Game Review: Bioshock 2
Across the cultural spectrum, successful sequels are notoriously difficult to pull off. For every Terminator 2 or Nevermind, there are countless examples of artists over-stretching or under-achieving, desperately attempting to recapture former glories and failing miserably (The Matrix sequels anyone?). Expectation levels are hoisted to such a height that disappointment becomes inevitable and reputations are destroyed. However, the world of video games appears to be a thoroughly sequel-friendly environment. Over the past decade, gamers have been treated to a wealth of follow-ups that maintain and often surpass the quality of their forebears. Half-Life 2, the GTA series and Uncharted 2 are just a number of the many titles that have built on their original’s template to grow in scope and sophistication. Does the relative anonymity of game developers protect them from the temptation to go crawling up their own rectum a la The Stone Roses or does the ever-accelerating speed of technological development make computer games unique in their capacity to outshine what has come before? Regardless, Bioshock 2 is a beast.
With its distinctive art-deco design, incredible atmosphere and engrossing narrative, 2008’s Bioshock was hailed as a classic. When you throw its intellectual backdrop into the equation then it is perfectly acceptable to describe the game as a work of art, a sociological thesis disguised as a superior first-person shooter. It was nigh on perfect. Everything in Bioshock 2 is distinctly similar to the first incarnation of the series. The player explores different parts of the sprawling underwater dystopia of Rapture but will be automatically familiar with the game’s visual style and aesthetics. Plot devices, such as the radio messages you collect as you progress or the use of plasmids to supplement your traditional weapons, are almost identical across the two games. This brings me back to the notion of the sequel. What do you expect from a follow-up, more of the same or something entirely different? In my eyes, Bioshock 2 is everything you want in a sequel, an extension of its predecessor’s themes and style whilst providing something distinctly original in the process. Why meddle with greatness?
The main difference between Bioshock 2 and its predecessor is the character you control. While you played as Jack Ryan in the first game, Bioshock 2 sees you taking the reins of a Big Daddy, a heavily armoured fighting machine with a strange connection to young girls (‘little sisters’) and a slight variation on one of the hardest enemies from Bioshock. It is fascinating to see how the developers 2K Marin have managed to turn a lumbering, lifeless brute into a satisfying, sympathetic character to manipulate. In terms of storyline, the major themes of political morality, capitalism vs communism and free will vs determinism remain. As one of the first Big Daddies, the player is tasked with finding Eleanor, the little sister you are intrinsically linked to.
Another welcome addition is the ability to use the character’s two hands simultaneously. This may sound like an arbitrary change but being able to combine plasmids and weapons makes for some brilliantly flexible combat. Speaking of plasmids, the options available are almost identical to the first game but they remain a vital part of what makes the game progressively thrilling and satisfying. The joy of upgrading a plasmid becomes apparent as you despatch enemies in increasingly ingenious ways. This was exemplified by my giddy excitement as I hypnotised a group of powerful enemies to fight it out between themselves as I stood watching the battle unfold, preserving health and ammo. Combat is also improved with the ability to lure enemies into traps. While protecting the aforementioned little sisters, it is possible to take a number of preventative measures to withhold the barrage of standard enemy ‘splicers’. This combination of plasmids, guns and traps provides an endless variety of styles to implement in battle. The game looks amazing and is absolutely dripping with atmosphere; voices cry out from all angles, shadows dart across the walls, splicers jump out from the darkness, at times the game is unbearably scary.
Bioshock 2 does not reinvent the wheel; it simply provides a continuation of the stellar achievements of its predecessor. For fans of the original game, the chance to delve back into the living, breathing world of Rapture is a sufficiently exciting prospect. That the makers have been able to subtly improve on a masterpiece is nothing short of breathtaking. Would you kindly play it.
9/10
Oh yeah.