BioShock Comments by Kristan Reed

Such a minor point TC :)

It's worth noting that a section of the PC-community is VERY vocal about the loot glinting issue, which is - I suspect - why they included it.

KG

Yeah it is a ludicrously minor point I know, and its obviously by no means a deal breaker (in terms of which version I get, pc or 360). As I say, feels a bit silly bringing it up in light of how astonishing it sounds, but still, it is a bit of a peeve, and I was just wondering if you had any issue with it while you were playing ?

it's a pet peeve for me too as a 360 player (from a lapsed PC-only background), but it's very subtle indeed compared to e.g. the noxious neon blue of Thief 3.

SacredVerse: If very few games get the full 10/10 it just tells you very few games are quite this good(EG dont throw them around lightly... although I dont think San Andreas deserved a 10 though). Or just ignore the score, read the review and decide whether to buy it so you can make you own mind up on the greatness out of 10.

Ah well thats good to know. I just find it rather ruins my suspension of disbelief. I'm not sure why they deem it neccesary to add it to console fps's and not to most pc fps's. Especially these days. What is it exactly that drives that decision ? Is it a presumption about the sort of screen they'l be using, The distance they think the player is likely to be from the tv, or the percieved intelligence of the people they think will be playing ?

'For a game to be so outstanding in one department is one thing - to manage to tick every single box from graphics to audio to gameplay depth to atmosphere and innovation is pretty much unprecedented.'

It's not unprecedented, remember Deus Ex did this too in 2000, and it also recieved a 10. Not to mention System Shock 2 the year before.

Great review.

I remember seeing the first CGI trailer and the feeling for the world and getting excited about this, more so than anything else in recent years (I went out of gaming for a while due to just losing interest completely in it, but my 360 has brought me back to something like how I was when I first slinged my racer round a corner in Wipeout on the Saturn, or ran around in Tomb Raider for the first time.)

Finally downloaded the demo today and set time aside once the sun had set to fire it up. WOW, so many great moments in that demo, especially when you first see the sprawling city of Rapture, it's brilliantly 'introduced' (great voice acting work, especially compared with most games 'I'll just record my dad through the telephone, that'll do' approach!).

The graphics and definitely the sound are so immersive. The graphics still aren't perfect, you can still see blockiness in the shadows etc up close, but it's still the best graphics I've ever seen, and the art direction just sheer class, far more distinctive than just about anything I've seen in TV or films, or other games for that matter. This game is art, no doubt about it.

Damn, think I'll go play the demo again. Oh and I totally agree with another commentator in that at places I really did not want to go on, The entrance to Rapture, totally black beyond the slightly ajar door, made me actually want to retreat. Now THAT is what gaming is really all about. I'll need to hassle about with my surround sound to get it out again for when I get this game!

I know this will maybe cause silly arguments, but seriously, Halo 3... I don't think it stands a chance, reviews wise, nothing I've seen from it, nothing at all seems like any great leap over what I was already getting tired and bored of from Halo 2, and I rather despise the online play in it too so that's not grabbing me towards it either. Just a personal choice of course but Bioshock will definitely mean my wallet won't be opening anytime soon to get Halo 3.

Oh I think Halo 3 can do really well as well. It's a very different kind of game and in my opinion they sort complement of eachother well. Halo giving you vehicles, multiplayer and so on and wide vistas. Bioshock being more confined and personal and more focused on the story and your immersion in it.

Of course now I'm assuming that the Halo 3 storyline is something akin to Halo and Halo 2 and that it plays relatively similar. Which I hope is a fair assessment.

please don't bring Halo comparisons in here, they aren't exactly relevant -- or even feasible, beyond the fact that both involve shooting in the first person -- and they tend to derail the thread.

edit: or what disc said. and for me, honestly, if I had to choose between never playing Halo 3's singleplayer and never playing it's multiplayer, I would opt for the former.

Krudster:

Thank you for a fantastic review - you've eloquently captured what makes the game great, without (and the importance of this cannot be overstated) spoiling one bit for it for us. That's the sort of recommendation you'd give to a friend: "it's great, trust me - just go get it". This is why I read Eurogamer.

Also, I preordered the Bioshock 'special edition', because for this game I'm actually really keen to see some 'behind the scenes' footage of the team's creative process. I'll wait until I've finished the game before watching it, though!

Long live the compelling single player experience!

Edits: Morning does not suit me.

Edited 3 times, most recently on 16/08/07 @ 03:38

I don't understand this shift to console gaming, and it actually makes me die a little more inside every time.

A game like this should be treated to an up-close and personal experience with a high-powered gaming rig, top-notch laser mouse and maxed out graphics, with mods galore.

*sighs* Excuse me as I go and hitch the horse to my cart.

Oh darn, the horse has bolted.

I actually dont think I'll be watching any of the behind the scenes footage of Bioshock. Dont get me wrong I'm fascinated by the processes that must have gone in to producing something of this quality, but I find if I watch the makings of things, it tends to diminish the magic of the film / game itself. Sort of seeing the wizard behind the curtain as it were :)

Oh... and off topic but that jumping 80's hair metal f**ktard on the Guitar Hero advert to the right is really getting on my tits.

I think it would do MS good to get behind this game(like they did with Gears)... its the best so far by the sounds of it on the 360, its a console exclusive too, so if they have any sense they will be aware that this could sell alot of consoles for them this year.

@ Calgon: Gears of War was published by Microsoft so don't expect the same kind of support for Bioshock. Also, it's an unconventional FPS, difficult to advertise properly IMO. I think its success might come from word of mouth.

OH YES

/Raz victory dance

Peew971: Ah I forgot MS published it, well I disagree with you on the difficult to advertise part, its still console exclusive(even if its not published by them its a big game... theyve shown GTA alot of excitement, this game deserves that sort of attention) and since its shaping up to be the most critically acclaimed game released on the system so far... its well worth MS putting some attention on it for the extra sales it could easily acheive(with games like this they are that good it doesnt matter on the type if asked you just say "what type? the great type, just play it"). Word of mouth is inevitable but MS could and should speed things up to let people see what they are missing.

I knew all along I'd love it, and I'm sure I will, BUT there's not much that sounds that different from System Shock 2 in terms of gameplay ideas... Hopefully it's that as Krudster said in one of the comments he's holding back a lot so as not to spoiler it.

But hell I'd buy it for the underwater art-deco-ness alone! :D

This is the first game in years to have made me stop and say 'wow'. I think the last game I played that had this sort of reaction for me was Deus Ex. If the demo is anything to go by, this is going to be one of those games that becomes a measuring stick for subsequent generations.

Great review, and indeed an excellent game, I do hope some devs get a clue from this masterpiece so we can see some new aspects to fps games.

logos01: Just as long as it sells.

Judging by reviews so far the second printing of the Bioshock box could have the most ridiculous amount of review blurb ever.

"to tick every single box from graphics to audio to gameplay depth to atmosphere and innovation is pretty much unprecedented" - frothing reviewer

"What is a drop of rain, compared to the storm? What is a thought, compared to a mind? Our unity is full of wonder, which your tiny individualism cannot even conceive." -The Many

Smashing review, glad i preordered this baby! Bring it on!

Fantastic review, I cant wait for my Special Edition on 360 to arrive in the post. This is the game I have been wanting to play since System Shock 2. I still have ss2 installed on my Pc, it´s my favorite game of all time.

10/10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


You didn't let me down Eurogamer. Now if only I could buy this now!!!!!!

You can ;)

Wow. And I thought the PC Gamer review made me want this game more than anything else in the world, now EG made me somehow want it even more. And that should never have even been remotely possible.

Kudos on the review. Let the "it's mind blowing" celebrations begin!

10/10, is it hype? Is it real? time will tell

=D
Oh God, how am I going to concentrate on my job interview today?
"Hi! By the way, how good is Bioshock looking? How fucking good? Yeah, yeah, job, shmob, Bioshock, baby, yeah!"

On Saturday I was undecided on whether or not to get Bioshock. This review and the demo changed everything.

I'll be damned if I'm forking out for the collectors edition though haha.

GET IN THERE!!!!
That little f*cking c*nt Ronaldo sees red; the mighty Gooners get a 2-0 away lead for CHampions League qualification; and now Bioshock gets a 10/10!!!!
As far as I'm concerned, that's 3 excellent results from last night :D

I haven't read all comments yet, but surely, SURELY there's no way the Sony fans can put a negative on this.... I mean, a game that gets universal praise, pushes boundaries, and has a fresh/original setting and vibe. The cries of "is it coming to PS3" say it all (not before Christmas if at all, is the word). Just put your hands in your pockets and buy a 360.... you never know, you might learn to enjoy it!?!?!?

evild_edd: Sony fans want it as well. Please don't try to fan the flames.

I played the demo tonight after seeing the fantastic scores being posted for this game. I have to say that it's one of the best looking FPS titles I've seen in years. The level of detail in the environments has to be seen to be appreciated. Everywhere you turn, there's something odd and wonderful to look at. It was great to be able to carve my initials into the wall with the wrench, shoot a happy face into it with the revolver, then zap the floor lamps with my jedi like powers. A non gamer friend watched me play for some minutes then commented that it seemed like the game was all about killing people. I couldn't deny that, at the core, Bioshock has the standard kill em all FPS game mechanics but with a lot of style.

[The cries of "is it coming to PS3" say it all (not before Christmas if at all, is the word). Just put your hands in your pockets and buy a 360.... you never know, you might learn to enjoy it!?!?!?]

Or.. just get it for pc? =x

Not about to purchase a 3rd console for bioshock and mass effect when i could get one for pc and the other by borrowing a brothers console sometime.

As for bioshock, totally been interested in this since the first trailers of its art design and water features. To see that its also got amazing gameplay and immersion is quite handy indeed.

Out of interest, are we going to get a PC review as well? Sounds like there are minor graphical differences (option to turn item glow off), as well as the rather major gamepad vs keyboard/mouse control difference.

I usually find PC first person games more immersive - (potentially) higher resolution, sitting closer to the screen, I'm more used to kb/m control. I'd be interested to know how the two versions differ.

I have to say I enjoyed the start of the demo more than the rest of it. Definitely pre-ordered but I'm not sure I'm going to enjoy the actual game as much as the atmosphere and setting of the game. Probably not as much as Krudster at any rate;-)

I'm sure once we get it we can look at doing a more technically focused PC review, yes.

Dammit! Going on holiday then. I was gonna try and avoid this for a couple of months but so many reviews have convinced me I can't. Might have to pack my 360 on holiday and pray my Lake District camp site has power points and a spare HDTV going. :-P

Well that just about settles it then ... I'm like a giddy schoolboy over this game, sitting here in my underpants all excited reading this review, booking next Friday off work and getting ready for a "gaming till sunrise" session that I haven't had since Halo ...

Can. Not. Wait.

/wonders if disc is going to hang around all day being the resident Bioshock expert

Sold.

Hang on, I already had it on preview...

Thoroughly sold!

Holy crap. I'm late to the party, but damn.. GREAT review and the game doesn't seem half-bad either :)

It's games like these that's killing the PS3, not the PS3 (or Sony) itself. Just so you know. I'm going to have to pre-order this now.

I'd so buy the development team a drink if I ever bumped into them :)

Another 10/10! talk about a sleeper hit :P

10!!
Lordy cant wait to play this nooooooooow

YAY. Well I ignored the hype for this one, but the demo was stunning. Perfect timing as my 360 is back from the doctors with the new heatsink, so here's hoping :D

Great review, EG. I expected a 9 at most. A 10 pretty much means it's essential for any gamer who owns a 360 or PC and all the other reviews have been equally complimentary about the game. The demo was astonishingly great, not that I ever expected it to be disappointing when a talented dev like Irrational are behind it.

I can't believe I've survived the last six months eagerly awaiting this game only for the last week to be almost agonising!!! Hurry up 23rd (got BioShock C.E. ordered from Gameplay.com ya see so hopefully I'll get it this time next week)... :D

Will definitely try this one out.

Oh my God... It's an exclusive review and it's a 10! What a surprise!

/goosebumps

Hmmm, now how can I convince my wife that we should rebook our flight back from Spain on Thursday next week instead of on Saturday night .... I want a whole weekend with this game! Or maybe I just call in sick the week after. Luckily no-one at work has yet figured out that you can check xbox.com to see what a certian gamertag are playing right now :).

Excellent review. Thanks for making it so spoilerfree.

I loved the demo. I also didn't think the highlighting was intrusive at all. It's more of a faint shimmer which isn't immediatly obvious.