Review: BioShock 2

soultwister

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the game is not worth the number 2, it's exactly the same game, but you play as a big daddy, it's like making half life: opposing force half life 2, doesn't work

big daddy controls exactly like your average fps protagonist, you do exactly the same things as you did in the first game, exept perhaps for the new weapons, my problem being, do you remember the first time you saw big daddy? he was calm, untill you threatend little sister, then he turned into an unstoppable train, attacking everything in sight in fury

well in bioshock 2 you're nothing like that, if the creators had anything but solid writing and level design, capability bigger than just ripping off system shock 2 (if you're a fanboy and with all your heart tried to deny this, then i'm sorry, but you see now), they could design a new system suited for big daddies, not some guy that crashes into the ocean

this is an expansion to the first game, not worth the money
 

PrototypeC

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This review is an odd one, to be sure. I keep hearing, "it's exactly like the original, it goes through the same motions, you'll see the same things, but..." and then never finishing the But. It's clear that he likes the game, I just can't figure out why based on the text or dialogue of this review.

He describes it as 'a perfect sequel' taken out of context of course, but I think of a sequel as good if it finds as many ways as possible to do new things with existing places (and sometimes characters, but usually not). Although, I could be talking out of my arse; I love ICO and Shadow of the Colossus, and I'm looking forward to The Last Guardian, which has a main character, setting and atmosphere identical to the previous games.

It could be that Bioshock 2 solves that dilemma that we sometimes have; not wanting a game to end once we've beaten it. I hope, though, that Konami doesn't take a cue from this game and make you a Pyramid Head in the next one... that would be impossibly stupid.
 

Zack84

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Feb 9, 2010
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Yes I definitely searched for all the voice recordings. The voice-acting was excellent in BS1, and I've always enjoyed the voice recordings as a device for evolving a plot.

Okay, maybe "console-tards" is a bit uncalled for, but I'm just bitter as a steadfast PC gamer. I don't like seeing intellectual property I've always associated with the PC being aped by the likes of Microsoft and Sony, i.e. Fallout 3--as much as I loved it, I would have preferred a true RPG in proper 3rd person and turn-based, and not a clunky, unsatisfying shooter. I guess I don't mind games being released across all platforms, but when the gameplay elements have to be DUMBED DOWN to meet the controller/audience that is console gaming it makes me die a little inside.
 

Zack84

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Cliff_m85 said:
I'm playing it now (well, not literally now...but you know what I mean). The Big Daddy suit just sucks. I mean, it's an interesting concept but it really takes away from the suspense of the first game where I was just a normal guy. Now I'm a killing machine with a gigantic drill. No real suspense yet. :/
EXACTLY. What is a "spiritual successor" to System Shock 2 if it is one that lacks any semblance of suspense and terror?
 

Zack84

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[/quote]I would also like to know what Yahtzee thinks, (I don't think he's going to keep me from getting the game though) but I don't understand why so many people think that bioShock was an RPG... it was just a shooter. and did you find all the tape recordings? that made it a very deep experience for me (but I never played System Shock...)

"Console-tards" was a bit uncalled for though.[/quote]

The reason people think BS is an RPG/shooter hybrid is because that is precisely how it is advertised in trailers, magazine spreads, and the devs labeling it "spiritual successor to SS2."
 

Cliff_m85

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Flying Dagger said:
rory12345 said:
In the BBC's review of Bioshock 2, Yahtzee's Bioshock review gets mentioned in it(1:08): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nwqaICKtvQ&feature=related
i apologise on behalf of my country.

Cliff_m85 said:
I'm playing it now (well, not literally now...but you know what I mean). The Big Daddy suit just sucks. I mean, it's an interesting concept but it really takes away from the suspense of the first game where I was just a normal guy. Now I'm a killing machine with a gigantic drill. No real suspense yet. :/
and that's the only thing that's making me think twice about it, in the first game you were stumbling onto everything by chance, now... well maybe the benefit is that the story can seem more driven during the early stages, i'm trying to media blackout myself so when i finally play it i can work it out as i go along.
Without spoiling anything, I'd say I'm near halfway into the game. The story is that you're searching for your little sister. My brain is flashing "plot twist" due to a few events due to the story of Bioshock 1 which may take away from any shocking twist that may happen.

It's fun and it's certainly worth a rent. It's just that it's not as immersive as Bioshock 1. With 1 I played almost all the way through the game in one day. In 2 I'm taking my sweet time. Finish a level then save and quit. I don't feel the urge to get to the end yet. I think it's because I just feel so powerful as a Big Daddy. Even the scripted Big Sister fights don't really make me nervous. :/
 

geldonyetich

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Just finished it. Quite good. Much better ending than the first. (Granted, the first one had a rather punch-out ending, so they wouldn't have had to do much to improve it.)

The additional modes of play helped. First game was just two modes of play: kill splicers, kill big daddies. Second game is several modes of play: kill splicers, kill big daddies, assist little sister, defeat aggressive big sister. Much better mixed up this way, keeps the game interesting.

I haven't even tried multiplayer yet. That should be a joy considering they've worked in this whole prequel plot-centric thing tied to leveling up your own Splicer.

The plasmid improvements were very nice too. Original game had you upgrade plasmids for more powerful versions of the same effect. This game actually grants whole additional powers for upgraded plasmids, usually whole new modes of operation, usually in the form of "charge up" effects.

Those who said the game wasn't particularly scary - I agree, but then, scariness was never BioShock's strong point. I think they made the right choice to ditch scariness in favor of just flat out handing you the Rapture experience.
 

WrcklessIntent

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Apr 16, 2009
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Just beat the game. Lived up to all my expectations but God dammit I really wish they only kept 1 Big Sister! that annoyed me the whole time and it doesn't even make sense why they have multiples. so sad that its over though D:
 

Giantcain

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bladeofdarkness said:
is it just me
or does anyone else feel like the phrase "area defense" is a euphemism for "escort mission" ?
its sort of but really its note cause thy cant die if you die they appear at your vita chamber you dont have to wait for them to follow and when harvesting if a splicer gets to close they just stop till its dead so really your ot escorting the little sister at all which is a good thing
 

Flamingpenguin

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solidstatemind said:
Honestly, you could've said that this game was an affront to humanity and gamerdom, and I still would've had to see for myself, since I loved the first one so much.
Same. I'm already (I'm guessing) halfway through it maybe. It's so different at first, and the combat is a lot more intense. Rapture feels... different. But that's okay.

So far, it's a good purchase.
 

Benjeezy

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Dec 3, 2009
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Excellent review, as always :)

But Russ, will we see a Dante's Inferno review? I'd like to know what everyone thought of it.
 

Jared

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bladeofdarkness said:
is it just me
or does anyone else feel like the phrase "area defense" is a euphemism for "escort mission" ?
Got that ring to it...
 

Benjeezy

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Susan Arendt said:
Benjeezy said:
Excellent review, as always :)

But Russ, will we see a Dante's Inferno review? I'd like to know what everyone thought of it.
Check back on Thursday. :)
Sweet deal. Thank you very much :)

(omgomgomg! An editor actually TALKED to me! *faints*)
 

Hileo20

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Dec 7, 2009
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Why did the reviewer say he wanted to bring a scoped gun into a game where you cant even use the gun's built in iron sights? seems silly..
 

Hileo20

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Giantcain said:
bladeofdarkness said:
is it just me
or does anyone else feel like the phrase "area defense" is a euphemism for "escort mission" ?
its sort of but really its note cause thy cant die if you die they appear at your vita chamber you dont have to wait for them to follow and when harvesting if a splicer gets to close they just stop till its dead so really your not escorting the little sister at all which is a good thing
That sounds exactly like an escort mission...
 

londelen

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Apr 15, 2009
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I think the only thing that should've been included is how damn difficult it is to find a game on the 360!
 

Jordan Deam

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Hileo20 said:
Why did the reviewer say he wanted to bring a scoped gun into a game where you cant even use the gun's built in iron sights? seems silly..
You actually can aim down sight by clicking in the right thumbstick, but it's kind of cumbersome. Useful for sniping with the crossbow, maybe, but otherwise too clunky to be effective.
 

TotallyFake

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ZippyDSMlee said:
*activates flame shield*

So did they fixed the simplified sound bite feeling dailog/script from BS 1 and create a more flowing narrative? BS is cliched with a few good bites tossed in here and there, so I am not to worried about things being worse......
I'd hardly call Bioshock cliched. Maybe the overall plot is (besides the whole "would you kindly" twist) but the setting is pretty damned unique.

So you admit the art deco and shiny turns off error and under development detection eh?
This is not a sentance. I cannot parse this. What do you mean?

The odds and sods machine was a bit annoying and really not needed since you should trip over or buy ammo 99.999% of the time, it would have been nice that instead of using it for farming/creation but allow for deeper weapon modifications... but I am regressing quickly here...
Agreed, they seem to have gone the exact opposite direction from System Shocks ammo conservation

The point of a death mechanic is not to kill you but make death a gameplay element...... and I see they fail to even try to do something with it....yet again....
I can't see where you're coming from. How is death a gameplay element? It's a necessity because a game without a system in place for the players failure doesn't really have any challenge. It can work in some games, but not in others. That's why the VitaChambers annoyed me, they remove all challenge. Either have it as an FPS, or make a game solely about wandering around a pretty environment (Like The Path)

Swap out "innovative shooter" with shallow and contrived for what is suppose to be a innovative game please.....
*flame shield implodes turning into a crispy lil furry thing*
Seriously, are you flame baiting? Sure, disagree with the populace if you will, but this sentence makes it seem like you're deliberately trying to rile people up.
And please, stop the ellipses. It's a struggle to read your posts, especially when you randomly miss out verbs from your sentences.
 

ZippyDSMlee

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StevieWonderMk2 said:
ZippyDSMlee said:
*activates flame shield*

So did they fixed the simplified sound bite feeling dailog/script from BS 1 and create a more flowing narrative? BS is cliched with a few good bites tossed in here and there, so I am not to worried about things being worse......
I'd hardly call Bioshock cliched. Maybe the overall plot is (besides the whole "would you kindly" twist) but the setting is pretty damned unique.
And thats all the game really is its setting the dailog is good but very very simplified to the point of of a sound bite, the game play is unbalanced and awkward there a few good twists but I found I already knew most of them by the time I the story figured them out.
I am a hard ass on some games because I see them as watering down either the genre or industry for no good reason. and BS is one of those games that takes a dumb on everything but art direction.....

This is not a sentance. I cannot parse this. What do you mean?
Basically I was asking Russ if his critical thinking and analytical skills turned off for Bioshocks 2 lack luster pretty.

The odds and sods machine was a bit annoying and really not needed since you should trip over or buy ammo 99.999% of the time, it would have been nice that instead of using it for farming/creation but allow for deeper weapon modifications... but I am regressing quickly here...
Agreed, they seem to have gone the exact opposite direction from System Shocks ammo conservation
Well they wanted to make the game easy and didn't want to bother finish polishing it up if they worked on it instead of jerking it out it would have been great.....but I see when I play it is a under develop and unfinished game waiting to be finalized,balanced and well..worked on...

The point of a death mechanic is not to kill you but make death a gameplay element...... and I see they fail to even try to do something with it....yet again....
I can't see where you're coming from. How is death a gameplay element? It's a necessity because a game without a system in place for the players failure doesn't really have any challenge. It can work in some games, but not in others. That's why the VitaChambers annoyed me, they remove all challenge. Either have it as an FPS, or make a game solely about wandering around a pretty environment (Like The Path)
Many other games give you the checkpoint when you die setup and give you NO information about how or why within the games fiction you just pop up someone. In BS its more half assed because they have so mnay things to refine the mechanic over yet they do not they treat it as any old game with a check point system only they give you an excuse as to why you are popping up somewhere.... they could have so easily made this game great if they worked more on each individual mechanic. For instance the AI works off of sound and sight so you can lure and trap them if you wanted to.Equipment could have been used in lue of some plasmids head/chest/arm/boot with 3 levels each and 3 or 4 main styles thats only 48 "items" or better yet take the modding wrought and have 20 equipable items then you use a mix of crystallized plasmids to give the bio tech based equipment a stat or ability. I was quite sadden by how limited BS played out when it was trying so hard to be an open sand box style of a game.....


Seriously, are you flame baiting? Sure, disagree with the populace if you will, but this sentence makes it seem like you're deliberately trying to rile people up.
And please, stop the ellipses. It's a struggle to read your posts, especially when you randomly miss out verbs from your sentences.
I am only trying to get my passionate views threw to the casuals who think gaming is fine being watered down as it is these days....
I am also learning disabled and have issues with communication that with a silly sense of humor can but me all over the place when I am ranting/raving about something.