Game-Pad©

Bioshock was a game which could have happily gone without a sequel. The announcement of Bioshock 2 lead to a genuine split in the fanbase. Would 2K Games destroy the franchise? Or would a return to Rapture really work? We're here to find out.

Bioshock 2 kicks off by putting the player in the shoes of one of Rapture's very first Big Daddy's - 'Delta'. Within the first few minutes of the game you'll discover your beloved Little Sister was taken away from you whilst you were left for dead. The story in Bioshock 2 is paced in the same styling as the original, with an overriding goal leading you to new areas only for things to climax near the end. Throughout the adventure are many twists and turns to keep the player hooked. With constant references to old characters and over 100 audio logs fans of Rapture are sure to get a kick out of learning more about the world and the people that inhabit it.

The gameplay has seen some interesting tweaks too - the biggest being that players can now dual wield a weapon and a plasmid in combination. This feels completely natural straight away, as you stun enemies with your lightning bolt then barrel into them with the brutal drill charge, its hugely satisfying. The movement itself is also slightly slower due to the player now being a Big Daddy, thankfully it never becomes an issue and most gamers won't even notice the change. Overall the combat just feels much tighter and refined than the first game. Battles often take place in sustained areas, and with a better variety of enemy types this time around, along with 3 different types of ammunition for each weapon. This all leads to a much more tactical combat experience.

Another change to the game is the addition of adopting a Little Sister. After defeating her current protector you can choose to adopt her or kill her. Adopting allows you to place her down on specific bodies where you must defend her whilst she gathers Adam - the game's resource used to upgrade plasmids and your character. Many of the plasmids and tools offered to you are key to surviving these onslaught of splicers and have been tailored specifically for the job. Trap rivets, mini turrets, proximity mines and water traps all offer a huge variety in the way you choose to do this. After doing this you again get to make a decision - kill or save, much like the first game killing provides a more instant reward however in the long run saving the little sisters will reap greater amounts of Adam.

As mentioned the game features an upgrade system. Throughout the world you will find Weapon Stations where you can choose 1 upgrade for a weapon, after which point the station will shut down. Each weapon has 3 upgrades available for it, 1 of which requires the previous 2 to be purchased. Also players will come across 'Gathers Gardens' which allow you to spend your Adam on new or upgraded plasmids (abilities), tonics (passive abilities), health upgrades and ability slots. The combination of these two systems certainly allows you to tailor the way you play the game. If your a fan of the Drill then upgrading this will result in a much more effecient and damaging melee weapon, in combination with a chain lightning plasmid to stun multiple enemies, and specific tonics such as the ice drill - you can become a melee master. Or maybe you just want to upgrade Winter's Blast so you can freeze enemies and smash them with your shotgun. The options are all there to truly decide how you approach the game's combat.

Rapture itself is just as wonderful as ever. The charm of this mysterious, beautiful and exciting world still hasn't worn off. I found myself exploring every nook and cranny, listening to every audio diary I could find, and even reading a few of the detailed explanations of various characters and areas. Although maybe lacking in some of the variety of environments seen in the first game, Bioshock 2 still offers a wide range of interesting areas to explore. It's a world which almost every game will want to indulge in and discover more about.

The attention to detail throughout the game and it's world is absolutely sublime - from the sound of dripping water on your helmet to the cryptic text painted on the walls. Visually the game looks absolutely stunning, offering a subtle improvement over its gorgeous looking predecessor. The sound design too is fantastic, with convincing appropriate voice acting, atmospheric sound effects and tense music.

One of the most contraversial features of the game is the addition of Multiplayer. Fans where rightfully skeptical however Digital Extremes have managed to pull it off offering a genuinely enjoyable experience. The online multiplayer in Bioshock 2 features similarities to other titles in the genre, with a persistent character that gains unlocks as you level up, such as new plasmids, weapons, weapon unlocks, tonics and character customisation options. Its actually a fairly robust package. The modes on offer are pretty much your standard affair, however mixing all of the singleplayer elements together such as turret hacking, plasmids and tonics creates some reasonably unique and downright fun gameplay moments.

Overall Bioshock 2 is a fantastic game. In some areas it doesn't quite live up to its predecessor, yet in others surpasses it. The singleplayer is an exciting 12+ hours ride, the multiplayer is surprisingly fun and returning to Rapture is just as awe inspiring a second time around.

Bioshock 2 gets an official Game-Pad 8.8/10

Average Press Score according to TestFreaks: 9.0/10