carnivore

I grabbed this game out of a bargain bin for 3 euros thinking it was probably going to be a laugh but know much more. Little did I know this game would changed the way a look at creepy old mansions for ever!

You are an author of a 1# best selling horror novel. And to perfect your next up coming book you diced to recluse your self in an old creepy Victorian mansion. Upon your arrival you slowly begin to learn about the previous owners and that something very wrong is going on in that house, you quickly became more concerned about finding out about the history of the house then writing your book. You ask your self: who lived here? what happened? Why did it happen? And ow yeah, where are those scratching noises coming from in the middle of the night!?

Now the game play is very traditional for a adventure/puzzle game, you can move around a fixed position 360 degrees and you click your way through the house picking up various items as you go along. If you liked it before there is no reason why it would bother you now. And on the other hand if it does bother you then you are playing the wrong game any way so go away. The puzzles are logic based and I only had a couple of times where I was doing things but I had no Idea why I was doing them till the very end. It was the methodical, just try every possible combinations with your items style that helped me out. But usually that doesn't need to happen and I am sure there where probably hints around that told me what to do but I was just to dumb to get… on a side note I turned the hint system (yes there is a Hint system) on if I got stuck for to long in some places. But the hints I got from it showed me in the wrong direction so I would be careful with that.

The game looks oke, it's a shame it has static pictures (I don't have the DC version so I don't know about the graphics update) but it serves its purpose later on in the game. Although a little animation would have made the house a little more alive. The pictures them self's look good and you really get the feeling you are in the house and not just looking at a flat one dimensional drawing. There are animations but only of doors and certain objects. The thing that will make you keep playing, or perhaps make you stop depending on how squeamish you are is the atmosphere. Seldom have I felt fear whilst playing a game and I was genuinely afraid to continue playing at some points and that doesn't happen often. I must add though that being in a house all alone in the middle of the night with headphones on and all the lights off would probably get the better of most people. But I do recommend playing that way if you really want a scare.

With the rage of casual gaming that has been going on 2k must have had a sh*t fit when they realizes one of there most expensive games was probably only appealing to the so called "Hardcore" demographic. And so in a sudden burst of madness they did every thing they could to make this game more accessible to the casual gamers. In effect ruining the core of what was supposed to make Bioshock so great.

Let me explain. The first Time I played this game was on Normal. The first couple of levels where great. With little money, little ammo and little health and scrounging for all those things, I was challenge and felt some of that atmosphere all the reviewer where talking about. Unfortunately the illusion that I was ever in any kind if danger was quickly taken away from me when a foe finally got the better of me. I had saved often and was just about to retrace my last steps when I suddenly materialized in a chamber. That's right you cant die… now you had a chamber like this in System shock too but it cost something and once you where out of that you did die. But not in Bioshock, you can die as much as you like making every boss and battle a piece of cake. Unfortunately if invincibility still doesn't do it for you, later in the game you can buy ammo and health every where and money is never very hard to come buy… the first time I completed Bioshock I felt a bit of a disappointment in the fact it had every thing a great game needed, great story, great depth in game play, great graphics and great controls. it was just all made way to easy for the player. And thus I as a gamer that wants to be challenged felt let down a bit.

I decided the second time I was going to play it would be on Hard. And I would not use any of the vending machines that sell ammo or health and I was going to reload my last save if I died there by countering all the things I don't like about Bioshock. I am pleased to say that now it is one of the greatest games I have ever played.

It is unfortunate that I had to take matters in my own hands to make it so, but on the other hand I should be pleased that any wimp can complete the game and enjoy the greatness that is Bioshock.

I just hope that in Bioshock 2 they think about the "Hardcore" gamers and take out all the things that make the game to easy on the hard level.