BioShock Infinite Review: A Head in the Clouds

[MikeWehner]

So, does Elizabeth do everything on her own? Is there some strategy or pattern to the stuff she pulls from the Tears, is it random, or can you give her orders?

Just a small question; this one definitely looks worth a buy.

You can request tears, you can see little blips of where the tears are and what they will produce, and you can order her to open them. The catch is only one can be open at a time, so maybe you need a sniper rifle up on the ledge, and she can open a tear that has a rifle and a box of ammo, or you can open a tear that produces a giant robotic "Motorized Patriot" ally to fight along with you. You can switch back and forth too, but it's very much a fast-paced risk/reward system.

 

[WarpZone]

The written version of the review is significantly longer and more detailed than the video version. I explain a lot more about it in the written version. That's why we have "Read the full review at Escapist.com" at the end of the video, and save the score for the written review as well

Oh, yep! There it is. Scroll past the video, look to the far right of the "Post a comment" link, click page 2.

If you are worried about Infinite becoming one long escort mission, there's absolutely nothing to fear here. You never have to actively protect Elizabeth in combat, and she finds her own cover and avoids enemy fire without any input on your part. She may be the object of your rescue mission, but she can definitely stand on her own when it comes to survival.

Can't imagine how I missed that. I guess I was mentally passing off the review text as Search Engine Optimization. "Whelp, it says Video Review and I clicked play on the video! Guess I've seen the review!" Past Me can be such an idiot sometimes.

 

[Redingold]

Is it better than the first one? Because for me, Bioshock ran out of steam two thirds of the way through, after the confrontation with Ryan. After that, it was an uninteresting slog through dull, tedious combat and some really crappy escort missions.

 

[Soak]

Tehe, well someone had to get lucky to make this review, gratz .
Though i wish you would've told me something more, than i already knew, i get it, that it's hard to tell anything about a story-based shooter without spoiling anything of the actual story...

Honestly, i'm still just a bit skeptical, if Infinite made a "turn" in it's focus from the city and its ideals as a driving motive, towards an actual protagonist (DeWitt) and that this might break with what i actually loved about Bioshock (1 & 2). I actually made a small test in a class about videogames, if anyone who played Bioshock could remember whom they were playing (by name and background story) and nobody really could, while everyone remembered the name, story and ideals Rapture was build on - obviously. At least to me, that was what really separated Bioshock from other shooters and even from other story-based shooters, which usually are about Protagonist/Hero XY rescuing/saving Person Z/City Q/ the day.

Then, through development, i heard what the motives of Infinite would be/ are now and thought, that the part of "cultural exceptionalism" (generalized) could put this in a proper perspective, by showing and then breaking the generic formula, but until now, i don't really have any "prove", what exactly they did in this matter (i know what "american exceptionalism" has to do with Columbia, but, while i may over-interpret some things, i see all of the Bioshock-titles as potential mirrors for our society).

Well, maybe you, or anybody for that matter, can tell without spoiling anything...
on the other hand it barely matters to me, because i will play it either way, considering Infinite is now the first title i ever pre-ordered - and right now i already enjoy XCOM to the fullest and therefore will hardly see this as a wasted purchase .

 

[WarpZone]

Is it better than the first one? Because for me, Bioshock ran out of steam two thirds of the way through, after the confrontation with Ryan. After that, it was an uninteresting slog through dull, tedious combat and some really crappy escort missions.

To be fair, the mid-game plot twist was a lot less anticlimactic back in System Shock 2 when it was an omnipotent supercomputer hacking your mind.

 

[Frostbite3789]

Now stop being an Amazon-esque review bomber and shut your mouth before you play the game. <3

Man after some of the light stuff users have been perma-banned lately for this is how The Escapist gets to respond to users? Hoo boy. Don't get me wrong, I like your stuff, you're a delight in streams, but as far as responding as an employee of the site in that way? Ehhhh.

OT: This is a pleasant surprise, kinda had a sinking feeling about this game. I know where some of my next payday is going now.

 

[daibakuha]

Aaannnd poor Tomb raider is overshadowed by this pseudo-philosophical tripe

Don't get me wrong.I am sure the game is enjoyable.And moreover, i will have fun with it.But the philosophy in the bioshock series never did anything to me, honestly.And i think the series could be better off without it.Bioshock 2 had great potential (the cult of Eleanor and all) but failed miserably, it merely wallowed in it's predecessor's IDENTICAL gameplay.

Tomb Raider on the other hand is just a great cinematic survivor story, that is really touching.It will be lucky to win anything considering how each reviewer is jizzing their pants.This is saddening to me, but oh well.At least i have a good game to play.No one will ever understand what crystal dynamics has done, and how far TR itself has come.

Also "CHECK UR PULSE IF U DON"T THING TEH GAMEZZZZ IS OSUMMM???" is something i've yet to see any professional review ever say.Good job escapist.

The irony of this post is delicious.

Anyone else want a taste?

So very delicious...

The irony is not lost on me. It's more affirming actually, something poetic about a guy who doesn't grasp that you're supposed to hit the space bar after you type a period not liking this game.

I was unsure about buying this immediately, but now? I think I will.

 

[WarpZone]

Now stop being an Amazon-esque review bomber and shut your mouth before you play the game. <3

Man after some of the light stuff users have been perma-banned lately for this is how The Escapist gets to respond to users? Hoo boy. Don't get me wrong, I like your stuff, you're a delight in streams, but as far as responding as an employee of the site in that way? Ehhhh.

OT: This is a pleasant surprise, kinda had a sinking feeling about this game. I know where some of my next payday is going now.

To be honest? I kinda respect him more for addressing the criticisms head-on.

Of course, if the game sucks and nothing he said in the video review turns out to be true, that respect is going straight down the toilet along with the rest of the industry snowjob garbage being churned out daily by the video game review industry.

But until then, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Frostbite3789]

To be honest? I kinda respect him more for addressing the criticisms head-on.

Of course, if the game sucks and nothing he said in the video review turns out to be true, that respect is going straight down the toilet along with the rest of the industry snowjob garbage being churned out daily by the video game review industry.

But until then, I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Oh, there wasn't a problem with that bit. Just the bit I quoted is what I was talking about. There's no problem with addressing criticisms.

 

[WarpZone]

Oh, there wasn't a problem with that bit. Just the bit I quoted is what I was talking about. There's no problem with addressing criticisms.

Oh, okay. I gotcha. Given how vitriolic my tone was, I frankly don't blame him for that bit. I saw what looked like a blatant advertisement masquerading as a review. I responded as I would to an advertisement. He saw what looked like a raging, unappeasable troll. He responded as he would to a troll. We both had constraints imposed upon our use of language by The Escapist.

If anything, he has the more difficult role, and the more restrictive rules of engagement. I just want to know the truth. He has to express an opinion, provide value to the company, overcome my own spoken and unspoken biases, cover his arse legally, promote his own credibility, avoid escalating a question into a flame war, champion an entire medium, and maybe, just maybe, on a good day, if he's very lucky, he can balance all that shit and then ALSO tell guys like me the actual, unvarnished truth as he understands it.

Frankly it's amazing we were able to communicate at all.

 

[gigastar]

Well, preorders jsutified. Thats all i came here for.

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

I can't wait to play this. It looks absolutely incredible. I've seen Adam Sessler's review as well and he's another video game journalist I respect. Also Jim mentioned in his latest Jimquisition that the game is great. And now this review. So yeah, it seems to be praised universally. And from what I've seen of gameplay it's definitely worth buying.

 

[MrBaskerville]

It really does sound interesting except for one little detail, the revival system. From all i´ve read it sounds like a really cool and fun game with plenty of choices, but the revival system just makes me regret my preorder. In the worst case scenario It´s like with Bioshock back when it orignally launched, i loved everyting about it but the Vita Chambers desstroyed all tension and i ended up selling the game. Hopefully the revival stuff is better balanced in this game, because it sounds like it´s too easy to come back to life with only minor penalties.

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

Caved and pre-ordered this over the weekend. Glad to here that I'm not going likely suffer pre-order blues. But with Spec Ops and XCom to help sweeten the deal I doubt that was likely to happen anyway

 

[Casual Shinji]

I really wasn't a fan of the first Bioshock, and that was mainly because the shooting action felt stiff and unsatisfying, and the game lacked visual characterisation. The latter looks like Infinite has beat seeing as characters have actual faces this time around, so that leaves the question of the shooting action.

I'm still going to check it out just because of the fresh setting alone, I just hope that won't be all it has to offer.

 

[DrunkOnEstus]

Oh, there wasn't a problem with that bit. Just the bit I quoted is what I was talking about. There's no problem with addressing criticisms.

Oh, okay. I gotcha. Given how vitriolic my tone was, I frankly don't blame him for that bit. I saw what looked like a blatant advertisement masquerading as a review. I responded as I would to an advertisement. He saw what looked like a raging, unappeasable troll. He responded as he would to a troll. We both had constraints imposed upon our use of language by The Escapist.

If anything, he has the more difficult role, and the more restrictive rules of engagement. I just want to know the truth. He has to express an opinion, provide value to the company, overcome my own spoken and unspoken biases, cover his arse legally, promote his own credibility, avoid escalating a question into a flame war, champion an entire medium, and maybe, just maybe, on a good day, if he's very lucky, he can balance all that shit and then ALSO tell guys like me the actual, unvarnished truth as he understands it.

Frankly it's amazing we were able to communicate at all.

*Insert "clapping" gif here* . Do you have any friends who don't use the Internet? You should invite them in so that it can be a better place.

OT: I would have my money at the ready to throw at this game (Levine's never let me down), but I'm working my way through the first 2. Maybe I can exercise some patience and get that "GOTY season pass included" a bit down the line. Good job, Mike.

 

[jFr[e]ak93]

I pre-ordered this on Friday after reading one positive review. This has settled any doubt that it will be an A:CM or a SC. Bring on midnight!

Does anyone know if it's at all connected to the first two BioShocks? I never played 'em.

 

[fwiffo]

It really does sound interesting except for one little detail, the revival system. From all i´ve read it sounds like a really cool and fun game with plenty of choices, but the revival system just makes me regret my preorder. In the worst case scenario It´s like with Bioshock back when it orignally launched, i loved everyting about it but the Vita Chambers desstroyed all tension and i ended up selling the game. Hopefully the revival stuff is better balanced in this game, because it sounds like it´s too easy to come back to life with only minor penalties.

I've heard the chambers are more like system shock 2, where you have to pay for each rez. Not sure if they have to be activated first.

I'm putting faith in "1999 mode" for this game. Hopefully its challenging enough to be entertaining.

captcha: know your rights

damn straight captcha, I deserve the right to have my ass kicked by videogames.

 

[MrBaskerville]

It really does sound interesting except for one little detail, the revival system. From all i´ve read it sounds like a really cool and fun game with plenty of choices, but the revival system just makes me regret my preorder. In the worst case scenario It´s like with Bioshock back when it orignally launched, i loved everyting about it but the Vita Chambers desstroyed all tension and i ended up selling the game. Hopefully the revival stuff is better balanced in this game, because it sounds like it´s too easy to come back to life with only minor penalties.

I've heard the chambers are more like system shock 2, where you have to pay for each rez. Not sure if they have to be activated first.

I'm putting faith in "1999 mode" for this game. Hopefully its challenging enough to be entertaining.

captcha: know your rights

damn straight captcha, I deserve the right to have my ass kicked by videogames.

Some of the more negative (mildly negative) claims that you use cash to revive yourself, but you find plenty of cash, so it´s not a problem and oftentime it should be beneficial to kill yourself to get ammo and life bonusses. Just sounds like something minor that could turn out to be a huge problem to my enjoyment. And 1999 mode requires a playthrough, which kinda sucks^^.

But i´m probably being overly pessimistic about the whole thing .