Game: BioShock Infinite
Developer:Irrational Games
Publisher:2K Games
Released:March 26 on PC, PS3 and 360
Grade:A
"Bring us the girl and wipe away the debt."
These words haunt Booker DeWitt at the outset of BioShock Infinite, a game that would have to be nothing short of extraordinary in order live up to the expectations set by the first two games in the BioShock series.
Despite setbacks, delays and ridiculously high expectations, Irrational Games' second iteration into the BioShock series delivers one of the best gaming experiences in years. While it is not perfect, there are very few games that achieve the same miraculous level of detail, art direction, entertaining gameplay and narrative as BioShock Infinite.
Set in 1912, the story follows an ex-Pinkerton, Booker DeWitt, who must travel to Columbia in order to bring a girl named Elizabeth back to New York and erase his mysterious debt. It may sound like a simple premise, but once DeWitt reaches the city of Columbia, nothing feels simple anymore.
Inspired by The White City at the Chicago World's Fair of 1893, the neoclassical floating marvel of Columbia is nothing short of remarkable. The religious zealot Comstock, who has crafted Columbia into a nativist utopia with America as its religion, controls the city. Seeing the Founding Fathers immortalized and idolized like the gods of Greek mythology is one of the first tastes that reveal the pathological idealism captured by the people of Columbia.
The pathological idealism maintained throughout BioShock Infinite, combined with the heavy influences from early 19th-century American society is merely a piece of what makes the world of Columbia so irresistibly believable. The level of detail, ambience and characters are the cities true selling point.
Infiniteis packed with paintings, statues, plaques, posters, audio logs and people, which give the game its remarkable level of depth, and responsibility is brilliantly placed on the player to take the time to discover a large part of this narrative.
Characters have always been one of BioShock's strong suits and Infinite is no different. The city of Columbia is bustling with people on the streets having everyday conversations, talking about news or commenting on events throughout the city.
Complete with its own Rockefeller-esque robber baron character, Fink, this game has a very unique and distinct cast, all of which are animated and voiced in a remarkable fashion; like Elizabeth, the mysterious girl DeWitt is sent to retrieve from Columbia.
Voiced by Courtnee Draper (Bored to Death), Elizabeth is DeWitt's companion for a majority of the game but is also one of Infinite's greatest achievements.
Elizabeth also helps DeWitt find ammo, money and lock picks and she will occasionally provide health or salts in combat when he is running low. She is not just another AI companion but someone gamers can truly begin to care about. Her unparalleled animations, actions and voice acting make her one of the best characters in recent video game memory.
While the world of Columbia is full of stunning details, it is also extremely violent. Launching a hail of flaming crows at your enemies as they are pecked to death is just one example of the way violence plays into Infinite'sstreamlined combat.
Like "Plasmids" of the previous BioShock's, "Vigors" grant the player eight abilities, which can be combined in ways that keep the combat both exploratory and entertaining. They can all be upgraded, just like the myriad of weapons in the game, with clothing that provides buffs in certain situations.
While the combat can get a bit dull at times, with a spike in difficulty toward the end of the game, the use of "Sky-Lines" in combat never tires. The childlike power fantasy of swinging from rail to rail, the sense of speed and gratification of launching yourself at an enemy, is one of Infinite's most enjoyable game play aspects.
These rails also provide a unique change in level design and transportation around many of the varied environments. The addition of large enemies like the Gatling gun toting Mechanized Patriot or Handyman into any fight offer a welcomed change of pace and create some exhilaratingly tense moments throughout the game.
Fans of the original BioShock may find themselves disappointed by this iteration's combat. However, where Infinite truly shines is its story. The narrative produced by the game's stunning art direction, characters and city of Columbia simply add to the level of depth and creativity carried by the phenomenal story. Unlike many games which falter in their conclusion, BioShock Infinite packs a conclusion that is not only satisfying but will keep you coming back for more.
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