narrative such as both artwork and atmosphere become the main defining parts which can only and should only take center stage in Film or artwork, not in Bioshock a narrative driven First person shooter.
Infinite once again relies on artwork and atmosphere as its main drivers rather than its shooter based mechanics. The narrative of Infinite centers on illucid nonsense just like Bioshock and Bioshock two. The Narrative in Infinite makes no sense and the ending, well….in my opinion Like quantum mechanics if you understand it you really don’t understand it at all...
When a game’s Narrative makes no sense, the Frame rate struggles to reach a convincing 30 fps (on console) the combat mechanics and game-play are not its defining features and when secondary elements of a games core features have to take center stage you have a problem.
The plot is broken, the characters and decisions tend to make little sense, but on the bright side its supposed "Avant garde" feel and its supposedly pretty visuals (The textures are awful on the console version) make it a critically acclaimed game?
As the review states “The plot needs talking about” ATTENTION It’s a “Narrative” key word Narrative! driven first person shooter and if the very narrative of infinite is in trouble then how did this game receive a 9?
All Bio-shocks have been OK-to at a push good games that's irrefutable. But the small vocal cult that praise this game to have rescued single player only games in the wake of increasing multiplayer focused games is sheer stupidity.
pg99 on 27 Mar '13 said:
I enjoyed the combat in the first Bioshock, it had enough elements to it for it to be varied and fun without being OTT and everything worked well. I think the games are fantastic, you don't, that's fine. To say that your opinion of them being OK to good games is irrefutable is just laughable though, and yet you are calling other people stupid.
But okay, I'll bite a little, what was so hard to understand about the plot of the first Bioshock? Assuming you didn't just rush through it expecting everything good about the game to be handed to you on a platter. And I didn't see a problem with the narrative either. I thoroughly enjoyed the first game and it had a great range of interesting NPCs, (without it being too populated of course) something I can't say about Infinite so far as I haven't finished it but I hope it improves in that regard.
When I look back on Bioshock I only have very favourable memories of how enjoyable my experience with easily one of the greatest games of all time was. That game was about as far from mediocre as you can get, all things considered. (Aside from the boss battle which was so out of place it almost feels like a bonus level looking back on it, but then the fact that something unoriginal stands out so much is a testament to how brilliant the game is). And it has nothing to do with 'rescuing' single player games, they seem to be doing just fine to me, with or without Bioshock.
I'm not going to comment on Infinite as I haven't finished it yet. I just find it bizarre that someone can find the original Bioshock 'OK to good at a push' but then continue to buy the next games in the series and be disappointed by them as if you thought they were going to undergo some magical transformation. Clearly this type of game isn't your thing. No need to be bitter about some people really enjoying them.
Oh, and why can't atmosphere take as big a role compared to narrative in a game as well as in films? Bioshock has a great atmosphere, narrative might be the centre piece to you but what would be wrong with someone liking the atmosphere the most? There are no set rules, you can favour whichever part of the game you like, not just the one that the developer pushed the most.
mitchellman81 on 27 Mar '13 said:
KNOBHEAD!
Decent_Jam on 28 Mar '13 said:
Very much enjoying it so far, let's hope it doesn't take me three years to complete as its predecessor did...
I think the combat is better than the original, more fluid, but it's still quite challenging to aim, and click the right stick to aim still throws me every time.
Haven't met Elizabeth yet, so we'll see how the game changes then. Boat loats of atmosphere, imagery and foreboding going on though.
Metalrodent on 28 Mar '13 said:
Oh bollocks, the right stick click function is whats semi broken on my controller
EdDeRs1 on 28 Mar '13 said:
their is no need for that sort of language good sir, what do you think this is? YouTube?
mitchellman81 on 28 Mar '13 said:
Apologies.I shall rephrase that.Door handle head!
pg99 on 30 Mar '13 said:
'Molyneux-esque moral stupidity of "Kill Child? (Y/N)'
You think that’s a child down there? Don’t be fooled. She’s a Little Sister now.
Somebody went and turned a sweet baby girl into a monster. Whatever you thought about
right and wrong on the surface, well, that doesn’t count for much down in Rapture.
princess_baker on 30 Mar '13 said:
I was amazed by the game. I really enjoy playing it
wasn't to sure at first but i couldn't seem to put it down once I started playing it. Good game its worth the buy 
fracturedrich on 30 Mar '13 said:
Bioshock 1 combat is sub par at best,you want to see me take down a big daddy on hard setting ,it would change the way you look at video games forever,mate you want to start having fun.
fracturedrich on 1 Apr '13 said:
Ime about halfway through and this is a game that i dont want to end.It's got a theme that i really enjoy i look everywhere for more information on characters or background story.My friend has just completed the game and when i spoke to him about themes of racism or other parts to the story he reply was to say "i dont no,i just run through it"how could you just run through this game.Ime going to play through today and i cant wait,even my girlfriend is asking me to click on the tapes or look down the scopes for more info.It was worth the wait anyway.
aidanlockyear on 8 Apr '13 said:
people are putting the story down, i've played this game a couple of times now and i feel the opposite to most others. i love the story, the slow burn moments especially the begining, it dosent have the claustrophobic mystery of the original but it makes up for it in other places. levine obviously wanted to bring the downfall of a civilization to the forefront as opposed to bioshocks "this is what happened, witness the aftermath". Its very compelling, my main problem with it is it trys to make you feel every kill. in bioshock your fighting crazy mutant freaks that have gone mad. i had no problem defending myself even in the most extreme of circumstances. In this your thrust into murdering policeman who are human racist religious nutcases. a worthy fight by any standards but worth killing for? maybe it is but it made me feel a bit bad occasionly, probably intentional but i found it hard to enjoy at a couple of times, isnt that why we play games? to have fun. the story certainly turns itself around and really makes you think about right and wrong. other than that tho like i said the story is sublime, keeps you guessing and anyone that knows the simplest of physics should find it fascinating, i did
fantastic ending. no silly boss just a brilliant emotional narrative.top marks
"
fracturedrich on 13 Apr '13 said:
Ive played it through on hard big mistake as ime having real trouble with the end
Metalrodent on 13 Apr '13 said:
It's pretty annoying at the end, however just keep throwing yourself in and dont forget your vigors
(and hard mode seems easy as pie compared to 1999, which i started the other day)