BioShock Infinite Review (𝕯ark 𝕿ears)
BioShock Infinite
BioShock Infinite is the third title in the successful franchise from 2K Games. Bringing a proposal to change the setting of the series and evolution of the gaming experience, Infinite features a complex and intelligent plot, incredible graphics and renewed gameplay.
From the bottom of the sea to the top of the clouds
BioShock Infinite's first scene pretty much sums up the game's stance towards its two predecessors. The new protagonist, agent Booker DeWitt, appears in a small boat in the middle of the sea and heads towards a kind of launch capsule, which projects him to the heights, taking him to Columbia, a floating city. The metaphor of leaving the ocean and heading for the sky is quite clear and shows both a willingness to change and respect for what has already been done in BioShock and BioShock 2.
Throughout the game it is possible to notice that the heavy atmosphere of the claustrophobic corridors of Rapture has been left behind, giving way to the bright and bright Columbia. Gradually the curious city reveals its secrets to us through the eyes of the character DeWitt, who represented another change in the series. Booker breaks the silence of the former protagonists and actively participates in the game's dialogue, showing his strong personality.
Exciting and refined gameplay
Initially the impression is that the gameplay is practically unchanged in BioShock Infinite. The firearms, the powers, the items scattered all over the place, the radio messages, the health and energy bars, everything is present. However, with the arrival of Elizabeth in the plot, the real changes present themselves, and please.
Just before finding Elizabeth, DeWitt gets into a mess and soon we realize he can only carry two guns at a time. The change may seem punitive, but it actually ends up contributing to the dynamics of the game. It will no longer be possible to choose your three or four favorite weapons and play from start to finish with them. You'll have to adapt to the game's various challenges and make smart choices about which weapons to carry with you. For example, in a part of the story with distance shooting, it doesn't make sense to have a shotgun, but a grenade launcher or a rifle for long distances. The novelty forces the player to 'make do' with weapons that he doesn't master so well, needing to improvise to keep Booker alive.
The great innovations are presented with the arrival of Elizabeth in the plot. Fortunately, the character doesn't do the 'helpless damsel in distress' type and doesn't need to be saved every fight. In fact, it's Elizabeth who helps us in times of need, whether it's looking for extra ammo, warning of the arrival of enemies or using her special ability. Elizabeth is able to open portals that warp time and space and can bring entire objects from other realities into the battlefield, like an automated balloon that shoots her enemies.
Improved death/rebirth system.
Unlike the other BioShocks, in which the player was respawned with what was left of ammo and energy (Eve), in Infinite you return (again with the help of Elizabeth) with the resources you had before the last fight started. In this way, it is possible to rethink your strategy and start practically from scratch, instead of simply fighting with what's left of the last beating you took in the game.
A factor that also deserves to be mentioned is the rail system. Using a hand hook (which also serves as a weapon) it is possible to travel at high speed along the Columbia rails, reaching higher places and surprising enemies from above. The mechanism adds a lot of agility to the game's combat and serves as a different way to explore the scenario, avoiding the long walks of BioShock and BioShock 2.
The skills are very interesting, such as the powerful crows and the fun power of levitating enemies, and the equipment works automatically, you just have to choose the effects that you like the most. In addition, the Big Daddy and Big Sister leave the scene, and the Handymen, the Patriots, the Incendiaries, the gigantic Songbird and others enter. To make it a little more difficult, most of them are immune to some ability (Igniters are not affected by Devil's Kiss bombs, for example).
The increase in the variety of mini-bosses forces you to prioritize your targets better during combat, taking down the ones that pose the most danger first, since throughout the game they tend to appear in packs.
Parallel worlds and many questions to be answered
The story of BioShock Infinite takes place before the events of the first BioShock. The plot brings some well-known elements of the franchise, such as the protagonist initially without a past and the theme of dystopia, represented by the decay of a society full of fanatical followers led by a tyrant. In Infinite the story revolves around three axes, the pasts of DeWitt and Elizabeth and the history of the mysterious city, Columbia. Add to that the maiden's power to alter reality and the result is a complex web that links parallel universes that converge on a main plot.
Patriarch Comstock represents the authoritarian leader of Columbia and fights the rebel group Vox Populi, led by activist Fitzroy. Both sides have their share of followers who fight each other, turning Columbia into a floating battleground. However, when traveling between the different realities through Elizabeth's power, it is possible to see different versions of the story, in which the roles are reversed. Therefore, there is not a villain and a good guy, but there is meaning in the plot, which is gradually revealed with the twists and discoveries of the characters.
Being one of BioShock Infinite's strongest points, the story is dense and well-crafted, with revelations well distributed throughout the campaign, which keeps the
our high interest during game hours. In this way, Infinite will appeal to you who are looking for more than just shooting in a game.
Columbia delights in every detail
BioShock Infinite's graphics and sound are simply impeccable. The city of Columbia is stunning in every detail, be it the lighting, the richness of objects in the scene or the fluid movement of the characters. It all demonstrates great dedication and care from the game's development team. In addition, the city seems to have a life of its own. In a square, for example, people walk and talk aloud, and not just when you approach and click on characters. DeWitt and Elizabeth are also communicative and initiate conversations with others spontaneously, without our intervention. All this helps in the immersion experience provided by the game.
Conclusion
BioShock Infinite brings the innovations we wanted to see in BioShock 2 and surprises us by taking the franchise to a new and higher level of quality. The presence of the character Elizabeth is one of the great successes of the game, allowing a fluid interaction with the protagonist both in the complex and intelligent story, as in the frantic combats. The graphics are another asset of Infinite, with impeccable lighting, detail levels and movement.