Hot take: BioShock is a mediocre corridor shooter and absolutely undeserving of being compared to System Shock or any other ImSim. The camera mechanic is annoying busywork that is near mandatory to engage with in order to limit the obnoxious enemy health scaling.
BioShock, both original and remastered, seem to be regrettably unstable on modern windows too.

A great deal of my distaste comes down to broken expectations. I went in expecting one of the best games ever made. Continually I was wondering: Well? Where is it?
In the end, monologues about free will are laughable in linear video games. Especially when said video game is considerably more on-rails than any of its purported kin.

Reviewed on Sep 10, 2023


3 Comments


1 month ago

I almost 100% agree, (I'd give it 3.5 for it having great atmosphere and gun play), but yeah it only shares half a name with System Shock and plot from System Shock 2. I think having played those first, made Bioshock a let down. I mean if you want a follow up to System Shock 2, Prey (2017) is right there lol

1 month ago

@Double_O_0wen
Not only did I play System Shock before BioShock, I played Prey to 100% completion beforehand. My experience with BioShock was one of continuous disappointment. I couldn't even enjoy the gunplay due to scaling health pissing me off. I actually increased my rating here from previously, due to how BioShock DOES still look really good.

1 month ago

@Nilichi
Ah I see, that makes complete sense. I was introduced to the game by a now ex-friend, that it was better than Half-Life... it was not better than Half-life lmao