Bioshock Infinite Game Review

Released: March 26th 2013

Developer: Irrational Games

Publisher: 2K Games

Certificate: 18

Formats: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC

Played on: PS3

From its introduction in 2007, the Bioshock series has proven itself to be more than just a versatile first person shooter; the fascinating stories and lovingly crafted worlds in each game elevate them to a level of prominence reached by the most artistic and imaginative works in the industry. The trilogy comes to an end with Bioshock Infinite, another fantastic and thought-provoking title from Irrational Games.

Infinite takes place in 1912, where former Pinkerton agent Booker Dewitt (Voiced by Troy Baker) is tasked to “bring us the girl and wipe away the debt”. This cryptic note engages the player immediately, wrapping them up in game’s mysteries; what is this debt? What does he owe? We want to find out more about Booker and this intrigue explodes upon reaching the game’s primary setting. He’s transported to the floating city of Colombia where he begins his search for a woman named Elizabeth (Courtnee Draper), who has been imprisoned for many years. The city itself was constructed by the enigmatic Father Comstock who has crowned himself The Prophet after seceding from the United States. A sinister plan involving Elizabeth exists on the horizon and Comstock tussles with the rebels of the Vox Populi who aim to fight back against persecution. The game then launches headlong into an incredibly deep story in which Booker and Elizabeth must escape the city while unravelling the mysteries of their pasts. Religious fanaticism, divide through inequality and the lines of morality and just some of the critical themes that Infinite delves into and some of the more sensitive subject matter examines the darker side of religion and the impact it has on humanity. Even the two main factions; Comstock’s Minutemen and the Vox Populi are not always clearly defined as fully good or evil, adding an ambiguity to the narrative. The extensive themes are matched only by the characters, who are all highly engaging; Elizabeth is an elusive, yet curious and fascinating character who possesses a crucial power to open up tears in time and space and it is this trait that gives the story much more unpredictability. Booker on the over hand is an immensely violent and unsympathetic man, his background laced with sins and immoral deeds and yet you’re still invested in what will happen to him. Bioshock Infinite’s story is immaculately produced and presented; it engrosses the player in a way that few games can.

Bioshock Infinite maintains a fairly familiar structure of combat and interaction; and while it feels much more linear and direct when compared with the previous games in the series, there are still avenues for exploration and other things to do in the world. You may go down one corridor or into a certain building and come across a safe or room which Elizabeth can unlock for a batch of supplies and loot, or you might find one of several voxophones (audio diaries) or encoded messages which give further detail about Colombia and its people. Upgrades to weaponry, vigours and Booker’s own stats (Which include health, shields and vigour capacity) are dished out over the course of the campaign through vending machines and the levels themselves. In addition, there are also clothing items which can be equipped to grant Booker four additional effects which range from increased critical damage to setting enemies ablaze when launching into an enemy with a skyline strike. You’ll want to explore each environment fully because once you choose to leave an area, you can’t return later like you could before; this kind of design both limits backtracking and maintains the game’s brisk pacing, which also features some set-piece moments that provide a brilliant spectacle and tension. At around ten hours, the game’s campaign isn’t the longest on the market, but because the story is so detailed and enriched with deep themes, you’ll want to play it through again. There’s also the perma-death “1999 Mode”, a brutally difficult challenge that requires much more planning and consideration.

With continued improvements and refinements to combat, Infinite’s gameplay marks itself as the fastest and most frenetic in the series. It all controls very well, with both imaginative firearms and devastating vigour powers such as hordes of vicious crows at Booker’s disposal at all times. The combat felt a little basic to me at first with its two weapon limit, something which Bioshock 1 and 2 didn’t restrict you on; but as the game rumbles onward, both the environments and the options you have at your disposal open up. You might choose to have Elizabeth create a piece of cover and pick off enemies from a distance with a sniper rifle, or combine the charge vigour with skyline rides and a shotgun to get up close for massive damage. You are afforded further flexibility with the upgrades obtained from vending machines which can improve things from weapon damage to adding new effects on each vigour power; by combining traditional gunplay, different vigour combinations and Elizabeth’s capable resources, combat in Bioshock Infinite becomes something very tactical and choice-driven. Enemies are smart, varied and ruthless in the way they pursue Booker with some rocking their own vigours and increased armour.

The only real issues I have with the gameplay are the skyline controls and encounters which end up feeling more like bullet sponges than trials of skill and strategic choices. When riding a skyline, the reticule to disembark onto solid ground or to send an enemy flying with a skyline strike can be a bit fiddly to manage, especially in the middle of combat. On other occasions, the combat can devolve into basic, almost restrictive instances where you fire off a few shots and vigours, take cover and popping out again while waiting for Elizabeth to toss you another item; this can make fights drag on late in the game when enemies have much larger health pools. The combat does have a few problems, but ultimately they don’t interfere too much with its overall feel and fun factor.

Bioshock Infinite’s world is absolutely beautiful to look at in that it forms a polar opposite to its predecessors in both tone and style. While Rapture’s dreary and depressing backdrops gave a gloomy and foreboding atmosphere, Columbia is a bright and beautiful backdrop where colossal monuments to American exceptionalism blend with steampunk architecture and dramatic religious undertones. A sense of vertigo envelopes the player as they traverse between the massive blimps and airships, and the cell shaded art style results in a far more colourful game than the previous two. Yet this seemingly inviting city rings hollow when you dig under the surface and realise just how flawed and contradictory it is; propaganda is everywhere, an intense nationalism firmly grips the inhabitants and white dominance is a commonly accepted norm. As the darkest secrets of Colombia came to light, I started to question the game’s themes and narrative even more, creating an even more compelling reason to press onwards. The violence in the game is often gruesome with enemies exploding and popping in all kinds of nasty ways to provide a brilliant impact to the tools at Booker’s disposal. The sound behind every weapon and location is incredible; there’s a heavy use of stringed instruments which forms suppressed vigils and heart-pounding combat pieces. Brutal sound effects and sound cues give combat a harrowing edge that ups the intensity and gets the adrenaline pumping. Despite the insane amount of enemies, moving objects and environmental effects on screen, the game’s frame rate never fluctuates, ensuring a smooth experience throughout. Infinite’s presentation is as solid as they come; there are few technical hiccups to distract the player from the immersive nature of the game world.

Bioshock Infinite is a gargantuan and phenomenal close to a truly profound series of games; the story the game has to tell and the world it places you in are some of the finest and most imaginative ever seen in the medium, but this comes at no cost to the gameplay and design. Truly it is one of the best shooters you’ll play on the seventh generation of consoles.

Rating: 9/10