BioShock 2

You are one of the first Big Daddies, and ten years after you are left for dead, you come back to rescue the young Eleanor(...yeah, it is kinda cliché) who you are personally bound to(and her to you, so you can not leave before you are reunited, in fact, you'll go into a coma or mad if you stay apart for overly long). This puts you in Rapture again, the underwater city of the best artists and scientists for them to be free to pursue their craft with no one to prevent them. It was to live the dream of pure individuality and freedom, somewhere you could satisfy your desires. This time, it isn't Andrew Ryan in charge, who wanted that... it's Sofia Lamb, the mother of the woman you are trying to find. She represents the equal and opposite reaction to his ideology, with a restrictive, authoritarian religion(or cult, since it isn't big enough). This was the perfect way to approach a sequel; not repeat, but respond. You again choose whether to rescue(complete with the faith healer gesture) the Little Sisters, or harvest them(is it just me or does the start of that look like you're putting on a handpuppet-show?) to define the strength of your character(do you put yourself or others first?), and this time, you can also "adopt" them, where you protect them as they gather(and then return them to a vent) the ADAM(letting you unlock and upgrade tonics(that you don't have to activate) and plasmids(that you do... and you can now dual-wield, that in one hand and a weapon in the other(no switching back and forth)! And yes, you can use them at the same time!), the special abilities(electricity, fire, ice(and you can now freeze others solid, and shatter them into pieces! And these are now all projectile, no idea why they weren't before), hypnotizing enemies, etc. And you can now charge them up for other benefits, such as hitting more with a single use, or stronger FX!) of these. Those have been increased in power, and since everyone has them, this has a real "war of the titans" kind of thing going on, with amazing battles(and a fantastic climax). These are both FPS', and this one offers something that goes beyond the basic for that. You have the usual set of weapons, with all-new ones, since you're no longer a mere person... and yes, you get the drill, and yes, you can do the "dash" move with it(!)(you can use it to smack others, as well). There's a pistol, a shotgun, a machinegun, etc. You can hack at a distance using darts(bear with it, being able to move during it gives really cool opportunities), it's now based on timing("stop the needle in the correct zone"), so it doesn't pause during. Yes, this is simply more intense than the original. The objectives and enemy types(some once again climb ceilings, and you actually have to use different tactics against them, and they have cool first appearances this time) are varied this time, so you don't get bored. Then again, this is pretty short, with 10-12 hours of playing time, meaning you can complete it in a single day, as I did. There are only three difficulty settings and not much else to get you to play it again. Well, there is one thing... multi-player(set during the civil war a decade or so earlier, and with plenty of unlockables). It's got all the modes you'd expect, FFA(team and otherwise), CTF, Hold the Flag(with an LS in place of it), Domination and Last Man Standing. As you play it, you get higher in the ranks, and those specify what your arsenal can be filled with, and this automatically evens the matches so that experts don't go up against noobs. That does bring me to the remaining problem of the excessive streamlining. They don't really fix that(customizing remains pretty minimal, this has nothing on System Shock 2 or Deus Ex), if the risk does remain(like with Kane & Lynch: Dead Men... I think it helps that there are bullets and manual aiming, that's why Assassin's Creed and the newer Prince of Persia titles fail in that regard). You still have an easy time buying ammo and the like, and basically never run out(I do like that they further limit the amount of healthkits and the like). This is challenging, intense and fun, however. Part of it is how emotionally engaging this is. You care about the cause, and the people involved, and you want to *win*. The story is gripping, with a marvelous and effective intro and conclusion(with highly effective use of the first person perspective). You're not some undefined, bland person that there's no reason to care about other than that he exists and happens to be in the place where there's something interesting going on that we haven't seen before, you have a purpose, a mission, and for it's formulaic setup, it really manages to strike a chord. This builds atmosphere well, being creepy and unsettling, by use of the grotesque or "slightly off" sights(I do think we tend to miss the disfigured faces and bodies of the Splicers, because it goes so fast, their movement(and they now randomly dodge your strikes), yours, and then with the ragdoll physics... it does make good sense that they'd follow a fanatic rather than "they're insane"), the tense score and the various ambient sounds(and silence). Level design is also magnificent, and we see new areas under the sea. The graphics are well-done, with expressive faces for the few fully animated scenes, and real-looking animations in-engine. Controls are intuitive and easy to remember, you get into this quickly. You do not have to have played the '07 one before this one to understand it, it merely uses the same setting, and neither of them spoils the other one. There is disturbing, brutal, violent, bloody and gory content in this, as well as swearing. I recommend this to any fan of the concept. 8/10

BioShock 2 might often be overshadowed by the original, but it absolutely deserves recognition as a brilliant continuation of the Rapture saga. While it builds on the foundations set by the first game, it carves its own identity through refined gameplay mechanics, deeper emotional storytelling, and a new perspective that makes the experience feel fresh yet familiar.

One of the most remarkable elements of this sequel is the fact that you play as a Big Daddy - a drastic shift that adds a fascinating dynamic to the game. From the very beginning, you feel stronger and more secure than in the previous title. Walking through the eerie, decaying halls of Rapture while wielding both brute strength and powerful plasmids gives you a thrilling sense of dominance. But the game doesn't let you feel invincible for long - enemies are smarter, encounters are more intense, and the strategic use of your resources becomes more essential than ever.

Combat is fluid and surprisingly tactical. The dual-wielding system - using a weapon and a plasmid simultaneously - is a massive improvement, and it helps keep the action fast-paced and versatile. The battles, especially on higher difficulties and during fights against Big Sisters or groups of Splicers, can become chaotic in the best way possible. There's a constant tension, a need to adapt and rethink your approach, which mirrors the same thrill and frustration you'd feel in a real card game - making you regret certain moves or celebrate a perfect combo of actions.

Narratively, BioShock 2 holds its ground with a compelling plot that delves once again into the darker aspects of human psychology and morality. The themes remain philosophical, rich, and thought-provoking - exploring the consequences of utopian ideals gone wrong and what happens when people are left without a moral compass. It offers a story that's both emotionally powerful and intellectually engaging, with well-written characters and moments that stick with you long after the game ends.

It was an unusual and fascinating experience - I absolutely loved the mechanic of playing as a Big Daddy in this installment. It makes you feel much more confident and secure as part of that class, even though the challenges remain excellent and demanding. The story is just as powerful as in the first game, touching on similar themes that show how twisted the human mind can become when left without guidance. Simply brilliant. BioShock 2 stands as my personal favorite entry in Rapture.

Some may argue that the Graphics are not as nice in this installment of the Bioshock series, not true especially if you are using a 3d setup and this game is definitely geared for 3D. In the Graphics options menu there is an option for turning 3D on/off so perhaps the developers know or have an inkling of where future games are headed and indeed 3D will soon be appearing on our TV sets if the current Hype is to be believed. The current 3d gaming setups are limited in range. From Zalman to NVIDIA. Using an NVIDIA setup requires that you purchase a monitor with 120 Hz refresh rate (expensive) and TVs are on their way with this and much higher refresh rates. You will need at least $1000.00 for the glasses and monitor plus a very fast graphics card and a quick computer plenty of RAM and at least a dual core 2800 to get the most out of 3D. On to the game. The quest for ammo and money give you an added objective in this game which can be a bitch or a blessing depending on how you like your games. Some (like Borderlands, see my Borderlands review) shower you in money and weapons/ammo. In BioShock2 you are constantly scavenging for money to buy ammo or health kits. If you die without a health kit to spare you are mercilessly sent back to a re spawning station where you are given some health and Eve (Eve is your plasmid power). From there you have to backtrack to you objective and kill, Mame and destroy newly spawned enemies in the form of Splicers until you get back to where you were. Fairly linear in design but some nice tricks to keep you off the beaten track such as finding Adam (the necessary tender for purchasing upgrades to your special powers) with the help of a little sister who roosts on your shoulder whilst screaming platitudes like "your'e the best daddy ever!, and beating up other Big Daddies. Most sequels are a sad disappointment depending on the age gap. Take half-life and Doom 2 for instance, the sequels in both these cases were beyond unbelievably fantastic. In this instance most people would be expecting mediocre at best but they will be pleasantly surprised. 9 out of Ten little sisters in this level!!

Bioshock 2 may have sacrificed storytelling for cleaner gameplay, but the story is still well written and better than your average VG narrative. Sophia Lamb isn't nearly as charismatic as Andrew Ryan but does a pretty good job of getting me to despise her, making her a decent antagonist at worst. Gameplay tweaks seem minor at first, but dual wielding guns and plasmids, the ability to melee with any weapon, and the new real time reflex-based hacking system made a world of difference. I had more fun protecting the little sisters in this game than the first. Probably due to the unstoppability I felt having improved plasmids, weapons, traps, and ample time to set up and unleash my inner Macaulay Culkin whenever I was ready to harvest.

This game may not be as ground breaking and awesome as Bioshock 1, but it is still a fantastic game. The atmosphere this time around surpasses the original, it truly does immerse you in this world. I bought this game three times, one for the Xbox and twice for the PS3, one of which was the special edition. Alright time to get started.

The Game: The first thing I noticed right out of the gate is the graphics are much more clear and better done. The story was pretty weak, but the rest of the game more than makes up for it. The game play is much better this time around, it's much more fluent. You can equip a weapon and a plasmid at the same time. I didn't notice a big difference in quality between systems, they are about even. My favourite gun in the game is the shotgun, you can upgrade it with cylinders for rapid firing. The spear gun is also pretty cool, it almost feels like a rifle. The sound track is no where near as good as the one in the first game, which was very disappointing. As i've mentioned the atmosphere surpasses the original, there is one part where you enter a secret facility, it feels so barren, like no one has entered it for a while, it is truly a great feeling moment. The hard difficulty mode was actually pretty easy compared to the first game's hard mode. Finding all of the audio diaries was much easier this time around, I even completed that objective twice. The big sisters are more of a nuisance, but I found a way to help the little sisters without having to fight the big sisters. It's weird to be carrying around a little sister thats looks up to the big daddy, it makes you choose not to harvest them. The level's are expertly designed with plenty of hidden areas to discover. Overall the single player is a great experience.

The multi-player: I don't have much to say other than I didn't like it, I felt they could have left it out and put more stuff into the single player. Overall it's forgettable.

Minerva's Den: If you liked the main single player then I recommend getting this, it's a good addition. Just don't expect a good end boss, you can beat him pretty quickly.

The verdict: The game is fun and well worth your time and money, the single player has great replay value, but skip the online mode.