At this point, there’s a good chance that you’ve been hearing the buzz. No, not about the iPhone 5S, or even the HTC First. We’re talking something completely different here. That would be BioShock Infinite. This is a game you should be playing now.
This isn’t a review, but just some quick words I have about BioShock Infinite. Gameplay won’t be discussed in detail, if much at all. However, there will be a few spoilers. There’s a lot about BioShock Infinite to keep you thinking, and there’s a wealth of avenues to dive into. This is just a quick overview of why I loved the this title.
The BioShock titles were the first FPS games that I could get through. I simply don’t like the style of gameplay, and I know I’m missing out on a lot of great games because of this. Plus, I suck at them. BioShock 2 challenged my opinion on these type of games, and Infinite will likely open my interest up to more in the future in general, but nothing can be BioShock but BioShock.
Back to Infinite.
Not only is this title the best in the series in my opinion, but the story, which is so intricately woven that it’s basically impossible to get without some genuine research either in the game or elsewhere, is so very immersive. Even if you don’t understand what’s going on.
In the beginning of the game, all you, Booker Dewitt, know is that you’re primary mission is to find a girl and bring her back to some one to pay off your gambling debts. ” Bring us the girl, and wipe away the debt.” — Or so you think. Of course, nothing is that easy. Especially in the BioShock series.
Instead of the underwater city of Rapture, you’ll find yourself in Columbia. And this is no Columbia you know about. This is a city in the sky, quite literally, and your first glimpse of it is pretty awesome. From there, you’ll be shooting baddies, hanging on skylines, and just about everything you’d want in a BioShock game. Oh yeah, did we mention the year is 1912?
When you finally reach the girl you’re looking for, Elizabeth, locked up inside a massive angel-shaped tower, you find out her value. Elizabeth can rip holes into time and space, allowing her to see and enter different “realities”, of which every possibility that could exist does exist, and you’re just in one of them.
Outside of her insanely awesome power, Elizabeth is a simple and sweet girl, with dreams of going to Paris. She also has a piece of her pinky finger missing, and I’ll just leave it at that. She’s lived most of her life in the tower and remembers nothing of the outside world.
Elizabeth’s guardian and once upon a time friend, Songbird, is a massive and rather intense looking creature that is easily angered. Songbird wants to bring Elizabeth back to the tower, along with the main antagonist, Comstock, who we really won’t touch on in this. Songbird is found throughout the game, visually rather stunning in his own right, and is totally my next tattoo.
Elizabeth is very helpful throughout the game. She’ll pick locks for you, and find you ammo and medical kits when you’re in combat. She’ll also rip open beneficial items from “tears”, like guns and decoys. Best of all, she can take care of herself, so you don’t need to protect her while in combat.
The relationship between Elizabeth and Booker is a peculiar and volatile one, but the two form a close bond as the game progresses. The simple conversation between the two characters only furthers the strength of the story. Of course, this is obviously intentional.
You’ll find some interesting similarities between the 2nd and 3rd games. Vigors replace Plasmids, and I suggest Murder of Crows for everything. Just because. Elizabeth could be seen as a “big” little sister. This in itself is a whole discussion, and you can find a great one right here.
Oh, and the ending. The ending is quite possibly the most intriguing and mind-shattering ending I’ve seen in quite a while, and it will leave and indelible mark if you let it. If you’re a hardcore gamer, that is. The comments about the ending speak for themselves. I must admit, the ending left me in a high of “woah-ness.”
@irrationalgames fantastic job with #BioShockInfinite the ending made my brain explode!!
— AlecMartelle (@AlecMartelle) April 3, 2013
So after 2 times, the ending still blows my mind and gives me a headache xD #BioShockInfinite
— Akuma no Mi? (@xZinaaa) April 3, 2013
Bioshock Infinite ending= Mindfucked :OOOO #bioshockinfinite #booker #anna #elizabeth #songbird
— Jason Chua (@jaychua91) April 3, 2013
Oh my word my mind had just been blown to pieces. Best, most mindfucking ending to a game ever. #BioshockInfinite #BookerDeWitt #Elizabeth
— George Nixon (@George_Nixon97) April 3, 2013
While it would be pretty impossible to compare the two, but the story was so nicely put together that I hadn’t been this impressed with a game since Assassin’s Creed 3, which wasn’t released that long ago, but also tells a great and moving story like Infinite. A good story can save a bad game. Luckily, you get it all with this title.
When all is said and done, the first thing you see when you start the games makes complete sense.
I could really go on and on about this game. If you’ve been curious about this title, don’t hesitate another moment and get it now!