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. Optim
    Apr 7, 2013
    7
    Bioshock Infinite definitely has its flaws. It's extremely linear, poor enemy AI, a seeming infinite amount of supplies and money from Elizabeth, enemies not very challenging (even on hard), and the game holds your hand the entire way through, it's too short, upgrades are virtually worthless, the waves of enemies & violence really detract from the violence, and there are numerous questionsBioshock Infinite definitely has its flaws. It's extremely linear, poor enemy AI, a seeming infinite amount of supplies and money from Elizabeth, enemies not very challenging (even on hard), and the game holds your hand the entire way through, it's too short, upgrades are virtually worthless, the waves of enemies & violence really detract from the violence, and there are numerous questions that are never addressed. However the game is so well done in terms of narrative and art that it really pulls you in, the characters are wonderfully scripted and the way Elizabeth runs ahead of you and makes these little comments made me impressed. The ending, of course, is also crazy.

    The game is good, but not the best of a decade like I've seen it been called. Definitely over-hyped and not worth the 95 metacritic score. Though, it could be as others suggested, it's just the best out of recently mediocre releases.    … Expand
  2. aleatoric
    Apr 7, 2013
    6
    Pros: Setting is masterfully crafted and well-detailed. Good main characters. Lots of style and flair. Decent story with a moral backbone that few other games have.

    Cons: Gameplay leaves lots to be desired. Like its predecessor, Bioshock, it still leaves a lot to be desired in comparison to the game these titles are supposed to be the spiritual successor for: System Shock 2. Bioshock    Pros: Setting is masterfully crafted and well-detailed. Good main characters. Lots of style and flair. Decent story with a moral backbone that few other games have.

    Cons: Gameplay leaves lots to be desired. Like its predecessor, Bioshock, it still leaves a lot to be desired in comparison to the game these titles are supposed to be the spiritual successor for: System Shock 2. Bioshock Infinite is a shooter with extremely light RPG influences, and even as a shooter, it's only an OK one. Playing B:I, I myself looking forward to the dialogue between the main characters--which thankfully there is plenty off--but nearly falling asleep during gameplay segments, looking forward to them being over so I can get to the next scene. Also, the UI looks nice, but it's terrible from a usability perspective, especially on the PC. The gear system, for example, is pitifully designed.

    All in all, it's a well-polished game. I love that it's focused on single player only with no frills. I love the game's themes and design. But the gameplay is so shallow, the AI is weak, and I'm left with little desire to play the game again.    … Expand
  3. 1am4critic
    Apr 7, 2013
    9
    A very nice game. The world is very beautiful creative and the story is interesting. Gameplay is interesting when you force yourself into the vigors and skylines and such, otherwise, you can basically just run down everyone with your guns. Overall good game
  4. 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
  5. Ganondork
    Apr 7, 2013
    9
    BioShock Infinite provides a blueprint for engaging players in a meaningful story and captivating their imaginations. Although it struggles in some respects, such as less than stellar boss fights, it manages to mitigate those struggles with excellent pacing and storytelling. This game has incredible production values. Everything from the atmosphere to the environments to the set-piecesBioShock Infinite provides a blueprint for engaging players in a meaningful story and captivating their imaginations. Although it struggles in some respects, such as less than stellar boss fights, it manages to mitigate those struggles with excellent pacing and storytelling. This game has incredible production values. Everything from the atmosphere to the environments to the set-pieces will astonish both old and new players. In many ways, this doesn't feel like a BioShock game. This is not the cramped, dark, and overtly tense game that was the original. This is a much more subtle and dare I say refined sort of tension one where you're unsure of the motives of any given person, including yourself. The climax and ending of the game are worth asking price alone. If you found yourself disappointed with the conclusion of the original, you will find yourself pleasantly surprised after you set down your keyboard and mouse, sit back from the monitor aghast, and begin filling your mind with the infinite.… Expand
  6. TheWelfareMan
    Apr 7, 2013
    10
    This game is great and deserves all the acclaim that it is currently receiving. It creates a story that is so intriguing I could understand why it took three release delays for the game to finally be available to the public. The only thing I would love to have in this game would be co-op but that is such a small and insignificant thing to cry about. This game is a MUST-OWN and deserves aThis game is great and deserves all the acclaim that it is currently receiving. It creates a story that is so intriguing I could understand why it took three release delays for the game to finally be available to the public. The only thing I would love to have in this game would be co-op but that is such a small and insignificant thing to cry about. This game is a MUST-OWN and deserves a playthrough from every gamer.… Expand
  7. Soujirop
    Apr 7, 2013
    9
    As it always happens with this franchise, the new bioshock title is a must have. The story is intelligent and full of impresive twists, the graphics are great and the flawless music is probably going to recieve a lot of awards. I won't give it a 10 however, because of its reduced duration, and because, while fantastic, it's not as brilliant as the first one.
  8. deuteros
    Apr 7, 2013
    0
    This game has been referred to as a "work of art" by many, and I don't disagree at all with this. The setting is incredibly imaginative, the (outdoor) graphics are gorgeous, the plot is semi-brave, mostly fleshed-out and very suspenseful. I adored the plot, I adored Elizabeth, and I adored the sky city of Columbia. So why do I have no choice but to give this a highly negative review...?This game has been referred to as a "work of art" by many, and I don't disagree at all with this. The setting is incredibly imaginative, the (outdoor) graphics are gorgeous, the plot is semi-brave, mostly fleshed-out and very suspenseful. I adored the plot, I adored Elizabeth, and I adored the sky city of Columbia. So why do I have no choice but to give this a highly negative review...?

    The game is an interactive movie more than it is, well, a game. Every single-player campaign and story released today cannot truly qualify as a game. Everybody who picked up this game would have been grossly unimpressed by the shoddy and thin "core" gameplay elements here, had this game been released in the era of real games (80's to the 00's). Given the outstanding reviews, I expected either a retro game experience or a revolutionary one, and got something that would probably be best described as a diluted version of Call of Duty's gameplay. Now, don't bite my head off for that one. It's clear that all FPS games today borrow from the core formula used in "modern warfare"-type shooters, like the ability to carry only 2 guns, the recoil physics, the *very* specific ammo types, the realistic iron-sights, cover-and-heal mechanics, 'hit' indication on your reticule, checkpoint saves, etc. etc. Newer gamers take these for granted they are really just annoying little copy-cat additions all the latest FPS games have. The point is, the actual gameplay borrows from a modern shooter and yet feels as clunky and unsatisfying as a previous-generation shooter, failing entirely to be either one.

    The guns are *extremely* unimaginative and generic (shotgun, burst-gun, sniper rifle, non-sniper rifle...), and some of them are completely useless. This is a highly redundant and annoying system. For example, since you lack alternate firing modes, you literally have to switch to a burst-gun and use exclusive burst-gun ammo instead of using an SMG and switching it to burst fire, saving you one ammo type to collect.

    There are plasmids in this game, now relabeled as "vigors" for some reason. You get several types, each with a very amusing short tutorial video, silent-film style. Unfortunately, though useful and somewhat creative, they are often ineffective and expensive to use.

    Item collection is erratic as hell. You will find 'vigor ammo' ("salts") all over non-combat scenes but extremely sparsely placed over areas of prolonged combat. For this reason, you usually find yourself maxing out your relatively small "salts gauge" and unable to collect additional salts for half the game, while being unable to use any vigors for the other half of the game because you have no salts left! The same thing applies to ammo, which is made even worse because you can hold very little ammo of any type, and there are far too many types in the game due to the inflated number of generic guns available.

    Thankfully, however, a very pleasant-looking NPC supplies you with a bit of health, salts and ammo during battle to compensate for the awful item placement. She will give it to you in the nick of time, but if you run out again, you're screwed you have to wait a very long time to get anything else from her. It works to balance out the poor level design, but it is just a patch on an ugly gameplay wort.

    For a game with such an enormous graphics budget, some of the characters look very cartoonish while others look human. There are also *very* few face models in this game. Columbia is populated almost entirely with Generic Male NPC #1 and Generic Female NPC #1. I understand the need for face model recycling, but when you have three clones of the same woman in front of you with different voices, it gets ridiculous. There are also many invisible walls, which become apparent when you try to shoot around obstacles or jump on crates. And for the love of The Prophet, don't look at background details too closely! The bag of apples is literally a JPEG of a pile of apples stretched over a bag and what's worse, the designers put full-3D apples on top of them for the player to collect. The graphics are *very* far from being fleshed-out in any way here.

    The best weapon is a melee hand-held slicing thingy, kind of like the painkiller (if you can even remember that game...) You use it to bash enemies' heads in, and you can perform overly gruesome finishing moves with it. There is *no* reason to use these moves, unless you like seeing heads explode, and the little indicator that tells you when to activate them is not easy to find in a pinch. Also, every time you melee, the camera gets fixed in the attacking direction, meaning if you melee multiple times, your character is thrown between enemies and you're essentially just button mashing at that point, because you can't see what's going on. The number of enemy types is also slim and uninteresting.

    In short, play this game for the story. It's a pretty good one, but if you were expecting a fun game, look elsewhere!!    … Expand
  9. Koopler
    Apr 7, 2013
    6
    Likes:
    -The unique steampunk scenery and art direction.
    -The beginning of the game is spectacular. -Elizabeth's gestures and interactivity with the environment. -There are some cool, hidden rewards. -Highly detailed and well designed levels. Dislikes: -Bland, boring combat with little need to plan or switch up tactics. Just point and shoot. There are a few elite mooks beyond the    Likes:
    -The unique steampunk scenery and art direction.
    -The beginning of the game is spectacular.
    -Elizabeth's gestures and interactivity with the environment.
    -There are some cool, hidden rewards.
    -Highly detailed and well designed levels.

    Dislikes:
    -Bland, boring combat with little need to plan or switch up tactics. Just point and shoot. There are a few elite mooks beyond the same monotonous enemies but they are never more than bullet sponges.
    -The social themes like racism, unionism, and religion seem tacked on and never explored sufficiently. They seem to be there to invoke controversy and nothing else.
    -Vigors seem weak and unimaginative. Some of them are introduced late in the game so there is little use for them. I recall never having to depend on them except for when i ran out of ammo.
    -NPC's found during the game are useless and non-interactive.
    -Horribly designed boss fights with continually respawning minions. The same boss fight is repeated 3 times.
    -Story was a let down and simply pulled a rug over you at the end.

    Overall, i never found the bioshock series to be amazing games, but i enjoyed the stories and the more slow paced and cerebral gameplay of the previous installments. Bioshock Infinite's presentation and carefully crafted world is really breathtaking, but take away that and you're left with little else but an average shooter with a disappointing ending.    … Expand
  10. JoeyViner
    Apr 7, 2013
    3
    Good:
    • Some highly imaginative set pieces/designs, a lot of which are cool to look at.
    • The partner AI is excellent not only in following you but she's invulnerable, opens locked doors, and gives you health and supplies during combat. Too bad I didn't care about her in the slightest (unlike a well-written game like Half-Life and its Alyx Vance). • Interesting that the doors open    Good:
    • Some highly imaginative set pieces/designs, a lot of which are cool to look at.
    • The partner AI is excellent not only in following you but she's invulnerable, opens locked doors, and gives you health and supplies during combat. Too bad I didn't care about her in the slightest (unlike a well-written game like Half-Life and its Alyx Vance).
    • Interesting that the doors open automatically. I wouldn't use this as the new normal in all games since it would be horrible for stealth, but it works in this game.
    • The quote from random thug: "How much blood you got in you, boy?" is badass and amazing. The only decent writing in the entire game.

    Bad:
    • Horrible, horrible story and writing. Almost unbearable to the point of me quitting the game but I had to see if it got better in the ending. It didn't. I would give specifics but I want to avoid spoilers. Basically it just uses deus ex machina type bullcrap to do anything it wants whenever it wants. Combined with a make-believe world and characters that you don't care about because they don't make you like them (even though you're playing first-person as one of them), they don't explain them, and some even appear/reappear randomly. Combined as well with no effects from any of your actions (most of which are just "press X when we tell you to continue the story")... There's no way I could possibly care about anything in the game.
    • The gameplay is like a serial killing run at Disneyland. All the violence is there for pure shock value/teenage "fun", with no weight or meaning whatsoever.
    • Despite the above, you can't kill children. I guess that's where they draw the line in their heads (read: lawyers). I shot a random family with a rocket launcher and the child had to watch his parents explode in front of him since he was invulnerable and he just got on his knees and cried lol.
    • Despite the above, and all the other dreamy fantastical magical stuff in the game, they decided to keep the racism of the time period and hate black people. Nice. Lawyers didn't care about that one I guess.
    • The game desperately needs a minimap/map/location finder/pins on a compass or the hud. The destination arrow it gives isn't good enough. You have to press the button a million times and guess where it's taking you and it's harder to see than say, the one in Dead Space. The levels are huge, multi-tiered/3D and confusing and destinations vague.
    • The faces of women and children are 10% Disney character and 90% nightmarish. Men are semi-decent though, wth?

    Decent/nothing-special:
    • The skyline riding/hanging. It's just simply a mainly optional mechanic in the game. It's too fast and hectic to really be useful or fun, especially in first person and when you can't even tell where you're going when you're just on the ground.
    • The music
    • The voice acting
    • Other basic gameplay like shooting/collecting

    It's very sad to see this game get such high praise and I have zero understanding why it got so many 10/10 reviews. Some games I would consider giving perfect tens to: Dishonored, Tomb Raider, Oblivion/Skyrim, Deus Ex: HR, Psychonauts, Beyond Good & Evil, Ys Origin, Half-Life series, Alan Wake series. This is not even close. I even preferred the other two Bioshocks.    … Expand
  11. Ikerkin
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    That game was awesome, and it's story was like Steven Moffat slapped Bioshock 2 for being bad so hard it flew past Inception, into the stratosphere and became a Planeswalker.
  12. CritiqueFreak
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    Bioshock Infinite was the best experience I have ever had in gaming. The story line was so clever, the gameplay was extremely fun, and the scenery, good Lord, it was amazing! The surrounding was so accurate to its time. Elizabeth was outstanding. She will certainly be remembered throughout the ages of gaming as the greatest female companion in my book. This game was just perfect.
  13. Saintjake
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    This game is close to perfect. Firstly, I do not play FPS games. It's never been my style, but all the hype this game built up drew me to it.

    It amazes me that people are able to give this game anything less than a 9, the only reason I could fathom this is if these individuals are too mentally limited to understand the story, somehow appalled by the 1910-1920's setting and music (Is    This game is close to perfect. Firstly, I do not play FPS games. It's never been my style, but all the hype this game built up drew me to it.

    It amazes me that people are able to give this game anything less than a 9, the only reason I could fathom this is if these individuals are too mentally limited to understand the story, somehow appalled by the 1910-1920's setting and music (Is absolutely amazing for anyone at all historically cultured), is too mentally simplistic to understand the marvelous parody of American Exceptionalism and religious cults, or was expecting a hardcore bloody slaughter fest FPS (clearly does not play nor understand the first Bioshocks).

    The game play is beautiful. Switching from a beautiful sky city to the slums of a factory, the game truly provides stimulus for a visual orgasm.

    The characters are deep, interesting, and easy to get emotionally attached to.

    The game play is smooth and very simple, even for first-time FPS gamers, like myself. The true diamond of the game is Elisabeth, as a non-combat co-character she may well be the best sidekick in history. Not only is is amazingly realistic, interesting, lovable, and fun story-wise she's also intelligent and useful in combat situations without ever getting in the way I at unlike sidekicks in other games. The game is worth playing just for the sole purpose of experiencing the marvel that is Elisabeth.    … Expand
  14. playingagame
    Apr 6, 2013
    0
    Great game, good graphics good game play good story... All crippled by an out of date checkpoint save system. If you play this game MAKE SURE you can beat it in a few long sessions because if you want to play it in small increments, you WILL lose a lot of progress, sometimes half an hour or more, because the game designers think an inadequate checkpoint system is as good as letting youGreat game, good graphics good game play good story... All crippled by an out of date checkpoint save system. If you play this game MAKE SURE you can beat it in a few long sessions because if you want to play it in small increments, you WILL lose a lot of progress, sometimes half an hour or more, because the game designers think an inadequate checkpoint system is as good as letting you manually save.

    Hell I would have been fine with an actual checkpoint system that works, how about every 5 minutes I get a checkpoint, instead of bouncing me back to half an hour ago?    … Expand
  15. Bluethulhu
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    I loved this game so much, from start to end. I started to play this when it first came out at midnight, and was so immersed, the sun was up and I didn't even notice. There are minor flaws, but I was expecting those because the game is still fairly new. It was very good and polished for the most part. This game nails it on the head in about every subject. I am not trying to fanboy here,I loved this game so much, from start to end. I started to play this when it first came out at midnight, and was so immersed, the sun was up and I didn't even notice. There are minor flaws, but I was expecting those because the game is still fairly new. It was very good and polished for the most part. This game nails it on the head in about every subject. I am not trying to fanboy here, but finish the game, and you will see what I mean. I don't really consider the BioShock games shooters, so people who like games such as CoD, Battlefield, etc. for the most part will not enjoy this game as much. I was getting the same feelings after I played this as I was when I finished Half-Life 2, and that is really saying something.… Expand
  16. daiyousei9
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    This is an intelligent mans game. The story is one that will be broken down and speculated about for days, or even weeks. Graphically it is top notch. There are very few glitches or bugs. It lacks crippling DRM and is playable within seconds of installing. If you are looking for a story that will make you think, then you owe it to yourself to experience this game before you die. It'sThis is an intelligent mans game. The story is one that will be broken down and speculated about for days, or even weeks. Graphically it is top notch. There are very few glitches or bugs. It lacks crippling DRM and is playable within seconds of installing. If you are looking for a story that will make you think, then you owe it to yourself to experience this game before you die. It's a must play.… Expand
  17. MacroPower
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    This game is absolutely amazing. You can tell that there was an enormous amount of thought put into every detail, down to the very last corner. Bioshock Infinite is my favorite game to date, no question about it.

    To start, the art direction is very good. Everything is arranged to be very appealing, and the colors are very balanced. I loved just walking around the city and soaking it all    This game is absolutely amazing. You can tell that there was an enormous amount of thought put into every detail, down to the very last corner. Bioshock Infinite is my favorite game to date, no question about it.

    To start, the art direction is very good. Everything is arranged to be very appealing, and the colors are very balanced. I loved just walking around the city and soaking it all up. There are 1912 style shops to go into, and they are all populated. In one area, there is even a good, three-minute quartet that you can just sit and listen to. I was very impressed with the magnitude of everything. Seldom are you placed in a small, dark room or hallway. Most of the game is set in colorful areas with large statues and airy buildings.

    I liked that it didn't actually put you in the dark, but gave a dark feeling when it was appropriate. As per the Bioshock games, some of the events are quite dark-- and I liked the uneasy feeling without the dark corridors of Rapture.

    Combat is a step up from other games in the genre. The introduction of "skylines" allows you to jump quickly from place to place, making everything very fast paced. I didn't quite like the inventory management as much as in the original Bioshock, however. I found it much harder to deal with my Vigors, mainly because you couldn't just scroll through them like in the other game. Still, you get used to it-- that's a fairly minor gripe.

    I can't really say much about the story. If I told you what was so great about it, I'd spoil it for you. I can say that it puzzled me, and it was a few hours after finishing the game that I worked everything out. I felt like some of the points were repeated too much though. I get that they try to help everyone understand it well, but I'd rather just have it all thrown at me-- that way it's more fun to work out on my own.

    Overall, Irrational Games has gone above and beyond what anyone expected. The only way you'd find this game worse than the original is if you're somewhat nostalgic. Even if you didn't like the first or second game, I really suggest that you still give Bioshock Infinite a try. As a side note, there are a few things that you won't quite understand if you skip the first game. They are little details, but in a game like Bioshock Infinite, it's those little details that really count.

    This game is worth every cent. If you can't afford it, you can get it off the grey market for an earbud or so (about $35).    … Expand
  18. badirontree
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    WoW the Game was so good Best of the 3, all i miss is big daddy :P
    The ending was WTF OMG NFW... so shocking i loved it...
    The Game-play is the same with some acrobatics but the whole thing is far better that the old!
  19. Wilcon
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    I played and loved (Still love) Bioshock 1 and 2.
    They were really awsome and I hope there will be more games telling more stuff about rapture...
    Bioshock Infinite was a new experience. Everything was new and the game was not just like bioshock 1 and 2. I mean the feeling was totally new, the graphics so fantastic (I like it when games are games and not like the reality), all the    I played and loved (Still love) Bioshock 1 and 2.
    They were really awsome and I hope there will be more games telling more stuff about rapture...

    Bioshock Infinite was a new experience. Everything was new and the game was not just like bioshock 1 and 2. I mean the feeling was totally new, the graphics so fantastic (I like it when games are games and not like the reality), all the dialogues funny and constructive and still it was bioshock. If you had the same feeling like me with bioshock 1: seeing this beautiful city called rapture and stuff, then you will experience the same feeling right here.

    And i must say: While playing i always thought "What is this? What is happening? I don't get it!" because the game story is focused on the end where you will suddenly understand everything. I for myself started thinking about the end. I started to think about the consequences the result of the game would have. This end will even let you think about the story of bioshock 1 and 2.

    For me, this game is a totally must have. But if you only want "real" graphics, which copy the reality, and no story, then play Call of Duty and stuff like this.

    (I am german, my english isn't perfect but you understand what i mean, that's for sure)
    MfG
    Wilcon    … Expand
  20. AndyRoark
    Apr 6, 2013
    7
    Solid FPS game. Fell prey to a few FPS tropes: vending machines selling weapons and upgrades in a utopian environment where only you are keeping the company in business (which was very laughable during the factory section when you see hundreds of them being prepared for shipment), long middle section that did very little to move the "storytelling" this game is getting the excessive hypeSolid FPS game. Fell prey to a few FPS tropes: vending machines selling weapons and upgrades in a utopian environment where only you are keeping the company in business (which was very laughable during the factory section when you see hundreds of them being prepared for shipment), long middle section that did very little to move the "storytelling" this game is getting the excessive hype for. Amazing start (first few levels until after the Elizabeth rescue) and a good solid effort at a disturbing twist ending.

    As a personal note, I almost passed on this game because of the "liberal friendly" reputation it was getting in the press. I didn't care to drop sixty bucks to be preached to. I read another review which said that angle of the game was being misrepresented and that it was much more of an equal presentation of extremism tied in with historically accurate depictions of race relations and American culture in the early 1900s. I found this to be spot on. At one point the protagonist observes the only real difference between the Big Bad White Guy and Big Bad Community Leader is how you spell their names.

    Rating of 7 out of 10
    1 point removed because it's at root just another first person shooter. No original gameplay mechanics.
    1 point removed because of the lack of compelling story throughout. The middle section drags.
    1 point removed because of the lazy vending machine insertion to service the upgrade mechanic required in FPS games with not respect to the surrounding "story and environment" the game is getting lauded for having.

    Beyond those points, a solid fun 8-10 hours of gaming for an experienced gamer. 20 hours if you explore every nook and cranny.

    And Elizabeth tossing crap at you is just funny.    … Expand
  21. Tepcio
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    If you look closer, the environments are a little buggy. However, this is not a clue here. The story, characters, art direction and a way in which this game approach problems such as racism, are great. The most IMPORTANT game experience of all time.
  22. Calleb
    Apr 6, 2013
    4
    Too much racism, fascism and chauvinism. second-rate plot second-rate plot copping the idea of the series Sliders (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sliders).
  23. CianSewell
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    Irrational Games brought this generation of gaming to me with the original Bioshock. That game made me stand up and take note. It made me stand up and realize that video games can be as immersive, even more so than any other medium and that they are a perfect vehicle for involving stories. This new title, Bioshock Infinite has made me sit back down again; so that I could bask in itsIrrational Games brought this generation of gaming to me with the original Bioshock. That game made me stand up and take note. It made me stand up and realize that video games can be as immersive, even more so than any other medium and that they are a perfect vehicle for involving stories. This new title, Bioshock Infinite has made me sit back down again; so that I could bask in its achievements.

    Graphically, this game has the occasional matte texture but when compared to something like the paper tres of Skyrim, Columbia is beautiful. It looks beautiful, it sounds beautiful and just feels fully realised. The shooting mechanics are decent. The skylines and vigors mix things up enough so as the 11 or so hours of the campaign never feel monotonous.

    In this game, you are Booker DeWitt and the relationship between Booker and Elizabeth underpins a phenomenal sci fi tale that beats inception at its own game. I'm not going to ruin the story because to experience it in any way other than for yourself is a crime. What I will say is, that last line. Wow.

    I had guessed all the twists and the ending before halfway. That didn't stop me enjoying the plot. In fact, realising what's going on means you can understand more and process quicker when these twists are actually revealed so that you can piece this puzzle together more efficiently. I could talk for days about this game and its story, but you shouldn't be reading this, you should be playing Bioshock Infinite.    … Expand
  24. 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
  25. Orctownorc
    Apr 6, 2013
    7
    Bioshoke Infinite is a good game. It is also overated, over-hyped and someone less than the coming-of-the-Messiah it pretends to be. Infinite has wonderful ambience and atmosphere. The city of Columbia was built with passion and care. The art STYLING is brilliant. Likewise the main characters are sublime. Certain set-pieces are BRILLIANT. Yet finally this game does not stand up as aBioshoke Infinite is a good game. It is also overated, over-hyped and someone less than the coming-of-the-Messiah it pretends to be. Infinite has wonderful ambience and atmosphere. The city of Columbia was built with passion and care. The art STYLING is brilliant. Likewise the main characters are sublime. Certain set-pieces are BRILLIANT. Yet finally this game does not stand up as a product that is worth $60. It is far too short and the shooting/exploring elements are far too limited, a kind of theatrical filler between the numerous set-pieces of this scenic railroad. Good though it is, this is a game to wait for. Wait till the hype blows over and get it when it hits its true value of around $20. The combat is fun but not challenging. Enemy AI is weak. The game is also far too linear and NARROW in terms of both player progress and narrative. The game finally exposes its true weaknesses, after many great moments when the plot falls to pieces at the end with one of the most head-scratching (in a negative sense) and RIDICULOUS conclusions you will ever see in a game. The ending is not deep. It is not a philosphical marvel. It's an incoherent mess that will have you wondering what the team at Irrational Games have been smoking for the last FIVE YEARS. While the anti-American Exceptionism is fairly amusing is is also over-played. Doesn't Ken Levine understand the word subtlety? Bioware Infinite is definitely a game to be enjoyed when the price comes down. I understand the desire of users to praose any game to the heavens. It happened also with Skyrim, which simply was also not very good. Keep waiting boys and girls, a true 10/10 game will get made eventually. Enough dudes are working at it.… Expand
  26. vincesz
    Apr 6, 2013
    5
    I loved the first Bioshock (still think it's the best FPS of all-time) and really liked the second one too. This game is just too buggy and too 'consolized' to be enjoyed on the PC. The mouse feels super sluggish on menu screens and many of the in game menus are designed to be navigated by controllers with the PC as an afterthought. More irritating is the fact that several mouse bugsI loved the first Bioshock (still think it's the best FPS of all-time) and really liked the second one too. This game is just too buggy and too 'consolized' to be enjoyed on the PC. The mouse feels super sluggish on menu screens and many of the in game menus are designed to be navigated by controllers with the PC as an afterthought. More irritating is the fact that several mouse bugs cropped up throughout my playthrough and prevented me from doing basic things like MOVING THE MOUSE?! There are also sections where you can get trapped on the skyrail with no way off. Compounding this irritation is the fact that there is no quicksave, so every time one of these bugs pops up, you have to redo 15 minutes of gameplay to get back to the point you were at. The game itself seems pretty good but until they fix this stuff it's unplayable to me. I guess other people just soldiered through it or bought it for the xbox… Expand
  27. mrlynchie
    Apr 6, 2013
    9
    This game is one of the best I have played in the last 5 years, but it is not everyone is going to see why it is such a big deal, as the makers have tried to maintain a balance between shooter and interactive story, but have ended up doing a slight disservice to both.
    --
    I have had friends report they found the game to be enjoyable, but they were confused by many aspects of the story.    This game is one of the best I have played in the last 5 years, but it is not everyone is going to see why it is such a big deal, as the makers have tried to maintain a balance between shooter and interactive story, but have ended up doing a slight disservice to both.
    --
    I have had friends report they found the game to be enjoyable, but they were confused by many aspects of the story. When I dug in to why, it is because they completely missed key elements of the story because the game makes it far to easy to just skip the story and move on with the combat.
    --
    If you are someone who loves a good story, and you are willing to make the effort to let the story unwrap around you, paying attention to the amazing level of detail in the environment, then this is going to be one of the best games you have ever played.
    --
    If story isn't your thing, or you don't like digging for details, or you just want to shoot stuff... you will probably still get enjoyment out of this game, but you will be left wondering what the hype is about.
    --
    Despite being technically "dated", the graphics in this game where some of the best I have ever seen. By embracing the limitations of their engine, and focusing on solid art direction, 2K/Irrational games have created an environment that was far more compelling to me than any of the super engines like Battle Field 3.    … Expand
  28. giappone
    Apr 6, 2013
    9
    I absolutely loved this game, up until the bosses. Why do you have to f_ck up a game with boring clichés? Level-boss-level-boss... So damn obtuse and narrow-minded. I played it on hard and it was really easy, but for the bosses. They made the same mistake as Deus Ex HR did. You can finish the game mostly with using your head and without superfluous button smashing, then the bosses try toI absolutely loved this game, up until the bosses. Why do you have to f_ck up a game with boring clichés? Level-boss-level-boss... So damn obtuse and narrow-minded. I played it on hard and it was really easy, but for the bosses. They made the same mistake as Deus Ex HR did. You can finish the game mostly with using your head and without superfluous button smashing, then the bosses try to compensate. I replayed Bioshock 1-2 not to long time ago and I can't remember hating boss-fights (yes there were too) as much as here. In Infinite it didn't work, after a few tries I switched to easy to get on with it... Nothing kept me there. In Dishonored there were no bosses and I loved it for that.
    I enjoyed it in every other aspect (except the erroneous collision zones... and the "you jump 2m high, than get blocked by a pile of rugs..."). One other thing I hated is the checkpoint system. Bioshock was a pc game. Why did they have screw BI with the hated console shame, the checkpoint. You lose up to 10-15 minutes of advancement if you have to stop and reload later. The spreading console virus on the pc is a shame...

    The story was very good except some forced elements like racism. I expected it to go somewhere, to say something, but in the end it was just as the glow on the textures trying to hide the low-poly models (that I don't mind if the game is good). I never felt anything forced or made up in Bioshock 1.
    This year we started up to this point with 2 "almost got there" games (TR & Bioshock Inf). Both very good, enjoyable games, but not perfect ones. Mind you I've listed mostly the stuff I didn't like, every thing else was great! It would cost me a few hours to list the elements I liked/loved. It is a very good game, but in the end it left me with a bad taste in the mouth it could HAVE BEEN so GREAT!    … Expand
  29. zxlouder
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    Absolute triumph of smart and deep storytelling, which is beatifully, masterfully made and pure fun to play... seems like candidate for game of the decade!
  30. ObexZ
    Apr 6, 2013
    10
    Passed the game more races I think it's a necessity to everyone in terms of understanding the plot. Combine all the pieces of the plot. Realized that the seemingly simple plot and jokes at the beginning of the game at all, and no joke, and a huge puzzle where there is no chance and everything has a logical explanation of where millions of worlds and characters together in the worldPassed the game more races I think it's a necessity to everyone in terms of understanding the plot. Combine all the pieces of the plot. Realized that the seemingly simple plot and jokes at the beginning of the game at all, and no joke, and a huge puzzle where there is no chance and everything has a logical explanation of where millions of worlds and characters together in the world BioShock Infinite.

    Again plunged the world into a utopia Columbia now with a more serious attitude to the transfer and without slack-jawed (Sorry) began collecting puzzle of this incredible story. Indeed all is not accidental, and passing for the second time more interesting (if not strange). Understood all that had not previously understood. All more or less falls into place. And I'm too young to play and was surprised the world again and again start the game and the city of Columbia as a child I was fascinated by a toy. More races thanks to the developers for such a great job, so I was amazed and TES FallOut and hope to surprise no races. Adventure in several worlds at least unofficially, to play for his bad ego, to save his daughter as though you would know and not know it. Being here and there. All this is more than decorate the passing game in the second and more races. Inspect all and see something new that had not noticed before, or that you realize that I could not understand. The plot is very hard to understand. Just epic. Such games are not enough. Go ahead and do it, not everyone can, and who can receive such laurels which were Irrational Games. Game done with incredible love, hurt important topics. Everything worked out, every detail. All this makes a huge impression, the beauty of the world changes over time, revealing his black half, the world of bright colors goes to dark tones. The world who wanted to be perfect in the end was far from it. And the religion that has the primary role in Colombia a weapon of manipulation. Discrimination, the division between rich and poor. The working class and the capitalists. Wrestling. We're changing history of Colombia. Game as I said is very similar to Dishonored, seen almost from the beginning of the game. But all the time of the devil and adventure which he had never been to, we were accompanied by Elizabeth. For me, Elizabeth became the main element of the game and I think the developers would like it and there is a sense of adventure in this Utopian little world. Incredible "live" Elizabeth takes us the whole game, and in general that protects us, and we were not the usual in games. Developers simply falling for us in it and it changes the whole game, exploring the world finds freedom. Actually a lot of what I've seen here in a different light, the main character aka Booker DeWitt think relinquish Elizabeth, as she has a greater weight and that I remembered. And the beauty of it certainly is impressive. Generally consider it the best partner, the character of women's gender, and lock with a "live" and moving the entire history of games. I think it is impossible to forget.

    Verdict:

    That's because of these masterpieces can be called the art of the video game industry, what perhaps may open a new covered that in the beginning it seems a joke, at the end of the main part of the adventure, what may seem to be and that which is not there. And the fact that it does not. I realized that he did not understand in the beginning. Pazl.Alleluia collected.    … 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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