Game review: Bioshock

“Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his own brow? No, says the man in Washington. It belongs to the poor. No, says the man in the Vatican. It belongs to God. No, says the man in Moscow. It belongs to everyone. I rejected those answers. Instead, I chose something different. I chose the impossible. I chose Rapture.”

Spine-tingling words from the ruler of the underwater city of Rapture (Bioshock’s game world) Andrew Ryan, whose presence is just one of many exhilarating elements of what adds up to one of the best shooters of all time. Not only is this true, but the scope for musical compatibility with Bioshock is astronomical thanks to its glorious art deco backdrops and dark gameplay.

There’s little left to say about the game itself which hasn’t already been said, but the great amount of joy I took in mixing and matching different styles of electronic music with Bioshock’s awe-inspiring settings is worth recalling.

A variety of ambient, minimal and ambient techno, electro and experimental electronic music all seemed to stylishly enhance the already extensive immersion and trepidation. Check my ‘Recommended game and music combinations’ article to find out what I chose as the ultimate harmonies.

Bioshock is the spiritual successor to the legendary System Shock 2, and fortunately the game bears much resemblance to the ageing masterpiece. The RPG elements have been effortlessly implemented and set the game apart from standard shooters. Hacking, weapon upgrades, buying – they’re all present and correct, along with the excellent plasmid system, which adds a new dimension to the gameplay.

The solid range of weaponry and intimidating enemies (including the mighty Big Daddies that spearheaded the games promotion) ensure that combat is very good, if not revolutionary. The games environments are beautifully inventive, interactive and wonderfully realised by the lush graphics engine. Despite this depth, Bioshock retains a gleaming polish throughout.

So you simply must play this; it’s one of the greatest single-player experiences ever and a goldmine for the Extreme Electronic Experience.

10/10