Short Game Review: Bioshock
The graphics were awesome, the music was very well employed, the techniques to avoid repetition were appreciated, and setting people on fire with your mind is damn fun. Certain scenes managed to be terrifying, clever, and strangely beautiful. Being one of the best games I’ve played doesn’t make it one of the best stories I’ve experienced, though. For the most part, you spend your time looking for ammo, looking for items you need to advance to the next level, or walking around and bumping into guys you need to shoot until one of you dies. Some gamers are offering this as an example of how this medium can be capital-A “Art,” but really, I think it’s just important to add a title to the very small number of games with stories we don’t need to be ashamed of. I reserve the right to alter this opinion after I play through again, which I’ll probably do soon enough. (Sorry to make this pop up on RSS feeds again; edited a couple times for clarity.)
5 Comments so far
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I agree with Onion AV Club’s review (but mine was shorter!).
By Jason on 09.05.07 12:55 am
Even better: The Zero Punctuation review of Bioshock is on-target and also funny.
By Jason on 09.07.07 11:27 am
[...] I said that I reserve the right to change my opinion after playing Bioshock a second time, and I have changed my opinion somewhat. Or more like I kept it the same, only more so this time. Basically, this game is expertly crafted, but its intellectual offerings are overhyped. About halfway through, there’s an excellent scene that makes you think, “Oh my gosh, this changes everything—not just for this game, but for all shooters!” And then a few minutes later you realize, “Oh wait, it changed nothing. If anything, now it’s even more like other shooters.” Oh well. Also, don’t bother playing through as evil. The plot makes less sense that way, and you’re not rewarded nearly as well with power-ups. (Let this also serve as a notice to my compatriots that just because I jumped on writing a short review of something doesn’t mean you can’t write one of your own.) [...]
By doombot » Short Game Review: Bioshock (evil version) on 09.12.07 11:29 am
[...] I did with Bioshock, so I shall do with Mass Effect—and in this case, the follow-up review feels even more deserved. [...]
By doombot » Short Game Review: Mass Effect (replay) on 04.03.08 11:24 am
[...] probably pick up the sequel which is due out this year. Jason wrote two(!) reviews of Bioshock here and [...]
By doombot » Games of 2008 in Review on 01.10.09 9:07 pm
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