Does Bioshock Infinite belong in the skies of Columbia or the depths of Rapture? 

Bioshock Infinite is like an expensive, luxury three-course meal…bear with me here. To start, an incredibly atmospheric and absorbing introduction that sets the tone for what’s to come. This is followed by your main course: extremely fun gameplay that takes familiar concepts and quite literally catapults them into the air. Make sure you save room for dessert though, because Irrational Games serves up an emotional, mind-whirling finale that will fry your brain and leave your jaw waiting patiently on the floor, ready to be picked back up. A lot of games manage to perfect at least one of these dishes, sometimes two, but it’s rare you’ll find a game that’s so consistent in constantly turning its lofty ambitions into a wonderful reality. 

ONE OF THE BEST STORIES GAMING HAS EVER SEEN

You play as Booker Dewitt, a private eye who can handle a gun, on a mission to rescue a young woman named Elizabeth from a tower that just so happens to be in a city floating miles above Earth. Another normal day, then. Irrational Games proved they could produce incredibly realized worlds filled with masterful storytelling with their 2007 hit Bioshock,and to say they’ve knocked it out of the park again would be an understatement. Whilst I’m not going to delve into any more plot details as it’s best to experience the thrilling narrative for yourself, what I will say is that Irrational have produced one of the best stories gaming has seen. Filled with twists and turns, and (most importantly) adventure, Bioshock Infinite takes you on a truly affecting journey and gives you an ending that will have you lying awake at night, grinning as you fit all the pieces together. The game is filled with incredibly clever foreshadowing and tiny details that will reward the more eagle-eyed among you when the payoff finally hits.

They’re also another excuse to explore the fascinatingly detailed world that is Columbia. Stunning and colorful, it’s a far cry from the murky, abandoned Rapture of the original. For a start, it’s populated. Every inch of the city is chock-filled with something to look at or do. It’s the sort of game that will have you scouring the environment for anything you might’ve missed, and there are few things worth missing. Audio recordings, permanent stat boosts, new Vigors (more on them later): there is always something to find. Even if it’s just catching a conversation between a couple of citizens, everything serves to make Columbia a believable, living city. The atmosphere is intensified by shameless propaganda, obvious racial divides and the rumblings of revolution. Columbia really is one of the most believable gaming worlds out there, and it’s punctuated by an excellent soundtrack that jumps all over the genre spectrum. Expect to hear a few surprisingly familiar tunes as you continue your adventure.

FAMILIAR BUT THRILLING GAMEPLAY

The meat of the actual gameplay doesn’t stray too far from the original Bioshock. In your right hand you carry a gun, of which there are many kinds: from pistols to RPGs, all the expected boom-sticks report for duty. In your left hand you have Vigors, essentially exactly the same as the Plasmids found in Bioshock. For the uninitiated, these are powers obtained from drinking various potions found throughout the game. For example, Devil’s Kiss gives you the ability to shoot off fireballs, giving your foes the “extra crispy” look. Or you could go with Bucking Bronco, sending your enemies into the air to float momentarily, giving you the chance to pick them off. Vigors also have a secondary ability, usually in the form of laying down a trap that, when sprung, will deliver the poison of choice. I only found myself using the basic attack, but for the more experimental players out there, you can combine Vigors to deliver an extra clout. Bucking Bronco a bunch of bad guys into the air and then chain shock them with a burst of electricity with Shock Jockey; or, as I often did, launch off a flock of murderous crows with the appropriately named Murder of Crows and then, using Devil’s Kiss, set the winged beasts on fire to heat up your opponents. As if being chewed to death wasn’t bad enough.

The shooting is fast and satisfying and the real rewards come from smartly switching out weapons and Vigors appropriately. So the combat’s enjoyable, but what’s the twist? Well. How do Skylines sound? Using your trusty Skyhook, acquired early in the game, you can hook onto roller-coaster style skylines throughout the world that speed you through the city. Part of Columbia’s cargo transport system, you can exploit these skylines for both transport and combat needs. If you find yourself stuck in a rut, you can simply hook yourself onto a nearby skyline and zoom to a different part of the battlefield, whether it’s giving you a higher vantage point or escaping certain death, they add an element of swashbuckling action, using skylines to hop onto enemy airships and take out those on board: only to jump back on and shoot your foes on the ground as you ride above. They’re a great addition that gives the fun but familiar gameplay a unique twist.

Skylines aren’t the only thing unique to Infinite‘s combat. Elizabeth, the girl I mentioned earlier, has the power to manipulate ‘tears’ in the universe. She can bring in cover, supplies or even allies from parallel universes to aid you in battle. With a quick command, you can request tears to be opened giving you a tactical edge when things get busy. She’ll also scour the environment for things to throw to you when you might be low on ammo or health. As you try and escape Columbia together, Elizabeth proves to be an invaluable ally rather than an AI hindrance, and I genuinely found myself missing her aid when she wasn’t around, which says a lot considering she never directly attacks enemies with you.

A JOURNEY YOU HAVE TO EXPERIENCE

The relationship between Elizabeth and Booker as they travel across Columbia together is fascinating, mainly due to the talent behind the duo. I really don’t want to talk too much about either character, as their journey really is something you need to witness yourself, but rest assured that it’s a journey worth going on. It’s rare that you forget that the characters on screen aren’t real people as you play through, which is something I constantly kept doing, a huge achievement considering you rarely even see Booker’s face. 

To top off the wonderful main components that join together to create this experience, Irrational have been just as smart in their smaller design choices. Never leaving Booker’s perspective works brilliantly. A clean HUD that is both informative and discreet goes a long way to helping you fully believe the world you’re in. You won’t find any annoying directional arrows or mini-maps, and if you do get lost, a simple tap on the directional pad points you in the right direction.

Whilst suffering from a very minor lull about two thirds of the way in, Bioshock Infinite has few negative aspects to draw in on. The campaign may well have benefitted from being an hour or so shorter than its current twelve hours, and no multiplayer might irk some, although it really isn’t needed. In fact, it’s quite refreshing to see a company that doesn’t feel pressured to shoe in multiplayer for the sole purpose of more sales.

CONCLUSION

Bioshock Infinite is a game you simply have to play. A world that has been crafted with effort, love and care. Characters that you’ll immediately miss when you put the controller down. Fun, enjoyable combat that gives you many opportunities to experiment and a story that will knock the wind out of you on more than one occasion all come together to produce a package that excels on nearly every level. Bioshock Infinite soars higher than Columbia itself. 

THE GOOD

Incredible story

Masterfully created world

Fun, experimental combat 

THE BAD

Slightly drawn-out campaign

SCORE: 10/10

Bioshock Infinite is out now on Xbox 360, PS3 (reviewed) and PC.

Review copy kindly provided by Renegade PR.