Review: BioShock 2

K2’s BioShock 2 is a rollicking, creepy yarn – exactly what our reviewer likes…

By Mike Wheeler

Being a huge fan of art deco, it’s nice to see that K2’s next installment of its BioShock franchise, although set 10 years later than the original, holds the same backgrounds, which is half of its appeal. It also gives it an over creepy feeling, which adds to the game play because you’re in a constant state of “where’s-the-next-bad-guy-coming-from” for the first few segments.

BioShock 2 takes you back to Rapture, the underwater city from the first game, where things have changed somewhat and it seems the inmates are running the asylum.

Players are a Big Daddy again, but this time with a few more powers. The plot is pretty straight forward, with the Big Daddy now taking on Sofia Lamb, who is a psychologist not only running Rapture, but also its inhabitants. Most have gone mad from being addicted to Adam, a drug that lends people to becoming psychopathic and murderous.

Understandably, these are the folk, in many guises, that the Big Daddy has to fight as he makes his way to rescue his Little Sister so she can help him harvest Adam. Throughout the game you have to collect Little Sisters and either ‘deposit’ them in a vent or harvest them for the Adam they are collecting.

There is a bigger target though, and that is getting to Sofia Lamb before she blows up Rapture and kills her daughter Eleanor, a Little Sister who happens to have a psychic link to your character. Without giving too much away, they are closer to each other than they realise as you find out as the game progresses.

Weapons are primarily divided into two parts – physical types such as a drill, shotgun, machine guns and the like. Then there are the plasmids, which include electric shocks and a flamethrowing device amongst other things. You can get ammunition and refills for your weapons by collecting money and assets from dead bodies, or cash and refills that are lying around, and trade them in via a vending machine. You can also get genetic upgrades throughout the game.

The enemies come in various forms, and with different strengths. Game play itself is straightforward with the controllers easy to manoeuvre, and it is this aspect that makes the game pretty enjoyable.

Overall, a very nice game and one worth playing. My only gripe is that it could have been a bit longer, but it would certainly be one of my standouts for the beginning of the year.

4.5 Shacks out of 5