BioShock

 PC
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 6069 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5,075 out of 6069
  2. Mixed: 678 out of 6069
  3. Negative: 316 out of 6069
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  1. JohnJ.
    Sep 21, 2008
    0
    Nice idea, but bad game.
  2. PaulT.
    Sep 6, 2008
    0
    Bioshock uses invasive DRM to require the game to use an activation server. Despite now removing the activations limit, the game still needs an activation server for life! How will we install this game in the future when that activation server is turned off?
  3. RomanS.
    Feb 18, 2009
    0
    This game is just horrible. It really doesn't deserve a rating of 96, instead I would rate it with 40. I had no fun with playing the game at all. After WEEKS I've finished it, just to reach the end, and I was happy I don't have to play it anymore. I bought it on Steam for 5 dollars but Bioshock isn't even worth one Cent. Do NOT buy this game, it is hyped crap
  4. AlanM
    Jan 7, 2010
    0
    I think Bioshock sucks. While it is pretty to look at, the sound effects are very week. the guns don't even sound like a gun. Plus it is too hard to get through, even on Normal. I get killed within 2 or 3 minutes every time.
  5. MrGamer
    Nov 10, 2007
    0
    I had so much hope for this game, with all the great reviews and user comments posted everywhere not only in Metacritic. But despite my waiting for almost three months to make sure a patch and all the bugs were ironed out, Im so disappointed upon getting this game. First, the auto internet updating procedure upon installation sucks! What if you only have a dial-up connection? 2K, consider I had so much hope for this game, with all the great reviews and user comments posted everywhere not only in Metacritic. But despite my waiting for almost three months to make sure a patch and all the bugs were ironed out, Im so disappointed upon getting this game. First, the auto internet updating procedure upon installation sucks! What if you only have a dial-up connection? 2K, consider not everyone has good internet connection! Also, upon finishing the very,very long installation time which took almost the entire day, I had an adventure just running the darn thing!! It's so unpredictable if it will run or not, despite being qualified to run the game in my system. 2K, no matter how good the game is, it's all out the window if it won't run!!! And you charge $50 for this crap? Shame on you!! You wasted many days in my life trying to get the thing to work on my PC, and until now, it still does not work!! I may just throw the DVD in the garbage bin where it belongs. Last 2K game I bought was Civilization 4, which was excellent.. but then this? Very, very, disappointing.… Expand
  6. MrGamer
    Nov 10, 2007
    0
    I had so much hope for this game, with all the great reviews and user comments posted everywhere not only in Metacritic. But despite my waiting for almost three months to make sure a patch and all the bugs were ironed out, Im so disappointed upon getting this game. First, the auto internet updating procedure upon installation sucks! What if you only have a dial-up connection? 2K, consider I had so much hope for this game, with all the great reviews and user comments posted everywhere not only in Metacritic. But despite my waiting for almost three months to make sure a patch and all the bugs were ironed out, Im so disappointed upon getting this game. First, the auto internet updating procedure upon installation sucks! What if you only have a dial-up connection? 2K, consider not everyone has good internet connection! Also, upon finishing the very,very long installation time which took almost the entire day, I had an adventure just running the darn thing!! It's so unpredictable if it will run or not, despite being qualified to run the game in my system. 2K, no matter how good the game is, it's all out the window if it won't run!!! And you charge $50 for this crap? Shame on you!! You wasted many days in my life trying to get the thing to work on my PC, and until now, it still does not work!! I may just throw the DVD in the garbage bin where it belongs. Last 2K game I bought was Civilization 4, which was excellent.. but then this? Very, very, disappointing.… Expand
  7. MrGamer
    Nov 10, 2007
    0
    I had so much hope for this game, with all the great reviews and user comments posted everywhere not only in Metacritic. But despite my waiting for almost three months to make sure a patch and all the bugs were ironed out, Im so disappointed upon getting this game. First, the auto internet updating procedure upon installation sucks! What if you only have a dial-up connection? 2K, consider I had so much hope for this game, with all the great reviews and user comments posted everywhere not only in Metacritic. But despite my waiting for almost three months to make sure a patch and all the bugs were ironed out, Im so disappointed upon getting this game. First, the auto internet updating procedure upon installation sucks! What if you only have a dial-up connection? 2K, consider not everyone has good internet connection! Also, upon finishing the very,very long installation time which took almost the entire day, I had an adventure just running the darn thing!! It's so unpredictable if it will run or not, despite being qualified to run the game in my system. 2K, no matter how good the game is, it's all out the window if it won't run!!! And you charge $50 for this crap? Shame on you!! You wasted many days in my life trying to get the thing to work on my PC, and until now, it still does not work!! I may just throw the DVD in the garbage bin where it belongs. Last 2K game I bought was Civilization 4, which was excellent.. but then this? Very, very, disappointing.… Expand
  8. RobertG
    Aug 28, 2007
    0
    I'm sure the game is great, if you get it to start. The 1000+ posts in the "outstanding pc problems" thread on 2k:s support forum bears witness to major problems though. In said thread not a single reply from 2 k can be found. In short - no game performance can nullify the complete and utter disregard from 2k against the thousands of buyers that are reporting trouble even getting theI'm sure the game is great, if you get it to start. The 1000+ posts in the "outstanding pc problems" thread on 2k:s support forum bears witness to major problems though. In said thread not a single reply from 2 k can be found. In short - no game performance can nullify the complete and utter disregard from 2k against the thousands of buyers that are reporting trouble even getting the game to start (on more than adequate machines, I might add). Nope, sry - 2k flunks in my book.… Expand
  9. JC
    Aug 29, 2007
    0
    11 out of 10 for the game. It rocks much from what I've seen in the DEMO>

    -11 for Dunderhead implementation of SONY's secureROM software that is locking people out of the game with limited activations (2 max). Don't know if it's in the Steam version, I won't be buying till I find out.
  10. JoLef
    Sep 3, 2007
    0
    So much expectation....
    Looks awesome.
    I read about all the bug and crash that everyone is having.... Well guest what, THEY'RE TRUE! The little intro finish, can't wait to get going, ok the door is open GO! One step only 1, bioshock.exe not responding...?!? WHAT THE HELL?!?!?! My brother had other problem with sound and everything. .. That game is uninstalled forever..    So much expectation....
    Looks awesome.
    I read about all the bug and crash that everyone is having.... Well guest what, THEY'RE TRUE!
    The little intro finish, can't wait to get going, ok the door is open GO! One step only 1, bioshock.exe not responding...?!? WHAT THE HELL?!?!?!
    My brother had other problem with sound and everything. ..
    That game is uninstalled forever.. unless a BIG update.    … Expand
  11. Matthewunknown
    Sep 9, 2007
    0
    Bought the retail version of bioshock, installed it and the game would not even start. Spent hours with customer support trying to figure out why the game would not work, they couldn't figure it out.My computer specs are well above minimum requirements.I sugest downloading and playing the demo before purchasing this game or waiting till all the bugs are worked out. Never have had Bought the retail version of bioshock, installed it and the game would not even start. Spent hours with customer support trying to figure out why the game would not work, they couldn't figure it out.My computer specs are well above minimum requirements.I sugest downloading and playing the demo before purchasing this game or waiting till all the bugs are worked out. Never have had such a horrible experence trying to get a "retail" pc game to work! stay away!!… Expand
  12. tv
    Nov 7, 2008
    0
    Bioshock starts out OK. It's got a good atmosphere starting out, but it doesn't keep that up. It just gets boring very fast. The enemies are tedious, weapons are unbalanced (I run around with all ammo and money maxxed out half the time), some levels are confusing (what to do next? How to open the door to the next part of the level, that sort of thing). The graphics are all very Bioshock starts out OK. It's got a good atmosphere starting out, but it doesn't keep that up. It just gets boring very fast. The enemies are tedious, weapons are unbalanced (I run around with all ammo and money maxxed out half the time), some levels are confusing (what to do next? How to open the door to the next part of the level, that sort of thing). The graphics are all very shiny, like everybody running around is very very wet and slimy all the time. The only beautiful graphics are in the little sister characters, all other characters are just plain ugly! There were a few cool moments, and even a couple of smart or innovative things, although most of those get boring very fast (hacking stuff is irritating after, say, 10 times, and certainly after the 500 times you are supposed to do it). All in all I'd give it a 5 or a 6, but for the average's sake, a zero. This game is simply listed too high!… Expand
  13. SteveP.
    Oct 7, 2008
    0
    The game installs invasive copy-protection (DRM) on your PC, and it does not get removed when the game in uninstalled.
  14. MichaelT
    Feb 14, 2009
    0
    I comment this for the overrated Critics score. Learn to critizice.
  15. Rob
    Aug 23, 2007
    0
    Horrible bugs, poor wide screen support and extremely restrictive DRM put this title on the 'Avoid at all Costs' list. Publishers need to wake up and understand that people will pay for a quality game. When the DRM inhibits legit buyers from enjoying the game, it should never make it into the product. The DRM in Bioshock ensures that many legit buyers will be using cracks for Horrible bugs, poor wide screen support and extremely restrictive DRM put this title on the 'Avoid at all Costs' list. Publishers need to wake up and understand that people will pay for a quality game. When the DRM inhibits legit buyers from enjoying the game, it should never make it into the product. The DRM in Bioshock ensures that many legit buyers will be using cracks for the game in order to enjoy the game.… Expand
  16. kingj0nking
    Sep 21, 2007
    0
    This game has many bugs. If you don't mind that, the game is very very very very very VERY easy.. The gameplay is very short too. It's not all that great. You can use the wrench the whole way though the game... It's an okay game but not worth a 10 or a 100 like all the other mindless raters... You can kill the big daddys with a wrench, i figured out how to not die to one This game has many bugs. If you don't mind that, the game is very very very very very VERY easy.. The gameplay is very short too. It's not all that great. You can use the wrench the whole way though the game... It's an okay game but not worth a 10 or a 100 like all the other mindless raters... You can kill the big daddys with a wrench, i figured out how to not die to one and kill it on the hardest mode.... You don't get enough bullets if you just want to shoot your way though it. Waste of money IMO.… Expand
  17. TerryS.
    Sep 25, 2007
    0
    Support sucks, inability to play on active video cards
  18. HappyGreggy
    Jan 11, 2013
    0
    After Doom and Quake followed some decent first person shooters over the years. Some managed to bring something innovative to the genre. Not Bioshock.

    Clearly, Bioshock is an over-hyped title artificially pumped by a generation of console gamers with nothing better to play at the time. The PC version was like a bowl of oatmeal: Entirely unmemorable, borderline unpleasant. I forced    After Doom and Quake followed some decent first person shooters over the years. Some managed to bring something innovative to the genre. Not Bioshock.

    Clearly, Bioshock is an over-hyped title artificially pumped by a generation of console gamers with nothing better to play at the time. The PC version was like a bowl of oatmeal: Entirely unmemorable, borderline unpleasant.

    I forced myself to play through a few levels and the mediocrity of it all quickly forced me to uninstall before the critical 1 hour mark. When a game makes windows tools like defrag feel fun and exciting, it's not a very good game. I'm sorry I wasted 20$ on this. It taught me never to listen to hype ever again!

    In short: One of the worst "me-too" FPS games ever. Avoid.    … Expand
  19. displeased
    Jul 12, 2014
    0
    Bioshock is not a good game.

    It's not at all a good game. Bioshock has focused nearly all of its efforts on tricking the gaming public into thinking it's a good game, which is why it is one of the worst games in all of history. I am a person who is all about immersion, but the immersion in Bioshock is intensely contrived. In other words, it knows you like immersion, and it's    Bioshock is not a good game.

    It's not at all a good game.

    Bioshock has focused nearly all of its efforts on tricking the gaming public into thinking it's a good game, which is why it is one of the worst games in all of history.

    I am a person who is all about immersion, but the immersion in Bioshock is intensely contrived. In other words, it knows you like immersion, and it's trying to manipulate you based on that. The people who made Bioshock don't like immersion, they just knew they would get awards and critical acclaim for it. Every 'great moment' in Bioshock is not Bioshock saying it thinks it's a great moment, it's Bioshock saying 'You'll probably think this is great.' I don't know how that passes for the public, but it doesn't pass for me. I want some honesty. If I'm not hearing what actual human beings think about something, then it's a waste of time

    The gameplay is geared to a mind of about 3 years of age. You walk around, you shoot things... the end. A few extra bits like magic, minigames and photography are in there, but they add nothing interesting and just serve as a waste of time. Normally if your game is all about walking and shooting, it is made up for with interesting level design, interesting enemy behavior, or something like that. Not so in Bioshock, that's the whole game. You walk, you shoot, you walk some more, and then you shoot. You listen to some bad voice actor reading some boring dialogue about something you don't care about, then you watch a cinematic with some of the most shallow pointless characters ever, TELLING you you're supposed to care, but really truly finding that you don't.

    This is the most shallow game I have ever played. It makes almost zero attempt to present the player with something true and good, something that someone worked their heart out on and truly believed in, Instead you can sense the developers behind the scenes thinking, "The inferior masses will eat this up." And you did. Nobody at 2K Games cares one iota about Bioshock. They care only about money and prestige. It's not a game made by people for people, it's a game made by people for mindless zombies who have no respect for their own views on important issues.

    Oh! It's a game with MORALS. Good, because I'm too much of a child to figure that stuff out on my own. Thank you 2K Games, for treating me like I'm stupid and morally bankrupt. Thank you for standing up as the standard of goodness so that we know that anyone who disagrees with you is evil    … Expand
  20. Apenes
    Aug 1, 2013
    0
    dont get me wrong the story was awesome and the graphics were incredible! but i find the gameplay very boring and unprofessional, people keep telling me i need ''skill'' to play the game but i beat it on the hardest difficulty!!! fountaine was super easy to kill and i dont like the fact that they never show his face, say his name, or that he only talks once in the whole game and that wasdont get me wrong the story was awesome and the graphics were incredible! but i find the gameplay very boring and unprofessional, people keep telling me i need ''skill'' to play the game but i beat it on the hardest difficulty!!! fountaine was super easy to kill and i dont like the fact that they never show his face, say his name, or that he only talks once in the whole game and that was at the biggening when hes on the plane! idk does anyone agree?… Expand
  21. S0pun
    Oct 20, 2019
    0
    Bioshock - очень неудачный порт консольного шутера, угол обзора как будто тебе на голову одели коробку с дыркой, при быстром аиминге у меня башка от балтики 9 так не болела.
  22. entrosphere
    Nov 30, 2019
    0
    dis game is trash id play super mario broz dan dis crap you ned 2 agre
  23. PipiPopo
    Apr 5, 2021
    0
    It is a very buggy game. It doesn't has a great story and the graphics are bad.
  24. Geiser
    Jun 2, 2022
    0
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. El juego tiene una ambientación buena, hasta que hay un medico que escribe bien me saco del juego nada realista 0/10… Expand
  25. utusgem
    May 24, 2023
    0
    I want to write in my CV that I finished this game. It was amazing experience, since it has a new world and philosophy.
  26. Quazder
    Aug 22, 2023
    0
    I tought i will complete this game but after seeing the graphic aspect of the game i instantly unistalled it. I just could not stand it
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Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best PC Game of 2007
3
#3 Most Discussed PC Game of 2007
2
#2 Most Shared PC Game of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
96

Universal acclaim - based on 44 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 44 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 44
  3. Negative: 0 out of 44
  1. PC Gamer UK
    95
    A dark and astonishing masterpiece...I spend my career, and my gaming life, waiting for a moment when a game just astonishes me, when I can't believe what I'm seeing, what I'm doing. BioShock has five. [Sept 2007, p.66]
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  2. Eurogamer
    100
    The hours spent playing this masterpiece were the perfect encapsulation of why videogaming is such a favourite waste of time for so many of us. Thrilling, terrifying, moving, confusing, amusing, compelling, and very very dark. BioShock isn't simply the sign of gaming realising its true cinematic potential, but one where a game straddles so many entertainment art forms so expertly that it's the best demonstration yet how flexible this medium can be. It's no longer just another shooter wrapped up in a pretty game engine, but a story that exists and unfolds inside the most convincing and elaborate and artistic game world ever conceived.
    Read full review
  3. IGN
    97
    There is art here, despite what many would say isn't possible with games, from Roger Ebert to game designers like Hideo Kojima... BioShock stands as a monolithic example of the convergence of entertaining gameplay and an irresistibly sinister, engrossing storyline that encompasses a host of multifaceted characters. This is an essential gaming experience.
    Read full review
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