Bioshock Infinite - updated : 2/1/2013

[nub]

Surprised no one has posted in this thread since the game was released.

A seriously awesome game. There's a few aspects about the gameplay that I didn't like; mainly the fact that you can only carry two weapons at once, but it wasn't enough to ruin the experience. Still, I really would have liked to see more battles involving sky lines. That was easily my favorite gameplay feature. There were definitely a few good ones, but I feel like they didn't use them enough throughout the game. Not even a single scene takes place exclusively on sky-lines! Such a missed opportunity if you ask me. Oh well, they're fun to use regardless.

Also, I was surprised to find out that practically nothing from that three year old 10 minute gameplay demo was used in the final game. I was really hoping to experience it for myself. They did keep the lady sweeping the floor in the burning building though.


Anyway, as far as the visuals go, they're good. People have been whining about textures looking bad and lighting effects being overused to "cover it all up." But to me, they did an amazing job at budgeting the visuals so the game looked awesome without being difficult to run. It's like ever since Crysis 3 came out, people expect every game after that to have the same level of detail. This game looks amazing even if it doesn't have the highest-end graphics around.


Also, the story is good. You won't be expecting the ending at all. I promise. No more of the "three endings that are vague, abrupt, and boring."

[Armageddon]

I was disappointed in the skylines as well, it's just like, one or two circles going around the little battlefield areas. That's no fun...

Holding two guns is fine, what I didn't like was the lame Vigors half of them never to be used. And That you couldn't carry around Salts and health packs like in Bioshock 1. And I'm also disappointed the E3 demo didn't make it in.

I really wanted to see all the red curtains in the streets and the levels looked so much larger, more AI interaction like pointing your gun and they react. Or the horse, how did they even get a horse up there? I don't know, there was a horse in the TV spot.

But this is the main one that was just awesome, and REALLY looks larger and makes good use of the skylines how I wanted to use them and had the promised firefights from miles away.

And how are people saying the textures are bad? I walked up to some wallpaper and could clearly see every stitch in it... The UI is arse ugly too, wish it was contextual like Far Cry 2 where it fades away. Like walking around the "story" areas it could have faded when you lowered your weapon.

[srredfire]

I think the first one was better, it had more things to do, you had hacking and crafting, you made different ammo types, you thought more tactfully in combat because of what was more effective against certain enemies, the plasmid choices were better, I enjoyed making choices that actually mattered like with the children, I liked seeing my guns get all crazy nuts when you upgraded them. I think this game was severely dumbed down in terms of gameplay and it hurt it a lot in my opinion because it went all easy mode in terms of just streamlining it.

Also I think the twist and ending in Bioshock 1 was far less predictable and really had more of an impact rather than this ending which seemed to make it way more complicated than it is that you're Comstock and she's your daughter but it went overboard with Butterfly Effect shit opening doorways and trying to explain it in an almost technical way that made it weird.

That all said it was enjoyable and I got a good amount of time out of it. It was a very nice looking game, excellent use of colors, everything was very vivid. I'm interested to see where the DLC goes.

[Major Banter]

This, gentlemen, is why I don't get hyped for games any more. I ruin them for myself. I'm not going to watch footage of the original E3 fights because frankly, when the first fight with the rails swung around (hoy hoy), I had a massive amount of fun with it. Totally frenetic combat, and really organic. I didn't play it through with disappointed face, I played it grinning ear to ear.

I'm going to stop watching WatchDogs footage for the same reason. It won't be what it's marketed as, but I want to enjoy it all the same when it does come out.

I had an absolute blast with it, smashed it out in two days flat and enjoyed every minute. I thought the way it manipulated you emotionally was excellent, particularly the scene where

you proceed into Comstock tower, accidentally dump yourself through a tear and end up racing through the place with that little flame of hope in your heart getting dimmer and dimmer as Elizabeth still holds out for you.

Truly superb stuff.

It wasn't any Bioshock 1

Would you kindly

kind of epicness, at any point - even the ending - but a solid job nonetheless. Didn't really get into the vigors bar Devil's Kiss, Bucking Bronco and the Cthulu thing, though. Too damn expensive in salts without medkits/saltkits. Would've liked to have seen proper visual upgrades for guns as well. Hell, would've liked to have seen a lot return from Bioshock 1, like carrying more damn guns, but so what. It was streamlined, neat and fun. I can go with that.

Oh, and it was fucking gorgeous.

[Epifire]

Man I didn't even know we had a Bioshock thread! Not all entirely finished with the game yet but it has been the best game play experience I have had in a game since many years.

[Dr Evil]

I'm just starting to get to playing it, but I like what I see so far

[Blink]

As great as it is, am I the only one that struggles to understand what is happening and why? A lot of massive events get glossed over quite casually.

I feel like I'm just along for the ride rather than really knowing what I'm doing things for.

[Dr Evil]

Okay, I have this for 360, and I've sat here this morning and & have played for about and hour, but as Blink said I feel like im Just along for the ride. Im having a hard time understanding the story line?

[Plague]

Forgive the spelling errors I'm writing this on my phone.
If you have gotten the skyhook and begun fighting you can read this.

we opened up with boomer being taken to one of the port of calls for Columbia, what we know is booker had some large gambling debts and if he 'got the girl' it would be wiped away.
You naturally end up in the city maybe notice some weird things and such. Booker knows the girl is probably in the monument thanks to the pictures he was given.
You might notice the signs talking about a false prophet who bears a scar that spells 'ad' which Dewitt points out is on his hand.

Columbia is in the middle of a celebration of the day they succeeded from the USA.
You go to the raffle which puts you closer to monument island.
This backfires of course when one of the guards at the event notices your hand.
Because of the mark you appear to be the false prophet and as such the Columbia police are now after you, as you keep going you're creating a bigger catastrophe which causes your being in Columbia to be noticed by Comstock.
Long story short everything that is trying to kill you is an attempt by comstock to stop you.

This stuff is fluff between getting the skyhook and to the monument. Don't read if you have not gotten to monument island

you visit a few nonessential locations on the way to get to Liz, these include the cult that worship Jon Wilkes booth and a few peoples houses. You're effectively just terrorizing the city on the way.
Once you get to Liz just pay attention to things like when Comstock talks over intercoms and Liz points things out. You just have to try and stay on top of it cause later it starts throwing stuff that can get confusing quikly

Hope that helps, If I missed something or something is out order I'll fix it when I get back.

[Epifire]

I am playing the PC version but it shouldn't be any different. Maybe it's just because I am paying a lot of close attention to the comments and voice overs but I have felt on board for the whole thing so far. I am almost done with it (I think I am anyway) and while I have been completely blown away I have still been able to keep up with things and have really been drawn in.

Two things were advised to me and they were the best bit of advice I know of and they are...

-Play it on Hard. You will never know that horribly amazing feeling of panic in a tough situation if you play on anything less it. So in other words it keeps combat a lot more interesting that way and tells bland moments to stahp.

-Take your time! This one has been most important to me cause Infinite was designed around tidbits of info and you are able to take on a lot more of the story when you do. So whether it is just searching areas for supplies, listening to voxophones or just stopping and listening to the conversations between Booker and Elizabeth, it helps a lot when you take your time.

For me, Infinite has not only been the best game I have played in years but it has been impacting and has sucked me in from the start. I can't say I have seen any game do better at conveying emotions, story and characters all so well as Bioshock has for me. I can't name any games I know of that could make have me laugh, and then bring me to despair and then toss me back with a overwhelming sense of a grand comeback. All while being totally immersed and compelled to do things, not because of the goals entirely but because the characters and happenings convinced me to feel that way about it in the first place.

As I am one who tries to understand what makes a game like this great, some things stood out to me as to what pulled this kind of design through and made it great...

A massive story that does not comply with standard predictions so that it manages to be unraveling rather then a foreseen player expected kind of story. It really sucks in games when you know exactly what should happen in the next section so that really is important that you don't make a really linear and predictable story.

Fully believable characters. In conjunction to the story several characters must be added in order to support and convey the story. One thing that I loved about it was the fresh approach taken to a hands on kind of tactic in the voice overs for the main characters. I think the silent protagonist is a really crappy design and completely demolishes any chance for immersion of your character. So a talking character gives you that depth and lets you fill the boots of person rather then just filling the boots of a floating player node with a gun.

When you put those two together and do it well, you have the chance to create a fresh compelling story with rich characters and the ability to see their development throughout the game. That is the core piece I think Bioshock: Infinite nailed.

[joe_rogers_11155]

i like how the same three "generic bystander" male characters keep showing up in this game. Couldnt they at least randomize some clothing types on these fellows?

[Epifire]

i like how the same three "generic bystander" male characters keep showing up in this game. Couldnt they at least randomize some clothing types on these fellows?

I didn't notice to much repetitions in the bystanders tbh. Your talking about the regular guys wearing bowler hats right? I saw a lot of different character models ranging from the vox, the citizens and just all the other characters thrown in so I guess I wasn't noticing.

[Major Banter]

I don't think it's a case of basic plot points being the issue - that's reasonably simple to go with.

I'm with Blink, the

tears initially work fairly well - the one where you circumvent Chen Ling's [?] death works fine because its given a decent weight and gravity. After that though, each additional tear starts to break the plot apart. I mean, yeah, it works in the grand scheme but there's a real sense that you're kinda going with it rather than staying on your original track. It infuriated me how much the weapons thing dragged on to no real result. The Vox revolution was ok, but it was definitely the weaker half of the game, and I can see where the reviewers are coming from. I don't understand why the Vox had to become such a major plot point, when the Splicers and Big Daddies were worked into the overall plot much more elegantly.

I suppose it's down to what Irrational were after. Seems a shame though.

[Armageddon]

I agree-

The tears just got stupid without any payoff, it really pissed me off I never got my airship for more than six seconds. I also don't understand the tears, does it just change Columbia or the entire world? Could the Nazis have won WW2 in this tear? And then then when you get to old Liz does she send you back to the original tear or what? Too much had changed to make your journey relevant anymore. Could the people your in debt to not exist?

[Plague]

I didn't really see it that way,

I took the Vox revolt as being a sort of inevitable event in the timelines. I don't think its meant to be important. We even get a hint of this when we see how much of the outcome is weighing on Booker to do certain things.

Also the tears are just magical visible holes into other universes, they can be tied to different times, different outcomes and have different features. It's kinda the ultimate gameplay mechanic cause anything and everything can be in a tear, its all just another universe where that object(s) exists/existed.