BioShock Reviews
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Some will say that BioShock is DOOM 3 done right; some will say that it's a spiritual successor to the developers' last game, the incredible System Shock 2, that sadly sold very few copies. And looking at the hype and what I'm sure will be a successful Xbox 360 release, it looks like Irrational Games (now known as 2K Boston/2K Australia after the publisher bought them out) is finally getting the credit and the sales they deserve. No matter how you look at it, this game brings an excellent mix of satisfying action, choices for the player, great old-time music mixed in with masterful ambient noise, and a wonderful plot delivered by top-notch voice acting.
The second is at DailyGame with an overall score of 9/10:
The atmosphere, high-level concept, graphics and audio are all phenomenal, and they more than make up for occasionally repetitive gameplay. You owe it to yourself to experience BioShock, by far one of the most compelling games of 2007.
The third is at Gamer Within with an overall score of 9.0/10:
After playing through BioShock and having enough time to reflect on all the great things that were loved about this game, BioShock really blew me away. Initial impressions of the game weren't overly high. However, the more you play the game, the more you are sucked into its engaging world that you'll never want to leave. It starts off slow, picks up the pace a few hours in, begins traveling like a speeding bullet towards the end and explodes in utter amazement by the end of the game which, thankfully, is wrapped up so brilliantly well. Tired of lifeless shooters? BioShock is, without a doubt, the game for you.
The fourth is at G4 with a perfect score of 5/5:
The gameplay itself should be enough to sell you on this game. If you were a fan of the original System Shock, or you really dug Deus Ex, then you should get a huge kick out of this game. But there's so much else to admire. The art direction is outstanding; mixing art deco architecture, classic 1950's graphic design and tons of great old music from the early jazz era that adds a musty creepiness to the overall atmosphere of the game. It's definitely not your typical Space Marine fare, and that's a very good thing. So if you really do believe in what the best games have to offer, then would you kindly play BioShock?
The fifth is at Gamers With Jobs with no overall score:
In the end, what can be said about Bioshock that hasn't already been said? Not much, and I realize that my comments serve less to inform as to reinforce. This game is outstanding, and if we're still talking about it in eight years, then color me unsurprised. If you own an Xbox 360 or a PC, then there's simply no viable excuse for not rushing out to pick up the game. It is a must-own, a system-seller, an automatic game-of-the-year candidate, and other such bite-sized, box-worthy, quotes. It's an uncommon pleasure when a company meets or exceeds the lofty expectations of a demanding fan base, so I'm happy to offer credit where credit is due. Bioshock is simply the best single player game I've played in years.
The sixth is at TotalVideoGames with an overall score of 9/10:
Bioshock comes at a time when sophisticated first-person-shooters are hard to come by, and as a result it really should be on any Xbox 360/PC gamers shopping list. Style, presentation and atmosphere are of the highest quality, though some later design aspects fail to continue the strong gameplay that Bioshock begins with.
The seventh is at Thunderbolt Games with a perfect score of 10/10:
BioShock is a title that gamers spend their whole lives waiting to play. Something that delivers on an absurdly high level in every department, and one that never dips in quality for the 15-20 hours that it lasts. Sure the game is a little linear, contrasting to the go anywhere, do anything nature that the level design maybe suggests. And perhaps the enemies could have been better designed so that they aren't all pretty much identical. Yet, it's just all too easy to cast these minor issues aside to the back of the brain because everything else has been executed to absolute perfection. It's time to put down a deposit, because once you enter Rapture, you will never, ever want to leave again.
The eighth is at Xbox World Australia with an overall score of 95/100:
BioShock is one of those rare games that is destined for divinity; worshipped by those who play it, immortalised in the annals of gaming greatness, and serving as an example for which all that follow should aspire. Its narrative unfolds in a way unlike anything else on the Xbox 360, pulling you in deeper and deeper, making you want to know more, encouraging you to explore and ultimately getting you emotionally invested in its outcome.
And the ninth is at Ars Technica with a perfect score of 10/10:
If you think I've given short shrift to story and game details, it's because I have. The more I tell you, the more I'd lessen your own experience.
This is an amazing game that belongs in everyone's collection.
