Universal acclaim - based on 51 Critics What's this?

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Generally favorable reviews- based on 615 Ratings

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  • Summary: Going beyond "run and gun corridors," "monster-closet AIs" and static worlds, BioShock creates a living, unique and unpredictable FPS experience. After your plane crashes into icy uncharted waters, you discover a rusted bathysphere and descend into Rapture, a city hidden beneath the sea. Constructed as an idealistic society for a hand picked group of scientists, artists and industrialists, the idealism is no more. Now the city is littered with corpses, wildly powerful guardians roam the corridors as little girls loot the dead, and genetically mutated citizens ambush you at every turn. Take control of your world by hacking mechanical devices, commandeering security turrets and crafting unique items critical to your very survival. Upgrade your weapons with ionic gels, explosives and toxins to customize them to the enemy and environment. Genetically modify your body through dozens of Plasmid Stations scattered throughout the city, empowering you with fantastic and often grotesque abilities. Explore a living world powered by Ecological A.I., where the inhabitants have interesting and consequential relationships with one another that impact your gameplay experience. Experience truly next generation graphics that vividly illustrate the forlorn art deco city, highlighted by the most detailed and realistic water effects ever developed in a video game. Make meaningful choices and mature decisions, ultimately culminating in the grand question: do you exploit the innocent survivors of Rapture...or save them? [2K Games] Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 51 out of 51
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 51
  3. Negative: 0 out of 51
  1. 100
  3. 100
  7. And while 2K make up for this downgrade via added content, this isn't as extensive as we had hoped. [December 2008, p.64]

See all 51 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Negative: 4 out of 115
  1. Aug 4, 2011
  2. Dec 4, 2012
    This game is single handily the greatest 7th generation game I have played which is only challenged by the recent Dishonoured. The gameplay is superb. Probably the 2nd greatest strength of this game is the notion of evolution, and the fact is, you DO have to adapt to Rapture, you have to alter your body to survive in the once great city of Rapture. The greatest feature of this masterpiece is the story. This game has the 2nd best story in a videogame only behind Catherine. This story will consume you and make you want to play every day. I wish I knew of this game in 2008, it would have changed my mind on video games. Even in 2012, it's still a game worth playing. Expand
  3. Mar 2, 2014
    Story: 9 out of 10 Graphics: 9 out of 10 Gameplay: 10 out of 10 Fun: 9 out of 10 (depending on difficulty) Controls: 9 out of 10 Ease to Learn: 8 out of 10
    Length: 9 out of 10
    Re-play: 6 out of 10
    Audio: 10 out of 10
  4. Nov 4, 2010
    Started out slow and introduced new weapons and plasmids, decent storyline with the ability to upgrade weapons and plasmids.........worth purchasing, it held my interest to the end Expand
  5. Jan 11, 2014
    Amazing game. I got around to playing this game when I bought Bioshock Infinite, and I have to say, this game was really good. First the visuals. They look great. Sound effects, brilliant. You can locate where enemies may be much like with the early Resident Evil games. The set pieces help to make Rapture (One of the greatest places in gaming) feel claustrophobic and alone. Gameplay is very unique. You'll be switching between using standard gun weaponry and a wrench with plasmids, types of weapons that give unique powers such as fire, electricity and the bees. Gameplay also includes hacking sections which can make purchasable items cheaper and make turrets obey you. One interesting aspect is that you don't die in this game. You get partially healed and you lose some of your money. It's interesting and it helps save backtracking. Now for the plot. It is one of the most unique one's ever. You end up crash landing into the sea where you discover a lighthouse that takes you to Rapture, a city free from political ideals, royalty and where everyone man woman and child are entitled to everything they work for. You discover that the city is undergoing an uprising, led by a man named Fontaine to take down Andrew Ryan, the creator of Rapture. You're guided by a man named Atlas, and you start your journey to find Ryan and escape from Rapture. Overall, it is a fantastic game, sure the endings can be a little meh, but everything lead up to it is amazing, and the plot twist near the end is amazing. 9.2/10 Expand
  6. Feb 5, 2012
    Bioshock es la muestra de los nuevos juegos de 1st Person Shooter de esta generacion, seguro que mas adelante veremos clones o secuelas de esta saga, Rapture una ciudad ambientada en los 50's bajo el agua por distintas razones entre politica y caos mental, con un personaje protagonico que interesa la forma en la que se deshace de sus enemigos a traves de plasmidos y balas, buena trama excelentes graficos, atmosfera como de clinica mental y una musica que hace que quieras estar con alaguien al lado por eso del suspenso in extremis, recomendado como un must de esta generacion Expand
  7. OleT
    Dec 11, 2009
    Hate the controlls, and there is no alternative one. Hate the aim sensitivity, kind of similar to Half Hife 2 ps3(The Orange Box). Dont know about story, since this game was unplayable for me, using a ps3 controller. No doubt this was ment playing on a computer. Expand

See all 115 User Reviews

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