BioShock 2 Review

2k Marin has been in an unenviable position. They’ve been tasked with creating Bioshock 2 – a sequel to a game that’s considered by most gamers as nothing short of legendary. Their take on the world of Rapture is going to be compared at every turn to a game that has one of the highest ratings from gaming critics worldwide. No pressure, just putting the facts out there.

So, how does one create a worthy sequel to a brilliant original such as Bioshock? Well, one way is to push on graphics and come up with a game that’s far more technically superior than the original. That’s a bit hard to do though, especially when the original looked breathtakingly atmospheric in the first place and keeping in mind that consoles have not taken a generation leap since the original game. The other option is to take a really good game, an interesting plot, top notch gameplay and develop it further, expanding on everything that’s good about the original. That’s exactly what 2K Marin have done and with considerable success.

Bioshock 2 is set about 10 years later after the events of the original took place. Rapture, created by Ayn Rand-inspired business magnate Andrew Ryan has been taken over by a female antagonist named Dr Sofia Lamb. Instead of playing Jack Ryan, you now play a Big Daddy, one of the most memorable foes from the original game. Big Daddies are known for protecting Little Sisters, who in turn gather ADAM, which is the magical substance that helps you grow and develop new powers. The storyline is as rich as ever and incredibly indulging.

Playing the game for first level or two, you may be tempted to dismiss it as being just the same as the original. However, once you’re past the initial levels, you’ll notice all the upgrades added in Bioshock 2. For instance, you can now use a plasmid or a weapon at the same time. Plasmids give you special powers such as the ability to incinerate people with your fingers or throw electric bolts from your hands. You can upgrade your plasmids to level two, which increases their effect. For instance, the electric bolts can damage multiple enemies in one instance and your telekinesis powers can hit enemies harder with the upgrade. Your weapons too have multiple options. For instance, rivets can be used to attack enemies directly or as rivet traps which can be set to go off when an enemy steps on it.

While the gameplay is an improvement, the real winner for Bioshock 2 is the relationship between the Big Daddy and his Little Sister. You’ll be tasked to care for the Little Sister and save her from all the zombie-like splicers that are bent on killing her, as she harvests ADAM from a corpse. As soon as the Little Sister starts harvesting the ADAM, a horde of splicers come your way. Make sure you stock up on your ammo before you get the Little Sister to start the ADAM extracting process else you’re in for a lynching. Once you’ve managed to successfully defend the Little Sister, you’re left with a moral quandary – do you save the Little Sister and gain a little ADAM or kill her and gain a lot of ADAM. Each have their consequences both in the short and long term. We don’t want to throw in spoilers, so we won’t tell you of the long-term repercussions. However, in the short term, if you decide to save the Little Sister, you’ll end up having to take on many hordes of splicers as the Little Sister continues to gather ADAM from different corpses for you. On the other hand, if you killer her, you’ll have to deal with a very powerful enemy in the form of the Big Sister. Either way, you’re in for a challenge.