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. ReubenIsAGod
    Jul 1, 2022
    9
    Replayed this game recently. Incredibly well-done, still an honest classic. PC port is somewhat jank however, and you NEED NEED!!! to sort out the mouse sensitivity and acceleration in the settings.
  2. Dazaras
    Aug 12, 2012
    8
    An excellent game all around. The graphics, sound and environment are good considering its release date, the story and game mechanics are unique and fun. The only thing knocking it down from a 10 is my dislike of the FPS genera.
  3. Nataraja
    Mar 4, 2013
    8
    The atmosphere of this game is totally amazing. The sets are amazing and its just a creepy story. It is not a punishing game which I can appreciate. The story telling is well done and the voice acting is great. Its a bit of Jules Verne "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" with a twist of major insanity. This is a very DARK game in every sense of the word and has so much to offer if you canThe atmosphere of this game is totally amazing. The sets are amazing and its just a creepy story. It is not a punishing game which I can appreciate. The story telling is well done and the voice acting is great. Its a bit of Jules Verne "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" with a twist of major insanity. This is a very DARK game in every sense of the word and has so much to offer if you can get past to sort of revulsion to some of the subject matter. It is very gory and I am not fond of that but the art is deco and very authentically done. The weapons are interesting and there is a great variety and plasmids and gene splicing is a great mechanic for a steam punk and I do mean HEAVILY steam punk game. While not perfect, its a great game but still has a few bugs in it as of 2013. Well worth the price since it was free with my preorder of BioShock Infinite!… Expand
  4. Aeryx
    Aug 24, 2013
    10
    Having played Bioshock Infinite before this one, I have to say, now I know why some Bioshock purists aren't too happy.

    This game, during its time and up to now is an icon of outstanding FPS-RPG design. I like the upgradeable weapons, I like the well-done plasmids and other various RPG-like elements. I like the story, the way it's presented and the idea of harvesting/rescuing little    Having played Bioshock Infinite before this one, I have to say, now I know why some Bioshock purists aren't too happy.

    This game, during its time and up to now is an icon of outstanding FPS-RPG design. I like the upgradeable weapons, I like the well-done plasmids and other various RPG-like elements. I like the story, the way it's presented and the idea of harvesting/rescuing little mutated, sort-a-like undead little girls to give you powers at a moral cost. The game recycles a lot of enemies but it's fairly varied enough to keep the tension and excitement going. The Big Daddys are tough and brutal on the highest difficulty setting and I love it. I don't like the occasional crashes on my decent rig but it's tolerable and simply puts a small dimple on the overall experience. The atmosphere and environment are well-done. I don't like the seemingly weak guns but they work well with the right ammo--- again, a creative addition that we missed on Bioshock Infinite. Overall, Bioshock is a winner and should serve as a welcome "fine dining" departure from the "fast food" games we get these days. I really hope that future developers of this genre will play this game and set out on a quest to continue its revered legacy.

    One can only wonder what happened to all the creative gunplay and RPG-like elements, because they are certainly nowhere to be found on Bioshock Infinite. And I miss them.    … Expand
  5. Obadiah_Jenkins
    Sep 6, 2023
    9
    Bioshock was an outstanding game, one of the best I've ever played, easily in the top 20. Loved every twist and turn of the story, the combat was fun, the world creepy as hell. Would you kindly agree with me that this game deserves all the praise it gets.
  6. chronoT
    Sep 3, 2012
    8
    I am in no way saying in this review that Bioshock is a bad game, the story just isn't for me. After playing the PC version for numerous hours, there is something about the feel of this game I do not like. I have tried, tried again, and again, also watching my brother play. Sadly this doesn't help with my lack of desire to play any further. It does look visually very good, especially onI am in no way saying in this review that Bioshock is a bad game, the story just isn't for me. After playing the PC version for numerous hours, there is something about the feel of this game I do not like. I have tried, tried again, and again, also watching my brother play. Sadly this doesn't help with my lack of desire to play any further. It does look visually very good, especially on full settings, and the game can actually be scary at times, and I don't say that about any game besides this and Maniac Mansion on NES. I just find the whole idea behind this game rather distasteful, otherwise most of the gameplay is very solid and the world is pretty amazing if you like an underwater/dark atmosphere. I have not played 2 yet but I will admit Infinite looks promisng, although I know for me they won't stray away from the weird story.… Expand
  7. mrkzy
    Dec 14, 2012
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Very polished game but combat system could have been better and the world of Rapture didnt impress me. Playing areas were mostly thick hallways etc. If the game wasnt so old i would give it 9… Expand
  8. Claytality
    Dec 1, 2014
    9
    I had always seen the 9/10 ratings on the Bioshock series and wondered if it was worth it. I play mainly multiplayer FPS games so this being a single player title turned me off.

    Boyo, was I wrong. Bioshock is easily one of the best single player experiences I have EVER had. The story is engrossing, the environments are so original and creative. The voice acting is superb. This game has    I had always seen the 9/10 ratings on the Bioshock series and wondered if it was worth it. I play mainly multiplayer FPS games so this being a single player title turned me off.

    Boyo, was I wrong. Bioshock is easily one of the best single player experiences I have EVER had. The story is engrossing, the environments are so original and creative. The voice acting is superb. This game has all the elements of FPS's nowadays, but back in August 2007.

    This game proudly stands up to Zelda, Final Fantasy, and other single-player greats and gives them a run for their money. Took me 25 hours and $5, would have gladly payed $20.

    Now, would you kindly do yourself a favor and buy this game?    … Expand
  9. not_batman27
    Sep 28, 2012
    10
    i had a friend that said this game sucks, now hes dead. THIS GAME! the gameplay! the combat system is the best i've seen in my entire life! the twists are just mind blowing and the mobs were creativly made. i like the 50's 60's air. reminds me of fallout: new vegas, which i loved! the graphics are pretty good and the voice acting is very good! the game should be 9.8 and honesly i justi had a friend that said this game sucks, now hes dead. THIS GAME! the gameplay! the combat system is the best i've seen in my entire life! the twists are just mind blowing and the mobs were creativly made. i like the 50's 60's air. reminds me of fallout: new vegas, which i loved! the graphics are pretty good and the voice acting is very good! the game should be 9.8 and honesly i just can't belive there are people that didnt like this game… Expand
  10. Kaniya
    Mar 30, 2013
    10
    For years shooters were known as games where you move on a rail and kill people. Call Of duty, single handedly by itself, has destroyed all the meaning of FPS. with all the negative thoughts there were behind BioShock....well...it turned to an amazing game. Bioshosck is not your normal COD shooter. its all about creating and re-aliving the lost meaning of FPS genre. Game has a top-notchFor years shooters were known as games where you move on a rail and kill people. Call Of duty, single handedly by itself, has destroyed all the meaning of FPS. with all the negative thoughts there were behind BioShock....well...it turned to an amazing game. Bioshosck is not your normal COD shooter. its all about creating and re-aliving the lost meaning of FPS genre. Game has a top-notch and engaging story which drags you till the end and im not gonna spoil it. Gameplay is just amazing, areas are big and you can explore them looking for upgrades and tools and money. Aside of weapon you will have magical powers called Plasmids, which allows you to extend your creativity upon battles and everytime try a new strategy till you find what suits you. its hard to describe how innovating Bioshosck's gameplay is unless you play it yourself. Graphics are quiet interesting, its something unique. Textures are worked very well and its best to play it on a pc as the lighting effects are much better and water is rendered using DX10 features. Its one of those games such as Half Life 2 which never gets aged, everytime you play it ...it will be different and it will stay beautiful :D… Expand
  11. KJFK
    Nov 5, 2012
    10
    Stunning visuals, a compelling storyline, and an interesting combat system all make Bioshock a brilliant game. It does however have some flaws. Deaths in the game are without consequence making it not much of a challenge and taking away from the survival aspect of survival horror unless this feature is disabled. The combat system has some weird kinks and at times feels rigid, but overallStunning visuals, a compelling storyline, and an interesting combat system all make Bioshock a brilliant game. It does however have some flaws. Deaths in the game are without consequence making it not much of a challenge and taking away from the survival aspect of survival horror unless this feature is disabled. The combat system has some weird kinks and at times feels rigid, but overall this game is near perfect.… Expand
  12. Klewer
    Nov 14, 2012
    8
    High Quality game with a very interesting story and great setting with a unique combat system compared to most games.
    Still enjoyable after these years and has aged well.
  13. SilentINU
    Nov 28, 2012
    9
    I love every aspect in this game, i was in love with this game, i also made the platinum trophy on this one. The plasmids were so useful and there was so many possibilities to kill. The little sisters and the Big Daddies were just genial, i give it a perfect 10, one of my favorite games ever!
  14. Toffenuff
    Dec 7, 2012
    10
    Truly a game that reels you in to its depths, with its wonderfully-crafted environment immersing you in the Bioshock experience. The ambient sounds, the great graphics (for its time, and still is pretty good actually), and all the other presentation elements that makes you feel as if you really were walking the ruined tunnels and buildings of Rapture. The biggest element that I loved wasTruly a game that reels you in to its depths, with its wonderfully-crafted environment immersing you in the Bioshock experience. The ambient sounds, the great graphics (for its time, and still is pretty good actually), and all the other presentation elements that makes you feel as if you really were walking the ruined tunnels and buildings of Rapture. The biggest element that I loved was of course the story. I have only played a handful of video games with such a riveting, mysterious, and emotional story. I thankfully was able to tune out the noise so that what happens would not be spoiled, but I would have to say that the game's story truly delivers an experience to remember and it is one that every respectable gamer who plays RPG's should experience. The characters are quite memorable and well-done. There is a definite sense of wonder and excitement about Rapture as you arrive and continue to play on, uncovering the many layers of this wonderfully-written plot.
    As for gameplay, it was overall to me pretty well done. The plasmids are a lot of fun and there are definitely plenty of different ways you can use them. The gun-play is nothing special -- I mean, this is set in the 1960s after all. The enemies are challenging enough to keep things interesting, and there were definitely moments where I was going "crap! crap! crap! run! heal! regroup!" haha
    Anyway, I think the strongest display of how I feel about this game can be explained with how I felt when I finished it (it took me about 20 hours over two days. Yes. It was that good). I remember sitting there, shocked at the turn of events in the story and that it was all over and done with, and I also had many questions about what happened next and such. Thankfully, Bioshock 2 was already out by the time I played this so I was able to continue my adventures in Rapture -- more on that when I review that game later on.
    Suffice to say, this game would get a 100 out of 10 from me if I could give it that. If you don't have this game, get it. You will (most likely) not be disappointed -- I say that because you can't please everyone after all.    … Expand
  15. storyhobbit
    Jan 27, 2016
    10
    Terrific game! I just finished it for the third time, and it's just as relevant several years later. The gameplay is incredibly balanced and the environment is very spooky.
  16. Marica
    Aug 20, 2014
    10
    It was not impossible to build Rapture at the bottom of the sea. It was impossible to build it anywhere else. - Andrew Ryan .
    It's simply amazing.Great story,great game play and a strange world.
  17. drakenseng
    Feb 12, 2013
    10
    great game, great graphics, great story, great gameplay, and it rebooted its previous release called system shock 2'. created a new series and the 2nd one is even more.
  18. GeorgeKakarott
    Feb 11, 2013
    9
    Great Shooter with role play and horror-elements.Very fascinating locations and creepy characters. Many weapons (unfortunately with the most of them you deal damage like throwing with cotton balls later in the game) and an interesting story. Only the high difficulty level in the later sections, the lack of different enemy-types and the weak weapons are negative points.
  19. LoSvelto
    Feb 13, 2013
    10
    Best game I ever played before. Great story, great atmosphere, great gameplay, great graphics. Rapture is a precious gem that will remain forever in the history of videogame.
  20. FruitCakeHD
    Jul 7, 2014
    8
    8 hours spent in this game.. And honestly the game wasn't that great at all. The high scores attributed to this game is somewhat inaccurate imho. It suffers from poor optimisation (clunky controls, broken audio, etc), and the overall gameplay is very linear. I remember that i once even called it the 'walking simulator', because that's the fact. You basically walk around (no sprinting) from8 hours spent in this game.. And honestly the game wasn't that great at all. The high scores attributed to this game is somewhat inaccurate imho. It suffers from poor optimisation (clunky controls, broken audio, etc), and the overall gameplay is very linear. I remember that i once even called it the 'walking simulator', because that's the fact. You basically walk around (no sprinting) from an area to another. And god is it boring.

    One praise that i have for this game is the amazing storyline, I loved it.    … Expand
  21. Liteit
    Nov 17, 2013
    10
    One of my favourite games. Everything is perfect. Rapture with its inhabitants was a great place to explore, The plot and characters afre great. The first hour of playing was terrifying but even after the atmosphere made me scary sometimes. And the ending. It was just sad and perfect.
  22. Mothman13
    Mar 16, 2013
    8
    BioShock has one of the most interesting game worlds to date. The game manages to build and maintain a unique atmosphere which is the strongest point of the game. The story is ok with a memorable plot twist. It isn't a gaming masterpiece in my opinion because of the clumsy action mechanics and overall easiness of the game (even on hard).
  23. LegitN00b
    Mar 23, 2013
    9
    BioShock is an atmospheric, fun, and well-written first person shooter that holds up even in 2013, almost 5 years after it's release. The level design is great, the story is amazing, and it has enough tense moments to keep you on the edge of your seat. The RPG elements such as weapon, plasmid, and character upgrades give you the feeling of progression throughout. However, the gameplay is aBioShock is an atmospheric, fun, and well-written first person shooter that holds up even in 2013, almost 5 years after it's release. The level design is great, the story is amazing, and it has enough tense moments to keep you on the edge of your seat. The RPG elements such as weapon, plasmid, and character upgrades give you the feeling of progression throughout. However, the gameplay is a slightly different story. It's not exactly the best, but it's entertaining enough to keep you from feeling like you're just watching a movie. The boss fights do feel out of place, and there isn't a ton of variety in the enemy types. The idea of researching enemies with a camera is interesting, but poorly implemented. My final complaint is the slow beginning. It's there to build tension, but ultimately ends up being a boring, tedious tutorial disguised as a level. All in all, BioShock is an amazing game, and it's definitely worth you're time and money.… Expand
  24. Tyscheff
    Mar 26, 2013
    9
    I know I'm late in the game but I have just recently got back into gaming. Back in the days when I used to play console (before switching over to Computer), I downloaded the demo for this game for xbox360. Never got around to buying it or playing it because it was too scary for me. However, I have grown up and I am now a big boy...

    This game is for big boys (and girls). It's fun,    I know I'm late in the game but I have just recently got back into gaming. Back in the days when I used to play console (before switching over to Computer), I downloaded the demo for this game for xbox360. Never got around to buying it or playing it because it was too scary for me. However, I have grown up and I am now a big boy...

    This game is for big boys (and girls). It's fun, tough, exciting, and gets your adrenaline going! I may not be an expert or veteran with the Bioshock series, but I can't wait to play the next two    … Expand
  25. Rockodss
    Apr 16, 2013
    10
    1 of the best video game ever made. Would you kindly try the game even if you don't like the FPs genre. This aint one of those brainless run and shoot. Amazing gameplay, amazing visuals, amazing story, amazing EVERYTHING! 1 of the rare 10 out of 10 games I have been honored to play.
  26. stranglehold
    Oct 4, 2013
    10
    The graphics and art direction, the slow unveiling of the story of Rapture’s fall, the sheer creepiness of it all, and the gameplay which, quite often, makes almost every shooter until now seem rather dull in comparison.
  27. Meshinator
    Mar 31, 2013
    10
    Bioshock. What an amazing game. It has easily made my list of favorite games. Great atmosphere, mind blowing story, a feeling of estrangement, and the 50's style nostalgia makes for a great experience. The Plasmids along with the weapons make combat interesting, and everyone who is anyone can recognize the Big Daddy as an Iconic Entity from a fantastic game.
  28. 4lper
    Apr 4, 2013
    10
    Well ok, I bought this on 2011, but I frickin love it. The weapons and enemies, atmosphere. They are all huge leap to technology of gaming. Year 2006 they made this game. Holly dang. I love Irrational Games/ 2K Boston.
  29. UserScore
    Mar 30, 2014
    9
    BioShock spoiler-free review:
    BioShock is an outstanding first person shooter that introduces world, characters and mechanics like any other.
    Of course the most talked and revolutionary thing BioShock does, is introducing the world as it's own character. Rapture is a dark, disturbing and forgotten underwater city that sucks you in, making you truly believe you're there. It also mantains    BioShock spoiler-free review:
    BioShock is an outstanding first person shooter that introduces world, characters and mechanics like any other.
    Of course the most talked and revolutionary thing BioShock does, is introducing the world as it's own character. Rapture is a dark, disturbing and forgotten underwater city that sucks you in, making you truly believe you're there. It also mantains posters, audio files and images of what the great city once was, making it a lot more inmersive. The story is extremely well written with deep, three-dimensional characters. However, I found myself rushing through the last 2 hours, just so I could get to the end credits after spending more than 15 hours in the game. Both sound and music are superb, creating an incredibly inmersive and suspenseful world. The mechanics/gameplay in this game are really good, and though the game encourages you not to engage in a battle with multiple oponents (cause you'll die), the A.I never encourages stealth, considering they spot with extreme ease. The plasmids in the game are very well integrated with the shooting mechanic. They bring an estrategic side to the combat, with the player thinking how to set traps and how to use in advantage in really tough fights. The graphics are great and they trully help with the inmersion to Rapture. There's a hacking mini-game that is really simple and well thought, but it gets old pretty easily, considering how much you use it. The Big Daddies. These guys really bring a challenge and satisfaction when defeated. Though the satisfaction doesn't last long, after you see a Little Sister (the ones they protect) crying for their Big Daddy. The little sisters carry ADAM, which you'll need to upgrade your plasmids, and you can either harvest them (you get more ADAM and they die) or save them (you'll get less ADAM and they come back to being little, normal girls). That decission changes a few plot points, but not too much.
    In the end, BioShock manages to step out of the box with deep characters, strong mechanics, reallistic sounds and graphics that will make you want to replay the game quite a few times.
    Average Score: 9.2    … Expand
  30. AtomicZap
    May 2, 2013
    10
    Having just finished BioShock for the first time, I am upset that I didn't give this game a proper chance sooner. While the graphics are still pretty good for today the gunplay, plasmids and enemies can get pretty repetitive, and there isn't a ton of strategy. However, that isn't what this game is about. Its not just that the story and plot are great (they are) but I honestly felt likeHaving just finished BioShock for the first time, I am upset that I didn't give this game a proper chance sooner. While the graphics are still pretty good for today the gunplay, plasmids and enemies can get pretty repetitive, and there isn't a ton of strategy. However, that isn't what this game is about. Its not just that the story and plot are great (they are) but I honestly felt like I was the character. At the beginning I was scared and confused, I didn't know where I was or what the heck I was doing. As I progressed I began to feel comfortable with the game and started to feel super powerful, only to have that all torn away. The ending is one of the most compelling of any game I have ever played, and this game is well worth the 10 hours it will take to finish.… Expand
  31. Dynasma
    Jun 21, 2013
    8
    First of all I'll state that I'm not an FPS or generally shooter fan. The reason is because I value plot in games highly. So Bioshock came out and after way some time after its release, reading all the reviews on the internet and being hype by acquaintances of mine, I decided to buy it.

    And it was not bad, not bad actually. I liked the gameplay, especially the Big Daddy boss fights that    First of all I'll state that I'm not an FPS or generally shooter fan. The reason is because I value plot in games highly. So Bioshock came out and after way some time after its release, reading all the reviews on the internet and being hype by acquaintances of mine, I decided to buy it.

    And it was not bad, not bad actually. I liked the gameplay, especially the Big Daddy boss fights that needed some preparation beforehand.
    The plasmids were interesting, though some like security bullseye weren't useful enough to use.
    The weapons were all cool to use except the throwers perhaps.

    I also enjoyed searching for audio files which I found interesting and immersive.

    Rapture's design was okay but just plain okay. I found disturbing the lack of character models, where characters important to the plot like tanenbaum or julie langford were depicted with splicers like models. I honestly thought that was lazy.
    The AI was in good levels, the part where splicers run to healing stations when brought low on hp shows good programming.

    However the final boss fight was outright laughable. Extremely easy with no special strategies whatsoever, it gave me less difficulty than the Big Daddy fights. Took me less than 2 minutes to finish

    Last but not least and actually most important of all aspects, the plot. This game was praised vastly for its story but I wouldn't praise it that much. Plot was great as far as shooter games plot goes but it is not that impressive. I honestly didn't find the twist that breath-taking. When it happened I actually thought that was the start of the nice part. Alas my hopes were crushed, for the story after the twist switches back to generic. So to summarize I didn't find the plot bad, heck it was great at unraveling just not that great for all that praise. I guess shooter standards are just different...    … Expand
  32. obail
    Apr 27, 2013
    10
    Bioshock had tiny flaws but not enough to hold it back from being a perfect game. Freezes for two seconds that come around now and then, and re-spawn had no penalty, although the respawn system itself was not such a bad idea. If they didn't add the re-spawn system there would be no check points because of the open environment around you. And with constant enemies running around. So thisBioshock had tiny flaws but not enough to hold it back from being a perfect game. Freezes for two seconds that come around now and then, and re-spawn had no penalty, although the respawn system itself was not such a bad idea. If they didn't add the re-spawn system there would be no check points because of the open environment around you. And with constant enemies running around. So this shouldn't reduce it's score. The other problem with the game freezes shouldn't reduce the score because they happen very rarely and it's uniqueness makes up for any down sides. Anyone who doesn't give this game a 10/10 doesn't see its potential, they're one minded and don't have fun can be had with game, even if they have experienced it.… Expand
  33. mrostrichman
    May 4, 2013
    9
    This amazing game has the best atmosphere in all the games I've played. The story is compelling and filled with interesting characters. Exploring Rapture was a great experience, and didn't feel like a chore at all.

    I have no idea what others are talking about dull FPS features. The plasmids really give a new, fun way to kill your enemies. Blasting a hundred rounds isn't really possible    This amazing game has the best atmosphere in all the games I've played. The story is compelling and filled with interesting characters. Exploring Rapture was a great experience, and didn't feel like a chore at all.

    I have no idea what others are talking about dull FPS features. The plasmids really give a new, fun way to kill your enemies. Blasting a hundred rounds isn't really possible in this game. Sometimes, ammo is very plentiful and you can afford to do this. But, sometimes, you literally have no ammo, and no EVE, and then you really start to use the environment, and your melee skills. Although, there isn't really a penalty when you die, it's really just spawns you back in the level. Which I dislike

    The only reason I gave this a 9, was because the physics seem to lag, but it doesn't break me from the immersion all that much, but for others, it does. The rest of the graphics, still look modern to me, also. Overall, this game is just plain awesome.    … Expand
  34. sft
    Sep 1, 2013
    10
    Who’s the Big Daddy?

    BIOSHOCK is a fine example of what is achievable through the medium of video games. The developers have managed to combine an engaging story with strong RPG and FPS elements to produce a thoroughly absorbing and memorable experience. The storyline is unusually effective and all the more compelling due to the aspects of morality it addresses. The voice acting is    Who’s the Big Daddy?

    BIOSHOCK is a fine example of what is achievable through the medium of video games. The developers have managed to combine an engaging story with strong RPG and FPS elements to produce a thoroughly absorbing and memorable experience. The storyline is unusually effective and all the more compelling due to the aspects of morality it addresses. The voice acting is terrific, especially the chuntering splicers that wander around Rapture their psychotic ramblings are utterly convincing. The game is also graphically impressive for a 2007 production Rapture is a beautiful, art deco wreck of a city. There could perhaps have been more humour, but overall this is one of the best single-player games I’ve played.    … Expand
  35. Sweededcentral
    May 21, 2013
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bioshock is a refreshing, story based game for the PC, Playstation and Xbox. I played Bioshock on PC, and it was a great, 13 hour campaign, with a great twist. This game is very well designed, and acted out, both by the AI characters, and the voices that bring them to life. However, it does have flaws:
    1. The endings are BORING! Even though there are 2 alternate endings, there both unsatisfying and short (less than 1 minute).
    2. In my opinion, the Fort Frolic level feels like a time filler, put in by the developers at the last moment.
    3. This is just me being nit-picky, but: I found it really annoying that all the little sisters look the same! With a occasional blonde haired sister, all of them have the same face, hair and voice.

    Other than that, great game! If you have a spare $20, and a thirst for a great game this is definite buy.    … Expand
  36. gracjanski
    Nov 22, 2015
    7
    The beginning ist really great: atmosfere, the background, philosophy. But after 2-3 hours the game becomes average and you begin to see the weak sides of this game: you are immortal, bad controlling, few enemies, childish dialogues. there are much better shooter out there. But the end is a masterpiece of videogames: DO THE GOOD side and rescue the sisters, the end sequence is brilliant.
  37. lawilson
    Jun 24, 2013
    7
    'BioShock' is a game that you have to play to find out what everyone is talking about—and it is definitely worth the time—even though I tend to ignore horror games. I loved that the gamemakers allowed Objectivist philosophy to heavily influence the game. The thought of living in a world inspired by Ayn Rand should terrify any sane person, but the player of 'BioShock' must navigate the'BioShock' is a game that you have to play to find out what everyone is talking about—and it is definitely worth the time—even though I tend to ignore horror games. I loved that the gamemakers allowed Objectivist philosophy to heavily influence the game. The thought of living in a world inspired by Ayn Rand should terrify any sane person, but the player of 'BioShock' must navigate the ruined aftermath of that retro-futurist nightmare, while fighting tortured madmen, managing resources, and solving puzzles along the way. Sadly, I did not finish this game. I became enamored with the 'Fallout' series at the time, and 'BioShock' fell off my radar through no fault of its own. I would like to finish the game, so that I can fully appreciate the dystopian intersection of intellectual and adrenaline-pumping gameplay as wrought by Irrational Games.… Expand
  38. Batfan
    Jul 16, 2014
    8
    First there was System Shock, then there was System Shock 2, and now there is Bioshock. I will start of by saying that Bioshock is like a watered-down version of System Shock 2. System Shock 2 is big and massive while Bioshock is small and linear. Now, Bioshock is actually very fun but it is NOT a masterpiece. The thing that brings the game down are the RPG elements. This is NOT an RPG yetFirst there was System Shock, then there was System Shock 2, and now there is Bioshock. I will start of by saying that Bioshock is like a watered-down version of System Shock 2. System Shock 2 is big and massive while Bioshock is small and linear. Now, Bioshock is actually very fun but it is NOT a masterpiece. The thing that brings the game down are the RPG elements. This is NOT an RPG yet it seems like it's trying to be. It has RPG like things but it isn't an RPG. The game is not as good as the critics claim it to be. Now I could say more bad things about the game but I'll say some good things now. The game is just beautiful. It takes place in an underwater city, so yes it is going to be beautiful. There are enemies called Big Daddies. They look like over grow deep sea divers with a giant drill for a hand. The powers you get are pretty cool and you can shoot lighting out of your hands and when enemies are in the water you can shock the water and they will fry. I recommend the game but play System Shock 2 first.… Expand
  39. player4321
    Jul 7, 2013
    9
    A simplified review for novice gamers
    Graphics:
    Love the graphics but some dead splicers just move their hands or legs so imagine a dead splicer waving to you Sound: Every sound in the game is great also the the music the violin just goes with bioshock 's style Game play: Fun but sometimes repetitive Story: Probably the main reason you would play the game just to know the your    A simplified review for novice gamers
    Graphics:
    Love the graphics but some dead splicers just move their hands or legs so imagine a dead splicer waving to you
    Sound:
    Every sound in the game is great also the the music the violin just goes with bioshock 's style
    Game play:
    Fun but sometimes repetitive
    Story:
    Probably the main reason you would play the game just to know the your ending
    Overall Bioshock is a great game which i would recommend for you.    … Expand
  40. Triasadi
    May 19, 2015
    10
    1960, you play as Jack. An only survivor of a plane crash in the middle of an Atlantic Ocean where he finds lighthouse that leads him to Rapture, an underwater city created by Andrew Ryan, a man with a vision to create a utopia where people aren't restrected to government, religion, and morality. But rapture is in a civil war caused by a rebelion group lead by Atlas. Bioshock is an FPS1960, you play as Jack. An only survivor of a plane crash in the middle of an Atlantic Ocean where he finds lighthouse that leads him to Rapture, an underwater city created by Andrew Ryan, a man with a vision to create a utopia where people aren't restrected to government, religion, and morality. But rapture is in a civil war caused by a rebelion group lead by Atlas. Bioshock is an FPS game where you use weapons and superpowers. You can also upgrade your weapons, superpowers, and your character throughout the game. The story is very complex as you will mostly learn them via audio recordings of peoples in Rapture that you'll find throughout the game. The atmosphere is very unique.… Expand
  41. GamersUprising
    Jul 23, 2013
    10
    Thrilling, terrifying, moving, confusing, amusing, compelling, and very very dark. It delivers messages about mankind that are just plain amazing. The soundtrack, the voice acting and the story are just completely beautiful. And its game play is just awesome. No other game has impressed me more than Bioshock has, and in my opinion its he best game on the Playstation 3 let alone one of theThrilling, terrifying, moving, confusing, amusing, compelling, and very very dark. It delivers messages about mankind that are just plain amazing. The soundtrack, the voice acting and the story are just completely beautiful. And its game play is just awesome. No other game has impressed me more than Bioshock has, and in my opinion its he best game on the Playstation 3 let alone one of the greatest games ever created. This is my most favorite game and no other game surpasses it. I especially love the environment of the game: Rapture. The style of its design is amazing as well as the tone that it delivers. All around Bioshock is a masterpiece and should be played by any gamer out there. If you haven't played it, you're missing out on one of the greatest gaming experiences ever.… Expand
  42. iddqd4
    Mar 16, 2018
    9
    Потрясающий город, потрясающая атмосфера, отличный геймплей, так называемый шутер 2.0 от Кена Левина.
  43. Solmyname
    Aug 5, 2013
    10
    It's... just...Bioshock! One of the best games i know with a really amazing story, really nice gameplay and the most awesome underwater city in the world!
  44. BeeRadIsRad
    Aug 10, 2013
    10
    I wouldn't even call this a 'game'. It should be called a masterpiece. The story-line to it draws you in the second you start the game. The mechanics of the game were flawless. Rapture is an enticing underwater Atlantis that will keep you playing the game for hours and hours.
  45. Zarniwooop
    Aug 20, 2014
    8
    One of the most overrated games of all time.

    Its a beautiful game to just sort of walk around in and enjoy the ambiance. As a spiritual successor to system shock 2 its a complete failure. As an rpg, its a complete failure. As a game all by itself, its merits are very nice scenery, ambiance and a few good set pieces. Other than that, its nothing like the reviews would have    One of the most overrated games of all time.

    Its a beautiful game to just sort of walk around in and enjoy the ambiance.

    As a spiritual successor to system shock 2 its a complete failure.

    As an rpg, its a complete failure.

    As a game all by itself, its merits are very nice scenery, ambiance and a few good set pieces.

    Other than that, its nothing like the reviews would have you think (unless you're a console player in which case this is probably the second coming of Jesus).    … Expand
  46. lightning461
    Aug 15, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great game! Best graphics of its time!! When you just get into the game you cant tell which is real or not, the TV or the couch. The AI helps you and even without it the combat is definitely better than any fps i have ever played. It gives you the choice to play stealth or just run out killing everyone with health boosts in the middle of the map… Expand
  47. SL539
    Dec 26, 2015
    7
    This is a game I was never able to truly get into, perhaps it's because I started off with BioShock Infinite. However it's a very good game, from what I've seen and the little I did play. Very cinematic for an FPS game. Sorry can't really give much more of a review - I just wanted to clean out my old review since it was pretty stupid.
  48. Kempol
    Sep 22, 2013
    9
    played this game after amazed by how good infinite is
    and im impressed bioshock managed to improve their theme and gameplay since their first game
    the atmosphere is awesome
    rupture feel so scary and dark but also glamour with city life
    the gameplay is awesome and im about to play the second series of the game
  49. EmpireElite
    Sep 18, 2013
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. When this game hit the scene in 2007, there was nothing like it. Bioshock is what you get when you combine science, art, philosophy, and first-person action. Every element in the game, from the story, to the graphics, to the weapons and powers all meld together into a near-perfect piece of art. This game series alone could prove to anyone that video games can be art.… Expand
  50. andrew0w
    Dec 2, 2014
    10
    Bioshock is what a FPS should be. The story was amazing, with many twists and turns along the way. The setting, Rapture, is a beautiful yet eerie place to explore. The game play is solid, the plasmids make fights interesting. Bioshock is one of the best FPS games ever made, and will not be replicated.
  51. Cookie3
    Sep 20, 2013
    10
    There's a great game, this game is Bioshock. No, not Bioshock Infinite, first Bioshock. You see, this have anything you want: a great gameplay that can show you not only "Pew-pew", but and tactic shooter, great walking threw the city, collecting items and more of such a good combinations with great shooting. You will just look at this beauty views and you'll find out what's a real city. ByThere's a great game, this game is Bioshock. No, not Bioshock Infinite, first Bioshock. You see, this have anything you want: a great gameplay that can show you not only "Pew-pew", but and tactic shooter, great walking threw the city, collecting items and more of such a good combinations with great shooting. You will just look at this beauty views and you'll find out what's a real city. By the way, game can show you a great and perfect story of city, main character, other characters and, of course, city. You just enjoy the game and listen a beautiful music from there. There is a many win thing that you should learn by yourself. Enjoy this masterpiece!… Expand
  52. DeathtoSpongify
    Sep 20, 2013
    9
    This is a generally great game. At the time of its release it may have gotten less attention than it does now (probably in part due to the cartoony nature of it's disk cover, which was quite misleading), but it really added a whole new level to the modern FPS scene. The gameplay flows well, although the combat is usually somewhat less than real-time, because the game allows the player toThis is a generally great game. At the time of its release it may have gotten less attention than it does now (probably in part due to the cartoony nature of it's disk cover, which was quite misleading), but it really added a whole new level to the modern FPS scene. The gameplay flows well, although the combat is usually somewhat less than real-time, because the game allows the player to pause and browse through their inventory in the middle of combat. This set aside, the story is riveting (pun, get it?) and unpredictable, and the atmosphere is good enough to rival the gameplay itself.… Expand
  53. Smaseliaf
    Oct 8, 2013
    9
    A wonderful retro-style FPS set in an undersea city in the 60s. You can blast or stun your enemies using a wide array of guns and abilities in a haunting claustrophobic setting unlike any other. Like in System Shock 2 you can select and update your skills, hack devices (e.g. turrets), customize your character’s powers and overcome challenges in your own way.
    In terms of cons, the gameplay    A wonderful retro-style FPS set in an undersea city in the 60s. You can blast or stun your enemies using a wide array of guns and abilities in a haunting claustrophobic setting unlike any other. Like in System Shock 2 you can select and update your skills, hack devices (e.g. turrets), customize your character’s powers and overcome challenges in your own way.
    In terms of cons, the gameplay is rather wonky (e.g. hard to target some enemies moving &shooting alarmingly fast) while the game is very lenient when it comes to the character’s death: the character can rez again and again while the enemy’s health is not refilled (in other words, the game does not require gamers to play carefully). Also, the dark dystopian setting, although impressive, grows drab (thankfully Arcadia & Prometheus change the ambience).

    PS the game’s well-designed hacking system rules    … Expand
  54. Kutlu9
    Oct 11, 2013
    10
    First time I had played this game was march 2010 on my xbox. I loved it even though I couldn't follow the story well. Then in my second play through I loved it even more Lots of stuff to know about main characters, not perfect but very surprising plot. Perfect atmosphere and great music. I liked the graphics in 2010 and I still like it in 2013 I finished it for third time afterFirst time I had played this game was march 2010 on my xbox. I loved it even though I couldn't follow the story well. Then in my second play through I loved it even more Lots of stuff to know about main characters, not perfect but very surprising plot. Perfect atmosphere and great music. I liked the graphics in 2010 and I still like it in 2013 I finished it for third time after Bioshock Infinite on my PC.… Expand
  55. JustAverage
    Oct 21, 2013
    10
    replayed recently and all I have to say is still worth $60 even by today's standards, the graphics being the only exception but not as far behind as one might expect from a game its age. One of my all time favorites.
  56. debigman
    Jun 11, 2014
    10
    A truly unrivaled steampunk game in every regard. From the start of the game it pulls you in and does not let you go. And of course, PC makes it look absolutely beautiful. It's also only like $5 if you wait for am Amazon sale.
  57. EdgarAllanFlo
    Nov 5, 2013
    10
    Bioshock took me by surprise. The beautiful world of rapture is one of the most original and overall coolest settings of a game in any genre. It plays like a thinking mans shoot and loot. The AI is great and you're never short of options for how to go about progressing in the game. Each chapter has suprises and odd characters which will keep you going while you hope it never ends. IfBioshock took me by surprise. The beautiful world of rapture is one of the most original and overall coolest settings of a game in any genre. It plays like a thinking mans shoot and loot. The AI is great and you're never short of options for how to go about progressing in the game. Each chapter has suprises and odd characters which will keep you going while you hope it never ends. If you want an amazing single player FPS experience definitely give this one a go.… Expand
  58. Dulkan
    Feb 14, 2014
    10
    This is one of the best games i ever played. Rapture will be on my memories for a long time. The best part of Bioshock is not the gameplay, it's the story.
  59. MisterShmi
    Nov 7, 2013
    10
    This game is the pinnacle of video gaming. Play this and tell me video games aren't art. One of the greatest games ever made. Is able to stand out among a market inundated by annual FPS games.
  60. mikett66
    May 4, 2014
    9
    In the beginning I almost shat in my pants because of these splicers, but after few hours I started to really like it. Those plasmids were really cool. The ending boss was a shame - it was too easy to bit. Because I rescued all of the little sisters I dealt with I got the good ending. The ending was a bit too much touchy, but it was OK. I really liked the idea of a city under the sea.In the beginning I almost shat in my pants because of these splicers, but after few hours I started to really like it. Those plasmids were really cool. The ending boss was a shame - it was too easy to bit. Because I rescued all of the little sisters I dealt with I got the good ending. The ending was a bit too much touchy, but it was OK. I really liked the idea of a city under the sea. Really cool.… Expand
  61. mishaman
    Apr 13, 2014
    10
    Great videogame! Smart plot. Unique shooter mechanic and visually inpressive. I love art-style and beatiful music. I see that people who created this put his souls in their work.
  62. Iimonster297
    Apr 23, 2014
    9
    Most bad shooters are overrated while underrated are excellent retrieval in each hand of playing. BioShock is a fascinating, worth it -- unlike traditional; It occupies all other shooters hypes. Rapture....Plasmids...Hacking Machines...Big Daddies.....Little Sisters....combines BioShock's greatness.
  63. darthbadger
    Mar 30, 2014
    10
    One the best games I've ever played. Atmosphere is perfect. Controls are a bit clunky compared to "Infinite" but I think it adds to the charm. The story is unraveled in an Oscar worthy fashion. This game is just another reason I think people should take gaming more seriously.
  64. Drastre
    Apr 28, 2014
    10
    A true masterpiece. Phenomenal graphics. Immersive atmosphere and great level design. Fantastic shooting mechanics. One of my top 5 favorite games of all time.
  65. GXant
    Jun 14, 2014
    10
    This is the best FPS I've seen for a long. Good story, good visual narative and a good localization. This is one of my favorite FPS with DOOM , BioShock Infinite, System Shock 2, Half Life, Half Life 2
  66. Katcer
    May 9, 2014
    10
    Excelente juego con respecto a historia, muy entretenido y muy buena jugabilidad. El diseño artístico es exelente, ademas muy acorde con la época en la cual se basa el juego.
  67. KizzaD91
    May 22, 2014
    9
    Bioshock is, undoubtedly, one of the most intense, unique and beautiful first-person shooter I've ever played. The ambience, graphics, music and special style of gameplay of Bioshock has set the bar for all game developers. 2K has produced a masterpiece; do yourself a favour and play it.
  68. SpiderPlayer
    May 25, 2015
    8
    And I must praise this game enough because, first, I was never a big fan of FPS games, but this game pleased me enough, good gameplay, a half-crazy story, and graphs until cool.
  69. Tomle1202
    Jul 12, 2022
    8
    Bioshock's underwater Rapture is as wonderful as it is terrifying. A must-play.
  70. carlosgtardon
    Jun 10, 2014
    9
    Un FPS muy atractivo y necesario, en el que se conjuga un fuerte mundo narrativa con acción. A nivel gráfico interesante y su relación con el imaginario de Ayn Rand le convierte en una fantástica compra.
  71. DornishViper
    Jun 13, 2014
    10
    Bioshock is phenomenal. I still cannot get over the fact it came out 7 years ago and yet still looks better than half the stuff that came out this year. gun/plasmid play is fun but the game really comes alive with its story and setting. Play it.
  72. ThePCGamer101
    Jun 24, 2015
    9
    BioShock is an eerie and scary game, but it is a great classic to play! With all of its plot twists and unfortunate events, this is truly a great videogame series, the game runs very well on modern day PC's but with some slight freezes (which I probably think is from my antivirus software) and also sometimes the frame rate drops when there is fire everywhere, I can't really understandBioShock is an eerie and scary game, but it is a great classic to play! With all of its plot twists and unfortunate events, this is truly a great videogame series, the game runs very well on modern day PC's but with some slight freezes (which I probably think is from my antivirus software) and also sometimes the frame rate drops when there is fire everywhere, I can't really understand because my PC is quite a good gaming PC, but anyways, still a great game

    The only problem I have with the game is the AI, the AI is so dumb when you play it in Easy mode, the enemies just pass by you and completely ignore you, or when a Big Daddy is right in front of you, he just sees you and walks away, if you want a challenge, don't play it on Easy mode!

    Characters sometimes dissapear and are only heard, like 2 hours into the game I saw a Little Sister with a Big Daddy, I killed the Big Daddy and then all of a sudden, I could hear the Little Sister but could not find her, and sometimes I hear side characters talking but not in the area I'm in, quite annoying!

    Another problem I have with the game is the audio clipping, sometimes the audio logs which I listen into get clipped with the main dialogue, honestly, 2K Boston could of made it that when the main dialogue occurs, the audio log stops and continues right after, also sometimes the audio levels vary greatly, sometimes they are the right volume, next it flat out loud, and some of the voices in the game are muffled whilst others sound clear, I don't know why that is...

    Another problem I have is the amount of fetch quests, I HATE loads of fetch quests, and this game has loads of fetch quests, I can understand that 2K Boston wanted you to experience Rapture, but too much is too many...

    But, overall this is a great classic, AND if they ever have another 2K Weekend or sale and are selling the BioShock Triple Pack for 15.00EUR or less, GET IT!!!

    Now, would you kindly like this review and buy the game    … Expand
  73. jacob4
    Jun 4, 2017
    10
    An absolute mind-blowing action game! BioShock has an atmospheric 80's environment that draws you into the lore and story of the game. Filled with twists and turns, amazing sound and music, mind-blowing visuals and game play, and beautifully haunting levels. BioShock is like the Atlas Shrugged of video games, once you've played, you can't stop talking about it. You'll never see the bottomAn absolute mind-blowing action game! BioShock has an atmospheric 80's environment that draws you into the lore and story of the game. Filled with twists and turns, amazing sound and music, mind-blowing visuals and game play, and beautifully haunting levels. BioShock is like the Atlas Shrugged of video games, once you've played, you can't stop talking about it. You'll never see the bottom of the ocean the same way!… Expand
  74. runner
    Nov 4, 2017
    10
    Bioshock is awesome. Truly. I haven't played the remaster but the original one, and 10 years after release this game is still awesome, playable, relevant, looks great.
    If you're someone like me and took your time until trying this game, please do so now. If you appreciate a good story and can handle FPS, it should be worth it.
    It has great atmosphere, epic soundtrack, probably the best    Bioshock is awesome. Truly. I haven't played the remaster but the original one, and 10 years after release this game is still awesome, playable, relevant, looks great.
    If you're someone like me and took your time until trying this game, please do so now. If you appreciate a good story and can handle FPS, it should be worth it.

    It has great atmosphere, epic soundtrack, probably the best opening a video game has ever had, nice gameplay elements added to the ordinary Shooters recipe, and have I mentioned the good story?

    There are many (!) good reviews about Bioshock so there's no point in going on. And while I recommend it and think it totally deserves this positivity, I WOULD write a few (just a few) points which did bother me a little, and may be critical to other players:
    *Game is quite linear. It didn't bother me greatly, but I know some wouldn't like it at all. There are plenty of corners for you to explore and look around for resources and cool stuff you collect throughout the game, so it really bothered me only at the very end when I felt I didn't have much to find anymore. So, not 100% linear, but mostly linear.

    *Story is unfolded mostly with tape recordings. Actual happenings are really mostly at the very beginning and towards the end of the game. That one actually REALLY bothered me, I found it harder to concentrate and understand the story this way. It could also make things boring & repetitive at times. But all in all, the whole story of Bioshock is pretty much worth it.

    *Game is completely playable on modern machines despite being old, but nonetheless it's not innocent some bugs and glitches, personally I've encountered a tendency of the voice acting so suddenly disappear at some of the non-tape-recordings moments, which are the most crucial ones, leaving me only with the subtitles which I couldn't even finish reading at times. I couldn't find a solution to this problem and that really ruined a moment or two throughout the game. From trying to figure it out I found that there are plenty of others encountering the same issue and some others as well. Ah well. Just some technical bugs, but really, they're not that common.
    Go Play!    … Expand
  75. MecPlayer
    May 3, 2021
    10
    BIOSHOCK, it's a game where you are randomly tasked to do things after a plane crash only to discover that your mind is about to be blown away.

    submerged in a stranded underwater city, you'll have to make meaningful decisions that will affect your gameplay, altough there are no big consequences after death, the game is great and will keep you hooked until the end. the city is master    BIOSHOCK, it's a game where you are randomly tasked to do things after a plane crash only to discover that your mind is about to be blown away.

    submerged in a stranded underwater city, you'll have to make meaningful decisions that will affect your gameplay, altough there are no big consequences after death, the game is great and will keep you hooked until the end.
    the city is master crafted, and every step feels like a cinematic composition of horror that will make you jump at times, although the game is not exactly a horror game.
    just get confortable, change the bindings, and enjoy this hella' good piece that should had been played a lot more.    … Expand
  76. Veba4
    Jul 14, 2014
    10
    BioShock is my all time favorite game. A lot of people seem to not understand why this game is so great. My answer? The details. Starting from the stunning soundtrack, all the through the little easter eggs ending with the dialogs. Playing through the games roughly 10 times i always find every single time i find something that i haven't seen before. The varieties are seemingly endless whenBioShock is my all time favorite game. A lot of people seem to not understand why this game is so great. My answer? The details. Starting from the stunning soundtrack, all the through the little easter eggs ending with the dialogs. Playing through the games roughly 10 times i always find every single time i find something that i haven't seen before. The varieties are seemingly endless when it comes to collecting in this game, a fairly good amount of guns for a single player game, all with special ammunition types and upgrades, then you have the plasmids, the tonics, the extra upgrades from ADAM, crafting, hacking, researching. and of course little sisters. Still some people claim that the gameplay is monotone and is only shooting stuff, well my friend that is because you play on too low difficulty. On higher difficulties you really gotta make a plan and use all resources you can find in order to succeeded. There are amazing gameplay mechanisms out there in Rapture: applying sticky mines to objects (corpses, even explosives barrels) then using telekinesis to throw em onto beefy enemies; setting up huge traps to big daddies paths with the crossbow for instance; camouflage, security bullseye and enrage are art to themselves and the list goes on. But i do give a point to people saying gameplay is still not the main thing making the game, it is arguably the story and the characters. The story as it is is absurd yet really captures one's imagination. But the characters are easily the best one's ever in any video game. The insanity is so well represented, it's literally art. The audio logs are amazing idea, the character development gives you exactly as much inside at a time as you need to have dozes of unique personalities expand before your own eyes.
    To sum up this is one of the very few games in the 21th century where i actually think that the credit list is reasonably long, and you can tell everyone was paying a lot of attention creating this piece of art.    … Expand
  77. Yubb33
    Jul 29, 2014
    10
    This game is most likely the best best story driven game made mainstream, whose shooting mechanics are little more than a tool to advance the story, the main star of the game.
    Setting, music, ambiance, background art style, pacing, cast. all of these attributes are far more important than the action that takes place in the game.
    Far from it seeing as how the action drives all of these    This game is most likely the best best story driven game made mainstream, whose shooting mechanics are little more than a tool to advance the story, the main star of the game.
    Setting, music, ambiance, background art style, pacing, cast. all of these attributes are far more important than the action that takes place in the game.
    Far from it seeing as how the action drives all of these key components along at a great pace. You could look up online the perfect builds and upgrades that make even the toughest sections a cake-walk, but in doing so you would rob yourself of one of the best interactive "novels" in gaming history.
    Every cast member, good bad, grey area, even the name-less splicers and long dead apparitions have a story to tell if your patient enough to listen and find it.
    adding to this are "diaries", lost recordings scattered throughout that clue you into what brought about the disaster and chaos you are attempting to undo.
    My only complaint is that at the last moment(or so it goes in story) the publishers(suits) stepped in and forced Ken Levine's hand in changing the outcome of the story to make it more "player" friendly. I would have very much liked that not to be the case    … Expand
  78. Marick
    Mar 5, 2015
    10
    Bioshock is an FPS produced by 2K Boston (now Irrational Games) and published by 2K Games. The game is set somewhere in the 1960, when the protagonist, Jack, is fortunate to crash the plane into the ocean. Here come into Rapture, an underwater oas built by businessman Andrew Ryan. The game is super well done in many ways, the sound of the voice-acting community. The graphics are very goodBioshock is an FPS produced by 2K Boston (now Irrational Games) and published by 2K Games. The game is set somewhere in the 1960, when the protagonist, Jack, is fortunate to crash the plane into the ocean. Here come into Rapture, an underwater oas built by businessman Andrew Ryan. The game is super well done in many ways, the sound of the voice-acting community. The graphics are very good for the game year.… Expand
  79. peabutterbob
    Aug 15, 2014
    10
    Amazing. Great RPG elements. Scavenging for supplies, and you're heart will be beating when coming across a big daddy and not having enough ammunition. Awesome feature when harvesting the little girls because the game puts you in a situation where you need to survive.
  80. newturtle3
    Aug 20, 2014
    10
    This is a great game, good graphics, gameplay, and a very compelling storyline.
    The only thing/flaw i find is that most of the upper level difficulties do not change much. In other words the game difficulties are too easy or not hard enough. Everything else is great about the game.
  81. dragonfall123
    Aug 26, 2014
    9
    Bioshock is terrifying but it making you scared and on the edge makes you scared nearly all the time. The game looks good even for it's 7 year old age. The bad guys a insane and the world is dark. However, my favorite part of the game is the story it's gripping it makes you want to play it for hours until you realize it's 3 in the morning. If I was to say some bad things about is that youBioshock is terrifying but it making you scared and on the edge makes you scared nearly all the time. The game looks good even for it's 7 year old age. The bad guys a insane and the world is dark. However, my favorite part of the game is the story it's gripping it makes you want to play it for hours until you realize it's 3 in the morning. If I was to say some bad things about is that you can't use plasmids and weapons at the same time you have to switch between them making combat feel more difficult than it really is. Also there are some missions in the game that requires you to scavenge and it's very frustrating if your not an adventurer. The last thing I don't like about the game is the main character he only speaks in in the opening cut scene and never again your character only has a small piece of personality depending on your ending. But other than that the game is amazing the chances are that on steam you can get all three of the bioshock trilogy in 1 in the sale and I can easily recommend it for full price.… Expand
  82. jelikey
    Sep 10, 2015
    9
    Bioshock is a phenomenal game. It introduces new storytelling methods that help convey an intriguing story without making you feel like you have to "sit and listen" because the story is often (but not always) conveyed WHILE you do other parts of the game - and comes in the form of audiotapes that you find while exploring the mysteries of Rapture. It does a great job of deliveringBioshock is a phenomenal game. It introduces new storytelling methods that help convey an intriguing story without making you feel like you have to "sit and listen" because the story is often (but not always) conveyed WHILE you do other parts of the game - and comes in the form of audiotapes that you find while exploring the mysteries of Rapture. It does a great job of delivering interesting information and backstory about the game's world and setting to the player, without getting boring.… Expand
  83. Machine1211
    Aug 2, 2015
    10
    Next to Half-Life 2 this is my favorite FPS of all time. Actually it mixes various elements of RPG, science-fiction FPS, and a little bit of survival horror. The atmosphere of Rapture is incredible, the story is very goood and kinda sick. But the best part of the game is the nearly infinite variation of a combat to make. Everyone must know this one.
  84. ShawnD
    Dec 13, 2017
    7
    Great ideas, bad execution. 7/10

    The concept and art style of the game are great, but the actual gameplay is pretty bad. I'm not just saying that because it's 2017 and I'm unfairly judging a 10 year old game; I had these same complaints when Bioshock came out. The combat is horribly unbalanced and poorly thought out. The wrench and the tommy gun are probably the only weapons that work    Great ideas, bad execution. 7/10

    The concept and art style of the game are great, but the actual gameplay is pretty bad. I'm not just saying that because it's 2017 and I'm unfairly judging a 10 year old game; I had these same complaints when Bioshock came out. The combat is horribly unbalanced and poorly thought out. The wrench and the tommy gun are probably the only weapons that work well and have appropriate levels of ammunition. It feels like the designers originally wanted the game to be survival horror, but they also wanted the game to be fun, so they went half way and created a game that is neither scary nor fun. It always feels like there is a shortage of resources that forces the player to switch back and forth between weapons and plasmids, but the shortage leads to a feeling of anger and frustration.

    Pistol:
    Maximum pistol ammo is 48 bullets, but it can easily take 15 bullets to kill enemies later in the game, and that's with all of the pistol upgrades and playing on normal difficulty. If the enemies are going to be bullet sponges, I should be carrying 200 bullets. Is the game supposed to be survival horror where I'm sneaking around due to a lack of bullets, or is it supposed to be a fun game where I shoot things? The game has no sneaking and it has no bullets, so I get the worst of both worlds.

    Shotgun:
    Bioshock has the worst shotgun in any shooter I have ever played. Its effective range is a couple yards even though it fires 00 buckshot. In real life, buckshot's effective range is about 50-100 yards. It should be possible to shoot things across the room and have them die in a few shots. The original Doom shotgun and the Duke Nukem 3D shotgun are a lot closer to how a shotgun should work. Bioshock is a bit more like Doom 3 - the shotgun is useless. In addition to doing no damage and having no range, it has a 4 round magazine. It might be more effective to swing the shotgun like a baseball bat.

    Camera:
    The inclusion of a camera for research is just mind boggling. Here's how this plays out: You'll buy 100 camera ammo then take about 5 pictures per encounter for every enemy you encounter. Just run up to them and keep clicking the mouse button until it says it didn't take a picture because the score was too low. After seeing maybe 5 of each monster type, you'll have every monster type maxed out. Then you'll never use the camera again. What was the point of including this in the game? It's just mindless busy work.

    Grenades:
    The grenade launcher is awesome, but the ammo limits are stupid. You get a max of 6 of each type, and it takes about 6 grenades to kill a big daddy on normal difficulty. Since every other weapon in the game is basically useless against a big daddy, this means you'll carry grenades just for the sake of killing big daddies. It's like the game is mocking the player. We get this amazing weapon to carry around, but we can't use it on anything because that ammo is reserved for killing one specific enemy type.

    Chemical Thrower:
    This is another one of those really bizarre design choices. The chemical thrower can do all 3 types of elemental damage - fire, cold, electricity. The cold and electricity essentially do no damage, so those act very similar to the plasmid powers. This means you would be expected to freeze an enemy with the thrower and then switch to a different weapon to inflict damage. This is a horrendous idea. Switching back and forth between guns and plasmids is easy because it just involves right clicking. Switching back and forth between guns is a lot more involved because it involves hitting different numbers on a keyboard, and people playing on console would probably switch weapons using the D pad. It's a lot clumsier than clicking a single button to toggle back and forth. The chemical thrower seems like an idea that would work if it were possible to assign it as a plasmid power instead of a gun. Since that isn't possible, you'll probably just resort to using the plasmid versions of elemental damage and not using the chem thrower at any point in the game.

    Enemies:
    Bioshock is one of those games where enemies blend into the background very easily. I find myself using the fire plasmid just because it marks targets effectively. I can always see an enemy that is on fire.

    The damage in the game is so incredibly broken that I'm certain this is the reason the game gives free respawns when you die. On normal difficulty, 2 shots from a big daddy rivet gun will kill you, and there's no way to dodge them other than line of sight.This means you will die all the time. If one of your hacked devices fires a stray bullet that hits a big daddy, you will die in a few seconds unless you are already behind cover. Rather than fix the stupid amount of damage done by enemies, the game just gives the player a free respawn with no loss of equipment or ammo. They know players would be punching their monitors if the game did a game over screen every time that happened.    … Expand
  85. LifeHistory
    May 10, 2017
    10
    This is one of a kind game and its is totally amazing you'll have a magical adventure. The quality on this thing is amazing you get:

    -Amazingly beautiful level design. -Great Graphics. -Fantastic animation art. -Cool new type of gameplay. -Cool mechanics to use. -Interesting cool thriller story. -Great atmosphere. This is one of the best games ever made. And if you missed it    This is one of a kind game and its is totally amazing you'll have a magical adventure. The quality on this thing is amazing you get:

    -Amazingly beautiful level design.
    -Great Graphics.
    -Fantastic animation art.
    -Cool new type of gameplay.
    -Cool mechanics to use.
    -Interesting cool thriller story.
    -Great atmosphere.

    This is one of the best games ever made. And if you missed it then you are not a gamer my son.    … Expand
  86. nikkornukov
    Apr 6, 2015
    10
    +Unforgettable atmosphere
    +Amazing visual design
    +Incredible sound and jazz music
    +Big Daddies and Little Sisters
    +Grandiose and horrific Rapture is one of the best world in video games
    -Gameplay may seem boring to some

    10/10
  87. Smilingcookie
    Jan 27, 2017
    8
    Good game but heavily overrated by the critics. At the start it really blew me away with crisp gameplay and wonderful atmosphere. After 1/3 it becomes too repetitve though with little new things going on. Still good game. Finished it in 14 hours.
  88. Sanastusa
    Jan 8, 2020
    8
    A atmospheric experience that continues to stand the test of time as being a true gem in gaming. This was my first play-through on PC and in total my fifth from start to finish. Challenged myself this time with the hardest difficulty and the Big Daddys proved to be quite the hurdle.
  89. xcvx
    May 25, 2015
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Bioshock starts with player-jack-`s accident, before he enters 'Rapture' that is the city represents under-water utopia, at first. 'Rapture' uses new energy called ADAM, finding form sea snails. As using more and more ADAM, new ADAM precess that gather from young girls (called little sisters) is invented. ADAM have strong addictiveness to users and after addiction, they become aggressive and monster-like appearance. Player judges kill this 'little sister' to be powerful or save her for your humanity. Finishing this game, though I have lots of words to describe this game, the only one I say is "To clear bioshock easily, I killed many little sisters. It is just game, but I find that I can become brutal to complete my purpose. This game makes me feel uncomfortable."… Expand
  90. zimmer600
    Aug 19, 2017
    10
    In one of the interviews, Levine talked about how he pestered the thresholds of leading publishers, offering them BioShock. "A typical shooter for the PC, he will disperse in a circulation of 250,000 copies," the important bosses told him and pointed to the door. Bite your elbows, short-sighted gentlemen, - you missed the candidate for "Game of the Year".
  91. BoogeeFilmGuy
    Jul 6, 2016
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Everything about BioShock is brilliant. The story, the atmosphere, the gameplay and the writing all shine here. The game was developed by Irrational Games' Ken Levine, who also made the System Shock 2. Mister Levine certainly knows how to make survival horror game in a twisted environment with a silent protagonist. Anyways, the game starts out in a plane with our main character, Jack Ryan. Then the plane crashes and we're thrown into one of the most sadistic and frightening worlds in video game history. And I love it. I feel like the best way to experience BioShock is by knowing next to nothing about it, like I did when I first played it last weekend. The gameplay is stellar, with a mix of standard first-person shooting and strange power ups called 'Plasmids'. They can let you shoot electricity out of your hand, and lift stuff up and throw things at people. Its pretty damn fun. The music is terrifyingly brilliant and gives me chills each time I hear it. It sets the environment incredibly well. The story, while very similar to System Shock 2's is still engaging and has a twist that actually surprised me. The writing is also brilliant and really holds the game up through the dull and mundane moments it has.

    One of my few problems with the game is that it's pretty easy. I played the game on normal and only died twice. Another problem I have with the game is that the Big Daddy fights (Big Daddies are robots you have to kill to get to Little Sisters' who give you Adam which you use to get power ups) are too easy and get very boring after a while, particularly if you beat the game in one sitting like I did. Also, some parts of the game did get kind of repetitive as it progressed.

    Those are probably my only flaws with the game. It truly is a magnificent experience that I enjoyed immensely. I definitely won't be forgetting about Rapture any time soon.

    Those are m    … Expand
  92. LapaSaiza
    Aug 3, 2015
    10
    I was never a big fan of horror games and most times I will avoid them at all costs, since I am a big scaredy cat. But Bioshock made me want to immerse myself in the beautiful horrors of its world and it is one of those rare things, where the horror and blood actually improves the story. I've never again saw a game where the game play enhance the story and other way round. I truly recommend it!
  93. Amsheagar
    Nov 30, 2020
    9
    Bioshock has the one of the best atmosphere in the video games. The game is very beautiful and artistic and the story is very good. i very liked the storytelling mechanism. You have to collect the hidden journals if you want to know more about the background of the city. This is a story based fps with some extra abilities.
  94. Kopter
    Oct 23, 2015
    9
    Entorno perfecto, ambiente perfecto, todo está perfectamente ensamblado en este juego. Nadie diría que un FPS tendría una historia TAN BESTIAL como tiene Bioshock. Increíble.
  95. porkchoppal
    Nov 9, 2015
    10
    Out of the dozens of games I have played, Bioshock would have to be my personal favourite. Its strategic, gruesome combat, wonderfully scripted characters and stories, stunning art direction and plenty of replay value. It is not the perfect game, nor the most fun, but it is a masterpiece of atmosphere, writing and mood.

    Positives: - Fantastic script - Layered FPS/RPG combat -    Out of the dozens of games I have played, Bioshock would have to be my personal favourite. Its strategic, gruesome combat, wonderfully scripted characters and stories, stunning art direction and plenty of replay value. It is not the perfect game, nor the most fun, but it is a masterpiece of atmosphere, writing and mood.

    Positives:
    - Fantastic script
    - Layered FPS/RPG combat
    - Excellent visual and sound design
    - Plenty of secret audio logs and upgrades

    Negatives:
    - Rushed ending
    - Half-baked morality system

    Rating: 10/10 (Must Own)    … Expand
  96. Corvus_Mellori
    Nov 29, 2015
    10
    BioShock deserves every accolade that has been bestowed upon it. The underground city of Rapture is one of the most immersive and fully-realized game worlds ever created, and the way the narrative unfolds is impressive and original. The level design also shines, allowing you to progress through the levels in a way that fits your own personal playstyle. While the gameplay is great, it isBioShock deserves every accolade that has been bestowed upon it. The underground city of Rapture is one of the most immersive and fully-realized game worlds ever created, and the way the narrative unfolds is impressive and original. The level design also shines, allowing you to progress through the levels in a way that fits your own personal playstyle. While the gameplay is great, it is the story and the setting that really make BioShock the masterpiece that it is; few games possess the same level of narrative strength, boldness, and originality.… Expand
  97. agurczuk
    Jun 21, 2016
    7
    A very atmospheric first person shooter with an interesting story ,

    In game you are put in the shoes of a airplane crash survivor who finds himself in the middle of the ocean. Only to discover an entrence to an underwater city called Rapture. The city once glorious is now falling apart. It also is overrun by twisted for a lack of a better word mutants. You are led by a voice on the    A very atmospheric first person shooter with an interesting story ,

    In game you are put in the shoes of a airplane crash survivor who finds himself in the middle of the ocean. Only to discover an entrence to an underwater city called Rapture. The city once glorious is now falling apart. It also is overrun by twisted for a lack of a better word mutants. You are led by a voice on the radio following his advice in a hope to escape the city without dying. In order to do that you use a wide array of weapons with aid from Adam - a genetic rewriting fluid that essentially gives you magic powers.

    What I liked about the game. Definitely the setting - Rapture is extremely well designed with a very unique and constant atmospehre which holds out through the whole game. The enemy design is interesting and fits the setting. All locations, missions and progress make sense and push the story ever forward. Ammo is scarce - you value each shot and try to save every bullet as much as you can - which adds to the atmosphere. The big daddy's are pretty scary and first encounter with them is really unforgeable.

    What I didn't like was definitely the combat design. Enemies run around what feels like frantically around and are extremely hard to hit. What others might consider a plus it felt more annoying than anything else. Also all of them seem pretty tanky so you need to put a lot of bullets to put them down. Another thing I disliked was the camera mechanic - having to take pictures of enemies to learn their weaknesses might be a good idea but in a game where stealth is next to not existent having to take pictures of enemies in the middle of gunfight is a bit silly.

    Overall I really did enjoy the game and can recommend it mostly for the ambience and atmosphere it comes with.    … Expand
  98. Bladeofwar94
    Dec 1, 2015
    10
    Somewhere beyond the sea a fun as heck game is indeed waiting for me. This game will not be a game you play 50 times over, but those few play through's you get out of it will make you fall in love with Bioshock. The game's atmosphere is excellent and the gun play feels great when you learn the tricks. Game is great for someone who can't live without their dystopia fix.
  99. ankittoms
    Jan 3, 2016
    9
    Excellent story with a unique twist. Amazing Atmosphere with varied and challenging combat.

    Graphics: 8
    Game play : 9
    Combat: 9
    World Design: 9
    Content: 7
    Immersion: 9
    Story: 10
  100. MooseNine
    Jan 22, 2016
    10
    It is a most amazing game ever created - in my opinion.
    Extremly addictive story with an amazing "plot twister", great, dark climate and feeling of claustrophobia caused by surrounding us Atlantic ocean and all of that topped with an amazing music that highlights brutality of underwater city - Rapture.
    And yet questionable matter is game mechanics - specialy shooting system what most    It is a most amazing game ever created - in my opinion.
    Extremly addictive story with an amazing "plot twister", great, dark climate and feeling of claustrophobia caused by surrounding us Atlantic ocean and all of that topped with an amazing music that highlights brutality of underwater city - Rapture.

    And yet questionable matter is game mechanics - specialy shooting system what most of the time feels very plastic and gives us conviction of bullets bouncing from enemies.
    But the thing that sustains the positive reception of combat mechanics are plasmids - some sort of "super powers". Thanks to them we can shoot with thunders, fireballs and do many more things.

    Summary:

    Ken Levine (creator of classic System Shock 2) delivered us an amazing piece of work. The world he created in Bioshock is breathtaking and deserved a recognition.
    There are some bugs and problems with shooting system but the story and the world of the game save the day.

    That's why i give this game 10/10. Not becouse it is a perfect game - becouse perfect games doesn't exist - but becouse this game is polished in most of the key aspects that let game recipient realy dip into the virtual world which feels so real and alive. So this is 9/10, but in my personal feeling 10/10.    … Expand
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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]
    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
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