Bioshock gameplay discussion

So I picked up this game last week Tuesday, and I thought I'd share my opinions on what I've seen from it so far.

Be warned: I'm not going to give away any plot details, but if you don't like hearing about how guns work in a game before you've played it, quit reading here.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The game is set in the 1960's, in a fictional city called Rapture. This city just happens to be at the bottom of the sea, and was founded to get away from the moral restraints that living "on the surface" placed on scientists. However, something has gone horribly wrong, and it's just your luck that your plane has crashed right over the city...a city full of murderous lunatics who want nothing more than to kill you for existing...and you don't even have a name!

Seeing as there's already a thread dedicated to the art of the game [see Fragony's Bioshock Screenshots thread already present on this page] I won't go into epic detail about this. Simply put, the game looks excellent, and the art design is impeccable considering what they were aiming at. They nailed the eerie, aquatic environment perfectly, without over-killing the same content. I have yet to say to myself "Gee, haven't I gone around this corner, with this gun, fighting that enemy, before?". There's a proper amount of pseudo-realism, giving you the feel of the late 50's/early 60's, but also including enough "recognizable" objects that we don't feel as if we're floundering in an alternate universe. [Har har, floundering.] Everything runs smoothly, and the cut scenes are very well done. I have yet to experience a bit of lag while playing the game.

The sound in the game is incredible. I am a sound nut, and I love the way they use artistic sound to help define your experience within their game. The start menu is 60's-esque piano that plays as you move your cursor. In game, enemy conversations are both humorous and terrifying, sometimes all at once. I'll never forget my initial revulsion as I sat in a room and listened to the twisted denizens behind the nearby door have their brief discussions. Guns are satisfying, and the other "weapons" that you have [discussed later] also sound distinct and well done.

Graphics and Sound: Done. Now for the most spoiler-ish section, I'm sure, gameplay elements.

The game is an interesting blend of RPG and FPS. The combat is exclusively FPS inspired - it is real time, fast paced, and [again, see Fragony's screenies thread] terrifying. Enemies are numerous and not intelligent, and their oblivious rampancy is what makes them so scary. You are given numerous weapons, and you carry them all in your magic pocket - the weapons include a Pistol, a Machine Gun, a Grenade Launcher, and a Wrench. Ammunition is plentiful, but must be managed intelligently. You can restore your health, like other FPS games, with health packs.

Combat Story:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I was involved in a firefight with three of the enemies in the game, "Splicers". I used one of my "Plasmids" [discussed soon], "Incinerate!", to light a nearby oil slick on fire and ran behind a corner to figure out how on earth I wanted to fight these guys. Not two seconds later, three screaming, bleeding, and now burning, Splicers run around the corner, all shooting me or swinging blunt objects at my head. I panicked and died, but I'm sure that the wall/ceiling/pinkie toe of the last Splicer around the corner now properly fear the wrath of my machine gun.

What gives the game its RPG blend is the use of genetic modifications to enhance your character. These modifications come in two flavors. The first you find are "Plasmids", which are combat oriented, player controlled abilities that do everything from "Incinerate!" [does what it says] to "Enrage!" [turns enemies on each other, keeping your hide safe]. These are controlled exactly like your gun, except by the Left Trigger, and are amazingly fun to use. The second modification you find are "Tonics", which are passive upgrades to your character, to increase his abilities in specific areas of the game, from Hacking to Combat. If you want to be an amazing melee combat artist and cut swaths of enemies down with your wrench, you can - but you will suffer in other combat areas, due to the fact that you cannot willy nilly change your genetic modifications, either, adding a bit of strategem to the game. You can only have so many Plasmids and Tonics active [there are separate thresholds for each], so you must plan accordingly. It's a pain to find three enemies in a pool of water and not have your "Electro-Bolt" Plasmid, but sacrifices must be made. :wall:

Also, Plasmid use is governed by how much of a special item you have, EVE. EVE is a bar, right underneath your health, that governs whether or not you can use your Plasmid abilities [think ammo for genetics and you've got it]. This means you can't go wanton burninating the villages or you'll wind up lacking the EVE required to combat bosses. EVE can be restored by EVE Hypos that are scattered throughout levels.

The final gameplay element of interest is the research camera. Early on you find a camera, and you can use that camera to take pictures of every enemy in the game. This photography gives you combat bonuses, Tonics, and other goodies, making it a worthwhile endeavor to attempt to max out your research for each baddie you come across.

EVE Hypos, Ammunition, Health Packs and other goodies are available from Vending Machines that are scattered throughout the game. Now is the time to mention their "break" gameplay mechanic: If it's electronic, you can hack it. Hacking is a Pipe Dream inspired mini game that has you guiding the flow of a substance from the "In" Pipe to the "Out" Pipe. I won't go into detail, but this leads to some great gameplay moments, post-hacking.

The controls were well done and intuitive. Not much else to say, they follow the classic Xbox FPS schema with a couple twists for their unique elements.

Level design is intricate and terrifying, as expected. The most impressive feat, however, is the fun of their "wandering bosses" the Big Daddies. These guys protect the Little Sisters, who harvest ADAM off of corpses.

ADAM is the genetic currency of Rapture [get it, ADAM and EVE?]. You use ADAM at special machines within the game to buy upgrades for your character, be it a larger Health Bar, a larger EVE Bar, more slots for Plasmids, more slots for Tonics, or special Plasmids or Tonics. They all cost ADAM to buy and "install" in your body.

Back to the Big Daddies. Big Daddies are, well, big, and you are taught early in the game to fear them. They won't attack you unless you attack their Little Sister, but if you do, watch out. They have a wrath like none other and will use it beat you into a pulp. They're miniature death stars - but you NEED the ADAM that the Little Sisters have, so you've gotta beat the Daddy to get to the Sister. After you defeat Big Daddies, you're immediately faced with a moral decision: You can save the little girl, but receive less ADAM, or you can kill her, but drain her completely of ADAM. Interesting decision, after you've just finished having your face pummeled by her protector.

I won't say anything about the story specifically, but I've enjoyed what I've seen. It is told in a clever fashion, and the voice acting is superb. I have numerous times found myself disgusted by characters as the story is told.

All in all, Bioshock is an excellent Horror FPS, and I found it highly enjoyable. I give it an 8.7/10. Let me know what you guys think!

[If 8.7 seems low, it's due to my one reservation about the game. Due to it's nerve-wracking nature, I sometimes can't play it for long periods of time without becoming "burnt out". It's one of those games that I have to put down and allow myself to recuperate. :beam:]

Edit: Thought I would update this with some useful information about the game. These all contain spoilers, and you are not advised to click until after your first play through so that you don't ruin anything for yourself. After that, these will help your inner completionist make sure you don't miss anything.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Gamespot generally releases fairly decent online game guides for games. This is that guide - I found it useful for advice in making specific encounters easier. There are better guides out there for finding other things...

Another handy guide/list is for Audio Diaries. There are 122 of them in the game, and you need all of them for a Xbox Live achievement, so a checklist is useful! Here is that guide.

Another Xbox Live Achievement, for us 360 owners, is to find all of the available Tonics. Here is a guide to their locations and advice on their use.

Finally, very useful both in game and for a Live Achievement, here is a listing of the location of every Power to the People station in the game. There are 12 in all.

None of these guides were made by me - their respective creators give themselves credit before or after each guide, so thank them for their work.

Another note: other than than the very first area you play in, you can return to every part of the game. So, if you really want to find all of the Audio Diaries/Tonics in the game on the play through you're in, you can return to previous levels in the game and grab them. For whatever reason, the Bathysphere controls are mapped to the D-Pad.

Once more, do NOT click these links before you've beaten the game unless you want the entire story of the game to be spoiled for you. There are major give aways.

Excellent review, Out! Thanks.

I actually just beat the game about 4 minutes ago. I agree with most of what Out says.

I was slightly disapointed to see that the game was so linear but other than that the game was a very good one and weel worth 60$ (US). The combat system was intriguing and good. The Idea of being able to set a swarm of angry bees on my enemy. Its just so...so....gratifying. I also liked the detail of the audio details spread throughout the game. It gives you a chance to get a better background of the city of Rapture.

I would give it between a 9.0 to a 9.4 on a scale of ten.

I am splitting Bioshock discussion into two threads from this point onwards.

All gameplay discussion will go into the Bioshock gameplay thread.

All other Bioshock discussion, including discussion of the CP, belong in the Bioshock non-gameplay topic, i.e. this one.

All spoilers must be concealed by spoiler tags regardless of which thread you post in.

I'm doing this so people can talk about the game without it getting lost in other concerns, and so people wanting to talk about the copy protection etc can do so without it getting lost in game talk. Discussion of SecuROM will be permitted in the correct topic until and unless it heads into illegal areas

Please take the time to put your posts in the correct topic! Moving individual posts is a pain and a half, and having discussion pinwheeling across two threads defeats the whole point of having two threads. If people won't make the minescule effort then we'll have to merge the two topics, and then no one will be happy.

:Hands Fragony and Out a ticket each: I'm requisitioning your threads for the good of the org. This ticket enables you to claim a thread of equal value from the front desk. Thanks for your cooperation :winkg:

With that out of the way, back to Bioshock chat.

I’ve finished the first major area now, I think. I’ve

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

killed the mad doctor and nabbed his key.

Really liking it so far; it feels very System Shock 2 with a touch of Eternal Darkness.

I take back what I said about it not being a scary game – much of medical was very tense, and one or two moments were very unnerving. Those surgeons … ugh!

I’m now having to make some tough choices about character direction. I’ve found more plasmids than I can currently equip, so I’ve had to let some go.

I’m finding the full game harder than the demo, possibly because I’m a wee bit rubbish at FPS games. It starts out gently enough, and slowly ramps up. The grenade lobbing splicers are a pain.

The shooter flavour of the demo was also quite misleading. Though I’ve found several more weapons I’m still using the wrench for most combat, with the pistol for security cameras, turrets I can’t hack and tough foes. I don’t have the ammo to do otherwise.

I have decided I hate the hacking mini game. When it’s slow and easy it’s tedious; when it’s a harder puzzle it’s downright infuriating.

Frog, here's a tip for your grenade lobbin' friends.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Use Telekinesis to catch their grenades/molotovs and lob 'em right on back the way they came. You're out 0 ammo and almost no EVE, and you get the satisfaction of watching them explode!

I've found Telekinesis is also useful for other things...never leave home without it.:beam:

I'd love to hear how other people solve problems - I enjoy that aspect about this game, I think everyone is going to develop a unique play style and swear by it.

Thanks. I'll try it; I suspect I'm being too sparing of my plasmids and suffering a bit because of it. I'm reluctant to use them except in situations where they will make a telling difference, such as

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

when I picked up the fire plasmid and the office was besieged by splicers. I set fire to the oil on the floor and took them all out in one shot.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Out

Frog, here's a tip for your grenade lobbin' friends.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Use Telekinesis to catch their grenades/molotovs and lob 'em right on back the way they came. You're out 0 ammo and almost no EVE, and you get the satisfaction of watching them explode!

I've found Telekinesis is also useful for other things...never leave home without it.:beam:

I'd love to hear how other people solve problems - I enjoy that aspect about this game, I think everyone is going to develop a unique play style and swear by it.

---

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The problem I see with that is that it sounds like Half-Life 2 for me. Instead of using the gravity gun to pick up and return an enemy grenade, my mind is too slow to think that fast. The best I can think of during one of those scenes is "Oh crap! Grenade! RUN!"
How long do grenades and cocktails have to cook before they explode? Or are they explode on contact?

I had the same thing when I first began, but I noticed that Telekinesis uses hardly any EVE. It's very, very useful.

Also, about the hacking - if you find it frustrating, there are plenty of ways to get around it.

Here is one of them, it's a spoil about the rewards of photography.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I highly, highly recommend taking photos of everything you see in this game. I was snapping photos left and right of the turrets I came across when I received the best reward ever. Your third reward for researching turrets is that EVERY turret you attempt to hack is automatically completed. It has already made life so, so much easier.

Even though hacking is frustrating, I'll agree, it's my opinion that you have to do it. The support from hacking cameras and the extra fire power from the turrets are necessary to conserve your own limited ammo. But you do get plenty of Autohack tools, and you can make MORE at U-Invent Vending Machines starting very shortly. These should make your life more pleasant.

Also, use the hacking support tonics to slow down the pace of the liquid. It makes the tedious hacks...even more tedious, but I've noticed the speed has slowly been increasing as the game has gone along, to the point that I'm appreciating the aid of all the tonics I can apply.

And to Kekvit:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I usually wind up being hit by the first couple of grenades before I stop panicking and figure out where they're standing, hehe. After that, the glow is very easy to see in the air, and you have plenty of time to press your left trigger and grab the grenade from midair.

And no, the grenades aren't explode on impact, they're on a timer. So make sure you don't hold on to a grenade too long - I made that mistake the very first time I tried this...it was painful. The problem with trying to find them on the ground is that they blend in pretty well, and the physics in the game are pretty "bouncy", so the grenade may be difficult to find, grab, and fling. The other option with the grenadiers is to ignore their grenades and use Telekinesis to grab whatever blunt objects are in the area and start throwing them at them, even other dead Splicers.

And finally, just some general shenanigans I've liked using with the Telekinesis:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Use Telekinesis to pick up dead bodies when they're lying around, and use THOSE to trigger the electric traps that you'll start to find on the third/fourth level. It's easier than trying to shoot them out, and saves you ammo.

Also, use corpses as meat shields while you're walking through areas with turrets that you want to hack but are far away from, then drop them at the last minute, switch to Electro-Bolt, stun it, and hack it.

And a final stress: Take pictures ALL THE TIME. They give you awesome rewards that really help out key aspects of the game.

In response to the question in Kek's spoiler box, it seems to vary a little so I suspect it's on contact and/or when in close proximity. I haven't seen enough of them to make a proper study yet.

Out, now I want a camera very badly! I suspected that opening up the research aspect would offer all kinds of neat benefits for players who took the time.

Photography? What is this, Dead Rising? :tongueg:

Any one try a stealth approach? Supposedly it models sound propogation rather well, so it should be possible.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by discovery1

Any one try a stealth approach? Supposedly it models sound propogation rather well, so it should be possible.

---

I've been trying. I've had some mixed results. Sometimes I've been able to get very close to an enemy and smack them with my wrench. Others they see or hear me coming. I believe some enemies have boosted night vision, either that or certain points have them scripted to see you regardless.

I do miss being able to lean around corners - why on earth is that missing?!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by frogbeastegg

I've been trying. I've had some mixed results. Sometimes I've been able to get very close to an enemy and smack them with my wrench. Others they see or hear me coming. I believe some enemies have boosted night vision, either that or certain points have them scripted to see you regardless.

I do miss being able to lean around corners - why on earth is that missing?!

---

I'd agree. It seems that the tougher enemies are harder to sneak up on, due to the fact that most of the game's harder enemies [that I've seen] are based on lobbing anger at you from a distance.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I've read about some people who have used Tonics they've found to increase their damage with their Wrench and their ability to walk quietly, and have made it so that they're a one swing wrecking machine that hardly ever gets detected. I prefer to shoot mah guns. Sneakily.

The camera, once you get it, should be used very very heavily. Unlike in SS2 where research primarily gives you small damage bonuses, you can get some very, very nice bonuses from researching enemies the whole way.

Little sisters give you a small health and max bonus for every level of research. Bouncers include a 50% damage bonus to everything you hit with the wrench - which, combined with a couple of the right tonics, can turn you in a doomsday wrencher.

The various splicers each tend to include a couple of helpful tonics in the research rewards, and the turrets and security bots both become instant hack success at the highest level - very very convenient.

Houdini splicers eventually yield the cloaking tonic, which is very very useful if you're playing stealth.




The audio logs, while have been generally very high quality, has one that sticks out in my mind more then any other. It's as creepy as Korenchin's Glory audiolog from SS2.


..edit: Edited out spoilers, since [spoiler] doesn't seem to work. Someone remind me the code for spoilers?]

I completely agree with Out on the Camera . The bonuses are well worth the deaths that it sometimes causes. It Makes the End Game A LOT EASIER>

That's good to hear about the wrench, and stealth attacks. I was worried I was over-using the wrench, mainly because I'm having trouble shooting accurately so I run low on ammo. I thought my current computer and GPU would be okay, based on the early encounters. But it's not quite smooth enough when the pace is a little more frantic with more targets. I've been playing mostly strategy games lately, and I'd forgotten how important a smooth frame rate is for a shooter like this.

Anyway, more plasmid-based and wrench-pounding tactics will hold me while I order a video card upgrade this week and install it. I'm still using a nvidia 6800 series card, so moving up to the current 8800-something should help... and maybe let me get a little more use out of this machine before getting a complete new system.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Phatose

..edit: Edited out spoilers, since [spoiler] doesn't seem to work. Someone remind me the code for spoilers?]

---

It's [ spoil ] and [ /spoil ], without the space characters. You had an extra er.

And don't worry - ammunition problems seem to clear up as you move along in the game, actually, so long as you take your time to search through everything.

Well I didn't get the game but my bro-in-law got the deluxe version (with Big Daddy model) for the 360... all I can say is that it is excellent and worth getting a 360 for this game alone. He has a very good 5.1 surround sound setup... and I must say that although the water and fire graphics are amazing, the sound is what gives the game its right edge.

I love the iconography in both the city and the game menus... reminds me of Fallout 2... in fact this feels like an FPS version of it.

Well integrated RPG elements into an FPS... its a bit like TW strategy is turn based, battles are real time. The selection of ones RPG elements (tonics and plasmids) are done in a more calm atmosphere, while the FPS is all blazing glory.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

When I went into the dentistry foyer and got surrounded I went beserk with the Thompson machine gun and the shotgun. Mantra of the game is reload all your weapons all the way through when it is quiet, after every shot with the shotgun I will reload if no other enemies are nearby... I have yet to have used any special ammo other then armour piercing on the pistol... and it will be along time before I get another go at this game.

:grins at Pape's spoiler: I kept my cool in that bit. I

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

ducked into a corner so they had to come at me from one direction, then head shot each splicer with a single pistol round as they ran towards me through the central pool of light.

Afterwards I started to think I should have used my wrench instead of using precious ammo.

The art book and sound track are available as free downloads on the main Bioshock site.

Bank Holiday today, so I've got the day off. Time to play ...

If I had to say something negative, I would say that I am surprized that my FPS skills are so useful in the game... I don't remember them being so useful in SS2 (probably never enough ammo)...

I have gotten to Hephaestus and I have to say while I have to keep an eye on ammo, and it gets tight sometimes, I have never really run out... Mind you big daddies take a lot of killing, but using the security systems to your advantage combined with shocking/freezing the big chap really helps...

I'm to Hephaestus as well, and I'm going to have to say that the game has gotten less "scary" and more "demented".

I'm thinking the fear factor is probably going to go back up if I replay it on Hard, however, which I plan on doing.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Isn't the Crossbow amazing?! I loooove using it. So much.

I'm up to Arcadia; done a little of it, not much. The fear factor has definitely lowered since leaving medical. My ammo problems eased, to the point where most of my weapons were full up. Then the game did something which made me cry

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

When I put my weapons in the tube outside the fish place I didn't get my ammo back! Gah! Since then I haven't found many bullets, nor vending machines with the types I want. Double gah!

I :loveg: my shotgun.

I'm saving the Little Sisters, and not finding I have Adam problems. Currently I have 380 left to use; there have only been a few things which looked worth purchasing.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Health increase, Eve increase, that defence increase thingy with the armadillo icon, and an extra slot for offensive powers.

Photography is more fun than it sounds.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by frogbeastegg

I :loveg: my shotgun.

---

Tried the Power to the People machines yet?

Shotgun looks sweet with the damage increase... And the clip size boost for the pistol too...

I love the way the Upgraded Crossbow looks and works. I haven't used another weapon since I got used to it! All of the upgraded weapons look amazing.

Anyone have any questions about encounters or fights, or things they think they might be missing? Ask here - or look at the links I just posted in my original post. They are spoiler-ridden, so it'll be better and safer to ask here if it's your first play through.

After a little while I'll update the OP with battle strategies for some of the harder encounters - both things I've read, things I've done, and things you guys have suggested that have made things easier.

Won't have any time to finish the game today - :sigh: at work and other responsibility.

I've found one at the same time as the thing in the spoiler box which made me cry. I used it to boost the shotgun's rate of fire. Thanks to that crying I haven't had much chance to test it out.

OW GAWD why did my xbox have to die just 1 week before this :wall:

I just started this last night - it is very like System Shock 2, which is a good thing IMO. It is not as scarey to me; I find the sound aspects less freaky and the combat less lethal. However, my son is much more freaked out by it: more gore and "realistic" graphics.

I've cleared most of the first area, medical; I really like the way the map marks where you have been. However, but there is a small southwest part of the dental area that I can't access because I need a dental key or card or something. Anyone care to post where the key/card is in a spoiler tag?

What a sublime game. I challenge you to find a game that single handedly works in every way. I lvoed the plot twist. It was oh so clear when I found out. I felt like a moron for not seeing you. And not ruining it for any one but didnt that just make you want to go after, welll we will call him big F even more and pump 48 bucks of shotgun into him. I have to say end boss and ending was a bit disapointing but other than that a modern master peice. This is along the lines of OCarina of time here, bollocks to half life 2, some one say 2k didnt nail it.

It would be a lie.

Tib

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by econ21

I've cleared most of the first area, medical; I really like the way the map marks where you have been. However, but there is a small southwest part of the dental area that I can't access because I need a dental key or card or something. Anyone care to post where the key/card is in a spoiler tag?

---

To econ21:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Once you've picked up Telekinesis, look through the broken window next to that locked door. There's a key hanging on the wall that you can pull to yourself using Telekinesis and then pick up. Then just pop the key in and open the door!

Thanks, Out - that is very cool way to get a key. :bow:

A couple more questions:

(1) When you are "buying" plasmids and tonics at the gene banks, is there any way to tell which are which? Are they colour coded in any way or is it just trial and error? At the end of medical, I have 3 plasmids and only 2 slots for them. But some non-plasmid things you can get at the medical gene bank don't seem to need slots (the health and eve upgrades; not sure about some other stuff).

(2) One of the loading hints said don't shoot cameras, hack them. That never occurred to me. How do you do it? Is it just like turrets - ie zap them with the electro plasmid, then run over and press V? (Just asking as I assumed them would be too high to reach). I have not spotted any System Shock 2 type security panels I could hack.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by econ21

A couple more questions:

(1) When you are "buying" plasmids and tonics at the gene banks, is there any way to tell which are which? Are they colour coded in any way or is it just trial and error? At the end of medical, I have 3 plasmids and only 2 slots for them. But some non-plasmid things you can get at the medical gene bank don't seem to need slots (the health and eve upgrades; not sure about some other stuff).

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I believe, in regard to the tonics, they're labeled on the right of the screen as to what they are. Also, if you push a certain button [not sure what that button is for the computer version] you can see a "preview" of what the Tonic/Plasmid will do. I certainly hope that's in the computer version :sweatdrop: . If this doesn't help, check my OP - I've updated it with some links, one of them is to a discussion of the Plasmids/Tonics in the game, and it answers all of your questions. Just be warned, there are minor spoilers within.

(2) One of the loading hints said don't shoot cameras, hack them. That never occurred to me. How do you do it? Is it just like turrets - ie zap them with the electro plasmid, then run over and press V? (Just asking as I assumed them would be too high to reach). I have not spotted any System Shock 2 type security panels I could hack.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Yes. Zap 'n Hack. Some of them ARE too high, but many of them you can hack from the ground or jump and hack them. Apparently, while hacking, we defy gravity. As a bonus, once you've hacked a camera, it starts summoning Security Bots to protect YOU. Very nice to cover your back while you're off killing somewhere else.

P.S. Don't forget that Turrets, Cameras, and Security Bots are ALL researchable and should be photographed extensively once you get your camera.

---

Questions answered, I hope.

I just got the game yesterday and I've almost won it. I'm impressed with how the game works. It's definitely the spiritual successor to System Shock 2.

My 360 Achievements are:

Ammo Inventor
The player has successfully invented all possible ammo types.
25
Acquired 8/31/2007

Two Fully Upgraded Weapons
The player has fully upgraded two weapons.
5
Acquired 8/31/2007

Fully Researched Houdini Splicer
The player has fully researched the Houdini Splicer.
10
Acquired 8/31/2007

Maxed One Track
The player has purchased every slot in one of the Plasmid or Tonic tracks
20
Acquired 8/31/2007

Fully Researched Spider Splicer.
The player has fully researched the Spider Splicer.
10
Acquired 8/31/2007

Prolific Photographer
The player has taken at least one photo in every research group.
5
Acquired 8/31/2007

Fully Researched Rosie
The player has fully researched the Rosie.
10
Acquired 8/31/2007

One Fully Upgraded Weapon
The player has fully upgraded one weapon.
5
Acquired 8/30/2007

Skilled Hacker
The player has successfully completed 50 hacks.
40
Acquired 8/30/2007

Fully Researched Thug Splicer
The player has fully researched the Thuggish Splicer.
10
Acquired 8/30/2007

Basic Inventor
The player has successfully invented at least one item.
5
Acquired 8/30/2007

Fully Researched Gun Splicer
The player has fully researched the Leadhead Splicer.
10
Acquired 8/30/2007

Upgraded a Weapon
The player has acquired at least one weapon upgrade.
5
Acquired 8/30/2007

Quality Research Photo
The player has taken a Research Photo of the highest grade.
20
Acquired 8/30/2007

Researched a Splicer
The player has taken at least one Research Photo of a Splicer.
5
Acquired 8/30/2007

Bought One Slot
The player has purchased one slot in any Plasmid or Tonic track
5
Acquired 8/30/2007

Hacked a Safe
The player has successfully hacked a safe.
10
Acquired 8/30/2007

Hacked a Security Camera
The player has successfully hacked a security camera.
10
Acquired 8/30/2007

Hacked a Turret
The player has successfully hacked a turret.
10
Acquired 8/30/2007

Hacked a Vending Machine
The player has successfully hacked a vending machine.
10
Acquired 8/30/2007

Hacked a Security Bot
The player has successfully hacked a security bot.
10
Acquired 8/30/2007

One Successful Hack
The player has performed at least one successful hack.
5
Acquired 8/30/2007

Completed Welcome.
The player has successfully completed the Welcome To Rapture Level.
10
Acquired 8/30/2007

Toaster in the Tub
The player has shocked an enemy in the water.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Defeated Dr. Steinman
The player has defeated the crazed Dr. Steinman
15
Acquired 8/30/2007

Defeated Peach Wilkins
The player has defeated Peach Wilkins
15
Acquired 8/30/2007

Restored the Forest
The player has restored the forests of Arcadia
15
Acquired 8/31/2007

Completed Cohen's Masterpiece
The player has completed Sander Cohen's great masterpiece
30
Acquired 8/31/2007

Defeated Andrew Ryan
The player has defeated Andrew Ryan
30
Acquired 8/31/2007

http://live.xbox.com/en-US/profile/A...To=Kekvit+Irae

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I'm currently going through the game saving the Little Sisters rather than harvesting them. I found that the rewards are VERY useful. Usually 100-200 ADAM every three or so children I save, given to me at the Garden. Plus I'm going for the Little Sister Achievement. I'm not sure if I can get the Dealt With All Little Sisters one because I may have missed one in Welcome To Rapture, and I cant go back there.

I'm currently taking a break from playing and going to install M2TW: Kingdoms.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kekvit Irae

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I'm currently going through the game saving the Little Sisters rather than harvesting them. I found that the rewards are VERY useful. Usually 100-200 ADAM every three or so children I save, given to me at the Garden. Plus I'm going for the Little Sister Achievement. I'm not sure if I can get the Dealt With All Little Sisters one because I may have missed one in Welcome To Rapture, and I cant go back there.

---

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The one in the first level isn't real. All of the Little Sisters in the game you can actually go back and deal with, and it's worth it, if you don't want to bother playing through again. And hopefully someday I'll get Xbox Live so I can link you to that/play with you guys over the internet.

M2TW: Kingdoms sucked greatly, so I went back and managed to win Bioshock and get the good ending yesterday. Now all I need to do is go back through the game again and try for all the other achievements and evil ending.

Belatedly finished the game just now. I think the readers' verdict at Gamespot is about right: 8.8.

It is visually stunning and creates an atmospheric unique world. The gameplay is very smooth and much more forgiving than System Shock 2. Some of the ideas are inspired, especially the Little Sisters and Big Daddies - they were the highlight of the game for me, especially the scenes were you freed the Little Sisters.

But the rest of the game was less involving than System Shock 2 in terms of the story and empathising with fate of the inhabitants of Rapture. The logs made less of an impression on me - one or two excepted - and there seemed to be fewer subplots in terms of what happened to incidental characters.

It was also not that scarey - perhaps partly because the gameplay was more forgiving (I died a lot and came back to finish off weakened foes). Also, the splicers tended to jump out and rush you more - whereas in System Shock 2, you heard the enemies first. It was listening for them, and having to ambush them, that really cranked up the tension. In Bioshock, the action was too loud and fast to freak me out. I guess I am just not that big a fan of shooters.

I confess I started to find the game a bit of drudge around the time of the big plot revelation. Perhaps they should have varied the opponents, weapons and plasmids more throughout the game. It started getting more of the same old, same old and I ended up just playing because I wanted to unravel the plot, not because I enjoyed the gameplay.

I did not think much of the final boss fight (the boss seemed like he had walked on from the wrong game), but I found the good ending video moving.

All in all, I am very happy this game has been a big commercial success. More games should be like this and Ken Levine, in particular, should never be allowed to become unemployed.



EDIT: Very nice analysis of the Bioshock story here (spoilers throughout); I had not realised it was full of so much symbolism:

http://my.opera.com/noisewar/blog/20...hock-explained

I would recommend Bioshock as a rental, not as a buy. Looking back, I see it as extremely linear (despite the game's advertising that it's not), and a veteran (like me) can blow through it in two nights.