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Publisher: Take2
Age Rating: 18
Hailed as the game to revitalise the first-person shooter genre, BioShock is about to take the world by storm thanks to its uncompromising originality and stunning attention to detail.
It’s unlike any other game out there, offering mind-blowing gameplay with depth-of-play never before seen; it is already predicted to walk away with a string of Game of the Year awards.
Developed for the PC and Xbox 360, the game is set in a city known as Rapture, a metropolis under the sea that was created by your primary target Andrew Ryan.
Although this game comes under the first-person shooter category, it is actually so much more than that. In years to come, this game will be regarded as the pinnacle of the genre and a title that other developers will look up to for inspiration.
The real beauty with this epic is the way it merges gameplay with narrative, originality with art deco and the way you are made to think before a single shot is taken.
The game starts as your aeroplane crashes into the ocean, forcing you to take shelter in the city of Rapture. Built for a hand-picked group of scientists, artists and industrialists to live in harmony, the utopia becomes a place littered with corpses and genetically-altered humans.
These zombie-like humans display real personality, responding to the fact they are trapped in an underwater city, just as you are. Guardians can protect you, while small girls wander around the corridors looting from the motionless corpses.
The city is split into large sections, each separated by almost non-existing load times which are strategically placed so as to not interrupt the flow of play as you enjoy the game's many delights.
Combat in BioShock is unlike anything out there, offering a dazzling array of options. As well as the usual array of weapons, there is also plasmids (genetic enhancements to your character allowing for magic attacks) and tonics than can equip your character.
Set fire to an enemy, pick up something from the environment such as a chair and throw it at an attacker or even throw a swarm of bees at them in order to get away. And for an easier life, you can opt to use the enrage plasmid which will see enemies fight each other as you run and hide while using a decoy plasmid while leave enemies wondering where you are.
Vending machines placed throughout the game allows you to swap tonics and plasmids, giving you the opportunity to take advantage of what is available and alter play accordingly.
What really makes BioShock special is how it blends excellence in all areas into one complete package. The sound, offering true atmosphere and ambiance, combined with expertly woven narrative and gameplay make this a title you will be playing for many months to come.
Visuals too will leave you amazed, from gorgeous rippling water to the design of the human mutants. Every attention to detail is here from fish in tanks to the jets of steam spraying from your hand when releasing an insect plasmid.
The PC version looks far superior to the graphics on the Xbox 360, largely due to its ability to enjoy a 1920x1200 resolution. But neither format disappoints and you’re left feeling that you have bought a game that is as much an art form as a thrilling game.
BioShock is a rarity in the games world. It manages to hit the top mark for graphics, sound, gameplay, atmosphere, originality and depth. If you want something very special to play this autumn, look no further.
Continue to the next page for our BioShock screenshot gallery.
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