Once you actually reach Columbia, you're treated to a sly commentary upon the industry's recent obsession with moral choice - a fad that arguably stems in greater part from Bioshock's cannibalistic Little Sisters, whom you can either save from their parasitic ways of, if you're the dastardly sort, "harvest" for an increased resource payout. The quaint English couple reappear throughout Infinite's opening act, at one point insisting that you toss a coin before you can proceed.
The result is marked on a chalkboard, and the pair disappear without a word of explanation. It's another unceremonious debunking of the idea that the player's actions really mean anything - or if you're feeling positive, an invitation to assign meaning yourself, rather than relying on the value systems of a calculating nugget of software.
Infinite is already one of the smartest games I've encountered on the strength of a couple of hours play, and that's partly because it's an acknowledgment of the commercial and creative context - a game that isn't afraid to interrogate its own ancestry. I'm hoping one result will be that players grow more conscious of, and resistant to, the mindset I outlined in my opening paragraph, whereby decent, intelligent games are all but forgotten the second their successors hit shelves.
For more on the specifics, check out Log's sprawling Bioshock Infinite hands-on.
10 comments so far...
DarthTwitch on 3 Jan '13 said:
It's going to rule. I couldn't care less what the box looks like. It's going to rule.
alex1428 on 3 Jan '13 said:
i have niggling doubts it will be another bioshock 2
CunningSmile on 4 Jan '13 said:
Ah but Bioshock 2 wasn't Irrational Games, it was done by 2K, this is back in the right hands so I'm going to agree with Twitch
ItchyRash on 4 Jan '13 said:
Bioshock 2 really wasn't a bad game at all. I don't get all the hate it receives. Sure it had a tacked on and pointless multiplayer but it was a well told and interesting story with very solid gameplay and a return to a fantastic setting. Of course it wasn't as fresh as the first but it gets way too much stick. The story DLC was also fantastic. Perhaps better than the main game itself. Seems like one of these games that's become fashionable to dislike without anyone actually giving a reason why
CunningSmile on 4 Jan '13 said:
I actually like Bioshock 2 and think the Minerva's Den DLC especially is easily on a par with Bioshock 1, I was just pointing out the different developer.
And the MP was terrible. Nice idea on paper, but there were so many better ways to show us the actual breakdown of Rapture then competative Deathmatches.
ItchyRash on 4 Jan '13 said:
Yeah was more in response to alex although that's not the only time i've seen people mentioning Bioshock 2 in Infinite posts. The multiplayer really was a piece o' shite. I only played it because I wanted to see that special cut-scene that linked to the 1st game but when I eventually reached that point my game crashed and I ended up having to YouTube it. What a waste of my time.
CunningSmile on 4 Jan '13 said:
I never got that far and didn't even realise they existed (quick to YouTube). I just bought the novel which is surprisingly good and set on the New Years Eve that it all goes a bit pear shaped, does a much better job of telling the same story.
ItchyRash on 4 Jan '13 said:
Well if you've just watched it on YouTube and thought, "well that was a bit of an anti-climax" trying playing up to level 50 on a shit multiplayer, having your game crash and then watching it on YouTube only to realise how pointless it was. I still wake in the night, sweating uncontrollably because of what happened. It was my Vietnam
OXM ETboy on 8 Jan '13 said:
Bioshock 2 is one of the games that succumbed to the Great Edwin Hard Drive Failure of 2010. Some day, I'll go back. Sounds like I won't be going back for the multiplayer, though.
FishyGinger on 9 Jan '13 said:
I really enjoyed bioshock 2, the combat was much better and although it isn't as fresh it was still a very good game. Thought the multiplayer setup was novel and liked that, the mp itself wasn't up to much. Got the book but yet to read it, glad you enjoyed it though, looking forward to it if I get time (I rarely do...)