Bioshock Infinite Review
Article by Joe Stolidus
Hardcore gamers demand a lot. They want great graphics, heart-pounding combat, ever-lasting appeal and zombies. More importantly, great gamers want a riveting story that grabs them at the beginning and leaves them exhausted and amazed at the end. They’re not looking for a linear plot that is predictable. They want a twist that gives them a “what in the hell” look while playing the game. If there is any game that can meet these criteria, it is Bioshock Infinite, a first person shooter game published by 2K Games. The first two installments of Bioshock ( Bioshock and Bioshock 2) were amazing and received great reviews, but this one is going to knock you out! Bioshock Infinite is definitely one of the best games released in 2013 and probably one of the best adventure games released in the past several years.
Playing as the former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt , you are sent to locate a young woman named Elizabeth in the city-in-the-sky called Columbia. Columbia is, by the way, the name given to the female personification of America. Originally conceived as the location of a world’s fair in the clouds, displaying America’s exceptionalism, Columbia turns out to be a massive, well armed battleship. Columbia is disavowed by the American government after it fires upon a group of Chinese civilians during the Boxer rebellion, and in response, Columbia secedes and floats off to an undisclosed location in the sky. The city soon devolves into a white supremacist and elitist society that is ruled by religious zealots. Because of this, the poor and minorities of the city – the Vox Populi or “voice of the people” – have rebelled and are trying to take control.
In order to pay off his debt, Booker DeWitt is hired by an anonymous source to locate Elizabeth. Columbia is being controlled by Prophet Comstock, who founded the city for the white race and under the motivation of nationalism. In Comstock’s prophecy, a person named Booker is mentioned as the destroyer of Columbia. When Booker enters the city, he is immediately set upon by Comstock’s minions and must continuously defend himself throughout his quest. 
Elizabeth is anything but a secondary character. She turns out to be your right-hand gal, very strong in combat and helpful, using various spells. Among other spells, she can create a tear, a hole to an alternative universe, allowing you to collect objects from the past and use them as weapons or accessories. Elizabeth’s childlike spirit and sometimes mischievous actions add much depth and character to the story.
The combat in Bioshock Infinite is much harder than in previous versions, but the number of weapons has also increased. Besides weapons, you are now capable of using various vigors. Like the plasmids in the previous versions, vigors allow you to cast spells. One of the more interesting vigors is the Murder of Crows, which sends a swarm/murder of crows at the enemy. The other seven vigors allow you to do such things as take over an enemy to make him fight for you ( Possession) and send the enemy’s projectiles back at them (Return to Sender).
The graphics and setting are impressive beyond compare. Its steampunk look is interesting and refreshing. While the city floats in the sky, you do not use planes or balloons to get around. Instead, you use a grappling hook on a series of railways connecting the buildings called the Skyline. You can use the grappling hook to jump from building to building, and even as a weapon if you aim it at the enemy and jump. And unlike a number of games, this game manages to balance the dark and gloomy with the bright and sunny.
Surprisingly, Bioshock Infinite doesn’t shy away from sensitive issues. It seems to poke fun at religious extremism, racism and nationalistic and patriotic fervor. The portrayal of certain characters and the moral choices you must make, may leave you laughing or deeply offended. The game has managed to stir up quite a controversy with its portrayal of a forced baptism. Some have accused the game of making the Tea Party look bad, while others have said that it is an attack on the labor movement. Ken Levine, the creative head of the Bioshock Infinite project, has said that the game is not trying to offend or be political, it is merely reflecting the history of 1912 America, the setting for the game.
Nevertheless, Bioshock Infinite is one of the best adventure games in recent history and it will keep you entertained and thinking for hours. If you’re looking for multi-player fun, forget it, because this game does not have multi-player. If you’re looking for an outstanding story and a game that feels like it is a movie you get to participate in, then you don’t want to miss this one. Get it now!
Graphics: 10/10
Dialogue: 10/10
Gameplay: 10/10
Replayability: 8/10
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What are you waiting for? Get it NOW!
