Would you kindly do the one and only thing you can do within this linear pre-scripted sequence of events that the omniscient GPS arrow is conveniently pointing you towards, my dear fan of immersive 7th gen simulations? You can tell it's a deep and scathing commentary on the plights faced by Ken Levine's lineage objectivism because turning off security alarms or hacking turrets can be accomplished by feeding them fiat bills (remember to eat your yummy greens kids). Nevermind how the downfall of the underwater themepark utopia happened largely because of magic seaslug juice being commoditized into x-men powers, that incidentally drive people insane and even make them see ghosts because System Shock 2 did it too And we can get away with it since our target audience of adolescents who got a 360 to play Oblivion/Halo 3 never heard of it, brava Ken. The moral complexity behind choosing whether to murder children for dark side points to unlock upgraded force lightning marginally earlier OR magically rescue them with the solution that's literally handed to you the moment the opportunity first arises (which rewards you with the ability to turn Big DaDDies into your bulletsponge bodyguards to further trivialize this already easy game) is right up there with the likes of the RedvsBlue war in "Skrym", I think we can all agree.

While it's not the worst, I really don't understand what people praise about this game. The audio logs, soundtrack, art direction and plasmids are the most unique things about it, and otherwise it just feels like a painfully derivative and badly written. The audio logs are prolly the best writing in the game I'd say.

If I were to compare this to System Shock 2 or any other shocklike, this game does most of what System Shock 2 does but badly. The one twist (which I will not spoil) that everyone praises so much is ripped from System Shock 2 and is not given enough time to actually develop at all in a way that makes you feel anything. If anything, this game is basically underwater DOOM 3.

Bioshock released and became an instant classic. It's excellent narrative and engaging gameplay leave it still feeling like a masterpiece despite its age.

It's hard to convey the greatness of Bioshock's narrative without spoilers. It covers the themes of power and capitalism in a great way. Andrew Ryan has some of the best quotes in video games and is an amazing character. The world of rapture is written very well and makes it one of the most unique game worlds I have experienced and its downfall is super interesting. This story getting added flavor through audio logs you find scattered about is a fun way to convey extra elements of the story. The big moment at the game's climax is unforgettable and unlike any other game I have played. The ending sequence of the game is very well done and the narrative decision you make isn't overly complex but it serves the themes well.

Bioshock's gameplay is probably its strongest design area. All of the different plasmids you can get offer a lot of gameplay options. There is also a good bit of weapon variety and you get to make your own build with the upgrade system. The boss fights in the game, besides the final one which was very well done, are a bit forgettable and feel like bullet sponges at times. Battling with big daddy's is an extremely fun optional experience that feel more noteworthy than any of the main bosses. The level design is also well executed and exploring areas never feels monotonous.

The art direction of Bioshock is also wonderful. I like all the glowing signs and the classic 1920's vibe they went for. When you look out of the glass tunnels and see the rest of rapture or just the sea in general it is stunning. The character design of big daddy's is also another fantastic addition to the art direction. The voice acting of the game is surprisingly good for its time and this enhances the game quite a bit since most of the story is told through dialogue or audio logs. The soundtrack doesn't jump out at you often but there are definitely times where it enhances the gameplay experience such as the classical music in the Sander Cohen section of the game.

Bioshock isn't a game with an extremely high level of replayability. There are standard difficulty options and the option to turn off vita-chambers. There is 1 major decision you can make that affects only the ending of the story and technically also affects the difficulty of the game. The rest of the replayability comes through large variety of weapons and plasmids. However, at higher difficulties some plasmids or weapons are so situational that there are dominant builds you will find yourself gravitating towards. Since the game is not very large, I would have appreciated a little bit more replayability.

Bioshock is a masterpiece that has aged quite well and is easily one of the best games released during its console generation. The story, gameplay, and visuals you experience when exploring rapture are one of a kind.
( 90/100 )

I had an absolute blast with the story and gameplay of this game. I found the atmosphere incredible, the characters fascinating, and most importantly the gameplay was a lot of fun, with tons of ways to approach each encounter with the variety of weapons and powers available.

The start of the game was super creepy, and it was very satisfying to upgrade the different systems and feel yourself getting dramatically stronger as the game progressed. The combat was always the perfect amount of challenging, and never got tedious.

I loved the visuals and audio in this game. Rapture is one of the most immersive game worlds I've seen - even the fairly repetitive level design didn't draw back too much from the fantastically realised world. The mission structures were linear enough that it was always clear what needed to be done, but open ended enough that there was plenty of time for exploration - which was heavily rewarded.

The audio logs were a favorite feature of mine - I loved how much of the story of the world was amongst the worldbuilding, rather than told to the player in cutscenes. It made everything feel very natural, and all of the various villains so hateable.

This game did fall off in atmosphere towards the end, as I'd become so strong in terms of abilities that any sense of vulnerability or horror was lost in the final third of the game. It's very difficult for games to stay creepy though, and it was incredibly fun using all the different abilities, so this isn't a huge downside - but thought it was worthy of note.

My main criticism of the game were the vita-chambers - dying and then being able to just jump right back in, without any consequence other than a small bit of time completely destroyed any fear over some of the more intense sequences of the game. I feel as though there should have been a higher penalty to death to make fighting the Big Daddys truly terrifying.

Can't believe I waited this long to play this game properly. I did play it once as a teenager, but didn't pay attention to any of the story, so it still felt fresh on this playthrough.

Survival action horror at its finest, bioshock is a testament to how gripping and thrilling games can be. The story is impeccable with amazing plot twists and development. The main character says fewer words than Hellen Keller but I still feel more attached to them than any character EA and Call of Duty could have ever dreamt of. The environment is flawless and the world building told only through my grandads WW1 radio does a better job at telling a story than his PTSD stricken ass ever could, though that’s not too hard. Andrew Ryan walked so Mr house could run.

This was one of those playthroughs you never wish you did. I still think of Bioshock as a masterpiece, however It has dropped down significantly for me on my favorite games list. From 8 all time to about 19. I'm also glad I played it at the same time, since I now have a better more accurate score. I just kinda wish it stayed in my mind as it originally was.

Moving on, besides it not being as great as I originally believed, the game is still fantastic. The Gameplay is tons of fun, whether it's the gunplay, the RPG mechanics you can toy with, Weapon Upgrades, Hacking, Saving the Littler sisters, and my personal favorite, the scavenging. I seriously cannot get enough of scavenging in video games. Just being able to look into every nook and cranny, in which the devs reward the player with loot, it's so fun and addicting. I love all the secrets hidden throughout the areas, and the things you find are pretty much always useful and rewarding. In terms of Gunplay, the second Bioshock does it better, but it's still good here, and honestly much better than Infinite. Infinite is the soul reason I even replayed this, I was so disappointed with Infinite, I just felt that I had to come back and replay it. It's better in Infinite in absolutely every way, except for maybe art style. Adam, that's what was the biggest thing missing in Infinite, at least to me. The upgrades you give your character were so crucial to the game, that its removal only hurt Infinite. The Plasmids to me were also much better in the first Bioshock. I love how they all work and interact with the world. All around, the gameplay is some of the best and most unique you'll find in the FPS Genre.

Now, the areas you explore are what I believe to still be the best in the Bioshock series. Not just in their look or how memorable they are, but also in their designs. I love how you can just go anywhere, pretty much from the moment you enter the area. So many secrets that are easy to miss, it makes it that much more exciting when you find one. They all look great, and even though Bioshock 2 had bigger areas that I loved, I kinda preferred the more tight smaller areas that had a lot of secrets crammed into them in Bioshock 1.

The areas weren't just well designed and looked nice, the atmosphere the devs created is so incredible, that no other game feels quite like Rapture does. It's one my personal places to return to in the medium of gaming. The atmosphere is thick, and at many times terrifying. It's something I struggle to describe, but just know that it's phenomenal.

Now the main reason I prefer this game over Bioshock 2. The original Bioshock's narrative/plot, is something that cannot be told in any other medium. I cannot believe how good it is, and that twist is honestly one of the best in anything, in a movie, in a book, and especially in a game. Andrew Ryan is one of the best, most vicious villains you'll ever have the pleasure of meeting, but Frank Fontaine is arguably more horrible, he's just a lot less interesting. Andrew created a City, a city that was impossible to build. Andrew Ryan made himself into a God like figure, he removed government and God out of his society, and with no real laws to go off of besides his own demented mind, the society collapsed as they seemed to lose their moral code and sanity, along with Andrew Ryan himself, even he ever had any to begin with. It's something so great to see play out, and the journey to get to him is incredibly memorable and fun.

However, I will say the game does fall off just a little bit after you deal with Andrew Ryan, and honestly takes much longer to finish than it should've. Also, on this playthrough at least, getting to Andrew Ryan felt really quick, and a little rushed. Now it's no doubt worth it once you get to him, but I just kinda wish the game took longer to get to Andrew, but took longer to get to Fontaine. Another complaint, not about the plot, but the game did have a bit of trouble running on the 360, so I experienced a bit of bugs. I'll just play it on a more powerful system next time.

After all of that, this is to no ones surprise one of the greatest games the gaming medium has ever produced, and it's following sequel continued the streak, only for the original director of this game decided to make a mess with Infinite. I know I shit on Infinite a lot, but it is very good, just not a masterpiece like this game or Bioshock 2. Anyways, if you like videogames just play it. Great Gameplay all around, A story unlike any other, incredible moments, so many secrets, an unbelievable atmosphere, and a setting that will freak you out, but one you'll only want to keep coming back to.

Score: 4.6/5
Letter Grade: A+

As much as I love playing older games, I have to admit that is rare for them to reach the heights of many modern titles. 17 years later and Bioshock can still stand toe to toe with modern AAA experiences and outclasses quite a few of them.
The game isn’t perfect. The hacking minigame quickly grows stale, the escort mission has all the frustrations that type of level are infamous for, enemies towards the end start to become bullet sponges, and I did experience some technical issues that managed to damage my immersion. However, this all pales in comparison to everything else the game does so well. So many issues I have with games are handled perfectly here.
The combat sandbox is one of the most engaging and rewarding I have experienced since Halo 3. Managing weapons, ammo types, plasmids, eve, health, enemies, and the environment all at once may sound daunting but in practice it all feels so natural and builds so gradually that it never truly overwhelms. By the end you are switching between weapons and plasmids at lightning speed as waves of splicers and flying turrets push you to the brink. The game’s balancing definitely helps this. So many games have frustrating difficulty spikes that stop you in your tracks and ruin the pacing as you are forced replay a section over and over. Not once did I become stuck or was I forced to save scum, but I still felt challenged.
The game’s story is also incredibly well told and paced. Cultural osmosis has made me aware of the game’s major twists and endings for years, but that didn’t make learning the history of Rapture and it’s characters through audio logs and environmental storytelling any less engaging. It is incredibly well written and acted and thankfully does not over extend itself like so many other games.
Bioshock is remembered as one of the greatest games of all time and I can say that it’s a well earned reputation.

Zoo wee mama this was one hell of a ride
The gameplay? really cool with the plasmids and huge variety of guns and ammp
The story? Also really cool but i actually think the narration was the strongest thing here and not the plot itself
And most importantly
The atmosphere and the aesthetic?
FREAKING
GODLIKE