I bought the remaster set BioShock: The Collection on Nintendo Switch for $20, and have recently been running back the series here on my blog. What we have found so far is an innovative blend of first-person shooter and role-playing games, in adventurous settings. BioShock Infinite is the third game in the series, and as with series tradition, takes bold new steps. All the while, remixing and revisiting concepts that have made the series popular. Originally made by Irrational Games in 2013, with the remaster by Blind Squirrel Games, it is easy to see why this is so many people’s favorite game in the series.
The first two BioShock games revolve around an underwater city known as Rapture, but Infinite takes us to a dystopia in the clouds, to a flying city known as Columbia in 1912. You, Booker Dewitt, are to journey to this place and recover a girl in order to pay off an enormous debt. From the outset Booker is the lovable roguish type. He has quite a personality for the playable protagonist of a series that has historically had voiceless heroes.
Of course, nothing goes so easy as he hoped, or this wouldn’t be much of a story. In the plot department, this may be regarded as the strongest of all three BioShock games. It is full of twists and turns that leave your head spinning, and just when you feel like you couldn’t be more puzzled, things change again. I sat through the credits of the game just contemplating how the ending is possible, and what it means. This is an iconic game story, in line with the importance of the first BioShock.
A strong story is supported by frenetic, stimulating action sequences. Gun fights in Infinite are delightfully hectic, an ebb and flow of chaos and control. All weapons feel worthy. I love that they kept the ability to have action skills in one hand and weapon in the other, it keeps the combat pacing so quick, and makes you so powerful. I have heard people say that BioShock 2 has the best gameplay in the series, but in my opinion Infinite is better if not at least close. This game has my favorite action skills of the series.
Action skills that were once called plasmids are now vigors, and while you can carry all of these to swap between at once, which is terrific, you can only carry two guns in this game. This will have you scavenging for weapons and ammo during combat, but for the most part this is made doable and actually fun. It forces you to make choices about weapon balancing and resource management. The penalty for death is still minimal. Go to a respawn point, enemies get some health, you pay a small fee but that is it. I honestly died my share of times playing on Medium difficulty, out of Easy, Medium and Hard.
There is a rather rich diversity of enemies, without there being so many that their different weapons become too much to manage. Meaning that without overloading the game with different weapon types, you see more ammo you want. Corpses can also be looted for ammo beyond what drops in their gun. There were times I felt overwhelmed by my obstacles, but the key was always good shooting, resource management and wise vigor application. The vigors in this game are awesome. Each has unique and creative effects that can be useful in more than one way. It is hard to pick a favorite action skill in Infinite, they are all neat.
The remaster looks stellar. The attention to detail I have come to expect from BioShock is very much present. There are constant moments where you are reminded that you are in a city above the clouds. As the platforms that hold Columbia together shift it gives you the sensation of not being on solid ground. I love the satisfaction in blasting off pieces of enemy armor to let me know I am making progress on fighting them. The art within the game does so well to convey the emotions of the game while pleasing the senses.
I have only a handful of minor complaints about BioShock Infinite. The biggest is the guide arrow. You press a button to make guide arrow appear, but it only appears for a fleeting moment and you have to actually find it and see where it is going before it disappears. It is just an annoying system that could’ve been improved. I also wish there were more resources available for upgrades. There are a lot of options for your arsenal in this game, but resources are not overly abundant, so it is best to focus on what is most practical for your fighting style.
I understand the player must face scarcity to make meaningful choices sometimes. It does give me incentive to play the game again. I would like to see what other weapons or powers would be like if I had focused on them instead. Also, I would enjoy playing through again to experience the story once more. Knowing how it ends, I wonder what signs or meaningful moments I may have missed. In addition to playing through again, I may give all three BioShock games a run through their DLCs.
BioShock Infinite is a remarkable game. The action and story bring together all the best you would come to expect from the series, even delivers beyond the promise. What a wonderful way to cap off the trilogy, buying the remastered collection is an easy buying decision. What makes it irresistible is the low price BioShock: The Collection is being offered. As I said before, I got it for $20 on the Nintendo Switch, but it is available on any platform for around this price. If you want to experience a piece of gaming history, you would be completely foolish to overlook this series, especially with the fresh coat of paint it has received. I spent about ten to fifteen hours with each game, an incredible value any way you splice it.
Credit: BioShock Infinite. Screenshots by me.
HereticDerek 