BioShock 2

 Xbox 360
User Score
8.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 784 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 632 out of 784
  2. Mixed: 115 out of 784
  3. Negative: 37 out of 784
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  1. Gamertag_gone
    Nov 10, 2011
    6
    a disappointment to say the least. this game did not live up to the hype for me at all. The entire premise of the game is being able to play as a big daddy, but you never actually FEEL like the terrifying monstrosities from the first Bioshock.

    I can understand why you're not supposed to be invincible, it doesn't make for a fun game if no one can kill you, but there just wasn't enough in    a disappointment to say the least. this game did not live up to the hype for me at all. The entire premise of the game is being able to play as a big daddy, but you never actually FEEL like the terrifying monstrosities from the first Bioshock.

    I can understand why you're not supposed to be invincible, it doesn't make for a fun game if no one can kill you, but there just wasn't enough in this game to set aside the growing fact that this game wasn't a worthy sequel to one of the best games of this console generation. The controls were a bit clunky for my tastes, and a lot of the plasmids felt very rushed and under developed.

    It wasn't a terrible game, by any means. I enjoyed it, it just didn't live up to the hype in my opinion. I think the main problem is that Ken Levine didn't have any hand in this game. He was the creative director for the 1st Bioshock, and is back for Bioshock Infinite. I believe IT will be the true sequel we all wanted this game to be. the game play was solid, but it didn't really capitalize on any new ground breaking experiences. The part of the game where you actually start to FEEL like a big daddy is so late that it feels like a missed opportunity, and the Big Sisters are too predictable to be a real threat. the tact on multi-player was poorly designed, and wasn't any fun at all. I'm giving this game a 6 out of 10. it had a hint of the glory that was Bioshock, but it failed to actually even compare to the original.    … Expand
  2. Kirase
    Jan 1, 2012
    6
    Bioshock 1 instantly impressed with its unique design and kept the player hooked with its uncommon gameplay and story through the game. Now with bioshock 2 it is somehow like hearing the same joke twice in a row. It fails to deliver enough new elements to be interesting. While i would really love to tell positive things about this game since i generally really like the combination of 3dBioshock 1 instantly impressed with its unique design and kept the player hooked with its uncommon gameplay and story through the game. Now with bioshock 2 it is somehow like hearing the same joke twice in a row. It fails to deliver enough new elements to be interesting. While i would really love to tell positive things about this game since i generally really like the combination of 3d shooter with slight rpg elements i just honestly can not do so. I did not even manage to finish the game, just got bored after a while and stopped playing it. Sure will give it a second chance some time and maybe even enjoy finishing it than, but at its release it just disappointed me. 6/10… Expand
  3. somethingguy912
    Oct 27, 2012
    6
    Well, I have to say I was excited to see a Bioshock sequel coming around the corner, considering how much I loved the story, environment and combat of Bioshock. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed. I was glad that they decided to allow you to use Plasmids AND Guns at the same time, rather than having to switch between each one manually. Also, they did do a great job of making you feelWell, I have to say I was excited to see a Bioshock sequel coming around the corner, considering how much I loved the story, environment and combat of Bioshock. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed. I was glad that they decided to allow you to use Plasmids AND Guns at the same time, rather than having to switch between each one manually. Also, they did do a great job of making you feel as if you are a Big Daddy, with the big submarine helmet, your bigfoot movement and the damage you took. I'm glad they added melee attacks to guns as well (since you might not want to have to switch to your drill). Hacking is now done in real-time, which seems like an improvement, but now the hacking system is even easier than the previous hacking system. And the guns, well, aren't much to brag about. They are practically the same as the previous game, just with a different name, ammo type and outlook. The only 'new' item is the hack tool, which is particularly good considering that now you can hack remotely from a distance. The "Protect the Sister" parts on the singleplayer are a nice touch, and I'm glad that 2K took attention to realize that you are a Big Daddy that needs to protect their little sisters as they are recovering adam for you. And you will need it. the secret improve-your-gun stations are more rare and now you will have to strategically choose which upgrades you want on your gun, because you won't get them all. However, I was disappointed they completely cut the ammo creation station, which made the game feel much shorter from the previous game. Also, I don't like how you have to use your Health Kits using one button on the D-pad, yet you can only take your plasmids when you are COMPLETELY out of EVE at the time. Iron Sights have been added for all guns now, and you can put on true ironsights if you want (even for the hack tool). But, the story was the real kick in the shins for me. Now, it was interesting, initially, with the whole Big Sister concept and how you were slowly dying and losing your mind from being torn apart from your little sister, but the tyrant, Sofia Lamb, was a lot less interesting than Andrew Ryan and more annoying so. Sofia just seems to keep talking to you as if she's trying to analyze something, and compared to her methods from Andrew Ryan, she's taken a more collective and socialistic method rather than him. The graphics seem downgraded somehow from the previous game, with graphics constantly being blurred out that haven't loaded right, as well as very smooth and choppy NPC's. Also, the ending was most possibly the most anti-climactic boss fight I have seen yet. In the fight to retain your little sister back and to get revenge on sofia lamb, you COMPLETE THE GAME BY DESTROYING TWO PIPES! TWO PIPES?! WOW! that must have been hard, considering that vigilante Big Daddy's and Brute Splicers will keep spawning on you if you don't destroy them. But, the most annoying thing that I think 2K thought they had to do to make the game popular was the multiplayer. I have heard so many bad things about it, and playing it, all of them were true. Most graphic pop-ups won't load, player movement is always choppy, and gameplay can become seriously unbalanced considerably. But, other than Black Ops, it was actually funny for me to see all of this happen as I was playing, and I just played to see how bad or good it really was. Bioshock doesn't need multiplayer, the first one was fine on it's own on the singleplayer because it was engaging and awesome at the same time. I guess when 2K decided to make Bioshock 2's singleplayer kind of recycled from the first game, they decided to make multiplayer to compensate for it. It didn't work. Hopefully, Bioshock: Infinite should be worthwhile considering that is free from the original bioshock universe. Still, this game should be worth your time, considering many of it's improvements, but it is seriously lacking in a decent multiplayer experience and far more an engaging and unfamiliar story arc.… Expand
  4. mose14
    Jul 20, 2013
    6
    Bioshock 2 is the sequel to one of my favorite games, so it has a high expectation in my opinion. The story this time around has you playing as a big daddy and protecting little sisters. The plot does not feel as fresh as the first because we already had visited Rapture before. Nothing story wise lives up to its predecessor, not even the villain who falls in comparison to Andrew Ryan. TheBioshock 2 is the sequel to one of my favorite games, so it has a high expectation in my opinion. The story this time around has you playing as a big daddy and protecting little sisters. The plot does not feel as fresh as the first because we already had visited Rapture before. Nothing story wise lives up to its predecessor, not even the villain who falls in comparison to Andrew Ryan. The gameplay on the over hand is better than ever. You now get to use a weapon and a plasmid at the same time. The combat feels good and you really feel like you are a big daddy because how powerful you are in the game. There are a couple of new additions like a defense segment where you have to protect your little sister as she gathers atom for you. The multiplayer is very unnecessary and feels tacked on to an already complete package. The premise and set up is interesting but when you get down to the game itself it feels very bland. Bioshock 2 is still a good game, it might not live up to greats like the first Bioshock, but still worth a play for fans of the series.… Expand
  5. Ludbig
    Feb 23, 2015
    6
    I have never played this game. .
  6. Locke_Cole
    Feb 13, 2018
    6
    Muy inferior a la primera parte, Bioshock 2 es un shooter en primera persona satisfactorio en su jugabilidad, rico en cuanto a lore e interesante en cuanto al mundo que busca desarrollar. Todas ellas son buenas cualidades, pero son el piso que estableció el primer Bioshock. El mundo, la historia, el planteamiento filosófico, y la mayoría de sus virtudes son un calco de la primera parte.Muy inferior a la primera parte, Bioshock 2 es un shooter en primera persona satisfactorio en su jugabilidad, rico en cuanto a lore e interesante en cuanto al mundo que busca desarrollar. Todas ellas son buenas cualidades, pero son el piso que estableció el primer Bioshock. El mundo, la historia, el planteamiento filosófico, y la mayoría de sus virtudes son un calco de la primera parte. Son muy buenos, pero el hecho de repetirse no le suma puntos a esta entrega.

    Por el contrario la historia de esta secuela es poco inspirada, se ha visto muchas veces en muchos medios. Casi toda la magia se ha perdido, pues la hemos visto. Aunque el gunplay de este juego es satisfactorio, se repite bastante y tiene poca variabilidad, las habilidades de los plasmidos dan mayor juego, lo cual se agradece. Lamento la decepción que me ha dado este juego, pues su primera entrega es de los juegos mas interesantes que he catado.    … Expand
  7. Pu33ylips69
    Jul 14, 2023
    6
    A better game than the first in almost every way. But compared to other games that came out around it's time, it's still pretty generic. Also Minerva's Den is overrated.
  8. CoDFather
    Aug 14, 2010
    5
    The first Bioshock was better. The storyline's too short, the splicers are more cartoony than Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, but at least that was good!! The horror isn't as scary as Bioshock 1. They totally copied off of Kill Bill when you shoot yourself in the head... and survive?! What a bunch of lazy developers! The first Bioshock- Nearly perfect. The second Bioshock- half as good
  9. BoneyMSomewhere
    Apr 8, 2011
    5
    I started to play this game because I really like Bioshock, but 2 just couldn't hook me. There was nothing in it that I wanted to know except for when it'd do something interesting. But it didn't and I eventually gave it up.
  10. JacobP
    Feb 23, 2010
    0
    Just call it 'Bioshock DLC'. I'm glad I only rented this; it was over in one night. Short and on-dimensional; this is just a rehash of it's predecessor.
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best Xbox 360 Game of 2010
15
#15 Most Discussed Xbox 360 Game of 2010
34
#34 Most Shared Xbox 360 Game of 2010

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
88

Generally favorable reviews - based on 93 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 92 out of 93
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 93
  3. Negative: 0 out of 93
  1. GamePro
    100
    Still, BioShock 2 not only re-captures the dystopian aesthetic, gripping narrative, and deep gameplay of Irrational's original, but it actually greatly improves on the BioShock experience as a whole, fine-tuning what made Jack's voyage to Rapture such a memorable experience two years ago.
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  2. MS Xbox World
    85
    It's well over two year's since we first had the privilege to be submerged into the world of Rapture for the very first time. In contrast to the first outing, the sequel certainly delivers that same and unique feel with the combination of well thought out design and audio. It's not so much 'better' than the original, but provides enough twists and turns to keep us unadulterately submerged in this mesmerizing underwater (and demented) utopia.
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  3. GameSpot
    85
    Rapture may not be as mysterious and intriguing this second time around, but it is nonetheless host to a powerful and moving tale that allows you to better realize--or pervert--Ryan's principles at your own discretion. Regardless of whether or not this is a return visit to paradise lost, there is plenty to be found here to make it a worthwhile, meaningful, and compelling one.
    Read full review
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