BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode Two

 PC
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 34
  3. Negative: 1 out of 34
  1. Digital Chumps
    Mar 31, 2014
    72
    The lengths to which Burial at Sea: Episode 2 goes to distance its gameplay from BioShock Infinite's blueprint is outmatched by the indulgent spectacle of its writhing narrative - a risk not fully conscious of its consequences. Through success, failure, and to simply admire the sunset of a generation, the conclusion of Burial at Sea remains a worthwhile experience.
  2. Games.cz
    Apr 23, 2014
    70
    Elizabeth is a match for Booker's first episode, she even outdoes him with several intense scenes. Besides, if you belong to those that saw the shooting as a nuisance, you'll agree with this one's freer tempo along with an option to get around the shooting.
  3. Riot Pixels
    Apr 10, 2014
    70
    In this final installment, you’ll spend 3-4 hours watching the writers retconning the history of Columbia and Rapture, but none of these revelations are exciting.
  5. Gamereactor Sweden
    Apr 4, 2014
    70
    Irrational Games have a lot of loose ends to tie up in the final conclusion to the Bioshock saga. And they do it well, but there is so much story and content here we can't help but think that this should have been a more full fledged retail title instead of short DLC.
  6. Eurogamer Germany
    Mar 31, 2014
    70
    Great level design and brilliant dialogue in the second act have you thrilled for the resolution of this well crafted DLC. But that's where Levine overdoes it a bit. It feels forced in a way, as the steps he has to take to get us there, aren't too believable. In some ways he even takes away some of the first Bioshock's magic in the process, which leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
  7. Polygon
    Mar 28, 2014
    70
    Burial at Sea is fun, looks lovely and makes a valiant attempt to tie together the fiction of Irrational's BioShock games. Some of these ties are elegant enough to not seem like the retcon they of course are. But the game has to go through so many narrative contortions to do so, it's hard to escape the sense that the whole thing feels more like well-made fan fiction than the final piece of one of gaming's most beloved canons.
  8. games(TM)
    Mar 27, 2014
    70
    If this is to be Irrational’s last hurrah then it’s a mixed but compelling swansong for a company that often took bold, divisive design and narrative avenues. It might not hit the highs of some of its best work, but it’s a fitting testament to the studio’s unbridled creativity and theatrical magnificence.
  9. NowGamer
    Mar 25, 2014
    60
    A quaint stroll through Rapture, but not nearly enough focus in the right areas to make this a must-have BioShock experience.

Awards & Rankings

73
#73 Best PC Game of 2014
61
#61 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014
95
#95 Most Shared PC Game of 2014

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 665 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 552 out of 665
  2. Mixed: 70 out of 665
  3. Negative: 43 out of 665
  1. timeknight
    Mar 26, 2014
    10
    My goodness. Just when you think the game can't get any better, it does. If you enjoyed Bioshock 1, this DLC completely wraps everything up.My goodness. Just when you think the game can't get any better, it does. If you enjoyed Bioshock 1, this DLC completely wraps everything up. It explains all of the things you think you didn't quite understand with Infinite, and lots of things from Bioshock 1. They even explain the Vita-chambers.

    Seriously though, this is the kind of DLC that's justifiable. Bioshock Infinite with the added DLC is nothing short of a masterpiece. It takes the cake as my favorite of the Bioshock games.

    Pros: The story
    The atmosphere
    The cinematic gameplay (the directing and perspective work on this is amazing)
    Completely new type of game play. (Combat isn't necessary, you have to find other solutions to situations besides just hack and slash)
    The characters

    Cons:
    It's the end of Bioshock.

    Overall, the DLC provides a good 6 hours of extra game time, if you take the time to explore most of the areas to do some side questing. I think I missed some voxophone recordings, still. Also, if you plan on playing through an even harder mode, they have 1999 mode and an extra 1998 mode.

    I don't give many (if any) games this kind of score, but to me, it's definitely a 10/10.    … Full Review »
  2. GuyWhoReviews
    Mar 25, 2014
    9
    Burial At Sea Episode 2 is easily the best DLC I have ever played. Unlike the first part of Burial At Sea, episode 2 focuses more on story. IBurial At Sea Episode 2 is easily the best DLC I have ever played. Unlike the first part of Burial At Sea, episode 2 focuses more on story. I won't spoil anything, but this DLC goes off constants and variables and connects BioShock and BioShock Infinite's universes. You play as Elizabeth instead of Booker in Burial At Sea Episode 2 and use more stealth. You get the skyhook, but can only knock back enemies as well as a few weapons and plasmids. The new weapon is the crossbow, which includes a noisemaker that distracts enemies, a poisonous gas one, and a tranquilizer dart. You also get the plasmid peeping Tom which makes you invisible. 1998 mode is also featured, which involves no killing and is similar in difficulty to 1999. Unfortunately, when you die it goes back to the auto save instead of being revived, the screen after every time you die gives interesting details. Overall, the gameplay is almost identical to BioShock Infinite, with a couple differences since Elizabeth isn't as strong as Booker. The DLC, like I said focuses on story and relates to BioShock and BioShock Infinite, so play this after you beat both games. The ending will leave you just as shocked and surprised as the ending of BioShock Infinite and if you loved the BioShock series, you will love this DLC.… Full Review »
  3. StarmanDX
    Mar 28, 2014
    6
    I wanted to love this game, but had mixed feelings in the end.

    As usual, it has a terrific opening sequence. The gameplay is competent, but    I wanted to love this game, but had mixed feelings in the end.

    As usual, it has a terrific opening sequence. The gameplay is competent, but nothing fantastic or ground-breaking. Rapture is as detailed and fun to explore as ever, but we have already been here a few times. And the game is lengthy enough, given the price, if you do take the time to explore (BaS pt. 1 took me about 2 hours, while this took a little over 6).

    My biggest problem with the game is that it feels more like a Bioshock 1 prequel than an expansion of Bioshock Infinite's story. The game focuses on filling in the plot holes of a 6+ year old game rather than addressing what unanswered questions you might have leftover from Infinite. It seems like it was made more for people who hold up Bioshock 1 as the gold standard, while those of us who preferred Infinite will probably find it disappointing.    … Full Review »
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