It's been a while since I've written a review, but after playing Bioshock Infinite, I was inspired to get back into the spirit. Also, I want to assure you that this review will hold back from revealing any spoilers, so no worries.
Infinite is the third game in the series, but escapes the confines of Rapture and takes flight in the floating city of Columbia. You play the part of Booker DeWitt, who has been mysteriously transported to this seemingly perfect oasis of civilization in search of a girl. However, things are not always as they seem...
I've played through the first two Bioshock games. The first one was revolutionary, and the world of Rapture pulled me in hook, line, and sinker. Bioshock 2, to me, was more of the gameplay-focused title many games become, but finished with a strong second act. To be honest, I was tempted to dislike the new setting in Infinite because I had fallen so in love with Rapture. I managed to hold back the pessimism though, and went into the world of Columbia with an open mind, hoping that Irrational Games would deliver again. Not to spoil anything, but they definitely did.
You start out with a simple mission: bring us the girl, wipe away the debt. Who “us” is and why they want this girl is the mystery. As you progress through the game, the story of who you are and what is going on with Columbia unravels in front of you in what has to be one of the smoothest, most engaging stories ever told in video gaming history. Every character, whether minor or major in the part they play, has a recognizable personality which contributes to the narrative. You don't ever forget what role certain characters are playing, and even though sometimes that role is twisted and turned, you want to keep playing to find out more and more and aren't annoyed by terrible voice acting or an unconvincing storyline. It's very much like a book you can't put down. This is why I completed it within 27 hours of acquiring it. I just couldn't stop.
You'll visit a multitude of locales in the sky; each one bringing its own unique atmosphere and method of tackling its inhabitants. Much like the first Bioshocks, you never know what each new area will hold. The land of Columbia is filled with throwback decal, and you really feel like you're in an old painting of 1912. Of course, it's out-of-this-world fictional, but it's really grand exploring such an intricately designed world. There are a few times where you have to backtrack, but you never know what to expect when you do, so it isn't taxing or repetitive. If you played the first Bioshock, you may also expect a sort of heightened sense of terror as well from Columbia, and there are parts where the game will have your heart racing, but overall it is more of a story-driven adventure, rather than the scared-to-run-into-a-big-daddy fest that the first two games were. This isn't really a detraction, since I didn't expect such an atmosphere high up in the sky. Just being underwater had an eery effect, but not so much in the air. In the air you get more of a “Whoa, everything is floating” coolness factor. That's not to say there aren't any chilling parts though. wink
While sprinting and jumping around the floating city, you'll of course have to dispatch a deluge of enemies. This is done with a slowly revealed assortment of weapons and vigors that will mix up your gameplay styles throughout the story. Just when you think you're rocking your carbine/fire mix, you'll be introduced to some explosive gun or enemy-flinging enhancement. Gameplay is kept fresh with this method, and I never found myself getting bored of mixing up what guns and vigors I kept on me. It may have been nice to be able to switch between more than two vigors, but maybe it would've just become a cluster-cuss. Being able to select a new one quickly worked well enough for me in the end. Also, I'd recommend trying to get as many achievements/trophies as possible whilst playing through the game, because using all the different methods of burning, electrocuting, tossing, gutting, and executing enemies is unbelievably fun. Even without the unforgettable story, Bioshock Infinite is just plain fun to play. Just wait until you start opening tears, too.
Speaking of unforgettable, who can forget the award-winning Bioshock Soundtrack? “Somewhere beyond the sea” echoes in many of our minds when we think of Rapture. What about Columbia? While there is no definitive song that rang over and over in my mind, the game features music and event-triggered sounds filled with the familiar strings, brass, and other instrumental cues that we know and love from the series. What's better than getting a headshot? Having that headshot celebrated by your own personal orchestra. The bombastic and sometimes head-spinning battles are usually encored by a climactic uprising of strings that signals a conclusive end to your hard-fought trials. Beautiful. Gospel and other religious music dot the retro soundtrack, which also features an original instrumental soundtrack composed by Garry Schyman, who wrote the first two Bioshock games' music as well.
I have very few complaints about Infinite. I would've liked to see some more useful Gear, which are the four parts of clothing you pick up throughout the game to enhance and possibly detract from your abilities. I only changed it twice, sticking to the four I found had the most advantageous effects. Of course, maybe this is different for other players, but alas, I wanted to have more reasons to switch and I didn't. Another annoying and seemingly avoidable complaint is how Infinite handles game saves. You do not make your own saves, which is fine, but you also can't start another playthrough without overwriting your last autosave. That means if you want to try the game on hard or 1999 mode, you've gotta get rid of your previous playthrough. Not a big detraction, but I really wanted to go back and explore previous levels (for collectibles) with my current set of lockpicks and knowledge, and couldn't.
I'm keeping this review short and sweet because really, if you haven't played this game yet...bottom line is you should. Whether you're a fan of first-person shooters or not, I hope anyone can appreciate a well-told story, and this is, without a doubt, that. Some may be wary of the religion-heavy influences, but make no mistake that the game goes beyond that thin veil and delves into a tale that only Bioshock could tell so marvelously. You don't need to play Bioshock or Bioshock 2 to enjoy Infinite to its fullest either (though you should definitely go play those, too.) Bioshock Infinite opens your mind, scratches that itch for a new Bioshock game, and will have you and your friends talking about it for days after finishing it. You owe it to yourself to play this Game of the Year contender as soon as possible before someone else ruins it for you. Luckily, that didn't happen to you by reading this. Now go play it. ;3
Final Score for Bioshock Infinite: 9.5/10
