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
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. DylanB.
    Jan 8, 2008
    10
    Overall, the game was excellent. One of the best games I have played in a long time. Graphics are exceptional, gameplay and storyline are extremely good. But, the one thing I found lacking was finding the Little Sisters. There were parts where I looked everywhere and could not find the Little Sister even though there was supposed to be one on the level. Definately worth the money.
  2. AndrewG.
    Jan 5, 2008
    0
    The zero may seem harsh - but is a reflection of its several sins matched against its hype. Entirely implausible in its contextual setting, both in the technology and its internal reasoning. Its impossible to maintain suspension of disbelief when the hyper-advanced genetic and AI technology was supposed to have existed in the 1950's, and when these ridiculous super-powers were The zero may seem harsh - but is a reflection of its several sins matched against its hype. Entirely implausible in its contextual setting, both in the technology and its internal reasoning. Its impossible to maintain suspension of disbelief when the hyper-advanced genetic and AI technology was supposed to have existed in the 1950's, and when these ridiculous super-powers were supposed to have been marketed by a genius, visionary Tycoon. Intensely stupid. All choice is an illusion, save the alternate ending sequence (thanks Youtube), because your character will always progress as a jack of all trades (magic-user/warrior/gunman/hacker). Contrived restrictions abound whenever the heavily-scripted story decides to advance - invisible barriers guarantee linearity, gameplay contradictions and impossibilities occur where needed (being frozen while on fire, a bottle weighing more than a corpse...) - and if you do stray from your intended path, prepare for objects to implausibly emerge from the ether, as enemies do throughout the game (of which there is astonishingly little variety). The concept of two men going insane and at each others throats is far less compelling than the idea (within SS2, deep breath) of two security AI's going haywire versus a psychic alien race versus the crew of the Von Braun and Rickenbacker, and asks dreary questions of morality rather than those of possibility. Additionally, the narrative of escalating chaos and madness within either of the System Shock games is superior, and scarier. It is difficult to let this game be called 'innovative' and 'ground-breaking' when all it does is to weakly mimic the gameplay concepts that made the System Shock series convincing. Furthermore, SS2 achieved quite different environments within each of the ship decks, while in the alien, inside the smaller vessel, and in the nightmare mind of Shodans AI. Bioshock plays through endless dark, claustrophobic, albeit attractive art-deco designed rooms or underwater passageways, filled with noisy vents and infinite, increasingly annoying baddies. This is as Oblivion is to Morrowind or Daggerfall - pretty, but dumb, inexplicably gaining better reviews despite sacrificing untold potential for the sake of watery water and bricky bricks. And yes, the water is quite watery (most watery in fact, until Crysis was released). My true score for this game would be 7.2/10 - an average shooter - so this zero is to perform my part in bringing the reader average to that end. If you have a brain get STALKER or The Orange Box - or System Shock 2 if you can survive antiquated graphics. … Expand
  3. MattW.
    Jan 4, 2008
    10
    One of the most facinating FPS I have ever played. For your second (or first for that matter) turn off the music and enjoy the unique and subtle enivornment that is Rapture. Listen to the denzions of the city share their stories. Lose yourself to the song of the whales as they swim near the glass. An experience you won't ever forget.
  4. JoeF.
    Jan 4, 2008
    10
    Even after completion i feel touched by the game, like i really was and am now in rapture the way the game tells it's story delivers it's "WOW" by far better than anything i have ever played. If you miss this you wont get the oppertunity again for a long time.
  5. RayP.
    Jan 2, 2008
    9
    Great game with a wonderfull environment and soundtrack. Very processor intensive. Only application that I had to re-tune my overclock down to play.
  6. darthmaulskywalker
    Jan 1, 2008
    10
    The haunting musical score, amazing graphics, and innovative gameplay sets a new bar for the FPS genre. The storytelling also immerses you in the game as you fight Big Daddies and collect EVE. There's also little chance you'll take it out before playing again to see the 2nd ending.
  7. MattB.
    Dec 31, 2007
    9
    The art of deception smoothly polished on to the storyline of Bioshock enhances the real sense of immersion.
  8. SebG.
    Dec 30, 2007
    1
    Clumsy and plain, hidden behind a dull ('innovative') setting. Repetitive and utterly non-immersive, the 10-rating reviews read as if they are meant to be sarcastic. Criminally overrated. I wouldn't bother.
  9. TomasB.
    Dec 30, 2007
    10
    Most atmospheric, depressive and genius masterpiece of decade.
  10. RobC.
    Dec 27, 2007
    5
    I would like to see how many of these reviewers still play this game ? and what their opinion of it is now, and that is the biggest issue with this game and in cases many others whats it like a few months down the track, well if i am anything to go by its gathering dust, and untouched since i finished it, the game may be a 7 to 9 first time round but lets think here, after spending the I would like to see how many of these reviewers still play this game ? and what their opinion of it is now, and that is the biggest issue with this game and in cases many others whats it like a few months down the track, well if i am anything to go by its gathering dust, and untouched since i finished it, the game may be a 7 to 9 first time round but lets think here, after spending the better part of AU$90 was it worth it long term ? well no, its not, in fact i was very dissapointed that i went out and grabbed this "must have title" as soon as i did, i should have waited for it to hit the bargain shelf, and that is my advise to anyone reading this, due to the limited (read none) replayability of this game i would recommend that people wait until its price drops to a level comparable with the length of play you will get. In regards to the gameplay, i found it atmospheric but forced situations (cut scenes etc) and a respawn system destroy this easily. There is no attachment to your character as there is no consequence to combat actions, you die respawn kill another monster, rinse and repeat if your stuck, which is unlikely as encounters were dull and boring, with a sub standard AI. It had some nice features, which if given more attention could have been great, as in plasmids and tonics. The game was short, i finished it in around 13 hours, which is resonable for a FPS, but since there is no user content creation available makes this a very limited game (see above) and i doubt it would benefit from MP, however being vaunted as a hybrid RPG style game i would expect at least another 10 or so hours of game play, with deeper story and side plots. The reason it would never have recieved a high score from me would be the poor story, which to be honest was totally predictable and very uninspired, there was so much that could have been done here and was not, i expected something amazing and was not shown it, for me it was just play through the game to see how the parts of the story connect together.… Expand
  11. MikeP.
    Dec 27, 2007
    10
    A dark and magnificent artwork which makes other games look like children's toys. The combat is a fusion of RPG style spells and gritty FPS combat, and the storyline is (apart from its miserably bad ending) mature, stylish and thought-provoking.
  12. Edi
    Dec 23, 2007
    6
    Great atmosphere, decent story, somewhat predictable, no character choice (ie: not really an RPG) as by the end, every character will have nearly every upgrade, thus being nearly identical. "Crafting ammo" is not a real selling point, as you simply pick up crap and it makes ammo based on a few forced ammo choices. Also, ending choice is more black and white than... black and white?
  13. MarkH.
    Dec 17, 2007
    7
    This is a well made game will little or no replayability. You play though it once or maybe twice and then leave in on the shelf. Multiplayer could have made this a real classic.
  14. ColbyA.
    Dec 16, 2007
    8
    This game was really good. Fun features, quite a bit of innovation as far as storyline goes. It was really creepy in ways I never thought it would be. Only complaints are the respawn system, and the fact that the game felt too easy on a whole, and the whole hacking system was kind of funny/too easy, and finally that some of the Plasmids and Gene Tonics were useless. Beautiful, innovative This game was really good. Fun features, quite a bit of innovation as far as storyline goes. It was really creepy in ways I never thought it would be. Only complaints are the respawn system, and the fact that the game felt too easy on a whole, and the whole hacking system was kind of funny/too easy, and finally that some of the Plasmids and Gene Tonics were useless. Beautiful, innovative atmosphere and setting. Never played System Shock - heard these games were similar.… Expand
  15. JamesR.
    Dec 15, 2007
    10
    Finally a FPS that isn't just killing the same old monsters in different rooms. This is a game that allows you to think and make discisions that actually effect the outcome of the game. Count one copy sold of BioShock 2.
  16. SimonM.
    Dec 14, 2007
    7
    A beautiful game that manages to divert your attention from the fact you are playing an utterly average FPS. The story is borderline irrelevant, the action is nothing fancy, the puzzles are low key. The interaction with the environment is unimaginative compared to something like Half Life. It just goes to prove that pretty much every game reviewer in the Metascore list cannot see past A beautiful game that manages to divert your attention from the fact you are playing an utterly average FPS. The story is borderline irrelevant, the action is nothing fancy, the puzzles are low key. The interaction with the environment is unimaginative compared to something like Half Life. It just goes to prove that pretty much every game reviewer in the Metascore list cannot see past 'pretty pictures' Yeah it's ok, its pretty, but it's average.… Expand
  17. TruongN.
    Dec 11, 2007
    9
    Nice game, but really, sort of different and strange on the PC. But my assumption that this beats Halo 3.
  18. NickN.
    Dec 11, 2007
    7
    A powerful, innovative game with an excellent story and unique, entertaining gameplay. A creative story and memorable characters make for an immersive gaming experience. However, this game's rating suffers due to the massive number of crashes I had to sort through before I could play and the complete LACK of customer service to help fix my problem brings the game down a lot. Also, A powerful, innovative game with an excellent story and unique, entertaining gameplay. A creative story and memorable characters make for an immersive gaming experience. However, this game's rating suffers due to the massive number of crashes I had to sort through before I could play and the complete LACK of customer service to help fix my problem brings the game down a lot. Also, for those of us who like to modify our games for new, creative gaming will be gravely dissapointed in the non-existance of modding, mapping, and developer tools to accompany this game. Don't get me wrong, though. I still recommend this game to anyone seeking a unique first-person-shooter game. If you can get it to work on your computer without needing tech support, you won't be dissapointed.… Expand
  19. Sacrosanct
    Dec 10, 2007
    7
    I like to compare Bioshock to reading a really good, old novel. It presents an era that few games have traversed; and with it, it brings an anachronistic element that must be seen to be appreciated. I laud this game, not because of its graphical standing, or what reviews it may garner - be they good, or bad. I have found an appreciation for this game, because it aspires to bring an aspect I like to compare Bioshock to reading a really good, old novel. It presents an era that few games have traversed; and with it, it brings an anachronistic element that must be seen to be appreciated. I laud this game, not because of its graphical standing, or what reviews it may garner - be they good, or bad. I have found an appreciation for this game, because it aspires to bring an aspect that is far and few in modern gaming: immersion. It does not strive to have the best physics, the best AI, or to attain the prestige of being a difficult game - in fact, the game is relatively easy; but I believe this is by design, so that the player can continually progress without experincing frustration, or repetition that comes from trial and error of adhering to the "right" combination of buttons in order to progress to the next portion. The game simply wishes to tell a story, and do so as fluidly as possible. I find its ease to be more of a blessing; because anyone whom is not a gamer, can still pick it up and enjoy it - and prove that art, and eloquent portrayal can exist amidst the cabals of games that repeat themselves through recycle and reiteration. In finality, the game is a good jaunt in storytelling from the first person perspective, and is recommended for anyone that enjoys the concept of immersion, so long as they allow themselves to see beyond the game's technical shortcomings.… Expand
  20. CodyS.
    Dec 8, 2007
    9
    I liked the game a lot. It had a great amount of atmosphere and the story telling was top notch. I wasn't particualrly happy with the 30 second FMV endings. Nevertheless, probably my favorite game of the year so far. If you liked Deus Ex, you will like this.
  21. KieferM.
    Dec 6, 2007
    8
    A Freakishly beautiful and twisted game with a sinister story. Theres a couple of glitches, but seeing how good this game is, i will over-look them.
  22. PadaG.
    Dec 4, 2007
    10
    One of the few games that has held me to the end! No difficulties on my PC with sound, setup, video cards or lockups -and I played at highest settings. Controls are user set to your own specs. I guess it was a FPS with "dumb" enemies, but the setting was gorgeous and atmospheric, the puzzles reasonable and the play frantic. My one criticism was the "instant rebirth" with no penalties One of the few games that has held me to the end! No difficulties on my PC with sound, setup, video cards or lockups -and I played at highest settings. Controls are user set to your own specs. I guess it was a FPS with "dumb" enemies, but the setting was gorgeous and atmospheric, the puzzles reasonable and the play frantic. My one criticism was the "instant rebirth" with no penalties after each "death". This tended to make the game a little too easy. Unfortunately it has little replay value.Still I wish all games were as good as this!… Expand
  23. LucasB.
    Nov 23, 2007
    8
    I think a big part of enjoying this game is to enjoy its story and plot. I believe many users who gave this game a low score just didn't like or buy its story, which left them with a good shooter with its share of flaws. There is not much variety of enemies you face throughout the game, and most of them don't look that creepy. Your guns don't sound powerful like they should I think a big part of enjoying this game is to enjoy its story and plot. I believe many users who gave this game a low score just didn't like or buy its story, which left them with a good shooter with its share of flaws. There is not much variety of enemies you face throughout the game, and most of them don't look that creepy. Your guns don't sound powerful like they should when you fire. I also didn't like some of the complicated controls when handling and switching weapons and ammo types, which can get really annoying during fierce battles. Including the "vita chambers" in the game was a bad decision in my book, as it detracts from the tension you are supposed to feel from dying at any moment, however this is not a big problem as some of the users below were trying to describe, since you can avoid using them and load from last saved place once you are dead. On the other hand, the game has great graphics working for it, although nothing absolutely stunning. You should however have a high-end GPU to see the game at its best. The sound is very well done, especially the recorded tapes which you get to listen to every now and then. Some of the plasmids and tonics are very original and creative. I like the concept of managing your plasmids through Gene Banks, as it adds a strategy dimension to the game, as well as some complexity, which might not appeal to some gamers. The bottom line is: does this game deserve 96 average score? I don't think so. However, it is a very good FPS with some very original ideas and pretty graphics. You will enjoy it very much as long as you are not the type of gamers who search for plot flaws and easily get annoyed by simple gameplay issues.… Expand
  24. TomV.
    Nov 22, 2007
    8
    I haven't played many FPS games [since Quake 2]. But the awesome visual and audio experience new games offer got me intrigued with this one. The story line is unique and compelling and the game play is fun. If offers just enough handholding to get those new [or renewed] to FPS games up to speed. I am really having fun with this game.
  25. TonyW.
    Nov 19, 2007
    10
    By far the most engrossing way of storytelling in a game to date. The audio diaries are a stroke of genius. They not only deliver the story but they also make you think about the story - try to piece together all the snippets and fragments you find. Hands down the best FPS of 2007.
  26. biosux
    Nov 19, 2007
    1
    1? Yes for the PC VERSION a 1 for the occasionally pretty graphics and an attempt at a different story from most drab shooters. After that there's nothing left to talk about in a positive light as it's all downhill, controls, widescreen, pacing, rewards, enemy variety, respawns, BUGS, BUGS, crashes, BUGS, 2k's attitude to customers... basically a very poor game masquerading 1? Yes for the PC VERSION a 1 for the occasionally pretty graphics and an attempt at a different story from most drab shooters. After that there's nothing left to talk about in a positive light as it's all downhill, controls, widescreen, pacing, rewards, enemy variety, respawns, BUGS, BUGS, crashes, BUGS, 2k's attitude to customers... basically a very poor game masquerading as the best thing since sliced bread. I'm sure on the 360 this game feels a lot better but on PC it's a pale imitation of it's spiritual predecessor (system shock 2). It doesn't even work ergonomically, it's got useless controls and when it's not crashing the gameplay is actually very poor. See edges or gamecritics review for the real skinny on this 'game'. Avoid like the plague or at least try on rental,.. oh hey that's exactly what you do when you BUY the PC version because the DRM means you get a few installs and that's it, even with it's revoke tool, it doesn't work so you basically won't get to install it much every time you reformat, which thankfully you won't want to anyway because the game is that dull. A damp squib in the firework box of PC gaming and one best killed off before it's legacy comes to represent the 'best' of what gaming has to offer.… Expand
  27. BrianK.
    Nov 18, 2007
    9
    I am a huge fan of System Shock 2 and figured that BioShock was the underwater version. After playing through this (somewhat easy) game I found that the story compelled me to move on. I was very impressed with the visuals, voice acting and story line twists. I gave it a 9 because once you beat it a couple times you just feel finished. I hope for a franchise.
  28. JamesL.
    Nov 17, 2007
    2
    On PC, this game plays like what it is - a bad console port with none of the problems ironed out. Although the graphics are hardly ground breaking (think unreal 2004 with bad textures and fancy water effects), this game is a resource hog, and it still runs like crap on high end systems. The sound likes to glitch at random too, forcing me to restart the game. Although the story is decent, On PC, this game plays like what it is - a bad console port with none of the problems ironed out. Although the graphics are hardly ground breaking (think unreal 2004 with bad textures and fancy water effects), this game is a resource hog, and it still runs like crap on high end systems. The sound likes to glitch at random too, forcing me to restart the game. Although the story is decent, the gameplay is boring, repetitive, and frustrating. Enemies respawn out of nowhere in areas you have already cleared just seconds before. The non-plasmid weaponry is uninspired and ineffective, plus aiming is extremely hard thanks to a poor mouse look implementation. This is one game that is better left on console. I want my money back.… Expand
  29. JoshuaMarks
    Nov 17, 2007
    3
    When i first played it i thought maybe it will get better, but it didn't. i swear i must have been playing a different game to everyone who gave it above a 4. it was just like your average FPS. It does not even have online capabilities, so compared to games like COD4 and even the only Unreal games its not worth playing at all.
  30. Mithras
    Nov 17, 2007
    6
    The game got way too high ratings, it truly did. The game was good. It was a good shooter with fantastic atmosphere and great graphics; but it was still just a GOOD shooter. It seemed to fulfill all the needs that a game has, and not go any further. There were quite a few weapons, more than one way to approach a situation, and a sufficient plot, but in the end, the game was pretty The game got way too high ratings, it truly did. The game was good. It was a good shooter with fantastic atmosphere and great graphics; but it was still just a GOOD shooter. It seemed to fulfill all the needs that a game has, and not go any further. There were quite a few weapons, more than one way to approach a situation, and a sufficient plot, but in the end, the game was pretty mediocre due to all the flaws and lack of any features to set it apart from so many other games. Someone mentioned that "apart from the vita chambers" the game was great. The thing is, the vita-chamber "never-die" thing was probably the greatest flaw of the game in my eyes. The game ALMOST had this great atmosphere of eeriness, making the player feel tense and fearful, but after the point that the player realizes there are absolutely no repercussions for dying, all the tension just disappears. You can run right at a Big Daddy and hit it with a wrench, no problem. Big, seemingly insurmountable mobs of splicers? Run at them, attack, die, run at them, attack, die, repeat. There's no tension when you realize that you can "die" as much as you like, and you lose absolutely nothing; no progress, no items, no money... nothing. After the atmosphere was killed for me, the attraction for the game really died off. I played the game on hard, and it was unbelievably easy. The plot was also worked up to be a big feature of the game, but I never really got into it. The endings were let downs, both of them. The story itself was poor also: For example, Andrew Ryan was built up to be this huge bad guy throughout the game, and at the end the game goes "OH! Got you! Lets ignore Andrew Ryan and concentrate on this new bad guy that we never really concentrated on before!" I never really found the last boss that evil of a character, because he seemed to be some sort of last minute idea in the plot. The plot was also filled with holes, like how the vita-chamber works for you and not anyone else: "it only works for Andrew Ryan's gene's" the game says, and then "you're a clone of Andrew Ryan". Oh! Okay, that makes sense. ...Right until the point where Andrew Ryan dies. And doesn't come back. There were lots of other small holes in the plot, none of them major, but enough to make me shake my head and deteriorate my view of the plot. Gameplay-wise, the game was good, but had, once again, some significant flaws. Things like the standard pistol bullets becoming absolutely useless after the splicers suddenly get stronger about half-way in the game. I unloaded an entire 25 bullet pistol clip into a splicer's face, and the guy didn't die. He was close, but he wasn't dead. I was almost dead, and before I could reload, I was dead, but the splicer was still alive. This was the fully upgraded pistol too. And you keep finding more pistol bullets after that point. Little things like that irritated me enough to make me frustrated with the gameplay. Everything this game seemingly had going for it - creepy atmosphere, 'revolutionary gameplay', deep plot - all had enough flaws in them to make me seriously question what the reviewers were thinking. Deus Ex, that game had player choice! Indigo Prophecy, that game had plot! Doom 3, that game was scary; I actually cared about getting hit by enemies! There are so many better games, and so many ways in which this game could have improved, and this makes me wonder why the average score is 96%, when this game is not that close to perfect.… Expand
Page:

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]
    Read full review
  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
See all critic reviews »