Platform: Epic
Genre: First Person
Completed: 05/08/2024
This was a game that I had started several times but for one reason or another, I drifted away from after a while. In the beginning, I only ever completed an area or two and that was it. Also, considering I had attempted to play this back on the PS3 quite a long while ago, it felt like a fresh playthrough for me when I booted it up again.
However, I soon discovered an apprehension whenever it came to loading the game, and as I thought about this, I couldn't understand why.
Whenever I played the game, I found that I was enjoying it and put as much time as possible into it before logging off. So I could rule that out as the reason. It wasn't even because of the style of gameplay. Recently, before the start of the challenge, I had completed System Shock 2 (admittedly cooperatively with my brother) so that couldn't be it either. Especially since this game is heavily inspired by the other.
The only reason I could think of was that when the game was first announced, there had been a trailer that was from the P.O.V of the main character (at least I assumed it was him) and he was approaching a little sister. Suddenly, a Big Daddy rams his drill through the character's chest from behind. That clip left a big impression on me, and I think it convinced my brain that BioShock was a horror game - and I do not do well with horror games. So whenever I tried to load it up, my mind would protest because of this false perception. I did look it up again after I played the game, and apparently, I remember it differently. While the stabbing does occur in the trailer, there were quite a few things that happened before that.
But as I said, once I was actually playing the game, I was really into it. I admit I did struggle in some parts, but this was mostly because I kept forgetting to use the Plasmids.
While I did know of the big mid-game twist (anyone with an internet connection is liable to come across it) it didn't take away from the experience. Witnessing the execution of the reveal was still impressive and I could appreciate what they had done. However, I suppose there is a bit of a cost. When it then came to the final boss fight, I did find that quite lacking. It was nothing more than your typical fight where you whittle down the big bad until you can drain his power; then the next round he would have a different ability and some reinforcements - but the method would remain the same. I will say though, watching a group of little girls swarm over an enemy and stab him multiple times with syringes is rather creepy.
There was only really one thing about the game which I found frustrating. For some reason, the brightness setting didn't work. I would try to adjust it, but nothing changed, so some areas were pitch black. I could get around cautiously, but I know I probably didn't explore those areas very well. At least, if I encountered an enemy, the muzzle flash and (when I got around to them) Plasmid abilities lit up the area just enough to help see a rough silhouette of what I was shooting at.
I do have the other two games in the franchise and I will most likely play them at some point. Hopefully, I won't stall as much as I had with this one. In the meantime, however, I move on to C... Citizens of Earth
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