I watched that 15 minute gameplay trailer for Bioshock Infinite and immediately repurchased Bioshock. I had to do it. Was Irrational Games really this awesome? How did I forget? I must remedy this now. I feel Irrational Games first foray into into the series is one of the finest pieces of interactive entertainment ever made. It has been four years since I last played Bioshock so I have forgotten how great this game is.
I'm just going to assume that you've played the game because I don't feel I need to tell you what Bioshock is "about". It's something you really need to experience. I would like to focus on my specific experience while replaying the game. The things I missed, the side stories I ignored, and the attention to detail that I somehow overlooked when I played it four years ago (It's still really hard for me to believe that).
The first thing I noticed when I fired up Bioshock was just how visually impressive it was after four years. I was expecting the game to look dated after that amount of time, but I was glad to be proven wrong. This was one of those rare instances where a game has aged gracefully. In the opening sequence the protagonist survives a plane crash in the ocean. This is when we get to see just how stunning the water and lighting effects are.
The visual work was a testament to how determined Irrational Games was to bring out a gorgeous looking game. So dedicated in fact that they actually hired one person to be a water programmer and artist (see: Jesse Johnson). The game apparently runs on a heavily modified version of Unreal 2.5. They did employ some of the earlier advanced technologies from Unreal Engine 3 as well. You'll have to excuse me, but this sort of stuff gets my nerd loins all swollen. I also love the steampunk art style they took, I'm really a sucker for things like that.
When you play Bioshock you are taken away by this world. You become enamored with its rich and dark history. How did such a utopia become hell on Earth? Who was this mad man who had destroyed this once prosperous and flourishing society? I had to know.
After about 20 minutes of getting acclimated to the controls and taking in the world, I started to remember some things from when I first played the game. The great thing about playing it again was that it felt like I was experiencing it for the first time. One thing I do remember is that I never took the time to read any diaries or listen to all the recordings. I ignored most of them, which was such a huge mistake. These journals really play an integral role in the story and background of Rapture.
I only saw the surface of Rapture, but I wasn't seeing it. As pretentious as that may sound, what I'm trying to say is that I saw the sprawling expanses and grandeur of Rapture, but I wasn't paying attention to the real story behind Rapture. Ken Levine did such a phenomenal job with the story and creative direction of Bioshock. I felt like I was ruining the game for myself by skipping all of these seemingly pointless journals. I made a promise this time to scour Rapture for all journals and recordings.
I'm half way through the game so far and I have done just that. It has been a completely different experience for me this time around. I know what I'm actually fighting for. I know how families lives were ruined when their daughters were taken to be experimented on. I know how there is a huge beef between Fontaine and Andrew Ryan. I know the financial ramifications of plasmid experiments and their importance to Rapture. I know how workers were revolting due to unfair treatment. How could I have missed all this?
There are good and bad things that can occur when you revisit titles that you haven't played in a while. They can gravely disappoint you or they can bring on that air of nostalgia. What I mean is that our tastes and gaming habits change as we get older. What we played obsessively four years ago, may not be what we like now. At least that's what I have seen in my personal tastes and habits. I didn't feel that way with Bioshock. Bioshock was a refreshing experience.
When you play Bioshock you really are taken away by this world. You become enamored with its rich and dark history. How did such a Utopia become hell on Earth? Who was this mad man who had destroyed this once prosperous and flourishing society? I had to know. I haven't felt this engaged in a game since Mass Effect 2 and that's saying a lot. I'm not one of these snobs who feels a game can't be good without a solid story in place, however, I feel some developers are just better than others in that respect. Irrational Games has it down to an art form.
I'm really glad I decided to return to Rapture. It really is a wonderful place to visit. Sometimes it's good to be reminded of how great a game is. More often than not we (the gamer collective) are extremely negative and jaded. I'm no different, it's very easy to focus on the things you don't like rather than the things that made us love a game to begin with. If you ever feel that way I encourage you to go back to a game that is special to you, you would be surprised how your perspective may change.
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