Bioshock 2 is the latest edition to the Bioshock franchise by games publisher 2K. It takes place eight years after the events of the original Bioshock game in the underwater city known as “Rapture”. The new game includes a bunch of new and exciting features which really expand the game superbly such as new enemies, weapons, plasmids and gene tonics!
The original Bioshock was the most atmospheric game that I have ever played. The idea of a city underwater was always going to be creepy from the start but the fact that the whole city of Rapture has fallen into anarchy over a special drug called ADAM which allows for gene manipulation just adds to this unique city’s style. Both games are set around the 1960’s and the whole city of Rapture reflects the date it’ set at; the dated theme is really apparent throughout. The game’s lighting effects and graphics do wonders for this decaying underwater Utopia.
Due to the anarchy the whole city has become almost deserted, populated mainly by drug addicts which are known as “Splicers”. The Splicers are as weird and drugged up as they always were, dressed still in their ripped up suits and masquerade style masks. Watch out for them, they are complete freaks!
Leaks from the ocean outside are all over the place and really makes the whole world more realistic since it was inevitable that an underwater city was going to have a few leaks here and there but the disruption in Rapture has made it a whole lot worse.
It is hard to express in words how amazing the whole world is and the amount of atmosphere that surrounds it. You really do have to play it to realise what an awesome environment the developers of the game have created. Truly believable. The new game setting is exactly the same as the original so the atmosphere is just as peculiar. This is by no means a game designed to scare you though, it’s not a scary game. It’s just the whole world that has been created and the atmosphere that goes with it make it really creepy but at the same time absolutely amazing. It really is like no other game.
Like the first game, through the use of ADAM and EVE, special abilities called plasmids are available to the player to approach combat in some truly unique and exciting ways. Plasmids are now upgradeable to offer extra special features and abilities.
In Bioshock 2 you play as one of the “Big Daddies” and you are on a quest to resolve the story behind your daughter and take care of the evil woman called Sofia Lamb who is trying to control and keep you from her. You spend lots of time receiving flashbacks about you and your daughter’s past while you carry out tasks for the few sane people left in Rapture to get you ever closer to Lamb. The original Bioshock involved a story line that was absolutely amazing, it had you so gripped and it was so exciting, it was always going to be hard to beat such an awesome story. So it’s not surprising that Bioshock 2’s story is fairly weak in comparison to the original. Along with the compelling storyline, the original game also had loads of memorable moments, unexpected and stimulating events throughout the game but it seems that in Bioshock 2, they don’t occur as often which is a shame since it was a really enjoyable asset as it complimented the game’s unusual environment really well.
What else is new?
The most useful difference in the new game is the ability to equip your Plasmids and your weapons at the same time so you can use them in rapid succession or even simultaneously so as to prevent tedious switching between weapons during combat. It makes the whole game experience much easier.
You now have the option to adopt Little Sisters once you kill the Big Daddy protecting them. This allows you to use them to harvest ADAM from various dead bodies around Rapture. While harvesting ADAM you will be attacked by a swarm of Splicers, wanting in on the action. Each Little Sister can gather ADAM twice in total before you have the choice to either harvest them for further ADAM or rescue them.
The Big Sisters are a new addition to the game. Surprise surprise, they are the Little sisters when they are grown up and are armoured like that of one of the Big Daddies from the original. There is a chance you will get attacked by the Big Sisters when you use your Little Sister to harvest ADAM from dead bodies around rapture. They are really tough opponents so be prepared for them!
A multiplayer mode is also present in the new Bioshock, something which the original lacked. It includes some really good and unique game modes which can be fun. A ranking system is included too so it keeps you coming back for more. However it’s not the best online experience you can have with a game but since the Bioshock game always was about the single player campaign we’ll let it slide since we see it as just an extra feature to keep us busy till the next Bioshock instalment comes along!
In conclusion, Bioshock 2 is a really good game and if you played the original game you should definitely purchase it because it again offers a really good campaign and loads of new features which take the game to a new level. It’s just a disappointment the story of the game isn’t on par with the first Bioshock but the new features, weapons and enemies of the game make up for the story since they are enough to keep you satisfied throughout the game! If you haven’t played Bioshock ever before though then definitely purchase the original before the new one since its storyline is just amazing and is a great introduction into this incredible world.