Post by solidbatman on Oct 28, 2012 22:09:02 GMT -5
-Visuals- 8.3/10
Visually, Bioshock 2 is the same as Bioshock. What I mean by that is that Bioshock 2 has the same quality of graphics that the first game had. Why, then, is my score so much lower? It comes down to Rapture, the great underwater city that serves as the location for this game. Sure it looks like Rapture, but it does not feel like Rapture. The awe and mysterious feel of Rapture that the first game managed to capture so well is gone. So while you are in Rapture, it simply feels like a location for the game. The first game managed to make Rapture into a character in a certain way. Rapture was the people, the Little Sisters, the Big Daddies, and the Splicers. Rapture in Bioshock 2 is simply the backdrop and takes a back seat to the story.
Now if I were to judge based off graphics alone, and not environment, Bioshock 2 looks every bit as good as the first. Built off a heavily modified Unreal 3 engine, the water effects really stand out once again and the engine proves capable of handling a lot of action occurring on screen. I did have one frame rate drop that lasted for a few moments but I believe that to be an isolated problem, not something every gamer will experience.
-Sound- 9.5/10
The sound again shines as it did in the first game. I felt like their was a lot more dialogue in Bioshock 2 than their was in Bioshock, though that may come down to the tighter narrative of the second game. The music is wonderfully done using ominous sounding violin/piano pieces with a mix of '50s and '60s music thrown in to match the time period of the game. The voice acting is top notch and all of the performances were executed well. For example, Sinclair is a sleazy man who assists you and he talks like a sleazy salesman, which fits his role perfectly. My only real complaint is the shops. While the Gatherers Garden machines still have their creepy music and slogans, the Circus of Value's and the ammo machines have lost the creepy dialogue and music. That takes away from the feeling of Rapture, something I mentioned above.
-Gameplay- 9/10
Nearly the same as the first, but streamlined a bit, the gameplay features your favorite plasmids once again, but with new weapons. Plasmids act as your alternate weapon. For example, if you are surrounded by enemies, you could set one on fire using Incinerate, or freeze a couple using a blizzard like plasmid. Maybe you want to have an enemy turret attack it's own allies? Use the security override plasmid to take control of the turret for a short amount of time. Or maybe you want to throw an enemies grenade back at him. Use telekinesis to catch his grenade and launch it right back into his face. Plasmids are what allow you to clear out enemies in the way you want to clear them out.
As for the weapons, the same classes apply as the first game, with minor modifications to reflect the fact that you play as a Big Daddy. You're new melee weapon is a giant drill and gathering fuel will allow you to spin the drill for extra melee damage. You now also have a rivet gun, that acts as your new pistol. The rivet gun is a nice change from the pistol in large part because of the different ammo types, such as trap rivets or heavy rivets. Other weapons include a spear gun which replaces the mighty crossbow, a heavy machine gun which replaces the smaller tommy gun, and the hold over, the grenade launcher. Different ammo types will give weapons different attacks. Take the trap rivet i mentioned above. Shoot this against a wall and it acts as a trip wire that deals hefty damage to enemies the trip it. The spear gun also has trap ammo, though it deals less damage but electrocutes enemies which stuns them for a moment, a moment you can use to deal a quick death to them. All of these weapons fit in with the new game play mechanic.
Seeing how you play as a Big Daddy, you can choose to help Little Sisters gather Adam, the currency needed to buy new upgrades for yourself. Much like the first game, you have to eliminate the Big daddy protecting the Little Sister to even have an option with them. Once he is dealt with, you can choose to harvest the sister, which nets you more Adam than any other option. This outs you on the path to the darker endings and you will miss out on gifts left at Gatherer Gardens. The other option is to adopt the Little Sister. Doing this will allow you to assist the Little Sister in gathering Adam as you have to protect her from Splicers, the main enemies in the game. After gathering Adam from two corpses, you have the option once again to harvest her, or save her by releasing her from her Adam addiction. Saving the Sisters will net you less Adam, but puts you on the path for the brighter endings and saving enough Little Sisters will cause them to leave gifts for you, which can include new upgrades or Adam bonuses which allow you to upgrade. I actually found this new way of dealing with the Sisters far more enjoyable than simply killing a Big Daddy and clicking a button. It gave more of a sense of fulfillment as you do more to earn Adam, and also fits your role as a Big Daddy.
-Story- 9.5/10
The first Bioshock had a messy, but fun story. Bioshock 2, however, has a much more tightly controlled story that is pieced together with less philosophical musings and more straight forward talk. Don't be alarmed though, the philosophical and political undertones still exist, they just are not thrown in your face. This fact could account for Rapture feeling less like rapture of Bioshock 1, but it also means the story is easier to digest.
The game opens with you following a Little Sister whom is running around Rapture when she comes across trouble. You are subdued, when Sofia Lamb, a political rival of Andrew Ryan, manages to take control of your mind. She informs you that Eleanor, the Little Sister you were protecting, is not your daughter but her daughter. She then orders you to take off your mask and shoot yourself. Fast forward 10 years to 1968, and you awaken from a sort of coma. Now you search for Eleanor and Sofia Lamb. It's a fun story and has plenty of twists and turns along the way.
-Overall- 9/10
I personally enjoyed this game more than the first game, though it gets a lower score because of the loss of wonder at Rapture. The game has plenty to offer still with addicting game play, incredible sound work, and a very polished story. If you enjoyed the first game, I promise you will enjoy Bioshock 2.
Visually, Bioshock 2 is the same as Bioshock. What I mean by that is that Bioshock 2 has the same quality of graphics that the first game had. Why, then, is my score so much lower? It comes down to Rapture, the great underwater city that serves as the location for this game. Sure it looks like Rapture, but it does not feel like Rapture. The awe and mysterious feel of Rapture that the first game managed to capture so well is gone. So while you are in Rapture, it simply feels like a location for the game. The first game managed to make Rapture into a character in a certain way. Rapture was the people, the Little Sisters, the Big Daddies, and the Splicers. Rapture in Bioshock 2 is simply the backdrop and takes a back seat to the story.
Now if I were to judge based off graphics alone, and not environment, Bioshock 2 looks every bit as good as the first. Built off a heavily modified Unreal 3 engine, the water effects really stand out once again and the engine proves capable of handling a lot of action occurring on screen. I did have one frame rate drop that lasted for a few moments but I believe that to be an isolated problem, not something every gamer will experience.
-Sound- 9.5/10
The sound again shines as it did in the first game. I felt like their was a lot more dialogue in Bioshock 2 than their was in Bioshock, though that may come down to the tighter narrative of the second game. The music is wonderfully done using ominous sounding violin/piano pieces with a mix of '50s and '60s music thrown in to match the time period of the game. The voice acting is top notch and all of the performances were executed well. For example, Sinclair is a sleazy man who assists you and he talks like a sleazy salesman, which fits his role perfectly. My only real complaint is the shops. While the Gatherers Garden machines still have their creepy music and slogans, the Circus of Value's and the ammo machines have lost the creepy dialogue and music. That takes away from the feeling of Rapture, something I mentioned above.
-Gameplay- 9/10
Nearly the same as the first, but streamlined a bit, the gameplay features your favorite plasmids once again, but with new weapons. Plasmids act as your alternate weapon. For example, if you are surrounded by enemies, you could set one on fire using Incinerate, or freeze a couple using a blizzard like plasmid. Maybe you want to have an enemy turret attack it's own allies? Use the security override plasmid to take control of the turret for a short amount of time. Or maybe you want to throw an enemies grenade back at him. Use telekinesis to catch his grenade and launch it right back into his face. Plasmids are what allow you to clear out enemies in the way you want to clear them out.
As for the weapons, the same classes apply as the first game, with minor modifications to reflect the fact that you play as a Big Daddy. You're new melee weapon is a giant drill and gathering fuel will allow you to spin the drill for extra melee damage. You now also have a rivet gun, that acts as your new pistol. The rivet gun is a nice change from the pistol in large part because of the different ammo types, such as trap rivets or heavy rivets. Other weapons include a spear gun which replaces the mighty crossbow, a heavy machine gun which replaces the smaller tommy gun, and the hold over, the grenade launcher. Different ammo types will give weapons different attacks. Take the trap rivet i mentioned above. Shoot this against a wall and it acts as a trip wire that deals hefty damage to enemies the trip it. The spear gun also has trap ammo, though it deals less damage but electrocutes enemies which stuns them for a moment, a moment you can use to deal a quick death to them. All of these weapons fit in with the new game play mechanic.
Seeing how you play as a Big Daddy, you can choose to help Little Sisters gather Adam, the currency needed to buy new upgrades for yourself. Much like the first game, you have to eliminate the Big daddy protecting the Little Sister to even have an option with them. Once he is dealt with, you can choose to harvest the sister, which nets you more Adam than any other option. This outs you on the path to the darker endings and you will miss out on gifts left at Gatherer Gardens. The other option is to adopt the Little Sister. Doing this will allow you to assist the Little Sister in gathering Adam as you have to protect her from Splicers, the main enemies in the game. After gathering Adam from two corpses, you have the option once again to harvest her, or save her by releasing her from her Adam addiction. Saving the Sisters will net you less Adam, but puts you on the path for the brighter endings and saving enough Little Sisters will cause them to leave gifts for you, which can include new upgrades or Adam bonuses which allow you to upgrade. I actually found this new way of dealing with the Sisters far more enjoyable than simply killing a Big Daddy and clicking a button. It gave more of a sense of fulfillment as you do more to earn Adam, and also fits your role as a Big Daddy.
-Story- 9.5/10
The first Bioshock had a messy, but fun story. Bioshock 2, however, has a much more tightly controlled story that is pieced together with less philosophical musings and more straight forward talk. Don't be alarmed though, the philosophical and political undertones still exist, they just are not thrown in your face. This fact could account for Rapture feeling less like rapture of Bioshock 1, but it also means the story is easier to digest.
The game opens with you following a Little Sister whom is running around Rapture when she comes across trouble. You are subdued, when Sofia Lamb, a political rival of Andrew Ryan, manages to take control of your mind. She informs you that Eleanor, the Little Sister you were protecting, is not your daughter but her daughter. She then orders you to take off your mask and shoot yourself. Fast forward 10 years to 1968, and you awaken from a sort of coma. Now you search for Eleanor and Sofia Lamb. It's a fun story and has plenty of twists and turns along the way.
-Overall- 9/10
I personally enjoyed this game more than the first game, though it gets a lower score because of the loss of wonder at Rapture. The game has plenty to offer still with addicting game play, incredible sound work, and a very polished story. If you enjoyed the first game, I promise you will enjoy Bioshock 2.