Bioshock Infinite Review
Plot
Main CharactersQuote:
The game takes place in the airborne city of Columbia, where the player assumes the role of Booker DeWitt, a disgraced Pinkerton agent. Booker has been given the job of finding a woman named Elizabeth in Columbia, who has been confined by a hulking beast called Songbird.
Following in the footsteps of previous BioShock games, the world of Infinite explores the chaos that results when strong ideals are taken to the extreme. At the time of DeWitt's arrival, Columbia is a hotbed of ultra-nationalism, specifically American exceptionalism, as shown by the copious numbers of flags, patriotic music, and propaganda posters that bold facedly spurn the idea that the Columbia could be a 'haven' from the so-called 'unwanted' of the world.
Booker DeWitt
DeWitt was a former Pinkerton Agent (and the character you play as in Bioshock Infinite) who was disgraced due to his use of extreme methods on the job. As a member of the Pinkerton Agency, DeWitt had been tasked with breaking up union strike efforts. At one point he was also an Indian fighter, and was present at the battle of Wounded Knee. His experiences at Wounded Knee mentally scarred him, which would lead to his future alcoholism and addiction to gambling. Following his discharge from the Pinkerton Agency, he became a private investigator.
Before the events of BioShock Infinite, DeWitt was going through a low point in his life, one of which was a wife who died while giving birth to their child, who also died.
Elizabeth
Elizabeth is a twenty-one year old woman who has been imprisoned in Columbia since she was five years old. Booker DeWitt, the protagonist of BioShock Infinite, is sent to retrieve her from the flying city, and bring her back to New York. She is guarded by Songbird, a monstrous, winged creature who has become her only friend. She is skilled in various powers, among them the manipulation of "tears" that exist in the fabric of time. Although freed from imprisonment, both The Founders and the Vox Populi covet Elizabeth and her abilities, while her former guardian is determined to recapture her at all cost.
Songbird
When Elizabeth was imprisoned in Columbia for fifteen years, a creature, simply called Songbird, was created for the sole purpose of keeping her in prison and became the most feared creature in all of Columbia. During that time, it was the child's only company, bringing her such things as books and food. Although it held her captive, the creature had been her caretaker and protector. Eventually, she grew to love it as her only friend. When she had escaped, Songbird was intent to bring her back, even if it meant destroying anyone and anything near her, including Booker DeWitt.
Its name derives from the tune that plays on a steam calliope organ in Elizabeth's room in Monument Tower whenever Songbird arrives. A nursery rhyme for the Songbird goes "Songbird, Songbird see him fly, drop the children from the sky, when the young ones misbehave, escorts children to their grave"
Zachary Hale Comstock
He is the leader of The Founders, the ultra-nationalist party that founded the floating city of Columbia. Within Columbia, Comstock is known as a prophet, earning the nickname "Father Comstock", since he has, or at least claims to have, the ability to predict the future of Columbia, attacks from his enemies, and the actions of Booker DeWitt[1]. His similar appearance with Booker DeWitt and among other achievements, he is also known as the "Hero of the Battle of Wounded Knee" like Booker. Comstock was once married until he killed his wife and blamed it on Daisy Fitzroy sometime before Friday, February 13, 1903.
Overall Review
First Impression
Bioshock Infinite is brilliantly appealing to the naked eye with its stunning realistic looking backgrounds, artistically creative expression of the old 17th century style era. Obviously its a completely different feel then the previous Bioshock games. Bioshock infinite looked like it could be an excellent contender for game of the year and bring the Bioshock franchise back to where it was when Bioshock 1 first came out. Now what is common with games in this generation is that 2/5 games that come up is mainly based on hype and I was getting the vibe from the trailers and screen shots of Bioshock Infinite. If you think about it... How much can one really do with a first person shooter?
Aftermath Impression
Bioshock Infinite was as fresh as Bioshock 1 was when we the players were introduced to Irrational's perspective of a artistically unique take on first person shooters. They introduced a few systems that make Bioshock Infinite stand out loud and clear among the other contenders for first person shooters. They brought back a portion of the chill and down right creepiness from Bioshock 1 and implanted it into their new world of Columbia. Not just that, but the game has an interesting story line that will keep the players wanting more. It starts off giving the players a little bit of information to spark that curiosity that a lot of games lack. Most games that have come out in the past year have really based their game on competitive multiplayer based modes. Bioshock Infinite took out their multiplayer so that players can focus more so on the campaign it self and not get distracted with an mediocre grade multiplayer game mode. After playing the game and then visiting friend's houses and such... I have come to a conclusion that the game leaves each player with a different taste in their mouth. The last half of the game takes a point that requires a lot more thought to understand what is happening. The second half of the game pulls out basically an inception type feel. (The movie about a dream within a dream within a dream sequence). It is a pretty bold way to have the players adapt to but it is completely unique. If you are into shows like Fringe, Person of interest, Sherlock, or movies like Pan's Labyrinth, Inception, and Looper you will enjoy this game.
Screen Shots
In this screen shot you can see the skyline above the character and someone shooting missles. This is how bioshock infinite looks like when you really get into it. There is so much that happens that you don't have many moments to sit back and ease your way through enemies. As you can see in the coloring that the colors are over blended with special effects to give off a unique glossy type glow to it (example the explosion).
In this screen shot you can see that there aren't just guns in this game there are also other interesting tools that you can use to kill your enemies alongside using your special power skill set that you obtain over time in the game like in the previous Bioshock campaigns.
One of the many surprises that you will come across during the campaign. Yes that is one of the founding fathers to the US. Irrational has given a very interesting model of George Washington.
The Breakdown
Positives
-The background scenery is brilliantly well created and shown. The details in the background are realistic yet animated. They will make you want to take the time after killing the enemies and just appreciate the work that was done in the background. The background is just amazingly appealing to the eyes.
-The skyline system was a revolutionary edition to first person shooters. This system makes the combat more dynamic and intense then any other first person shooter out there. It takes the stationary shoot, hide behind cover, maybe evade here or there and turns it into dynamic in motion shooting with the push to put more creative tactics in taking down enemies. It fits the motto of a Less popular game that came out almost 2 years ago (Kill with skill BulletStorm).
-The character development was highly detailed and kept you wanting to know more about each character. The player ended up feeling for the main characters and creating not a large bond with them but a decently moderate bond with them.
-The weapons are so unique, they have the look of old school weapons back in the 17th and 18th century (Take note that the game takes place in the 19th century). The gun models are either extremely accurate to those old school guns or are considered as "steam punked" designed weapons. There is also more weapons to use instead of just the stereotypical guns. They have quite a few different kind of melee weapons that are unique to the old school era.
-The dynamic play style of first person shooting and using abilities are top notch in this game. It gives the players a unique way to over throw certain situations and give the satisfaction of "getting the kill". They really tweaked out the abilities and guns from the previous games so they are lot more smooth in this one.
-There is an over abundance of audio logs that are scattered among the game that give the players extra information on the story and certain characters. The logs are of above average quality because they answer questions that you will get from playing certain parts of the game.
Negatives
-The game on normal setting is extremely short and it can be beaten within about 10-15 hours (without rushing). Even with spending time to find the audio logs you don't rack up much time. The short campaign stationary campaign span will defiantly turn off players on replay value since its the same story no little differences or hints.
-The plot in the second half of the game requires a lot more thought to understand what is going on then it did for the first half of the game. A lot of people will have issues seeing things the way Irrational did while making this game. It was an attempt at giving the game more meaning and more "epicness".
-The only way to get the best out out of the game is to play on the 1999 game mode. Which is like a hard setting basically where you will have to use tactics to progress in the story and the combat is way more intense. Thus making the player work more to get the satisfaction of a pleasing fight.
-The voice acting started out really good to where it was basically believable as if you were watching a A- rated movie. By the time it gets to the last portion of the game it feels that a few of the character's voice actors lost that emotion behind their voice and was just reading lines off paper. That may mess players up on the emotion side of the game.
-Once you get past the thrilling visuals and intense combat you realize that once they hint towards something in the campaign it gets predictable until the 2nd half of the game where things change completely. Once things change completely if you can catch what is happening you could basically figure out how the game will end. (not an amazing finale but it was defiantly "artistic")
-The game felt like that some of the missions needed more. It felt like they gave us a portion of the mission and either cut or hid the other portion.
Conclusion
Rating
Graphics: 8.6
Audio: 8.0
Gameplay: 8.3
Lasting Appeal: 8.0
Overall Rating: 8.4
Last Thoughts
With all of that being said I still have to say that the game is defiantly worth giving a try even if it has some major flaws but no game is perfect. I enjoyed a good amount of the game, so I would recommend playing Bioshock Infinite either when the price drops a little or with moderately medium expectations. Going in with High Expectations will defiantly "Bite you in the ass" in the long run.
. This game was really one where after beating it I had to sit back for a little bit and re think what just happened so I wouldn't end up basing the game off just the feelings I got from just finishing the game. It was really interesting, defiantly worth a look into. I just wish that the replay value was a bit higher, it wasn't like the previous Bioshock games (specifically 1) where there were different base endings. Its just basically One ending.
