BioShock Infinite

 PC
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 9926 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8,187 out of 9926
  2. Mixed: 1,100 out of 9926
  3. Negative: 639 out of 9926
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  1. Toffenuff
    Jul 14, 2013
    8
    In short: Linear. Fun. Beautiful. Not as great as I thought and people said, but still good enough to play.

    The original Bioshock was a plot that I never could have predicted and was so shocking and mind-blowing that I instantly loved the game even more than I already had up to that point. This latest installment? I called the twist ending about a little over halfway through the game.    In short: Linear. Fun. Beautiful. Not as great as I thought and people said, but still good enough to play.

    The original Bioshock was a plot that I never could have predicted and was so shocking and mind-blowing that I instantly loved the game even more than I already had up to that point.
    This latest installment? I called the twist ending about a little over halfway through the game. While I didn't predict everything that happened in the end, the major twists were obvious to me already and it was admittedly satisfying to be right about it. But perhaps that's because after playing and enjoying Bioshock 1 & 2, I know how the writers think already.

    It is a linear story and really there's two moments in the game where you're actually forced to choose one option or another, and they are light decisions too. You can bypass certain side areas and continue on the main storyline full speed so I guess there's an element of player choice in that, but obviously that's not recommended. (unless you're doing a speed run)

    Anyway, I played the game on Hard difficulty and it was pretty challenging at certain parts those Handymen are tough bastards! I had to be revived a lot on most of the boss scenes. For most of it though it wasn't too bad, even on Hard difficulty. Combat was fun, hectic, and exciting.

    Vigors which are Columbia's version of plasmids are interesting and combos were pretty fun, although I didn't much understand the last one that you get (Return to Sender) and I had to actually look it up. I barely used that one. Haha

    Character development is pretty good, and particularly with Elizabeth. They did a wonderful job of making her act more life-like. If you pause in certain areas long enough she goes around on her own and looks at stuff, pointing out things that you might have missed. She also interacts with the environment on her own if you give her some time to. For instance, sitting down on benches, leaning against walls, and particularly the beach scene is where you see the most of this free-form acting. The expressions she gives and her body language also reflect her mood, which of course is affected by the situation. Voice acting is of course superb for all characters.

    Graphically, the game is good, but not as great as it could have and arguably should have been. Textures in particular could have been so much better. But the lighting and particles are well done. the atmosphere they've created is definitely fantastic and, coupled with the music and the actual gameplay, this installment of Bioshock is memorable.

    Anyway, I do like it and would recommend this to people. It is a lot of fun to explore a whole different world from Rapture. The floating buildings and open spaces, the sky, the clouds, the sunlight, the society... it was a glorious sight to see and to be in the floating city of Columbia.    … Expand
  2. Sh4rkill3r
    Mar 28, 2013
    8
    The BioShock franchise and the team in Boston redefine gaming once again with BioShock Infinite. The original game was a masterpiece upon release, it still aged very gracefully.. I know this more appropriately now because I just slammed my way through both BS1 and BS2 before tonight's midnight launch. And no, I have not finished Bioshock Infinite. However, I am going to review this gameThe BioShock franchise and the team in Boston redefine gaming once again with BioShock Infinite. The original game was a masterpiece upon release, it still aged very gracefully.. I know this more appropriately now because I just slammed my way through both BS1 and BS2 before tonight's midnight launch. And no, I have not finished Bioshock Infinite. However, I am going to review this game based on my 5 hours of gameplay... why? you may ask? Because the first 2 HOURS of gameplay were more enjoyable than the entire BioShock series. It sucks you in, immediately, and never let's go. If you bought this game on launch for $60 give yourself a pat on the back. You truly made a strong purchasing decision that just helped the gaming industry as a whole. This game just paved the way for what we expect in our next gen titles!… Expand
  3. schneider707
    Apr 3, 2013
    8
    Overhiped. SERIOUSLY overhiped, out of proportions. But that doesnt make it bad game. I could understand those score games from users, but to sertain extent. But giving this game 0 or 4 is overreacting just like giving it pure 10. Except in pretty design, great story, fluent gameplay, this game is step backwards comparing to original Bioshock.AI have some issues. Besides beign almostOverhiped. SERIOUSLY overhiped, out of proportions. But that doesnt make it bad game. I could understand those score games from users, but to sertain extent. But giving this game 0 or 4 is overreacting just like giving it pure 10. Except in pretty design, great story, fluent gameplay, this game is step backwards comparing to original Bioshock.AI have some issues. Besides beign almost completelly unchalenging, they also have a habit to act strange when dors are closing behind you. You get back into place where there was a bloody fighting seconds ago, but they wonder around like nothing happened.They are also completelly ignoring Elizabeth, but its ok, atleast you dont have to babysit her all the time. Mentioning Elizabeth, nothing important, but its a bit annoying when she wants to pass you ammo or something, if you dont react in a second she wont throw it at all. Also, I really wanted to see those details which devs were mentioning about her s interaction with enviroment in idle moments, but as soon I take a step to get a better view she leaves whatever she was doing, and resumes to follow you.Like I said gameplay is fluent and fun, but nothing you aint saw already in original Bioshock.Travell system in Columbia is great addition, but game is linear anyways, with clear mission, without alternative endings. Too many hipe doesnt helps, when you expect too much usually you get disappointed. But nevertheless game is great, but not how much critics are praising.… Expand
  4. Morfiss
    May 11, 2013
    8
    The things I loved most about this game were; it's atmosphere, it's plot and the weapons. The reason I'm giving this an 8 instead of a 10 is because, it was way to easy, even on hard mode and because the last mission was a pain in the butt.
  5. melli06
    Apr 27, 2013
    8
    This game has the most imaginative setting ever seen, a half way decent main plot, but its mechanics are borring and repetitive. Sure theirs magic and every thing but in the end you feel disconnected from the combat scenes. The guns are borring, the magic is alright and there is no change in combat the mechanics are shoot, shoot, shoot, magic, mele, and then rinse and repeat. The world isThis game has the most imaginative setting ever seen, a half way decent main plot, but its mechanics are borring and repetitive. Sure theirs magic and every thing but in the end you feel disconnected from the combat scenes. The guns are borring, the magic is alright and there is no change in combat the mechanics are shoot, shoot, shoot, magic, mele, and then rinse and repeat. The world is fully imagined which is why I have not torn it apart. But I have to wonder how this slipped by the developers. The graphics are reasonable. The story is good for a video game and I don't mean setting plot to different things. Bio shock is worth getting does it deserve a ten NO NO NO NO NO NO Things like IGN and people overate things way to much… Expand
  6. calibertor
    Mar 29, 2013
    8
    Graphics are excellent and the setting is fantastic. I also really enjoyed the story and thought the characters were interesting and having Elizabeth as a partner was very fun and worked really well. Points deducted for repetitive combat and repetitive enemies. The powers are not very inspired and have a simplistic "fire at enemy or lay a trap". The game stutters when loading new areasGraphics are excellent and the setting is fantastic. I also really enjoyed the story and thought the characters were interesting and having Elizabeth as a partner was very fun and worked really well. Points deducted for repetitive combat and repetitive enemies. The powers are not very inspired and have a simplistic "fire at enemy or lay a trap". The game stutters when loading new areas even with solid 60fps (gtx 570, settings on med/high) and thus breaks the immersion. You can only carry two guns which is disappointing and I pretty much went the entire game with raven power, shock power, sniper rifle and machine gun. I very rarely changed tactics and progressed easily with this setup. Was also dissapointed to find med kits had been removed and you cannot carry additional salts to power up your abilities when running low (have to rely on Elizabeth or the surrounding area). Was a good solid game, however the original Bioshock is still my favourite.… Expand
  7. Dark_half-Elf
    Apr 9, 2013
    8
    Game lost in gameplay and difficulty, but has become more adult story, more action and, of course, Elizabeth. She the central figure in the narrative and the post as she is alive, she is alive responds to the world around you is looking for supplies. Enemies behave quite adequately, shame that still kill them easily. However postoanovochne fights, plasmids, their sequencing, and razlchnoeGame lost in gameplay and difficulty, but has become more adult story, more action and, of course, Elizabeth. She the central figure in the narrative and the post as she is alive, she is alive responds to the world around you is looking for supplies. Enemies behave quite adequately, shame that still kill them easily. However postoanovochne fights, plasmids, their sequencing, and razlchnoe weapons and great action in the battles will not be bored.… Expand
  8. captainkane
    Mar 31, 2013
    8
    Bioshock Infinite is easily one of the best shooters I’ve played in the last few years. Level design is superb, and Irrational Game’s attentiontion to detail cannot be overstated. I enjoyed the original Bioshock, but this game had a more profound effect on me because recent shooters rarely deviate from Activision’s billion-dollar-making COD formula. And when developers are bold enough toBioshock Infinite is easily one of the best shooters I’ve played in the last few years. Level design is superb, and Irrational Game’s attentiontion to detail cannot be overstated. I enjoyed the original Bioshock, but this game had a more profound effect on me because recent shooters rarely deviate from Activision’s billion-dollar-making COD formula. And when developers are bold enough to trend a separate path, they hurt their titles’ chances of survival. Not Bioshock Infinite. It is deliciously crafted for the many gamers who still crave titles with depth. I ran the game on Ultra settings connected to an LED television and performance was superb. I enabled frame lock and experienced smooth performance throughout the game. Some reviewers stated that textures are poor on closely viewed objects, but that’s nitpicking. When given the options between playing a game with smooth performance or beast graphics, I generally lean towards performance. What is surprising about this game is that players get healthy dosages of both. The game looks fantastic. The developers meticulously focused on the color palette and lighting to dictate the moods of whatever environments you’re exploring. The most successful aspect of Infinite is ambiance. You move from sunny skies to dark, dreary corridors. The music really fits the environments and enhances the empty, eerie feeling of certain areas. Some parts of the score feel reminiscent of the 2005 shooter FEAR, which adds to the creepiness. The story is good, but a bit ambitious. It’s one people with either love or hate—there is no middle ground. The writers take on the hefty issues of religion, theocracy, and racism (to name a few). But they throw these issues in gamers’ faces with such force that some people will be offended, and rightly so. While exploring the world of Columbia, what truths are we to take away? Unfortunately, some gamers won’t invest the time to sift thru these issues. When shifting between different realities, the world doesn’t change all that much. In fact, it pretty much stays the same. This lack of change really disconnects you from what’s really happening and dampens your urgency to respond. Given all the time the developers put into this game, the lazy transitioning seems inexplicable. The girl you rescue is an enigma with such immense power that it’s wholly preposterous at times. Is she gifted or an X-man? Although we get some closure, we can only speculate where her power originates. The story behind the main protagonist is less hazy, but certain plot aspects are just too convenient. The pre-release hype really touted the game’s combat and skylines. Although fun, the mechanics haven’t changed all that much from the first Bioshock. The combat is merely an evolution from previous titles, but still enjoyable. If it’s not broke, why fix it? Fortunately the skylines are only a gratuitous element for battle. My annoyance came from the inability to hold additional health and ammo. If there aren’t any nearby, you must wait for your sidekick to throw supplies. This can take minutes or a few seconds, and if you need both ammo and health, it’s a guess which one she’ll actually toss you. But all this means is you must be more careful, and you can quickly get away via the skylines as your shields recharge. On medium difficulty there are tons of items lying around, so just grab things yourself and let your sidekick hide in the corner. Enemies are repetitive. What’s worse are the sparse and quick battles. Very disappointing. You’ll spend most of your time foraging. Oddly, I found the exploration strangely addictive. The beautiful world really draws you in. But by the end of the game it gets repetitive and verges on tedium. NPC’s generally ignore you as you steal from their cash registers while holding loaded weapons. Mini games are gone, so no more hacking. They’re cliché, and honestly I don’t miss them. As the game progresses, you get a sense of loneliness—emptiness. Perhaps an upside from a relatively combat-less game. At times, the ambiance truly enhances this loneliness despite being in a floating city filled with thousands of citizens. The question remains: Why couldn’t the developers deliver BOTH action and exploration? I couldn’t help the feeling I’ve played Infinite before. That’s because artistically it’s akin to Dishonored. Perhaps too much so. Dishonored offers better combat and gives players more choices. Infinite is streamlined even if the story is grandiose, and the choices you make in Infinite don’t matter in the end. If you loved the city of Dunwall, you should love Columbia just the same. My final verdict: Bioshock Infinite is a must own. Buy it for PC if you have one that can push it. Replay value is moderate even if the game's combat disappoints. Overall, Bioshock Infinite is an unevenly paced game. But it's a beautifully polished and thoughtful enough game to make it worth the wait.… Expand
  9. Abeofgradas77
    Apr 7, 2013
    8
    JoeyVinor was frimponged.... Quite a great game, gameplay was great, controls are smooth, vigors are cool, weapons are nice, LOOOVVEEE SKYLINES, and melee action was nice, it is a long game, I loved skyhooks, Elizabeth was very convenient! I also appreciate a woman who appreciates valuuuuues! Plot was great, simple, give the girl, wipe away the debt, dassit XD. Awesome. I love alternateJoeyVinor was frimponged.... Quite a great game, gameplay was great, controls are smooth, vigors are cool, weapons are nice, LOOOVVEEE SKYLINES, and melee action was nice, it is a long game, I loved skyhooks, Elizabeth was very convenient! I also appreciate a woman who appreciates valuuuuues! Plot was great, simple, give the girl, wipe away the debt, dassit XD. Awesome. I love alternate Booker and Lizzies! Luteces were awesome, but moar interesting, I love how they gave awesome banter! I love even moar how they are alternate forms of each other. I mean man, who has time for all dat paperwork!? But I love the bird and cage, the Vox were interesting, although Fitzroy was a XD. I like Lizzie's love for Paris, at times she was adorable! I love how she used Jack's wrench! Man oh man was Lizzie, such a but Booker kind of earned a wrench2dahface! Loved Rapture appearance! Handy men were cool. Music was great, I was almost shed a tear with the choir Circle Beyond Broken. Sound was great, awesome special effects. I loved the shields! 1 more thing, the end was meh, but after the credits was so cool! (NOT SPOILIN)! Flaws, well, some stuff seemed too Bioshock1-2eeeze, it is mostly different, I liked Devil's Kiss, but it is an awful lot like incinerate, seemed like ideas were at a mid to low. Also, the 1st part of ending really DID SUCK! Also, I was slightly disappointed finding out the direction you went did not effect the end More about Bioshock1-2eeeze stuff, big daddies, handy men, any similarities? YES. No little sister equiv, nearly my fav part of 1 and 2.I think they should have scrapped most handy men and put more of a ls equiv. NOW more good stuff, Columbia is marginally better than Rapture (in my view). I loved when Booker said, "An Underwater City? What a joke!" Or something like that. I laughed. I also wish 1999 mode could be something besides a higher difficulty, like put some 1999eeeze stuff... SO.....
    Gameplay-9/10
    Plot-8.2/10
    Presentation-8.3/10
    Lasting-8.9/10
    Sound-8.5/10
    Overall-8.4/10 (Round down to an 8.0)    … Expand
  10. Silverqt
    Mar 27, 2013
    8
    Everything beautiful, needs no words even. Just wanted to make 10/10, really titan work made. Its the game of year and century and even more. Best of the best.
  11. Seryin
    Apr 1, 2013
    8
    This game has an absolutely amazing world to explore as well as a very intriguing story, but lets not pretend it is perfect. Do not get me wrong, this game is a worthy buy and a great game, but there are several serious flaws that kept this game from being legendary; Where the graphics can truly be amazing at times, occasionally some textures or models will look like they had been furtherThis game has an absolutely amazing world to explore as well as a very intriguing story, but lets not pretend it is perfect. Do not get me wrong, this game is a worthy buy and a great game, but there are several serious flaws that kept this game from being legendary; Where the graphics can truly be amazing at times, occasionally some textures or models will look like they had been further outdated than the original Bioshock (which was still rather good;) Some scripted events involving NPCs encountered while exploring are downright horrible; Small holes in the story that never get answered take away from what could have been a flawless performance; Excessive overuse of Bloom effects even for a city in the sky; The removal of any save feature outside of checkpoints that was present in the previous games that is just really annoying; and worst of all, a completely useless and unrewarding character progression. Again, this game is amazing and absolutely worth playing. However, it could have been a 10/10 legendary game if it could have addressed several issues that seemed a lot more like lack of polish or development time than anything else.… Expand
  12. exxr
    Mar 28, 2013
    8
    Okay, updating this to an 8 since I find it gets quite repetitive later on in... Good visuals for the Unreal 3 engine but mostly enhanced volumetric/lighting fx as overall its quite low-polygon (Its using all cores on my i5 3570K and getting 60fps all options maxed @1080p on the HD7870) Game play and controls are good no complaints at all.
  13. Skylarz
    Mar 17, 2014
    8
    The game was fun and all, but I don't get why people are so "touched" by it. I get that it's a triple AAA game but seriously, why? Anyway, the hook is pretty cool. Helped me a lot during the last boss battle. The graphics are nice and you get to have a pretty companion who helps you pick up items when you need them. I can't really remember the rest snce it's been a few months since I'veThe game was fun and all, but I don't get why people are so "touched" by it. I get that it's a triple AAA game but seriously, why? Anyway, the hook is pretty cool. Helped me a lot during the last boss battle. The graphics are nice and you get to have a pretty companion who helps you pick up items when you need them. I can't really remember the rest snce it's been a few months since I've finished the game but I did like it.… Expand
  14. RoundTheClock
    Mar 26, 2013
    8
    There is no denying Bioshock Infinite is a great experience. The world of Columbia is amazing and is so immersive that you do feel as if you are there, and you know what's going on. The story is brilliant and overflowing with subtle undertones that impact the player. The way it is told is also brilliant and makes you feel like part of the story. This game has all these aspects perfected,There is no denying Bioshock Infinite is a great experience. The world of Columbia is amazing and is so immersive that you do feel as if you are there, and you know what's going on. The story is brilliant and overflowing with subtle undertones that impact the player. The way it is told is also brilliant and makes you feel like part of the story. This game has all these aspects perfected, but one flaw is in the gunplay. The gunplay is rather lackluster and easy. Although vigors give it a twist the gunplay still manages to be dull. This is a brilliant game, but I would not say it is a brilliant shooter. Still a masterpiece.… Expand
  15. DrBoochie
    Mar 26, 2013
    8
    Played this for about 3 hours, thoroughly enjoying it. The graphics compliment the setting, making it particularly immersive (especially with the Christian imagery throughout the opening, adds some extra 'flavour' to it). Overall the gameplay itself has been enjoyable so far; on harder difficulties it presented some form of challenge, forcing me to use multiple tactics such as placingPlayed this for about 3 hours, thoroughly enjoying it. The graphics compliment the setting, making it particularly immersive (especially with the Christian imagery throughout the opening, adds some extra 'flavour' to it). Overall the gameplay itself has been enjoyable so far; on harder difficulties it presented some form of challenge, forcing me to use multiple tactics such as placing traps. If you're expecting the creepy, eerie atmosphere of Bioshock you may be disappointed although it is somewhat eerie, the dark setting of the original is lacking in this game, but this wasn't a big issue for me. A major issue I had regards the controls and interface only being able to carry 2 weapons felt restrictive, and the keyboard setup (Z is the default to ADS, for example) felt a bit awkward, but this is resolvable. Overall a cinematic experience with a few minor issues, but an exciting, colourful game nonetheless.… Expand
  16. Sgan
    Mar 28, 2013
    8
    Bioshock Infinite brought back the feeling of wonders when you first enter Rapture in Bioshock 1, Columbia is a city that's both beautiful and surreal, the every changing city blocks constantly remind you that you are walking in a city that's 2000 feet above the ground. This is the first Bioshock game where you have a companion, Elizabeth, and she is one of the best AI companion I haveBioshock Infinite brought back the feeling of wonders when you first enter Rapture in Bioshock 1, Columbia is a city that's both beautiful and surreal, the every changing city blocks constantly remind you that you are walking in a city that's 2000 feet above the ground. This is the first Bioshock game where you have a companion, Elizabeth, and she is one of the best AI companion I have seen in recent years. She rarely gets in your way and often points out interesting things that you might have missed and provides supplies in combat, it really makes you miss her when she is not around.

    However when it comes down to the game-play and the story-line, Infinite have its flaws. The gun play is mediocre, and the weapons are less interesting than those in the past Bioshock games. The super powers (Vigor) are also a step back from previous titles, many Vigors are essentially novelty and not actually useful in combat (especially on hard or higher difficulties). The gene bank have been replaced by gears, the gears center around enhancing sky-line combat, melee or health/ammo replenish, but not many of them synergize well together to support a completely different play-style like in Bioshock 2.

    The setting of the game is good, but I am not really a fan of the story line because the direction it took. While this may be a little bias because I was disappointed that the twist is just as I imaged and I spent the better half of the game hoping I would be wrong. The twist towards the end feels like a cop-out, and I felt the game missed its big opportunity of not **possible spoiler**giving the player a choice, like the one Elizabeth hinted you may have to make right before riding the elevator to Comstock.

    Overall this is a good game that's definitely worth playing, it is regrettable that its story and atmosphere still cannot match that of Bioshock 1 and the combat aren't as interesting as Bioshock 2.    … Expand
  17. Scapegoat4
    Mar 29, 2013
    8
    This game... oh man, this game. It's a weird one: not making any sense, and then plunging you into the action, and the player just waddles along. But, then the mystery begins, and that's where this game shines, along with the fabulous (highest quality) graphics..... that my PC cannot handle (yet).... as for the combat... it's really a nice, fast paced and furious appetizer for the crazyThis game... oh man, this game. It's a weird one: not making any sense, and then plunging you into the action, and the player just waddles along. But, then the mystery begins, and that's where this game shines, along with the fabulous (highest quality) graphics..... that my PC cannot handle (yet).... as for the combat... it's really a nice, fast paced and furious appetizer for the crazy plot of this story (which will keep you guessing until the end). I got this game through steam pre-order, and I can say with all my heart that this was worth it, even if it only took 10 hours to complete the main game and half the achievements (as for the rest of them *sigh*).
    Overall, a very good game, without any major bugs or glitches (that aren't story breaking: the ones I found were hilarious!), that is deserving of good praise, but not the 10/10's I'm seeing everywhere. Good job, 2K, keep up the amazing work!    … Expand
  18. KNInit
    Apr 25, 2013
    8
    Bioshock Infinite is the book that many modern shooters should take a leaf out of. Though the gameplay is not devoid of drawbacks to the keen observer, it´s potential to get you immersed in the gameworld and get emotionally invested is beyond anything which has been released in the last years.

    GRAPHICS: While exploring the world of Bioshock Infinite you will soon see that the Unreal    Bioshock Infinite is the book that many modern shooters should take a leaf out of. Though the gameplay is not devoid of drawbacks to the keen observer, it´s potential to get you immersed in the gameworld and get emotionally invested is beyond anything which has been released in the last years.

    GRAPHICS: While exploring the world of Bioshock Infinite you will soon see that the Unreal Enggine in its current stage reached its limits. Textures are often low resolution and if you take a close look at things you will recognize lack of detail. However: The graphic designers did such a good job at composing the overall gameworld and masquerading these shortcomings that it hardly matters. Admittedly by heavy use of Bloom and HDR, but Bioshock Infinite is a good looking game. It shows what the Unreal Engine is capable of when put into the right hands. Also it makes this run on older machines with relative ease.

    SOUND: As in the predecessors the sound engineering was done well. Musical pieces fit the mood perfectly and help to establish the games great atmosphere. Voice acting is good as well and further contributes to atmosphere. Some weapon sounds could be better though.

    SETTING AND STORY: The dark, gloomy and terrifying settings, trademark for previous games of the "Shock-Series" are gone. Columbia has not much in common with the Van Braun or Rapture. Though later stages of the game still heave an eerie feeling about them. I personally like the survival- horroresque atmosphere of the predecessors better. However when seen on it´s own, the setting works just fine and does not need to hide behind underwater cities or giant space stations.
    The story, though nothing really original, is well told if you WANT the game to tell the story. And that´s the part i maybe like the most: Bioshock Infinite wants you to explore the plot by yourself. You will only get a satisfying grasp of the whole plot if you search for clues. The more serious themes of the story like racism, political and religious fanaticism, turbo-capitalism and indoctrination of youth are a double-edged sword. Though it is nice to see a game actually dealing with things like that on a rather serious tone, it never really forces you to fully engage in these parts of the story. They sometimes stay rather perfunctory while being presented to strikingly and over the top.
    The setting and the storytelling though (even with some weaknesses in the story itself) is were Bioshock Infinite shines. Seldomly have i felt so emotionally invested into certain characters and the story itself.

    GAMEPLAY: Why, oh why? So much could have been done better here. The gameplay is far from bad. It´s above mediocre. It´s just that it screams "Missed opportunities" right in your face. Gunplay is okay, though nothing special. Vigors (as the roleplay element is now called) are depraved to a gimmick and so is the skyhook. They are fun to use but you don´t ever really need them. Where is the complexity of a System Shock 2? Why use a rather mature setting and not deliver a rather mature gameplay with it? The AI leaves much to be desired. The level design is also just mediocre when seen from the gameplay perspective.Besides searching for pieces of the story puzzle there is no reason to actually explore the gameworld besides for some unmotivated loot grabs. An open world approach would have suited this game better. Interaction with NPCs is limited to one-liners. This was never a problem in the other games because you basically were on your own, just meeting the one or the other important storyline character. However Columbia is CROWDED with people...which sadly have nothing to say.
    It hides it well. But more often then not Bioshock Infinite is just your regular corridor shooter sprinkled with "action zones" where you fight of wave after wave of enemies. Also there is no free save feature in the PC version which can just be called out for what it is: lazy porting. If Ken Levine ever does System Shock 3, for the love of god, don´t do it like this.

    CONCLUSION: Bioshock Infinite is a good game worth playing. It´s excellent storytelling (which does not mean that the story is excellent, but it´s good) and vibrant characters will let you immerse in the setting that a beautifully designed city above the clouds provides. Sadly, due to some gameplay drawbacks it is not the savior of the shooter genre many people make it to be. The general degenerative trend has taken it´s toll even on this franchise. It does many things better though than your average "Call of Honor: Medal of Duty"-Shooterthingy. There is still hope. I would actually give this a 8.5 if it was possible. But since it´s not i´ll role with an 8. In terms of immersive gameworlds Bioshock Infinite is a step forward, sadly gameplay-wise it makes a step backwards from it´s predecessors.    … Expand
  19. SmokingWalrus
    Mar 31, 2013
    8
    It's no masterpiece like many are saying, but still a very worthwhile game. If you enjoyed the other Bioshocks then you will most likely enjoy this one. The combat was decent as long as you play it on hard mode. Anything less is just pure cakewalk. Really the combat is what you make of it. You can either do the standard cover, then shoot a guy, rinse and repeat. If you get creative andIt's no masterpiece like many are saying, but still a very worthwhile game. If you enjoyed the other Bioshocks then you will most likely enjoy this one. The combat was decent as long as you play it on hard mode. Anything less is just pure cakewalk. Really the combat is what you make of it. You can either do the standard cover, then shoot a guy, rinse and repeat. If you get creative and take chances it becomes much better. I loved the story. I feel like the people saying it didn't make sense probably didn't pay enough attention to the details. Although it is somewhat linear it is not as bad as people seem to be making it out to be. The game does give you quite a bit of opportunity to wander about looting and sightseeing. Most people giving the negative reviews are probably jaded basement dwellers who need to get outside more.… Expand
  20. mistyinroots
    Apr 1, 2013
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. First off, really amazing game, when you first arrive in Colombia it's simply awe inspiring! A game where you can just look around and marvel at the setting is always good, the game was really good except I felt rather short maybe more could have been done before the first tear? You suddenly found yourself working for the vox but you never really get to experience that world, before everything is turned on its head and then all out war, the end was really good but left me a little bit confused, Good game but like Dishonoured way too short.… Expand
  21. neacaisa
    Apr 2, 2013
    8
    The game is very good, but a bit overrated, gameplay falls short on a few aspects (most gear is uninteresting, some vigors are useless, some fights are repetitive and too easy, dissapointing final battle), but the skyline mechanic is great. The setting is amazing but the story is not a masterpiece, pretty good but not that good as the reviewers said.
  22. BudSpencer
    Apr 17, 2013
    8
    It´s really overhyped to be honest. And here´s why. The Story is genius and fantastic but the levels are looking mostly the same, so the gunfights are extremly exciting only for the first moments. It feels really repetitive after some time and the gunplay gets boring. The world is absolutely awesome and creative and the skylines are wellplaced and let the game feel a lil bit lessIt´s really overhyped to be honest. And here´s why. The Story is genius and fantastic but the levels are looking mostly the same, so the gunfights are extremly exciting only for the first moments. It feels really repetitive after some time and the gunplay gets boring. The world is absolutely awesome and creative and the skylines are wellplaced and let the game feel a lil bit less repetetive. But there are still some flaws. And it´s not the game itself. It´s hard to explain. Ok let´s try: You played the game and everything seems perfect and the game felt perfect as for many reviewers. Unfotunately you get that weird feeling some time after finishing the game. A feeling only described as "unsatisfied". Yeah, the game feels unsatisfied even the ending is one of the best in gaming history and you really love the characters. That´s the basic problem i had. The other more critical problems are the people in columbia. Not the racist problem, i mean that they don´t interact with you and that they have all the same faces. It let´s the world seem kinda empty. It feels like Bioshock 1 but Rapture had this deep atmosphere. The graphics are beatiful but outdated. Well, portal 2 was it too but still looked good. The points were it looses points are: NPC´s, Unsatisfying experience because of the repetitive fights and standard shooting experience and because it´s a pain in the ass to play it with a controller. The difficulty is easy medium and hard. If it´s too easy go to hard. Medium and easy are mostly too easy with mouse. For me Infinite is fantastic but not worth 50 bucks, maybe 30. We need more a atmospheric driven experience like Heavy Rain, Thief, Deus Ex, Red Dead Redemption, Stalker, Metro or Cry of Fear. Fantastic Soundtracks with longtime playability and fantastic story. Bioshock Infinite would have been a better Open World game then a shooter.… Expand
  23. Turdfaice
    Apr 3, 2013
    8
    From the time you invest in one hour, you are hopelessly lost in a beautiful world of exotic pleasantries. I often found myself just stopping and admire the views that I have been granted and the joyous occasion of old time culture. It gives you subtle hints that the world up there has its flaws as you venture deeper into the abyss.

    It seems to have a underlying message of today's world    From the time you invest in one hour, you are hopelessly lost in a beautiful world of exotic pleasantries. I often found myself just stopping and admire the views that I have been granted and the joyous occasion of old time culture. It gives you subtle hints that the world up there has its flaws as you venture deeper into the abyss.

    It seems to have a underlying message of today's world that the outside we live in is a appealing fruit placed in a basket. But if you bite into it, its nutrition has been devoured by the spoils of greed and brainwashed corruption. Religious views from the writer definitely has a strong opinion about today's religious following.

    Your Companion is certainly the most dependent experience I have witnessed. Even though you don't need her to continue if you are wonderful in FPS. But because she gives you money, ammo and Salt (mana) during combat, she is definitely a asset. Various spells you encounter are not always used as I tend to my favorites, and a few spells tend to be useless. Perks have been added to add a RPG flavor which is a nice addition to the games arsenal, especially for those that don't favor the RPG experience.

    A.I, is dumb as usual, nothing special there.

    Story line has been well developed and created several story archs that is molded at the end which creates the "OH SNAP!" However, to create a wonderful story that is flawless, multiple hints to demonstrate the "OH SNAP!" emotion needs to be implemented through the games environment. It just seemed as though they just said, "Let's put this in it!" but did not give any hints during the game experience. I feel if I played this again, and try to see the hints during the game, I would not see them. But overall it was enjoyable, environments was lavish, and story was convincing to suck you in. just wished they do hints to not one of the conclusions, but the other multiple conclusions as well.    … Expand
  24. Amaraen
    Apr 4, 2013
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The first thing that comes to mind here, looking at professional and user reviews, isn't 10/10 or 100% a bad review? Doesn't this score imply, or even mean that there is nothing that is wrong with this game, nothing that could be even slightly improved? The goal of perfection is an unattainable goal. A score of 100 on any game raises my suspicion of the clarity of people who play it.

    Bioshock Infinite is an enjoyable game. It does not feel like the best game I could ever play. The game suffers from incredibly easy combat, but gives very little reason for your character being pretty much a genocidal, unstoppable killer. For a game shouted about to feature story as its main component, it sure features a lot of unnecessary combat.

    The game improves on one of the major flaws of Bioshock 1, where the player was never given a moment's peace to explore, although often promised a moment of calm. This is heavily improved on, allowing the player at least two very large moments where they can explore without annoyance, any any moment taken to explore felt fantastic.

    The sound design in this game is probably the most epic I've heard in quite some time. At the start of the game, approaching the crowd singing feels amazing, watching them sing and sway as a crowd is really good. Elizabeth's voice actor is outstanding, the moment where you are taken 70 years into the future and can hear through tears Elizabeth pleading for her safety, wildly and loudly is almost chilling. I feel that the sound approaches a greatness not previously experienced in games.

    There is a strangely omnipresent sound of a high strung "what have you done" moment in the audio whenever you kill a foe. This, at first seems very pertinent to the situation, not really understanding who you're killing or why you're killing people. This sound remains throughout the game, and by the end it is questionable why it's still playing other than a "congratulations you've killed someone" sound, losing the reason behind its occurrence.

    I found that while the game has a large set of weapons and powers to use, by half way through the game I was only using one weapon, and one power. While the game introduced other powers and weapons, I felt no reason to use them. Others will find fun in gaining the achievements for using the weapons, I suppose. The achievements regarding powers and weapons very little deviate from simply using them.

    I feel that the story, up to a point, is very good. The story explores very well and opens up heavily to the idea of multiverse and time travel, and conveys quite well the problem with changing events in time. The game then falls completely flat on its face at the end in this regard by deciding that you can change events without any consequences other than the one you expect. The game seems completely open to showing time travel and its implications then by the end decides that the most major and regularly noted theory of time travel, specifically the grandfather paradox, is worth forgetting about and discarding.

    I feel that the game could have really put more effort in, but was so focused on telling a story in the way they wanted (which is in their rights, of course, nobody has to obey to the regularly noted theories of time travel and such) that the story telling rapidly degenerated from being told exceptionally well to the end, where it defaults to stuffing revelations down the player's throat.

    Whilst I feel the ending is a major letdown compared to the rest of the game, the rest of the game is filled with memorable moments that uplift it.

    The game is not the masterpiece that many people want it to be, but is not the over-hyped disaster that the naysayers want it to be. It game is a good, thoroughly enjoyable yet flawed experience. But hey, Bioshock always has a paradise with flaws, so I guess that works out.    … Expand
  25. saintgutfree55
    Apr 4, 2013
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Gameplay will never change. There is this mass illusion in the game industry that each game has mechanics slightly more polished than its predecessors. While you can tweak it a bit, the shooter formula has reached its apex, and while Bioshock Infinite does improve superficially on both the vigors and the guns, especially in the latter category (gunfire and recoil more realistic), it's really what it doesn't do that the game needed more of. Some have complained about the lack of RPG elements (with the exception of gun and vigor upgrades), such as inventory or map screen. I found this to be a huge improvement. There is no menu interaction to slow the pacing and you're always on the move. I thought the tone of the game world would have felt more immersive with the lack of a HUD, much like the first gameplay demo Irrational Games released several years ago. But all of the above are personal opinions and design choices. What left a sour taste in my mouth wasn't anything you can experience in the game itself. No, you could only experience this bittersweet regret if you had watched, in eager anticipation, all of Ken Levine's interviews, only to realize you had just witnessed the biggest cop out in gaming history.

    Expectation #1: An actual floating city, complete with physics.

    After the first demo that was released (which is never shown in the game), we see one of the massive, orange balloons tethered to the corner of a belltower deflate suddenly and the massive structure starts to pivot towards the ground, the bell flying loose from its moorings only to come grinding to a stop inches away from your feet, the cobblestones buckling under its weight and shooting off in every direction. Later, Ken Levine commented on the instablity of the city, how the tech team had made it pulse with life, and hinted that you'd be able to topple the city around you. This fell short on both accounts, the only undulating architecture in the game appearing during the first half, and after you're solidly captivated by the world, these stellar sights give way to more mundane gameplay (street shootouts and interior combat). It never feels like their main selling point is really taken to its full potential.

    Expectation #2: Watch the city tear itself apart (pre-Rapture)

    This is the big one. I want to be as harsh as possible when I say that this was a blatant lie. We were supposedly going to 'watch the city fall apart before us'. We were told that there would be moments where you would have to interact with citizens on the street, such as pointing a gun at a potential mugger to send him scrambling, or intervening in a local execution (both of which are shown in the same demo). There are maybe three moments in the entire game where you feel this sort of weight behind your actions, and they are as superfluous as they are dull. You can't change the overall outcome of anything, although watching the colorful, Independence Day style utopia burn slowly is captivating in its own way. I would have preferred a little more interaction, hence replayability.

    Expectation #3: A decent resolution.

    This one is debatable. And the main reason for the spoilers tag. Let's get the big one out of the way, the resolutions to each storyline. Both Daisy Fitzroy and Jeremiah Fink are shadowbox characters that bleed out of the story as quickly as they pop in. Slate is one of the more interesting characters but doesn't feel fully fleshed out. Don't get me started on Comstock. Let's face it, time travel was both the protagonist and antagonist here. It solves everything (most levels are going back and forth through the area in different time periods), and also helps ease along the ruthlessly shoehorned ending. But despite all of this, the ending was emotional and relatively significant enough to make it feel as if it 'belonged'. It was the gamer in me that made me want to slap Ken Levine. Songbird becomes your best bud and then you get to watch him drown in two seconds. Apparently the Bioshock story will never change because even with its fairly restricted narrative parameters, it's the doorway to infinite worlds just like it with new coats of paint (so we can expect this disappointment forever). Oh, and my personal favorite: The final boss is three waves of the easiest enemies in the game. No Handyman. No Songbird. Fail.

    But aside from all the things they promised and didn't deliver, this is a bittersweet shooter, with some amazingly satisfying gameplay regarding the vigors and gunplay, but some equally frustrating inconsistencies in the pacing and storyline. Oh, and this game tries desperately to emulate Disney (and doesn't do a bad job), but it's so obvious in parts it's almost painful, especially if you're like me and find the overall 'girl in a tower' concept a little overused and cheesy.

    Still, if you're a fan of shooters or Bioshock in general, you owe it to yourself to see how far the series has come.    … Expand
  26. GuardianQ
    Apr 6, 2013
    8
    As a complete newcomer to Bioshock (you may even say unaware of its existence), I approached this game on the basis of a friend whose opinion I trust on these gaming matters. Now you've probably expect the clichéd, 'and I was not disappointed!' but... in all honesty I was.

    Don't get me wrong, the visual enigma of this game surpasses anything I have played. I use a high end work-based    As a complete newcomer to Bioshock (you may even say unaware of its existence), I approached this game on the basis of a friend whose opinion I trust on these gaming matters. Now you've probably expect the clichéd, 'and I was not disappointed!' but... in all honesty I was.

    Don't get me wrong, the visual enigma of this game surpasses anything I have played. I use a high end work-based laptop (not a gaming PC) and yet it still handled most of the graphical settings on very high or ultra quality very well I have no complaints at all. The graphics, coupled with the beautiful music absorb you into this strange and twisting world right from the start and carry you through a kaleidoscope of scenes and moods almost effortlessly.

    Further, I enjoyed the free nature of this game and the ability it gives you to go off and have a little wonder, discovering hidden gems (including a beautiful musical moment fairly early through). For all its worth I think this is where this game comes into its own. It doesn't feel linear or forced even though there is usually only one way to the finish (save one place), as it holds you up in vast open battle arenas or warrens of streets and it is yours to go and explore and find vantage points (aided by the city's rail networks).

    So my problem? The story. Now even in my harshest ponderings I cannot pick many holes. The perfection of other aspects, however, draws your attention to one or two plot confusions, and at points even using some of the game's mechanics (only twice in one case) to force the story onwards. It feels as though in places the designers got carried away until they hit a dead end and only then thought, "ah...now what?"

    These forced links, as mentioned, are sometimes covered (without spoiling it) by two erudite characters who are involved from the start and only then does their significance become unearthed. And for all the rubbish that they speak, I think the implementation of them into the game is practically flawless and, at times, injects that little bit of comedy that these games often lack.

    My last problem is a minor balancing issue, which is what brings this game from a 9 to an 8. I can't help but feel that the large arsenal of weapons and 'vigours' on offer are fully tuned to work with each other. I'd feel some weapons become very powerful when you start upgrading them and that really disperses the field somewhat, leaving you with an arsenal of one or two weapons and maybe one vigour which you specialise in. I just wish it was a little easier to be able to pick up new weapons and for them to pack the same punch as what you were using it'd feel that little bit more fluid.

    In all this is a spectacular game. It is a story controlled by you and it doesn't feel cinematic despite its beauty. The designers keep you in the hot-seat throughout save perhaps the starting thirty minutes or so and immerse you in this strange and beautiful world. It is a beautiful game to play and difficult to put down, and you can play it the way you want. It is only when you finish and look back at what happened, as I have done, that you realise its flaws. But for everything in the world, do not let that put you off.    … Expand
  27. Slyth
    Apr 8, 2013
    8
    I enjoyed this game and right now I'm half-way through my second play through on 1999 mode. Amazing atmospheric music and gorgeous visuals/art-style are on par with Bioshock 1's but Bioshock had that whole spooky vibe to it so it's still slightly better for me. The story is decent at best with it's take on multiverse theory and all but the way it is told is quite good since it isn't spoonI enjoyed this game and right now I'm half-way through my second play through on 1999 mode. Amazing atmospheric music and gorgeous visuals/art-style are on par with Bioshock 1's but Bioshock had that whole spooky vibe to it so it's still slightly better for me. The story is decent at best with it's take on multiverse theory and all but the way it is told is quite good since it isn't spoon fed to you and you can carefully observe the world/narrative to make sense of a lot of things. A second play through is pretty much warranted since you can notice a lot of subtleties after finishing the game once with the ending. The combat is fun and engaging but feels a step down from Bioshock 1&2. Lack of proper hacking or a system of that sort, gun variety is limited(no aesthetic changes when upgraded too) and absolutely boring vigors which sometimes make the combat too easy. Another thing which makes it easy is Liz lobbing Salts and Health at you, they should really increase the cooldown on that through a patch. Shooting mechanics and AI are not bad but enemies feel like sponges most of the times. Skyline combat is pretty fun but it's severely limited which is a downer. No regenerating health is a great additive.

    Overall superb game and I recommend experiencing it but Half-life 2 is better.    … Expand
  28. AtomicZap
    Jun 6, 2013
    8
    I am going to be brutally honest. The beginning of the game was fantastic. I was lost in a world completely different than any other game I had ever played. However, the majority of this game was below par, the story carried very slowly and it had the same problems as the previous Bioshock games. For first person shooters, the shooting pretty much sucks, if the action is what you want,I am going to be brutally honest. The beginning of the game was fantastic. I was lost in a world completely different than any other game I had ever played. However, the majority of this game was below par, the story carried very slowly and it had the same problems as the previous Bioshock games. For first person shooters, the shooting pretty much sucks, if the action is what you want, this game is not for you. You basically use the exact same strategy for every single encounter and it is the same enemies over and over. That said, the world and characters were amazing, but I would still have only given this game 5/10. That is, until the last 25 minutes of the game. I won't spoil what happens for anyone who hasn't played it, but the ending BLEW MY MIND. I was shocked, and confused, and all I could think was "WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED?" It is the single most confusing and yet amazing ending to any of the hundreds of games I have played. Getting there takes some patience, but the ending makes this game worth a play.… Expand
  29. brink001
    Apr 14, 2013
    8
    Great story. Gameplay was....well, you walk forward and shoot things, don't you? Insofar as that's what people seem to love these days, it did that just fine. Objectively, that was boring as crap. Worth playing for the story alone.
  30. keytopx
    Apr 20, 2013
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I've found the story delightful and very entertaining as I did in the others Bioshocks but sometimes during the gameplay I kind of get bored.You never use all the powers and the acces to them are slow and difficult, I think that I would have enjoyed more the action if I could use the L button to spell them but whatever... It is an awesome game with a few details to improve. The conversations with the girl during the game are very nice to keep you interested so are the records. I totally recommend it.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best PC Game of 2013
3
#3 Most Discussed PC Game of 2013
8
#8 Most Shared PC Game of 2013

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
94

Universal acclaim - based on 68 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 68 out of 68
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 68
  3. Negative: 0 out of 68
  1. PC Master (Greece)
    Jun 5, 2013
    92
    Play BSI slowly, relish the moments and don’t rush to the end. It’s certain that you will have lived one of the richest gaming experiences that, as far as narration, lyricism and story are concerned, will take a lot of time to forget! [May 2013]
  2. CD-Action
    May 7, 2013
    85
    A very solid, but not revolutionary shooter in an amazing setting, with a story that struggles to convey its authors’ ambitions and is only seemingly complex. The vision is less focused than in previous Bioshocks and it does a worse job on binding the plot with gameplay. [CD-Action 05/2013, p.46]
  3. PC PowerPlay
    May 1, 2013
    80
    Problematic plotting and excessive amounts of poorly balanced combat apply friction to what is otherwise one hell of a rollercoaster. [May 2013, p.80]
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