When 2K Marin's BioShock first appeared on PC and Xbox 360 back in 2007 its Creative Director, Ken Levine, was able to create an experience praised as much for its discussion of philosophy as it was its non-linear action sequences.
Based in the claustrophobic underwater city of Rapture, Levine was able to pen a storyline which examined Objectivism, the philosophical stance popularised by Ayn Rand in her novel Atlas Shrugged.
Three years later and the mantle of creative director has passed to Jordan Thomas, veteran of the first BioShock. He's just as keen to create a truly memorable and thoughtful experience, though this time from a different perspective, incorporating a new set of philosophies. Thomas comes across as a creative, confident and enthusiastic designer – exactly the sort of person who you might hope was given free reign to create BioShock's sequel in the manner befitting the series.
So, as BioShock 2 prepares to hit shelves on 9 February, what's changed in Rapture this time around? Jordan Thomas and Senior Producer, Melissa Miller, explain.
Console Creatures writes, "Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army is a standout example of what bringing an older title to modern consoles should be."
I want to buy this but I don’t have time right now to play it so I’ll wait a little bit to grab a copy.
WTMG's Kyle Nicol: "System Shock 2 is an all-time great, easily one of the most important games of all time, and Nightdive’s 25th Anniversary Remaster edition makes it a touch more accessible without ever gutting its core, or anything that made it so cherished in the first place. The excellent core gameplay and stellar level design come together for an unforgettable experience. Furthermore, the fact it works shockingly well on a controller is already something worthy of a medal of honor for the studio. Now, while we’re at it, where’s that System Shock 3 we were promised all those years ago? I’m hungry for more!"
MonsterVine: "Shuffle Tactics from Club Sandwich struggles to balance difficulty with fairness, leading to an experience more frustrating than fun, even with accessibility options turned on."
