Sometimes a game comes along that makes you rethink reality.
Welcome to Bioshock Infinite, the first game I literally had to look up an explanation guide to make sense of it all. It’s a smart game and one of the first in a long time to make me say out loud ‘wow, that looks amazing’. Needless to say it has become one of the best games I have played this year.
The story is rather simple at the start. You are Booker Dewitt, a private investigator near the beginnings of an alternate timeline 20th century who must travel to a steampunk esque floating city known as Columbia and find a girl known as Elizabeth so you can pay off a debt. This may sound simple (if bizzare) but Bioshock Infinite is far from that. The story quickly finds a way to bring quantum physics and alternate realities into it’s plot and from there it’s a true brainstormer of a ride to figure out exactly what is going on. A smart game though places all the elements in front of you and let’s you figure it out, and that is exactly what Bioshock Infinite does. No spoilers here but let’s just say the ending will make you look at the world around you in a different light.
Our frontman, Booker.
The visuals in this game are nothing short of jaw dropping. Columbia itself is masterfully made, with each of it’s streets feeling like an actual place where people live. The city waves and bobs about in the air as you are on islands held up by giant balloons, shops ‘dock’ into town squares at their opening times and even beaches simulate the sea at 20,000 feet in the air. This city is perhaps the most organic and real place I have ever been to in a game, making even the original Bioshock’s rapture hang it’s head in shame. The theme of the general game consists of Columbia’s strange obsession with American culture, even turning it into a religion! Without wishing to spoil anything however this also means that some of America’s darker times are worshiped too.
The gameplay is rather standard Bioshock fair with weapons ranging from simple old fashioned pistols, rifles and shotguns and introducing ‘Vigors’ as special powers for you to use such as shooting lightning out of your hands or commanding a flock of crows. While these work well and provide a dynamic feel to combat as you can choose how to approach a situation the main hook to the combat is, in fact, a hook, the skyhook to be exact. This little device allows you to latch onto skyrails dotted around the the city, allowing you to swoop upon your enemies from above and gun them down. This adds an exhilarating twist to standard combat and whenever I was placed in a situation where one was not available I felt I was missing something. Elizabeth herself also makes an appearance as an assistant during combat, throwing you ammo and health and even helping you gain tactical advantages. This makes her one of the few supporting characters in gaming to not only have a charming personality, but also be useful in gameplay.
The beautiful city of Columbia!
There are negatives however. As mentioned the gameplay is rather standard and with the restriction of only using 2 weapons and powers at a time it made the game a lot more slower paced and meant that scavenging for weapons that you like would take up more of your time than you would like. Along with this the mid-section of the game is rather boring as not much goes on that is memorable and it just feels like it is made to reiterate plot points rather than provide exciting gameplay and an interesting narrative.
Overall however this game is beautiful, smart and most importantly fun. I have not has as amazing an experience with a game in a long time than I have with this game. If you can get it I would highly suggest you do, and with new DLC coming out soon it’s always a good time to travel to the city of Columbia.
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