Breathe, remember to breathe I keep telling myself. The game that invented it’s own genre three years ago has returned for another edition. It’s a sequel which is more like an expansion pack than a different volume. More IP’s should follow suit. Somehow in an effort to do the “same, same” and pump out reiterations of the same tired franchises the sequels of games never measured up before. The PS3 has been around for long enough, that we’ve seen two other decent sequels, Uncharted 2 and Assasins Creed 2. Bioshock 2 has achieved a good balance between original material and the improvements. If claustrophobic environments and undersea frolicking aren’t your thing then you won’t like BS2. If you were one of many who enjoyed the first Bioshock, then this second offering was built for you. And who didn’t love such a graphically stunning and intellectually stimulating game? Well, me for one. But I still gave it a good score.-
Xfire
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Feb
11
Bioshock 2 PS3 Review
Category: Game Reviews, PS3 | 
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Breathe, remember to breathe I keep telling myself. The game that invented it’s own genre three years ago has returned for another edition. It’s a sequel which is more like an expansion pack than a different volume. More IP’s should follow suit. Somehow in an effort to do the “same, same” and pump out reiterations of the same tired franchises the sequels of games never measured up before. The PS3 has been around for long enough, that we’ve seen two other decent sequels, Uncharted 2 and Assasins Creed 2. Bioshock 2 has achieved a good balance between original material and the improvements. If claustrophobic environments and undersea frolicking aren’t your thing then you won’t like BS2. If you were one of many who enjoyed the first Bioshock, then this second offering was built for you. And who didn’t love such a graphically stunning and intellectually stimulating game? Well, me for one. But I still gave it a good score.Bioshock 2 is just too good at what it does. If it wasn’t so damn convincing I wouldn’t be holding my breath. I wouldn’t be having panic attacks of drowning in my living room would I? I’ve learned something from this game, about myself as a gamer. Games are getting so good and so realistic that you can almost barf from playing them. It all depends on what your creep-out level is. Sure I can play Silent Hill or Fatal Frame because the supernatural is my natural playground. But BS2 takes me way, way too far out of my comfort zone. I don’t enjoy close-up first person views of drilling into flaling zombies splattering blood all over. It’s all too gritty, too gross, and too anxiety producing. And that’s the strength of this game. Bioshock is a game that is just too frickin’ convincing. If you loved the engaging world of Rapture the first time around then you should just go buy this one.
The graphics, are still unparalelled. I have compared numerous other games to Bioshock the first because of the brilliant use of colors. The pallette that is used is outstanding. The contrasts of the textures of water, blood, wood, metal and glass all reflect differently. The plasmid weapons create a burst of glittering, almost blinding effects. Overall the lighting application is masterful.
Game – play has not changed. It is still a shooter, now with weapons on both hands. You can rummage around in the interesting looking piles of stuff and find a variety of pick ups. Then customise the unique genetic weapon sets called plasmids in seemingly endless variety. They even added on the multiplayer opportunity for those who enjoy that. There are plenty of reviews around the Net that detail all the new weapons, and give you more of an idea of the story line. I don’t write book reports or Wikipedia entries about games.
What is of interest is that there is an expanded role of females, in the game this time around. It’s the same story as last time. Someone is whispering to you, to get you to do things for them. This time the voices are female. The Big Sister has appeared, as I suggested the first time around. Hey where is my royalty check? The villain is Dr. Lamb a female, and the whole story line revolves around the Little Sisters who are small, humanoid, genetic material lockers. There are about even numbers of male and female enemies to toast throught the game. There isn’t a female avatar to choose and play with.
Because the mythos of Bioshock is so off beat and original, it isn’t possible to criticise it for the treatment of female roles the way I would in a more realistic type of game. When female – ish characters appear in fantasy games, it has been my contention that the morals that would apply to human women, wouldn’t apply off world, or this case, underwater.
For me, give me two feet on the ground and a shotgun thank you. :shudder: There is nothing to criticize here, nothing in it is broken. Bioshock 2 is the best game I’ve ever hated. I give Bioshock 2, 10 cans of beans out of 10.
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