320°
9.0

IGN UK: BioShock 2 Review

If it wasn't for that expanded, heightened, desperate combat, and how neatly that sidesteps into a surprisingly characterful multiplayer mode, this would be a lacklustre sequel. It's redeemed by the surfeit of combinations, upgrades and gene tonics which allow you to truly specialise, creating a psychedelic, explosive fighting style all of your own. If there's a third game (of course there bloody will be), it cannot be set in Rapture again. This second tour of duty with far superior toys is everything it needs to be, though. Familiarity breeds a little contempt, but as, simply, a game in which you shoot monsters in city under the sea, it's better in every respect.

Presentation - 9.5
Graphics - 8.5
Sound - 8.5
Gameplay - 9.0
Lasting Appeal - 8.5
Overall -

WildArmed5187d ago

I'm not really expecting the same impact like the first game out of this one.
I might actually steer clear of this game for awhile... there has been too many changes from the original Bioshock that it almost feels like a spinoff >.<

The Killer5187d ago (Edited 5187d ago )

and i really dont think the graphics would be 8.5/10 since the first bioshock maximized the 360 to its limit in the graphics department.

so conclusion is IGN is under the 360 fanboys raid. last reviews of ps3 games were simply harsh and they wend over board with the low scores!!

i think IGN staff under the effect of modern warfare 2 side effects!!

any way i never take reviews so seriously! i loved bioshock 1 and with multiplayer am sure will love it even more!!

pangitkqb5187d ago

especially with the series going in such a different gameplay direction. I'm certainly interested in this title.

5187d ago
Cold 20005187d ago

Probably agreed with his other accounts.

5187d ago
Fishy Fingers5187d ago (Edited 5187d ago )

You realise the majority of the game buying public just buy the games they think look good whether they're exclusive or not.

Either way, have a spam report.

Sm0k3y_Bac0n5187d ago

It isn't going to sell (or sale as you spell it) as well because more people can buy it?

right and wrong5187d ago

You guys take things way to personal above. I may just pick up a copy later this year depending on feedback.

5187d ago
Hellsvacancy5187d ago

Itll b-a rental, just the the 1st game (that i didnt even finish 2 the end)

SilentNegotiator5187d ago

Wow, IGN UK. Thanks for the "bloody" major spoiler.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 5187d ago
Lucreto5187d ago

Can't wait to play it.

I got a special edition pre- ordered and it sent 2 days ago so I will have it Monday.

_vx5187d ago

Xfail keep this game from going to the next stage

Chucky20035187d ago (Edited 5187d ago )

Have the game,graphics are the same even worse in some areas,some small pop up textures on 360 even installed on hdd,this game didn't need a sequel,the story isn't that great as the first part,its like forced to make it a sequel still its a nice game but its not a 9,for me its a 8/10,if you don't play it you won't miss anything,the story isn't connected to the first part,it just takes place in the same city

Kakihara5187d ago

I might pick this up just to tide me over until Heavy rain comes out even though I honestly got a little bored of Rapture by the end of the first game.

Watch out though folks, this review could be considered quite spoilery... In a weird way. You'll find out how many underwater sections there are, how many important NPC interactions there are and the points at which big shifts happen in the story (though it doesn't tell you what these shifts are, just when they happn).

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320°

Netflix announces Bioshock film in the works

One of the most popular video game franchises of all time is set to receive a Netflix film adaptation, according to an announcement on Tuesday afternoon.

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invenglobal.com
-Foxtrot794d ago

Gee...can't wait to see how many things they change and stray away from, oh don't forget the miscast actors

Neonridr794d ago

I have such high hopes because the first game is so near and dear to me. That being said, I'm sure they will mess it up. I'm hoping it's adult rated, and violent. I want to see a Big Daddy put that drill to good use :P

camel_toad792d ago (Edited 792d ago )

They're great at butchering stuff but there have also been some gems and surprises.

I never in my life thought I'd like a series based on League of Legends but it was pretty great.

Maybe just maybe they'll do Bioshock justice.

cheetah792d ago

Priority checklist
- Pander to POC
- Pander to woman
- Pander to LGBTQ
- Story

In that order

Silly Mammo792d ago

Damn! It sure sucks when white men aren't the sole focus of everything! Why can't these fringe groups be kept on the fringes like the good ole days?!? /s

senorfartcushion792d ago (Edited 792d ago )

Virgin detector

*****SCREEEECH*****

Vx_792d ago

Remove the story and I totally agree with the list

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 792d ago
senorfartcushion792d ago

You can cast who you want as a director. Don’t be sulky.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 792d ago
Knightofelemia793d ago

Netflix did well with Dare Devil and the Punisher and I hear the Witcher is pretty good I know when I had Netflix at the time Stranger Things was also good. But Bioshock I love the franchise Bioshock Infinite is my favorite game I would pay the $21 Canadian just to check out Bioshock. Normally I would never renew my Netflix after they did their price hike but Bioshock would be worth it.

LoveSpuds793d ago

When firing on all cinders, Netflix do produce some brilliant stuff so I am not feeling pessimistic at all here. If Netflix deliver to their potential then this could be incredible given the quality of the source material. Personally, I am quite excited.

EvertonFC793d ago

Agreed, Netflix originals etc are fantastic in general, it's rare I don't like something they do.
Certainly not feeling negative with Netflix doing bioshock quite the opposite infact.

Ashunderfire86793d ago (Edited 793d ago )

Bu bu bu bu but what about Cowboy Beebop though? That was a little miss opportunity. Just a little nervous that Bioshock could turn to crap 💩 like that show. If they do a Horizon Zero Dawn show, I hope they don’t screw that up as well. I know a few good actresses that could play Aloy like Jon Snow’s girlfriend from Game of Thrones, and his wife in real life. Definitely see Aloy in her.

Livingthedream793d ago

Netflix does a lot of great things, recently finished the first season of Arcane and it was brilliant.

MadLad793d ago

Arkane was so damn good.
I just hope they keep up the quality with later releases.

I'm not even a LoL player.

Livingthedream792d ago

I’m sure they will, I don’t play the games either, I love the fact that I didn’t need to play them to enjoy it.

Michiel1989792d ago

Arcane was insanely good imo, I was hooked almost all the way. Im not sure of this but i think Netflix didnt have much to do with the production of the show? More like they just bought the rights to have it exclusively on there?

Some of their original shows are really good so im quite hopeful this might turn out to be a good show. Lets hope they wont F it up.

Nacho_Z793d ago

Love Bioshock but I'll prepare myself for the likelihood this will be both crap and a pale imitation of the source material. That covers most video game adaptations and Netflix films.

dumahim793d ago

How many have they done? It sounds like Witcher and Castlevania have done well.

Nacho_Z793d ago

I meant Netflix films in general, there are some good ones but most are average at best in my experience. Castlevania is good but I didn't like The Witcher, although it is successful.

Not sure if there are any live action video game film adaptations on Netflix as yet but they don't have a great track record.

dumahim793d ago

@ Nacho
For movies, I think it’s very difficult to cram he narrative from a 10+ hour game into 2 hours. I think that’s why series are much better suited for video game adaptations. Seems we have a bunch coming up, so we’ll see how well it plays out.

Terry_B793d ago

Why are PS2 and Wii and even the PS Vita tagged?

Atom666793d ago

The Vita tag stung a little bit extra.

Atticus_finch793d ago

Starring Tom Holland I'm guessing.

FlavorLav01793d ago

Haha. Now if it was a Sony movie, very likely

Outlawzz793d ago

Lol the Tom Holland craze is real

Terry_B793d ago

Kevin Nash is going to play the..Big Daddy.

Show all comments (54)
200°

Ranking the BioShock Games From Worst to Best

The best games are able to create a never-before-seen setting and weave a completely engaging story into its DNA. One series beats almost all others out for its environmental storytelling and narrative: BioShock.

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culturedvultures.com
Inverno965d ago

Infinite better than 2? No way

roadkillers965d ago

IMO Infinite is better than 2... The only thing I remember from 2 is playing as a little sister. It felt too much like Bioshock (which wasn't bad). Infinite was the right stepping stone.

Inverno965d ago

Infinite was a huge step back. It played like a generic fps because it was dumbed down to be an fps and it's not at all the gameplay evolution Bioshock needed. It was a mindless shooter where story and it's world building took a backseat to repetitive shooting galleries against dumb AI while making you look for health in trash cans cause they removed mechanics that worked in favor for a more action oriented gameplay.
I think people are remembering Infinite all wrong.
It's story is a mess and it's world isn't as fleshed out as Rapture was in the first Bio.

LucasRuinedChildhood965d ago (Edited 965d ago )

@Inverno

"It was a mindless shooter where story and it's world building took a backseat to repetitive shooting galleries"
Sounds more applicable to Bioshock 2, tbh. B2 has wave-based gameplay where Subject Delta casually goes through large hordes of splicers to protect Little Sisters. C'mon. I still wouldn't call any of the Bioshocks mindless shooters though.

If you want to criticize the lack of the weapon wheel and the replacement of certain mechanics in Infinite in favour of increased mobility (e.g. addition of the sky-hook), fair enough, but the story and world-building of 2 are less memorable, noteworthy and interesting than Infinite by a huge margin. Most people don't even remember much beyond the basic premise of 2 (including any of the characters) because it felt so unnecessary. It's not even close.

"It's story is a mess and it's world isn't as fleshed out as Rapture was in the first Bio." Needing to use Bioshock 1 to criticize Infinite instead of 2 is an admission that 2's story is the weakest.

roadkillers965d ago

@Inverno

I remember it being very imaginative and a breath of fresh air, while still being familiar. The last hour or two was big on shooting.

SegaSaturn669965d ago

Infinite was the most boring and repetitive in terms of gameplay. It lost the suspenseful atmosphere of the first 2

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 965d ago
SonyPS360965d ago (Edited 965d ago )

Am I reading that backwards or are you really shocked that people like infinite more than 2?

Just wanna make sure I have it right because you're literally the first person I've seen say that 2 is better.

Inverno964d ago

I understand 2 is more of the same but I much prefer more of the same than going backwards in terms of gameplay. It wasn't the step in the right direction. But thats just my opinion, I'm not surprised at all. Just to me I much rather the first 2. However what they had planned for Infinite originally sounded very interesting and it sucks we won't ever see it

Concertoine964d ago (Edited 964d ago )

Imo 2 is tied with 1 as my favorite Bioshock. The gameplay is the natural evolution of the first, with more freedom to experiment. The story and locales are more intimate and less grandiose than you would see in a Ken Levine story. I love the atmospheric break of the underwater sections and never understood the hate for them. All 3 games have pacing issues but imo 2’s are less severe. The level design has a lot of ex-Looking Glass alumnis and is generally more open ended.

The endings are more tailored to your moral choices than the other games.

Infinite hedges on a admittedly cool twist that is poorly executed when scrutinized. The gameplay takes a huge step back, it isnt the game that early gameplay and trailers promised. The world is less fleshed out. It was prescient politically and that makes it interesting but otherwise i have no desire to replay it.

Yui_Suzumiya964d ago

2 had better gameplay but 3 had a better story

leahcim965d ago (Edited 965d ago )

Hurts to see the word "worst" related to Bioshock saga.
The 3 games are masterpieces.

ScootaKuH965d ago

Bioshock 2
Bioshock
Bioshock Infinite

That was easy

Rebel_Scum965d ago

oh great. Can’t wait to see the posts of game titles in a ranked order without context as to why.

Show all comments (27)
130°

BioShock 2's director reveals what could have been a different BioShock

In a podcast with Wassup Conversations, Jordan Thomas, director and the writer of BioShock 2 reveals his initial ideas for a new rapture and how they were shut down by 2K.
"My first proposal was about a little sister, it was playing as a little sister and it was much more horror-oriented pace and about vulnerability, closer to Thief frankly, but I was told no, we want it to be our Gears of War, this need to be a big shooter franchise with an emphasis on the shooter element, and so what I think of the protagonist of a shooter as is a big lumbering sort of porthole on a stick with guns sticking out in front like you’re almost a vehicle."

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nikoofarmusic.com
plainview10301485d ago

And he also wanted it to be above the sea or in space. What a wasted opportunity.

Nacho_Z1484d ago

It's surprising the game turned out to be good with this guy at the helm. The combat mechanics were actually the biggest improvement in the sequel as much as he wouldn't want to hear that, everything else was inferior.