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Advanced Gamer
USA
4711 Posts |
 Posted - Feb 20 2010 : 8:49:13 PM
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Background:
Let's start off with some background here. Bioshock was an amazing game that only contained a single player. The levels were interesting, the city of Rapture was brand new to the player and unique. The story contained one of the greatest plot twists in a game that creates one of those "OH SH--!" moments.
Then Bioshock 2 was announced and I cringed at this. They also said that they would include multiplayer and it made me avoid everything about this game. It made me believe that they thought that Bioshock needed multiplayer in order to sell their game when in fact it doesn't.
I "bought" this game for a very low price and played it across the last few days. I was not impressed.
Beginning, Sense, Levels:
The game started off well with a pretty interesting cut scene, but when I started playing the game I didn't feel the same way I did when I first started playing Bioshock. The first Bioshock created that sense of wonderment and the "Oh I wonder what's up ahead" type of moments. This did and didn't at the same time. There are completely new areas to explore, but they are limited and soon become boring.
The first game had memorable areas such as Sandar Cohen's creepy theater and the docks and smugglers cave, and the list goes on and on. But there no memorable areas in Bioshock 2 for me, everything felt limited on what this game could have been.
Graphics:
Right at the beginning of the game you can tell that this game looks EXACTLY like the first one did. The graphics don't look improved or even look crisper in a way. There are less graphical pops (keep in mind I was playing this on the PC and the first one on the 360). This was a huge disappointment in the game and it made me question on why it took them 3 years to release this game if they used the same engine. And it makes me wonder how great this game would've looked without them focusing on multiplayer (Separate teams my a**)
Gameplay:
The gameplay is pretty much the same in the first, but with some additions that were for the better and somewhat for the worst. The biggest change you will see is that hacking is played out differently. You no longer have to use pipes to hack systems instead you have to land a arrow on a green or blue area. The arrow goes from side to side across a meter and you have 3 times to do this or you set off an alarm. If you land on blue areas you get bonuses such as a free item from a vending machine or increased damage on turrets. You hack in real time, meaning that the gameplay doesn't freeze around you so make sure the room is clear of enemies and you can move around.
Hacking isn't as intense as it used to be, you don't feel compelled to do the hack as quickly as possible like in the first one, an aspect that made the first Bioshock more intense.
They do add a few more enemies, but its nothing really spectacular or interesting except for the new Big Daddy termed the "Rumbler". He is a nice addition to the Daddys and is a formidable opponent if not well equipped.
The game also lets you make some decisions throughout the game that affects the outcome of the game. Instead of just focusing on how you interact with Little Sisters they let you decide on more things. I don't want to spoil much, but keep in mind that your decisions will affect how some parts of the ending plays out.
They allow you to go outside in some areas, but you don't do anything except walk around until you reach the next area. They are interesting to see, but not much to do.
Gathering ADAM:
Gathering ADAM has been made differently in this game. You can now adopt a little sister and carry her around to bodies that contain ADAM and let her gather. This of course makes her vulnerable to splicers and you have to fight waves of enemies until she is finished. You can gather two bodies of ADAM per sister and then bring her to a vent and either rescue or harvest her.
This is a fresh new addition on how you acquire ADAM, but it soon becomes boring and repetitive after the first few times. You adopt, gather, and vent. That's pretty much it the whole time.
Weapons:
Not much to say here, they are pretty much the same from the first game except that you can now use the drill and rivet gun.
The drill was a really cool weapon to use especially when you get the lunge ability and you can charge into enemies with your drill spinning. It is a very fun weapon to use and it just owns everything.
Big Sisters:
Not much different than the Big Daddys except that they flip around more and can use dead bodies around them to heal themselves if injured. They are a scripted event so you always know when they are coming and it pretty easy to take them down if prepared properly.
Plasmid and Plasmid Introduction:
The plasmids in this game are the same ones you will find with a few new additions. You get a plasmid called "Scout" that allows you to be a ghost and travel ahead in order to look for enemies and it allows you to use other plasmids in this process to attack enemies.
Some or most of the plasmids in the first one were introduced in unique ways such as cremating a dead body in order to get the "Incinerate!" plasmid. Instead you find some plasmids on a cart and the person pretty much says "This will help you." and you get on with the killing.
Story:
The story is good and intriguing and it made me want to play through the game in order to finish it. This was a great thing to see as I was worried that the story would be boring and uninteresting, but there is plenty here. The audio diaries provide good background info as they did in the first.
However, the story is not needed. Not in the slightest. It doesn't add nor take away from the story told in the first one. This game felt more like an expansion pack than an actual full fledged game.
Think of it this way:
Bioshock = Half-Life
Bioshock 2 = Opposing Force & Blue Shield
It more like a side story that provides a new perspective on the city and shows some new areas mixed with the old and some easter eggs.
Final Thoughts:
The game was good and I did enjoy playing and while playing it it did give me that sense of being trapped in an ocean under the sea.
I did not comment on the MP mainly because I couldn't play it and I didn't really want to. I know how the MP would've been, generic, new, and it'll be fun for a week until I get sick of it and stop playing it. The same that happened for other games such as The Darkness and Condemned 2.
My rating for this game: 8.0 - 10
The game was good overall and I did enjoy playing it, but it is NOT worth $60 or even $30. I'll say to wait until this game is cheaper than $15 and then give it a go. If you enjoyed the first then won't be greatly disappointed in the second one.
I just hope that the third game looks better or even slightly better than the first one. The graphics were truly the largest disappointment in the game, in three years of development I would've liked to see something that looked better.
Like someone on Game Trailers said after watching the cinematic trailer for the game, "This is what the game could have looked like if they didn't focus on the multiplayer."
EDIT: Forgot to add:
I miss my vending machines talking to me. I loved how in the first Bioshock where I would walk past a vending machine and hear "Welcome to the Circus of Value!" Or "Come back when you get some money buddy!" Very sad to see those removed, it made them lifeless in a way. |
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Edited by - zZ Dr K Zz on Feb 20 2010 10:08:50 PM |
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Badge Team
Canada
966 Posts |
Posted - Feb 20 2010 : 9:22:35 PM
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Gotta agree with you on the whole review. I haven't really played it too much and I can already feel a lack of something that I can't really place my finger on. I don't say it's a bad game but the first was better from what I've experienced so far. Side note, I think you meant Big Sister's at this point:
quote:
Little Sisters:
Not much different than the Big Daddys except that they flip around more and can use dead bodies around them to heal themselves if injured. They are a scripted event so you always know when they are coming and it pretty easy to take them down if prepared properly.
Other than that, great review K. |
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Advanced Gamer
USA
4711 Posts |
Posted - Feb 20 2010 : 10:09:47 PM
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Ooops sorry about that. It has been corrected.
I'm wondering what they will do with Bioshock 3 and the movie. |
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Advanced Gamer
USA
4134 Posts |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 12:11:07 AM
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| just not as good as the first one. Ssd |
Kill The Noise, yeah I know that guy. |
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Badge Team
Canada
966 Posts |
Posted - Feb 21 2010 : 08:48:40 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by zZ Dr K Zz
Ooops sorry about that. It has been corrected.
I'm wondering what they will do with Bioshock 3 and the movie.
That's a tough one, they can go to any limit with the movie, I'd like to see a movie about the civil war, before the events of the first game. Considering the 3rd game, lets just hope they add new plasmids and backtracking like you could in the first game. |
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a1a1a1
 0
Zone: None
Total games played:
Current Streak: 0
Longest Streak: 0
Starting Gamer
0 Posts |
Posted - Mar 03 2010 : 4:42:42 PM
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I think yatzee of zero punctuation said it best:
quote:
"The usual line at this point is [if you liked bioshock 1 than you'll like this, because it's pretty much just more of this], but I don't think it really applies, because if you did really like bioshock, you'll understand that it works perfectly fine by itself. A sequel like bioshock 2... can only deminish the effect of the first game. But if you're thick and just want to play with the big daddies some more, than it'll probably tide you over till bioshock 3, which pressumably let you play as a *explitive* vending machine"
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Advanced Gamer
USA
4711 Posts |
Posted - Mar 03 2010 : 4:46:46 PM
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| Lol, Deimos, that explained this game perfectly. Thank you for that, it made my day! |
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a1a1a1
0
Zone: None
Total games played:
Current Streak: 0
Longest Streak: 0
Starting Gamer
0 Posts |
Posted - Mar 03 2010 : 5:19:23 PM
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I don't always agree with yatzee, but he really nailed it on the head here.
still haven't played bioshock 2 yet :P |
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Advanced Gamer
USA
4711 Posts |
Posted - Mar 03 2010 : 5:51:33 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by GTCv Deimos
I don't always agree with yatzee, but he really nailed it on the head here.
still haven't played bioshock 2 yet :P
And you don't need to. You really don't, the sequel was pointless. |
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a1a1a1
0
Zone: None
Total games played:
Current Streak: 0
Longest Streak: 0
Starting Gamer
0 Posts |
Posted - Mar 03 2010 : 5:57:57 PM
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Thanks for the confirmation
SUCK IT TANDARD/MEMS ASSASSIN!!!!
>:D |
Edited by - on Mar 03 2010 5:58:35 PM |
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futiles
168,961
Zone: Recreation
Total games played:
446
Current Streak: 53
Longest Streak: 393
Events Team
8794 Posts |
Posted - Mar 03 2010 : 7:58:50 PM
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| So, should I play the first one before playing the second one? |
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Advanced Gamer
USA
4711 Posts |
Posted - Mar 03 2010 : 8:43:35 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by futiles
So, should I play the first one before playing the second one?
No, it really doesn't matter. You just won't see the nods towards the first one, but Bioshock 2 doesn't continue the story.
You should just skip the 2nd one and play the first one. The first one was way better and had a more in-depth story with many more interesting characters and levels. |
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Senior Gamer
USA
536 Posts |
Posted - Mar 04 2010 : 1:40:28 PM
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| Well,I was reading this review and it explained the majority of what the game was about.I actually played this game,so I know all the details.If you haven't played this game and you read this review you could get a sense of what the game is about....Nice work. |
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BANNED USER
USA
1963 Posts |
Posted - Mar 23 2010 : 6:59:35 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by GTCv Deimos
Thanks for the confirmation
SUCK IT TANDARD/MEMS ASSASSIN!!!!
>:D
What happened? I'm a little late to the party. |
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Chrome30
197,358
Zone: Recreation
Total games played:
466
Current Streak: 14
Longest Streak: 590
Events Team
USA
2921 Posts |
Posted - Mar 24 2010 : 01:40:18 AM
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| Wonderful review. I have this game in from Gamefly...I will find time to play it, eventually. |
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Topic |
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Bioshock 2.
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