Greetings, dear friends. Get ready for a conversation about a game that literally turned my perception of modern games upside down. It seems that this game is not just someone's fantasy come to life, but a real, hidden alternative reality. One way or another, games like BioShock have always attracted players like a magnet. But in the past, luck turned its back on the series. It was precisely because of this that it was extremely difficult to refrain from skeptical statements.
Prologue
To be honest, I was never a fan of this series and was, rather, among those very skeptics. In fact, even the founding studio, Irrational Games, despite BioShock's success, did not believe in the possibility of a sequel. That’s why the development of the sequel was entrusted to the branches of 2K Games and Arkane Studios. The result was a rather uncertain sequel, which became a black mark compared to the original. Nevertheless, working on BioShock 2 left a scar on Arkane Studios, which last year made a more than successful splash with a BioShock-like game called Dishonored.
After the unsuccessful sequel, the developers at Irrational Games, clutching their heads, rushed to save their brainchild, which, unable to swim, was floundering in the ruins of Rapture, the city from the original game. The main question was whether the developers could keep the BioShock series afloat, and whether it could amaze and excite the minds of players as it did the first time. This question was answered by the indescribable magnificence known as BioShock Infinite.
Story
Let me say right away—the story is simply incredible, and a large part of it revolves around religion and the implication of hidden meaning in every word. This becomes clear almost at the very beginning of the game, specifically upon arrival in the city of Columbia, floating above the clouds, which is the complete opposite of Rapture, the city that was underwater. The story unfolds smoothly and carefully, as if luring our new main character—agent Booker DeWitt—into its net.
He was asked—naturally, not for a small fee—to extract a certain girl named Elizabeth from Columbia, who, according to the description, is kept in the city like a "princess in a golden cage." Later, it becomes clear that our main character doesn't have the brightest past, as after carefree wanderings through the city streets, passersby recognize him as the false prophet who, judging by the posters hanging all over the city, could lead all of Comstock's flock—the architect and creator of the floating city—astray.
The city itself is literally saturated with Comstock's ideological propaganda. All this ideology is just a cover for a terrifying and secret system. We begin to realize this when we're offered to throw a baseball at people tied to posts. And here the story shows what true dynamism and unpredictability mean, because in just a few seconds you become the main enemy of the authorities and almost every citizen in the city. From that moment on, we get into trouble comparable only to the level of problems in GTA. Despite all the misfortunes that pour down on us like rain, we continue searching for Elizabeth, which, to be honest, turns out to be not such an easy task.
Although after you find her, the goal of leaving the city alive seems completely unattainable, especially considering that you're being pursued by this entire cultist mob. The intrigue that will accompany you throughout the game, and the interest that won’t fade for a second, are undoubtedly the result of a magnificent and one of the strongest game narratives. It was woven into the game world in bold, skillfully drawn strokes, which elevated the atmosphere of the game to the highest level.
Gameplay
Speaking of the game world. Remember how I once said that the world in Far Cry 3 is very, very, very diverse? Well, that was nothing, because BioShock Infinite has gone so far beyond that, you couldn't catch up to it even in a Bugatti Veyron. The moment you enter Columbia, you understand the true meaning of the word "magnificence." Yes, not just beauty, but sheer magnificence! The colossal and painstaking work of the artists turned this city in the sky into the living embodiment of a dream. The developers didn't just paint a game universe with its own features—no, they went much further, breathing life into the city.
As a result, Columbia turned out to be an absolutely stunning city. You want to wander its streets forever. There are plenty of beautiful squares, buildings, and statues everywhere. Every stall in the game is available for exploration. Audio logs have also returned to the game, allowing you to learn various interesting facts about the city, its history, and its development. Here are a few interesting features of Columbia’s communication system: the city is enveloped in a network of sky rails to which passenger cars attach, bridges don’t rise but lower—in fact, the entire city is built and operates contrary to all the standards that exist on the ground. Its atmosphere deserves a separate mention: it has no equal or counterpart, that’s for sure. Here, above the clouds, everything looks so bright and majestic that there’s simply nothing to compare it to.
The architecture and level design of Columbia are crafted down to the smallest detail. It’s as if they themselves encourage the player to approach each encounter differently. If you want, you can charge into a frontal assault with a grenade launcher in hand, or you can lure enemies out one by one and eliminate them with a sniper rifle. Or you can hook onto those very sky rails and, hovering above your enemies, pelt them with grenades. Because of such intense warfare, the city will be destroyed right before your eyes, which won’t be the most pleasant sight.
The mechanics in the game have also undergone noticeable changes. This is mainly due to Elizabeth’s role in the game. After you meet her, she will loyally follow you, help you, and share ammo with you during shootouts. Elizabeth’s character is also something indescribable. She’s wise, beautiful, and a very friendly girl. Watching how she struggles with and vividly overcomes her principles during the escape from the city is truly fascinating. In such emotional moments, you can’t help but remember Alyx from Half-Life 2, since she also had your back so carefully throughout the game. And a game like this had—and still has—significant advantages, trust me. Playing with a companion, even an artificial one, makes the experience much more engaging for the player.
Graphics and Sound
Not only is the gameplay of the game interesting, but also its stylistic design, which makes it look simply superb. The color palette of Unreal Engine 3 appears bright and refreshingly vivid, and thanks to numerous modifications, it delivers excellent graphical quality.
And now the style, which one could talk about forever. It is majestic, magnificent, stunning, and unique. The design and architecture of the city can't be compared to any others, even the most beautiful cities in games. Everything is created in an incredible blend of avant-garde, baroque, and modernism. It looks even more colorful and impressive than it sounds. Every corner of the city seems to be stitched with a fine golden thread. And the flowers... All of Columbia is awash in flowers. At times, when you’re fully immersed in the game’s atmosphere, you almost want to smell their wonderful fragrance.
The voice acting in the game is also top-notch. The musical accompaniment is well-chosen and fits perfectly into the atmosphere. The music playing on the radio completely matches the style popular in the early 20th century. But, to be honest, there are some oddities. For example, on the sign of the movie theater that appeared in Elizabeth’s first portal, you can see an announcement for the premiere of Episode 6 of "Star Wars" (at least it’s not the third episode of Half-Life 2).
***
Nevertheless, friends, it’s time to move on to the conclusion. And that’s very difficult. It’s very difficult because BioShock Infinite is impossible to describe in words, yet a conclusion must be made. Irrational Games have given us an exceptional masterpiece of our time, one that everyone should aspire to. And if we ask once again: "Were the developers able to keep the BioShock series afloat?" I can confidently say that they did even more—they taught BioShock how to fly.
