BioShock Comments by Dan Whitehead

Blimey so many haters.

Game is pure 10 material for me.

As has been said, this has nothing to do with console wars. Bioshock was never worth a 10 on 360 and it still isn't a year later. It has some good ideas, and some bad ones. It gets an 8/10 from me.

good art/level design. was expecting more from the game somehow, and was dissapointed. good production values just din't deliver on suspense, moral ethical choices and all the guff that companies bang on about and never really deliver. its ok though, so everybody calm down lol 7.596789 /10.

maybe i'm getting to old for this shit, when will we get a proper grown up game?

As Len from strictly come dancing would say, "Seven!"

Only joking, gets a 9 from me. Didn't like the hacking though.

Son¥ micro$oft nintendough

They all just want your moolah.

I very rarely post on here, but now I feel the time is right;

The first time I played through BioShock, I didn't like it. The game was too easy, I got about 1/3rd through and stopped. They then added the patch turning off the Vita chambers, so I gave it another whirl on hard difficulty - and with more time to spare....

And I loved it.

It's genius. More than anything else, the environment was incredible. The art direction was so spot on, and I really felt like I was IN Rapture. Very rarely do you get that feeling in a game, not really since Ico have I felt like that.

I agree with the review. People look at the "10" score too much, and read too far into it. Yes, it doesn't have multiplayer - but you can't review a game for missing content. I'm glad they made a solid singleplayer game than one which was rushed to cram in a multiplayer mode.

The strange thing is, I don't even see BioShock as a 'marmite' game. I'm genuinely surprised people hate on it so much. I don't know what that boils down to really. Lack of patience? Perhaps. Not enjoying story elements in games? Maybe.

To bitch about things like "no replayabilty", and "no punishment for dying" is all so trivial, because it has achieved what it set out to do; create a beautiful single-player game.

I think I'll end this comment with; BioShock is one of the greatest games of this generation. Whether you play it on the Xbox 360, or the PS3 - just play it. It has it's flaws, yes, but it is a piece of living, breathing, believable art-work that has yet to be surpassed. If you don't like immersive stories and you're more interested in shooting aliens, then it simply isn't for you.

End.

Lets be honest they had to give it 10 otherwise eurogamer would have melted down with the '360 version is better' and 'PS3 has blu-ray" comments.

I played it on PC, 9/10 for me.

Sorry, it is not 10/10.

When I had this on the 360 I thought, wow, fantastic, beautiful, stunning. I played it for a while, then I got bored. I never even reached the "sucker punch" plot twist. I just got tired of seemingly always being low on ammo, in dark brown rooms, chasing the big daddies (or running away from them). In the end I stopped playing and traded it. I never really enjoyed Halo 3 much more mind, though I did finish it. 10? Nah. I'd give it an 8.

I'd love to see Eurogamer having the "second opinion" feature that used to appear in some gaming mags. Another reviewers short conclusion and score along side the main review. I can't help but feel this guy is biased in that he loves the game, the story, the whole shebang, too much to be objective. It's like it was reviewed by a Bioshock fanboy in the same way that MGS4 was reviewed by an MGS-anti-fanboy. A little second opinion would go a long way (tagged on to every review at the time of the review).

Its still the best game this generation.

I loved Bioshock, thought it was great.

Go buy it Ps3 people, if you want a fun, evocative and wonderfully stylised shooter.

Don't if you want to criticise it on factors that most games suffer from anyway....

smelly:
There's bugger all replayability, no multiplayer, the only real reason to replay the game is to see the opposite ending..

So what? I never got this whole replayability-thing. I like playing a game, experience what it has to offer, be happy about it and move on to the next. I don't think a game is better just because you can play it some more times. Especially when it has some plot-twist. The second time around you already know what will be happening anyway. So what's the point in trying it again? Sixth Sense isn't a bad movie just because you can basically only watch it once.

And if there is no surprise in the storyline, no major plot twist... what's the whole point of the story anyway? Then there's even less reason for me to try again. Just to unlock 'achievements' and stuff? Sorry, but I have still something else to do than playing games all day to unlock shit.

And I don't give a flying shit about multiplayer. When I'm with friends I do a lot of stuff but I don't play computer games with them.

But personally, if i want a story - i'd read a book or watch a movie. I play games for the FUN of playing them..

Considering your arguments, I don't buy that you actually read much. What makes a game fun? There are some things I can think of:
* an interesting storyline
* playing with friends
* a sense of accomplishment

Bioshock falls clearly in the first category. If you don't like story then get unreal tournament and be happy with it. I personally don't care about the third point, since I don't play games to prove my worth somehow. But that doesn't make me looking for games that fall in this category and write the bold claim in the comments there, that the game is objectively shit, just because I don't like it personally.

I personally give Bioshock a 9, since it's not perfect.

10/10 is ridiculous, completed overated score for a game that was a 8/10 in its heyday...

Shame on you Eurogamer.
Shame on you

"The first time I played through BioShock, I didn't like it. The game was too easy, I got about 1/3rd through and stopped. They then added the patch turning off the Vita chambers, so I gave it another whirl....

And I loved it.

It's genius. More than anything else, the environment was incredible. The art direction was so spot on, and I really felt like I was IN Rapture. Very rarely do you get that feeling in a game, not really since Ico have I felt like that. "

I don't get it, why does disabling the Vita-Chambers make you realise the game is incredible?

They were pointless anyway, you had to be pretty careless to get killed, and games have a save function for a reason.

"I'd love to see Eurogamer having the "second opinion" feature that used to appear in some gaming mags."

Seconded.

"Considering your arguments, I don't buy that you actually read much. What makes a game fun? There are some things I can think of:
* an interesting storyline
* playing with friends
* a sense of accomplishment"

You forgot:

* big-ass guns
* explosions
* flame-throwers
* spaceships
* giant robots
* tits

Nice too see the Hairy Crack is true to form.. he just couldn't resist this one!

One of my favourite games I played on the 360, if not the favourite. Definitely a 10/10 in my book, and the majority of other gamers too, obviously, as it wouldn't have been the readers' #1 game of the year as well! All the haters can foam at the mouth and blow steam out their ears as much as they want, but they are just a very vocal minority.

supprised to see it still get 10 a year after the 360 version but these are good times for ps3 owners, wipeout hd 9 , LBP 9, Bioshock 10!

And since when does the price affect the review score?

Since forever.

eurogamer scores suck!!!!!!!!

Still vastly overrated I see. Well, have fun with your choices without consequences, death without meaning and five different enemy types you'll be seeing throughout the entire game. And make sure you don't get lost in the long, endless corridor that is Bioshock.

A great story and a great setting can only make up for so much. 7/10.

"@smelly

There's no way I give a shit about what you think.

I'll be getting this game day 1. "



LOL! Well *ALL* I was doing was highlighting the negative aspects of this game which the reviewer seems to have missed.

Bare in mind i've completed the game - Most reviewers hardly ever play past the first hour.

I've warned you of the problems - dont blame me if you waste your money.

Personally, as you only play thru this game once - AND its quite short, AND has little replay value.. I'd rent it rather than buying it. But I've made my recommendation - if you're too stubborn to listen - thats YOUR problem :-)

Great game... PS3 owners enjoy!

"I don't get it, why does disabling the Vita-Chambers make you realise the game is incredible? "


I think i can answer that.

Without consequence from death - there is no adrenaline rush as you stalk in a corner about to enter a big battle with little health.

Hell in most of these situations i thought to myself "fuck it.. i'll just go in guns ablazing get some damage on him - as i'm gonna die anyhow, may as well try to get his health down a bit". I didnt feel there was any skill or sense of "panic" at all (things I look for in a shooter - as there's Soooooo many of them out there!)

I know my opinion is going to be different from others. But people on this forum just want to post shit like "You're wrong - im putting you on ignore".. Without explaining why they think so - after I've posted WHY i think there's problems with it.

I'm not expecting people to think the same as me.. BUT i *AM* just explaing flaws that the reviewer missed out (presumably because he's not played it that long - reviewers rarely do!).

I *AM* also pissed off that i bought this game rather than renting it. I wouldnt want other players to make the same mistake.

Once you've finished it once, i doubt you'll go back.

Bloody hell, smelly, get over it will you! You're starting to sound like a broken record. Seen you post virtually identical things in every Bioshock thread for ages now.

Even with everything you've pointed out, with some valid points I admit, but overall, I still thoroughly enjoyed the game - except for the obvious one big fight - and I'm sure the vast majority of gamers did too, as I mentioned before, it did get the readerss game of the year, and they all played it too!

edit - final paragraph

"Bloody hell, smelly, get over it will you! You're starting to sound like a broken record. Seen you post virtually identical things in every Bioshock thread for ages now. "


When I waste money buying a game on recommendations from a review - only to find its not particularly fun and to complete it within a VERY short period of time - and wish i'd just rented it..

Then It makes me pissed off to the point that I want to warn other gamers NOT to waste money buying it and to RENT it instead.

Why should I "give it a rest"? What vested interest do you have in people buying it rather than renting? All Im trying to do is make sure other people dont make the same mistake as I did.

I dont hate the game - i think it's WELL WORTH playing.. just not worth OWNING.

And I think it makes sense to warn potential ps3 owners of its problems. Many of which have been overlooked (presumably due to advertising revenue?)

i don't think it deserves a 10 tbh i didn't enjoy the game too much the graphics were amazing though, but i wasn't a big fan of the gameplay etc felt like playing condemned 2 again i feel that there are other games out there that got a 7-9 which are way better than this feel free to tell me wrong

What a staggering amount of bell-ends posting comments here.

I swear to god gamers are by and large the most dense, narrow-minded sub culture on the planet.

'aha you're thick if you don't like this game'

'ah but actually you're thick for thinking you're not thick if you like this game'

give me a fucking break.

"I can't help but feel this guy is biased in that he loves the game, the story, the whole shebang, too much to be objective."

seriously? do you see the word 'journalism' tagged on after the word 'game' and think that objectivity should be some sort of standard that should be met? That transcends retarded. It's a review of a piece of pop culture, and you want or expect objectivity? That's the only possible thing I could think of that could make the standard of game journalism internationally even worse than it already is. Reviews are an expression of opinion. They're not a news story. Is that so hard an expression to grasp?

If you've been told to review the game, you play the game, and you love the game, and you feel it warrants a 10/10 on some arbitrary scale of good-gameyness, then why the fuck should you then go and write anything saying otherwise?


blah. just blah.

@smelly - There's no consequence of death in *any* game you play these days since you're either returned to the last checkpoint (Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, etc.) or can load the last save game. That BioShock does away with this for what is effectively a quick restart was refreshing IMO. I like games that don't punish me just because I'm not an expert gamer, it means that I actually get to finish the games and enjoy the experience without getting frustrated. IMO BioShock is about as perfect as these kinds of games get. Well apart from the iffy final bit.

I have to say smelly from reading your first post it would seem you dont think the games WELL WORTH playing. You slag it off and then say the graphics and the story are good but follow that up by saying youd rather read a book if you wanted a good story.

It seems to me youre implying that the game is NOT worth playing.

You also have stated that the reviewer has not played the game fully - clearly thats not the case from some of the points he makes. Granted some reviews are written where the reviewer has not fully experienced the game but in this case I think its pretty clear thats not so.

Fair enough if you dont like it and for once there are some points you make that are valid. Its not with out its flaws. However, there are a lot of PS3 owners who have been waiting for this (Im not one of them as I've already got it in 360) Let them enjoy it instead of putting people off.

10/10!

Wasnt expecting that, still the game has intrigued me and I might pick it up.

Welcome to 10/10.com.

Got to agree with iago71. Not everybody loves this game but it's been wildly successful with players and it has been quite an experience for some of us. Definitely not wasted money if you were to ask me.

So don't try and tell people who buy it that they are definitely wasting money. I think that PS3 players who were waiting for it are in for a treat. Some will end up agreeing with Smelly and others not. Let them give it a chance...

"I like games that don't punish me just because I'm not an expert gamer, it means that I actually get to finish the games and enjoy the experience without getting frustrated."

Darren, if you don't qualify as an 'expert' gamer with all the hours you put into a ridiculous amount of games (some of them multiple times on different formats) I don't know who is. I mean, practice makes perfect, doesn't it? ;)

The last sentence of this review is gag-inducing.

Loved Bioshock on my 360, unfortunately it gave me migraines for some reason, so had to stop playing it :(

@evilfoxhound

Read the bloody scoring policy god damn it! 10/10 has never meant perfect, and that's been said on these comments hundreds of times.

edit - Have a quote from the scoring policy. Even though people will say, "No game's ever perfect, blah blah blah" again and again until eternity no doubt.

"Let us make absolutely clear that a 10 is not and probably never will be "the perfect game". There's always something criticisable about a game, however small. " - EG's scoring policy.

So, is the PS3 version better than the 360 version then?

Not asking for any fanboy related reason, I own both consoles and wonder which one to buy it for.

@CapnCloudchaser

As the comparison article probably won't be for a while yet, I'd recommend downloading the playable demos for both versions, which are actually quite generous. Then make up your mind for yourself. I seriously doubt there will be a big graphical difference though, there are extra plasmids available on the 360 version(for free I believe), maybe on the PS3 already too. With the 360 version being a lot cheaper by now too, may be the best option. Playing the demos is definitely a good place to start though!

The last 2 years have not been great for Eurogamer. EG has become more commercialized as it grew, it (knowingly?) gives in to market PR hype and franky, the reviews often seem rushed. Simiilar thing happened to http://kotaku.com/ which started out as a gaming news site with some edge. Now it posts market hype every day with barely a nod. Oh well.

I loved Bioshock, until I finished it, and tried to replay it. The game is all story with some ok gameplay elements. I really can't understand why it's still getting a 10/10 review. To each their own I guess.

"There's no consequence of death in *any* game you play these days since you're either returned to the last checkpoint (Halo 3, Call of Duty 4, etc.)"

When I respawn/reload in either of those.. the bad guys/damage i did before my death are all reset..

For the hard of thinking (I know there's many of you here) - I didnt say it was a bad game.. Just a "rent" game and not a "buy" one.

"it's another PS3 game that comes with an obligatory install"

Give me that over a heat creating and RROD inducing, constantly spinning DVD.

"Dizzy
16-Oct-08 08:46:00

It is an awesome game... if you have not played it, you should. A bit of a pity they released it full price IMHO since you can get it super cheap on PC/360 now."

It's not full price online, only £30.

Oh, and a question...
Is it mouse & keyboard friendly?

8/10

There's Sooooooooooo much more they could have done with the Big Daddies/Little sisters. I mean they were all the same! How am I supposed to feel empathy for them if they are all blatantly carbon copies of each other?

"Eurogamer need to impliment a half-point system so they can use something like 9.5. Because NOTHING is perfect. NOTHING."

Which is why a 10 doesn't mean perfect in EG's scoring policy...

It's a damn fine game. But after I finished it once, never went back to it. Overrated? Yep. But there's still a lot of fun to be had.

Really good game that fell down in the last quarter (and wasn't as good as System Shock 2, which wasn't as good as System Shock 1)

/Takes off red-ish coloured spectacles

I fully understand why they gave it 10/10 if the Xbox version got that also. I mean there would have been alot of kiddies running wild saying that the PS3 is crap etc etc.

Have not got too far on the PC version, but i would say if we were talking % rather than out of 10 (Dont like scoring systems out of 10), then i would give it a 90% so far. Its a very good game, like the story etc. Of course the game does seem alot like marmite (seems that every big scoring game has its fans and haters).

skipity bee bop bop bop baloo is this a game?

Everyone should play this, quality game, its so atmospheric! Play it at night with all the lights off!

Superb game. Plus you won't believe Ryan is actually Quark from Deep Space Nine. Versatile guy.

I dont see why people say SS1 was better than two, I played 2 first but I just couldnt see myself playing through SS1, not just because it looks hideous in comparison but I just think from what Ive seen, SS2s delivery of the story was better and the game was more solid and polished.

Ive not played this yet but its on the list for the first games I'll get with my 360 -- may aswell hold out for jasper now... not the bald guy no! ;)-- I was going to get it regardless of review scores and try to take it as it is rather than comparing it to SS2, which is not the attitude of someone who wants to get the most out of their games.