Review: Bioshock 2 (PC)

Bioshock 2 suffers immediately from one rather obvious flaw: it’s not Bioshock 1. Arguably the first Bioshock didn’t even really need a sequel so is Bioshock 2 a worthy successor to the throne? Almost is the most concise way of putting it.

It’s difficult not to compare the two games and this became apparent as early as the start of the game. Unlike the first game, there’s no dramatic opening as depicted by poor plane crash survivor Jack becoming stranded in Rapture. Instead you play a Big Daddy who is cruelly separated from his Little Sister, Eleanor. It’s an intriguing story but one that’s a slow burner rather than one that immediately hooks the player. There are no hugely surprising plot twists but there are some nicely placed set pieces and unveilings which make for some great moments scattered throughout the game. However I found that it wasn’t really until the second playthrough that I found the story as compelling as the one offered in the original. With hindsight of what was to come, the poignancy of the story really came alight. It’s also worth noting that the final third of the game is vastly superior to the rest of the game so while the game takes a while to get going, it is well worth persevering.

The crucial difference between the two Bioshocks is that the level of difficulty has been increased; this is mostly thanks to the increased focus on combat. This time round you’re able to use plasmids and weapons together, adding a wealth of new tactics to how to approach the many Splicers in your path. Throw in more heavy duty weapons such as the grenade launcher and the imposing drill weapon and there’s plenty to be getting on with. Ammunition may frequently be quite scarce but the drill does a great job at ensuring you never feel too vulnerable in this extra challenging Rapture. Besides the ‘usual’ collection of Splicers, there is also the addition of Brute Splicers, much hardier versions, and the crème de le crème of enemy: the Big Sister. These Big Sisters are extremely challenging to fight against: they’re essentially a faster version of a Big Daddy and extremely intimidating to fight against. On the plus side, they are also extremely satisfying to defeat.

As before, there are many Little Sisters which can be saved or harvested from their Big Daddy guardians. They add a decent amount of longevity as not all are essential in order to complete the game making them perfect for completionists. Most crucially, this time round they can harvest ADAM from certain corpses. ADAM being the ever useful source of acquiring upgrades through the Gatherer’s Garden terminals. While waiting for your Little Sister to finish harvesting precious ADAM from a corpse, a rush of Splicers constantly appear to attempt to thwart the Little Sister’s efforts, meaning you have to undertake the Big Daddy role and defend her. While a great idea at first that demands some increasingly complex tactical manoeuvres, it can become quite tedious after a while and breaks up the storyline a little too much. Far too frequently was the story’s progression broken up by the need to take time out and harvest some much needed ADAM in order to have an appropriate upgrade to make the ride a little easier in future. Players can of course simply avoid this sidequest of sorts but it makes later stages of the game harder and less enjoyable.

The sense of speed within Bioshock 2 is just a little too fast. Although there are plenty of opportunities for exploration, everything feels rushed and it’s easy to feel pushed into pursuing the main storyline rather than take the unbeaten path and explore the world of Rapture properly. This is particularly prominent with the ever wonderful audio diaries. Too often would I find an audio diary and be disrupted in my efforts to listen to it by the appearance of a Splicer. It was always possible to relisten to a diary via the menu but sometimes it would have been nice to have a few moments solace to take in the art-deco beauty surrounding me throughout the game, rather than have to keep looking over my shoulder for fear of an ambush.

The story based multiplayer mode within Bioshock 2 was a huge surprise and 2K Games have done a terrific job of implementing multiplayer in such a story driven concept. Taking on the role of a citizen of Rapture in 1959 there are 7 different modes of play. These are all quite familiar to multiplayer gamers with the likes of free for all, Capture the Sister (Capture the Flag basically) and Turf War which involves capturing certain control points in each round. With various quirks such as the ability to become a Big Daddy and being able to take over turrets amongst other things.

Excluding the multiplayer addition, Bioshock 2 just doesn’t feel as fresh or as exciting as the original which is understandable really. While familiarity certainly doesn’t breed contempt, Rapture simply isn’t as interesting as it was the first time round. That’s not to say that Bioshock 2 isn’t an extremely competent FPS: it is, but it lacks that certain magic that made the original so much more. Perhaps its biggest crime is that its single player mode doesn’t build upon the success of the original in the way that other recent sequels such as Mass Effect 2 have done so. Fortunately its multiplayer is an extremely enjoyable affair although I do question just how popular it will remain in months to come when faced with the behemoth of Modern Warfare 2. It’d be harsh to call Bioshock 2 a missed opportunity but it’s a shame to see that Bioshock 2 is nothing more than merely enjoyable. It’s certainly not a game that will reside in your memories for years to come like the first title.

VideogameUK verdict: 8/10