BioShock Infinite: Art in motion.

     When the first BioShock game was released its art style and story grabbed gamers' attention. BioShock 2, while still a good game, didn't seem to have the same effect on gamers. So could the third game in the franchise breathe new life and capture the same drama and awesomeness of the first? Thankfully the developers at Irrational Games did just that and more with BioShock Infinite. To me, Bioshock Infinite is not only better than the second game, it almost rivals the original.

     Bioshock Infinite is set in 1912. You play as a private investigator named Booker DeWitt. You are tasked with finding a girl named Elizabeth in the city of Columbia in order to settle a debt. The city of Columbia is no ordinary city. Just as the underwater city of Rapture inspired us, the floating city of Columbia is a sight to behold. Columbia was built by the "Prophet" Father Comstock as a utopian society free from the sins of the traditional world. When you first reach the city things seem just fine...almost too fine. Just like in BioShock fashion, things take a dark and dangerous turn as you discover the city and the citizens aren't what they seem. You won't run into any Big Daddies this time, but you will meet some new enemies that are both creative and deadly. The story is fast paced, very interesting, and has some twists that keep you engaged with the game.

     The combat and controls work like you would expect in a BioShock (and a FPS) game, but with a few twists. Fans of the series have come to love and expect the use of augmentations or powers. They are back and better than ever in this game and come in the form of "vigors." Throughout the game you'll discover and drink these vigors. This will grant you special abilties like hurling fireballs, murderous crows, shock blasts, possession, and several other powers to use against your enemies. There's also a pretty good variety of guns to use too. These range from pistols, machine guns, shotguns, rpgs, and sniper rifles. Mixing vigor and weapon attacks is quite enjoyable.

     Both the vigors and guns can be upgraded by spending silver eagle coins at vending machines scattered throughout the levels. A new weapon has been added to the game known as the skyhook. The skyhook acts as both a melee weapon and a means to travel across skylines. This of course adds another level of combat to the game. Elizabeth herself is not a weapon in the traditional sense, but she does aid you both in and out of combat. During combat she will randomly hand you extra ammo, salt (used for vigors), and even med packs. She can also open specific rifts that will give you access to automated turrets, med packs, and even cover. When you're not in combat Elizabeth will even toss you extra silver eagle coins you can spend. This works really well to make Elizabeth more a part of the game and not just a mindless tag along character.

     The graphics in the game are good. There are some low res textures throughout the environments but it's not extremely terrible. Even with the low res textures, the environments are very colorful which make objects really stand out and catch your attention. Character and weapon models look good as well. To me, the thing that makes the graphics stick out is the entire art direction of the game. Just like the other BioShock games, Infinite takes you back to another time. A simpler time if you will. The developers paid so much attention to things that would have been around in 1912. Well, except for the giant floating city and augmented powers! Things like old radios, music being played, clothing styles, posters/advertisements, all feel like they were pulled from that time period. The art style is simply awesome.

     Voice acting is another area that is done very well. The conversations between Booker and Elizabeth sound very natural and make the characters seem more real. When the characters are happy or upset, you can really feel their emotions through their voice. BioShock Infinite does not have any multiplayer to speak of and to me I thought that was a good move on the developers part. BioShock 2's multiplayer wasn't bad, but it just didn't keep me entertained very long and I found myself moving on to other multiplayer shooters. I think that this is the kind of game that is meant to be a solo experience and it does that wonderfully.

     BioShock Infinite had a lot to prove. The first game in the series was critically acclaimed and gamers were anxiously waiting to get that same feeling again. Irrational Games nailed it! Once again they crafted a truly memorable experience for gamers. I can't tell you how many times I would stop and simply look around and take in all the wonders of the city of Columbia. If you don't stop and soak it all in you're really missing out on this game. From the great voice acting, incredible art style, smooth controls, and an intriguing story, BioShock Infinite is a game that stays in your mind long after playing it.

Final Verdict: 10/10

Written by: Alter Ego 83