The recent game I got to play last August as a game called Bioshock Infinite, prior to that I had no intentions of playing any games with the name Bioshock since the graphics made me dizzy and it left me confused. So as I logged on to many gaming sites to seek ways to cure the boredom I always come across a Bioshock Review and it was almost always ranked high. I said maybe it’s finally time to give it a shot and I finished the game not so long ago, Don’t worry no spoilers included. Mature discretion is advised though due to blood and gore.
Bioshock Infinite takes place in the year 1912 in America. At this time there are so many radical issues, if you have studied your history then good, if into get into research. You play as Booker DeWitt, call him human resources for his work involves the Pinkertons (research). We start out in a boat with a mission to retrieve a girl. Sounds heroic, anyway he gets into this lighthouse which sends him rocketing to the sky. I have no picture to show you of the rocket ride because we really need to skip ahead to one of the good parts.
We get off the rocket to a strange church. You are given an introduction to a man called the Prophet, the lovely choir sings gracefully in the background and candles and flowers float in the water. The ambiance is solemn and feels like heaven. Im given a head’s up with a baptism/drowning and find myself in a garden with 3 familiar statues. Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson (research), I never pictured these men like this before, it seems as if they were worshiped. I find people in white gowns praying strange. But since this is a game of course I’m just going to forget it and move on through the gates to this place.
A frikkin floating city! The City of Columbia! Wow! I already find myself wanting to live here. The atmosphere is breathtaking, people are friendly, kids are playing and you can almost feel the morning air. If you fall however it’s gonna be a long way down. By the way Im given a telegram by a boy scout, and it reads not to pick the number 77, hmm… I gotta bet on some lotto now.
There is a Fair, and boy-oh-boy is it fun to play the various mini-games and earn some silver dollars. There’s also carnival foods like cotton candies and soda pop and the various demonstrations of things like Vigors and Handymen might give you clues about the game already. This is most likely the tutorial level as the Fair provides lots of game lore and advertisements which are really well done in a 19th century form of propaganda.
You will meet several interesting characters along the way, each with their distinct personalities like Horace and Lucile, I giggle with anticipation at their wordplay. Strange thing is they always seem to be everywhere I go…*oops soiled a bit there haha.
The voice acting really is one of the best I have encountered in a shooter. No voices seem generic, and the songs sung are melodic of the classics that our great-grandparents enjoyed in their time. It really is reminiscent of a happy time. But do not be blinded by such bliss. What I am about to show you portrays the bad side of the early 1900’s
Discrimination of Africans, as you know many of them were treated as slaves ever since the colonies where established. It still goes on today mind you, this portrayal right here of man who loves a girl of different color is already a traitor to his kin. If ever you wonder about what we can learn from this game will be discussed later.
I drew the number 77, but a policeman stopped me seeing a mark on my hand, the mark AD represents a false shepherd who is to create chaos. Booker beats up one of the policeman and before you know it, chaos really ensues.
Bioshock Infinite keeps to the mainstream when it comes to guns, though they are remarkably fashioned to fit the era, it still seems to be very odd but anyway back to the story.
Booker’s hands are burning due to Devil’s Kiss Vigor. Vigors are considered to be magic spells in the game. Devil’s Kiss is the generic fireball and if you hold the right mouse button further then you get a fire trap. Tutorials are shown right after you drink them. Some of you may be bored by them but it get better as you acquire more original spells. They are revitalized by drinking salts which is the equivalent of mana.
Fights are quick and fast depending on your skills. Always go for cover though as you will get swarmed by an array of melee,ranged and mini-boss enemies. Enemies usually go down with headshots,respond dumbly to stealth and will usually shoot you the first chance they see you. Enemy A.I is not as impressive as I wanted it to be since flanking is as easy a 1-2-3.
Another element that presents itself as a generic shooter is the shield and drinking for upgrades. I do wish that the game really shines with its uniqueness soon as I have read so from other reviews. Anyway back to the mission.
Killing lots of enemies and going to the Columbia Memorial which is a huge angelic statue. is the unique part of the game as you rely on aerial gondolas, and skylines. Once inside we find out that the place is prison. And we gotta bust the girl out. You get hints of who she is as you are going through the facility. And once you meet her, I wonder if you can resist the charms of the girl.
Oh my, she’s a cutie and her name is Elizabeth. I do wonder why her pinky is with a thimble. Anyway mechanical pipe sounds don’t sound good with Elizabeth’s reaction. So we hurry our escape. I was perplexed as she and I were escaping, though it seemed not to matter at that time. We call for an elevator when this happened…
What is that thing? Elizabeth tells me that it’s her warden. A bird keeps the girl in a cage is poetic. We fall into the water though and Booker drowns again.
I am having a dream and it’s about Elizabeth… oh wait she just revived me. I really have a boyish crush with Elizabeth as I played the game… I will tell you a bit about her later. She runs off hearing music and leaves Booker to nap for awhile. Booker then finds her dancing to the music at a local dance
Oh Elizabeth, so naive and curious about the world… And who could blame her being locked up in the tower for most of her life with only books to read? Let her have her fun Booker.
That’s the tower Elizabeth was locked in. The sunset is nice to look at though.
Let me tell you about Elizabeth and not spoil the story. Elizabeth is kept prisoner by the Prophet in hopes that she will lead Columbia to a golden age. She and Booker make a very good team as you will play more. She can support you without being a damsel in distress. Weapons, ammo, health, salts you name it she can give it to you. Very helpful on the battlefield, she can even pick locks.
Elizabeth’s personality can go from naive, to guarded. She doesn’t trust as easily if you break it. But she also forgives given enough time, she is also sweet, intelligent and friendly. She is the type of girl that you will fall in love with over the course of the game. That angel face is a bonus and many cosplayers imitate her after the game was released.
WE meet with the couple from earlier, it’s nice to help them and they seem happy, they are even giving away a gear. A gear is an equipment that adds bonus stats to Booker in the form of clothing. After that we go into an arcade like room with lots of Mechanical Wonders. The motorized patriot is really something to look forward to. It patriotically rhymes bits of legend.
This is the last image for this review, we will stop here with a view of Columbia as a whole, it really sparked my imagination. And I am sure to already recommend this game to you guys.
Graphics: The colors blend well with the mood. Character models are almost reality. Weapon designs are nice to look at, inspired by steampunk culture perhaps. Columbia was a fine city to look at and the environments get darker as you move through the game.
Sound: Expect ultra-retro music coming out from old radios and phonographs are a joy to listen to even thought I did not find any memorable tones. Zamboangamer is not familiar with the soundtrack and it will be nice to add to the music collection if you wanna trip with the oldies. The voice acting is excellently portrayed. I really feel like I am communicated to not just from Booker’s point of view.
Gameplay: A mix of a generic shooter with a unique gameplay mechanism. I think they are playing safe after the last two games. But it’s really Elizabeth’s support that puts the game on its center spotlight. The story can sometimes get confusing so it’s best if you have some background with secret societies and history.
Overall: Bioshock Infinite is a mainstream shooter with added features for some replayability. The lack of a mulitplayer mode may disappoint lots of players looking for action. Imagine doing battles with skylines and players using vigors to get the upper hand.
Lessons: Discrimination of races is present in this game. They persist to this day. It wis better to tolerate and work with the other races of the earth. We are of course one race and that is Human.
Even shooter games have the potential for an emotional storyline and Bioshock Infinite proves this.
Research the Multiverse Theory, its really a fascinating subject.
ZAMBOANGAMER039 