Opinions on BioShock Created 16 years ago2007-08-23 15:26:22 UTC by srry

Most of you by now have at very least played the demo of BioShock, so I figured I'd start a thread for people to post their opinions about it in. I haven't come close to finishing it, but I've got a good enough feel of it so that I feel qualified to discuss it.

I myself think that while it's an incredible game in places, the majority of the gameplay is fairly dry and mundane, the fighting in particular being extremely redundant. Some people have said that it's the variation of the plasmids that makes it interesting, and while that is partially true, for me it doesn't help the fact that I've been taking down the same type of enemy non-stop for hours.

And in another area that's more on topic for TWHL, I've found the level design to be severely lacking in places. Sure, it's quite appealing visually, but to me there's an overall feeling that you're always just running around on the same floor level. Maybe I'm spoiled on Half-Life 1/2, or maybe it's been console-ified, but it feels far too straightforward to me. And you would have thought that by now every game would incorporate things as rudimentary as vertical gameplay, but areas where it comes into play in BioShock or more infrequent than you might expect for a modern game.

As I haven't actually finished it, I feel a bit underprivileged to comment on things like overall level design, but does anyone else think it's a tad overrated? I'm not sure it deserves all the hype it's getting, a bit like Halo (I hate to compare it to that though.)

My 9600 XT doesn't support 3.0 pixel shading, so it was a very stupid 1.8 GB download. Textures were black, and no patch or driver update fixed it. At least it ran, unlike Lost Planet.
Everything I've seen so far is just screenshots and videos, and the visual style is certainly original.
Is it enough to stay interesting throughout a whole FPS game? I can't answer that without a major PC upgrade.

Well now when you put it that way Im not sure I want it anymore

Same enemies all the time just ain't fun.. except in FEAR cuz of the awesome AI which IMO Bioshock doesn't have.
At least in the demo the behaviour of the enemies was just fail, (exception: Big daddy. We've all seen the trailers right? :>)

Put the graphics at high, and it sure was an awesome eyecandy experience, but still, it needs to be fun and hot on the same time.

I rather save my money for EP2 orange pack and BiA Hells highway.

Sorry, I didn't mean to deter anyone from it. I only mentioned the negative traits of it because I figured most people knew all the positive aspects of it! And not only that, I'm sure quite few people disagree with me about the things I mentioned. The story is extremely thought-provoking, and the way it's delivered (across your radio and from picking up recorded messages) is nice and fresh. The story is what drives the game for me, not the gameplay.

I got the demo, and I can play it on high at 1024 x 768 with probably about 10 - 15 FPS.

I left it on high but turned the res to 800 x 600, not I'm getting probably 3 times that.

Only problem is, I can't get passed the second load, it always crashes.

Would have more of a better opinion if it wasn't for that.

Well. I will buy it eventionally. But not untill the price goes down.

bioshock. several hundred critics gave it an average rating of 97%.

i expected this to happen. bioshock isn't a game for everyone. people think that because its such a good game in the reviews, they'll love it. srry himself admitted that he had never heard of it before a week or so ago when it was getting perfect reviews everywhere. usually that doesn't merit buying it after a mere week of researching it.

i'd recommend you get hold of a copy of system shock 2, jump on IRC and i'll step you through how to install the custom mods that make the game work better, and play (and finish) it. if you like system shock 2, you'll like bioshock. it's that simple. (this isn't directed at anyone in particular, everyone should do it)

EDIT: if you're still unsure, just wait for a crack and download it!

the game is alot about the storyline, if you want a mundane shooter, go play far cry.

The gameplay was a bit dull, but the graphics were amazing. I was lucky enough to play on near max at 1680 x 1050 widscreen res. The water looks great, and the beginning greatly reminded me of FarCry how the guy on the phone helps you out.

...I reserve judgement until I see the final product.

srry himself admitted that he had never heard of it before a week or so ago when it was getting perfect reviews everywhere.

That's not what I said. I said I'd heard about it for a very long time, but wasn't that interested in it until recently. I'd seen the hype about it and read endless previews of it, so I knew what it was about and everything for months, but it just didn't really catch my attention until a week or so ago.

And yeah, about the visuals, they are very original and you really feel like you're underwater the entire time, since everything is glistening wet or moldy. It's extremely nice to look at, what with the unusual 50's styling everywhere.

Its not my cup of tea, really, but i doubt i will buy it. or play the demo.
To me its kind of like doom 3 underwater.

Trust me NineT, it's nothing like Doom 3 at all.

Actually, I was thinking the same thing. The textures look low-res and over-normal mapped, just like Doom 3. The visuals may be original, but they look like plastic more than anything else, and I think the water's too reflective. I can't understand why my computer would average 40 FPS for visuals that really aren't that astounding or high-quality. The plot interests me, but since I'm in Luke's postion, I can't make any comment on gameplay.

I wasn't too excited about it when I heard of it, and I'm not too excited now. :

Actually, the textures are usually quite high-res, but it does suffer from a bit of plasticity... could that be how all Unreal 3 engine games will be like?

As far as visual styles though, the two games are nothing alike. Doom 3 = super high-tech and crammed with control panels, wires, etc. BioShock = lavish 50's styling with a slight steampunk-ish flair.

When I said that, I meant that the Bioshock engine looks like Doom3's engine.

I suppose it does a bit.

it looks pretty.

No way i'm playing it anytime soon. Wish i could but not this time around.

Astounding gameplay is the only way I'd play it. Graphics are becoming so good that its getting kinda boring because thats all i expect is better graphics from the newer games. Its a contest of who's game is prettier.

actually thats what I hate... I'd rather games use at least half-decent graphics still, but focus more on gameplay. Grand Theft Auto 3 through Vice City Stories have SHIT graphics, but the gameplay is very original, non-linear, and fun for weeks.

That's why TF2 is gonna be complete ownage. Awesome graphics and awesome game play.

My pants will explode.

That's why TF2 is gonna be complete ownage. Awesome graphics and awesome game play.

My pants will explode.

Likewise. After seeing the new Meet the Soldier video i'm more excited than ever.

I actually get a bit of a Doom 3 vibe when playing the Bioshock demo, but it doesn't bother me as I actually enjoyed most of Doom 3. The graphics are pretty plasticy, but I suppose it fits the stylised look. That's why i'm glad other Unreal 3 engine games (like GoW) use bump-mapping to a minimum effect. Just because the technology exists, doesn't mean it should be used absolutely everywhere.

The gameplay was fun, the demo is only so long so I can't complain about it in the long-run. Also, for a game that boasts about amazing water effects, I find the water kind of unimpressive, to be honest.

It seems storyline has much been replaced with astounding the player with smoke and shine. Designers are focused on linear game-play which allows them to throw fancy cinematics into the game. Its almost as though they forget somewhere along the line that they are trying to entertain other people; But I guess this is just the way its going to be, just wait for another good storyline to come out, they can't all be winners.

It better be.

DoD:S had a huge hype build-up, over 40,000 people played it, and then everyone realized it was a waste of $20. The sadest part is the DoD:S official forums are less an exchange of ideas, more of a circle jerk.

It seems storyline has much been replaced with astounding the player with smoke and shine. Designers are focused on linear game-play which allows them to throw fancy cinematics into the game. Its almost as though they forget somewhere along the line that they are trying to entertain other people; But I guess this is just the way its going to be, just wait for another good storyline to come out, they can't all be winners.

Which is why I love the story in BioSock. It's very non-linear as far as I can tell. The gameplay is too, to the extent that you can choose to explore certain areas or leave them unseen if you feel like it, and even if you have to go to certain places you can almost always choose the order in which you explore them.

But are there any real benefits of exploring those places that you say can be left unchecked?

I haven't played the demo yet, but from what I hear it doesn't sound like it lives up to the hype at all. I'll probably just skip it.

Well, Half-Life has a lot of little tidbits you can miss. Whether they're worth your time is up to you.

Yeah, there are benefits. You can find different plasmids that you would never obtain otherwise, not to mention the money, health, ammo, etc that you could find.

I don't think they were talking about the awesome-new health ammo money plasmid content

[rephrase] But, I'll admit, those areas that are usually left unchecked are intended for players who play on harder settings.

Well, I'd call it a real benefit. :

Well I just picked the game up on lunch break. Despite it's problems i'm looking forward to playing it tonight.

I agree with Srry here, especially about gameplay.
I do not, however, agree about the textures being low-res. They most definately are not. Up your graphics settings before making a judgement like that. The game can be immensely pretty at times, and despite repetative fighting gameplay, the combat is generally well spaced out with epic moments. In the demo for example - the plane mid-section smashing into the connecting hallway, flooding it with water and fishies. Moments like that are just cool.

The advert boasts 70 different plasmids & the ability to customise weapons and make your own ammo, too, which is pretty good.

What do you think about the hacking mini-game?

What do you think about the hacking mini-game?

Failed it both times I tried in the demo.

Mini-games are always a little off, but at least it's a mini-game that's actually somewhat related to the theme.

how can you fail that?? its so easy!!!

Failure to read instructions.

It can get pretty hard if the tubes are going off in an inane direction at the start.

Bioshock? Meh, for me, it's one of those games i'll buy when its fully out and running on low price. I really don't find it that fantastic, from what i've seen.

That's why TF2 is gonna be complete ownage. Awesome graphics and awesome game play.
My pants will explode.

Gameplay is most important to me, graphics really don't matter THAT much, I mean, cmon, I still play HL1 mods..

But yeh, right with you, can't wait for TF2 (and Ep2), my pants already wetted when I saw the new 'meet the soldier' trailer.

Amen...

?

I've taken next week off work for Bioshock. I can start playing it tonight. I can't wait.

I'm a big fan of System Shock 2, so I am sure that I will have a marvellous time in Rapture.

I haven't played the demo. Didn't want to spoil it. I'm going straight in there on hard difficulty. I don't want it to be over too quickly...

I think it sucks on account of not supporting SM2 cards.

Cries in a corner

I think you suck on account of not having an SM3 card.

I think you suck on account of not having an SM3 card.

QFT

Half-life 2 is still a good game on DX6, I don't see why these few new games won't work at all on "old" cards, which aren't that old.
Some companies are probably paid by ATI and Nvidia to convince users that they NEED a new SM3 card, and that their gameplay experience has been flawed until they actually had one. The problem is, now they want to force that change.

Some companies are probably paid by ATI and Nvidia to convince users that they NEED a new SM3 card, and that their gameplay experience has been flawed until they actually had one.

well duh. Not to mention the fact that developers want to get people off old technology ASAP so that they don't have to make things back-compatable. It's easier for them to work for newer technologies.

Even web browsing and word processing is something with skyrocketing system requirements. Windows Vista, Norton/ McAfee, Office 2007 and really fucking bloated websites (IGN, Myspace, Youtube, etc) need a rather formidable machine.

My Mac from 1995 is still a functional machine, but this rat race has made it a piece of junk.

My Mac from 1995

There's your problem. Are you sure it wasn't a piece of junk in the first place?

And has Valve announced the new system requirements for the Orange Box yet? I wanna bet they use SM3 on the new engine changes.

Now that i have a 8800GTS i demand that every game is only suited for my card or higher. .

Kasperg, it probably takes a whole lot more time to develop the engine to run on server techniques that differ in years. I can imagine it increasing the file size substantial too. And, it is very expensive nowadays to make a title, teams can run up too 150 people and the budgets stretch already that of small to medium films, so they have all the reason to get the game uptodate so it can run for atleast a year. Things change faster then it when HL came out. And remember, they worked a long time on HL2.

Up to date? Valve won over quite a lot of customers when they made DX6, DX7, DX8, and DX8.1 modes for Half-Life 2. It did take more effort to create these fallback modes, but more people could play, and thus, pay.

Luke: It was a pretty good machine back then, it wasn't some shitty budget box with only 4MB of RAM.

Ok. But my machine runs HL2, Doom3 (Quake4, Prey) FarCry etc flawlessly. I know those games are around 3 years old, but I expected I could at least run the BioShock demo on low graphics, instead of none at all.
It's perfectly fine to develop for new engines and use new tricks, but saying "dude, upgrade to play our game!!" won't work with every user.

Perhaps it doesn't support your graphics card Kasp.
Sounds odd to me.

Kasberg, those games are from 2003. This is a new wave of games with much steeper system requirements. PC gaming is really expensive.

I'm considering one of those Xbox 360s. They've got HDMI ports and all the newest FPS games for just $350. While the games are $60, and joysticks don't allow for super fast aiming, it's still a heck of a lot cheaper than getting a cutting edge computer.

Consoles are for the weak!
Don't turn to the dark side of gaming

all the newest FPS games

with horrible graphics settings & with stupid controls.