Bioshock InfinOH MY FUCKING GOD. (No spoilers.)

[[Kira Must Die]]

]I didn't really think it was out of place. I thought it was meant to be a nice change of pace from all the fighting and chaos, and I appreciated it. That was probably my favorite part in the game. I like it when games/films/etc. include nice little character moments like that.

Except I don't think it was a character moment. I'm pretty sure it was an easter egg for the benefit of anyone who happened to click on the guitar.

It was cute and all, but it made absolutely no sense for them to just sit down in a basement and start singing at that moment. It was out of character. All the more so since their wasn't any dialogue surrounding it.

Yeah, but I thought it did add a bit more too the game. I still don't feel that it wasn't out of place, as the game encourages you to explore the area and take in the setting and all its little details, but that's just me. I think it makes sense for the characters to take a breather for a bit. It was only for a quick moment, so it's not like they had a whole concert down there.

 

[The Comfy Chair]

]

]I didn't really think it was out of place. I thought it was meant to be a nice change of pace from all the fighting and chaos, and I appreciated it. That was probably my favorite part in the game. I like it when games/films/etc. include nice little character moments like that.

Except I don't think it was a character moment. I'm pretty sure it was an easter egg for the benefit of anyone who happened to click on the guitar.

It was cute and all, but it made absolutely no sense for them to just sit down in a basement and start singing at that moment. It was out of character. All the more so since their wasn't any dialogue surrounding it.

Yeah, but I thought it did add a bit more too the game. I still don't feel that it wasn't out of place, as the game encourages you to explore the area and take in the setting and all its little details, but that's just me. I think it makes sense for the characters to take a breather for a bit. It was only for a quick moment, so it's not like they had a whole concert down there.

I saw it more as 'easter egg' than anything particularly important as well. It was a little 'out of place' overall, but nothing major. That particular stretch of the game was 'downtime'. There weren't any fights actively going on or anything, and you were in a bar after all.

 

[The Ubermensch]

[snip]

For the love of God man, spoiler tags! They exist!

Soilent Green is people
Dath Vader is Luke Skywalker's father
Bruce Willis is dead

As opposed to

Is Decker a Relpicant?

Yeah sorry mate, I've fixed it

 

[Headsprouter]

Spoiler: I say spoiler-y things

I liked it. But call me sentimental, or just plain dumb, my favourite part of the entire game?

Rapture.

And the ending? While happy, and fulfilling (sorta, Elizabeth as we know her never came to exist since she was never raised under the wing of Comstock in any sort of reality, that's kind of sad.) is a little... disappointing.
I mean, I was hoping for something more direct, like Bioshock 1 and 2, with less fucking around in different possibilities. I mean, Bioshock 1 blew my brains out. Bioshock 2 made me cry (My empathy with less human characters are much higher than with humans, oddly enough. I freaking LOVE Subject Delta. All that bullshit, just to die as soon as he got reunited with his daughter? Heartbreaker. So frustrating. Frickin' Lamb. Can't let anyone have any happiness. She didn't even let herself feel any. I digress and Bioshock Infinite says "And they all lived happily ever after and all that shit you just did never actually happened. It's like saying "But it was ALL a dream!" but rather than that saying "But it was ALL a different reality!" Or maybe it's all just...

Captcha: beyond me

Yeah...

 

[[Kira Must Die]]

]

]I didn't really think it was out of place. I thought it was meant to be a nice change of pace from all the fighting and chaos, and I appreciated it. That was probably my favorite part in the game. I like it when games/films/etc. include nice little character moments like that.

Except I don't think it was a character moment. I'm pretty sure it was an easter egg for the benefit of anyone who happened to click on the guitar.

It was cute and all, but it made absolutely no sense for them to just sit down in a basement and start singing at that moment. It was out of character. All the more so since their wasn't any dialogue surrounding it.

Yeah, but I thought it did add a bit more too the game. I still don't feel that it wasn't out of place, as the game encourages you to explore the area and take in the setting and all its little details, but that's just me. I think it makes sense for the characters to take a breather for a bit. It was only for a quick moment, so it's not like they had a whole concert down there.

I saw it more as 'easter egg' than anything particularly important as well. It was a little 'out of place' overall, but nothing major. That particular stretch of the game was 'downtime'. There weren't any fights actively going on or anything, and you were in a bar after all.

Well, I didn't say it wasn't an easter egg, I'm just saying I didn't find it too out of place, but whatever, that's just me.

 

[meepop]

Argh!

This game is not the best thing since sliced bread

It is not ten otta fukken ten

Its seven out of ten in a world where COD gets a four

This is not the game gaming's Citizen Kane. Please stop acting like it is and that it's flawless

What reasons do you have for stating this? Don't just say "It's mediocre" without giving us a reason. Please stop acting like it is with no stated reasons and that we can magically know what's wrong with it.

OT: I found the game exceptional. I was disappointed in having only two weapons, but I honestly found that more upgrades than the first one really did allow for some amazing customization. I played it twice with two different customizations. Hard really does provide a challenge, and I'm not going to touch 1999 Mode because I'm not hardcore enough for that. The lack of first aid kits was annoying, but justified because health items were everywhere.

Without spoiling anything, fuck quantum physics and everything that goes with them. Makes my brain sad. Speaking of that, I loved Elizabeth. An actual, useful, intelligent AI companion. Something feels wrong when she's not there, but at the same time, the loneliness doesn't drag you down; it makes you want to keep playing until she returns. Weapons aren't as exciting as "CROSSBOW!" or "FLAMETHROWER WITH OTHER BITS!", but I felt like that was less realistic.

Spoiler

Now to address all the haters: Anyone who says "I was expecting something like the first two." should have instantly NOT bought the game. For one, did you pay attention to trailers? Gameplay? REVIEWS? This was NOT going to be a dark and gritty game. That's pretty much my response to everything else. The biggest thing about the first two-- The setting -- Is not the same. While you may expect other things to be the same, when one of the most significant things in the other two games is gone, why wouldn't you expect more to change?

"Oh, the two weapon combat system is terrible!" And hammerspace is less realistic. Jack was a modified human who becomes a Big Daddy (effectively) and Delta IS a Big Daddy. Booker Dewitt is a Pinkerton officer and a former cavalrymen at Wounded Knee. You think he could carry two pistols, two grenade launchers, an RPG, a sniper rifle, and everything else while riding one of those skylines?

And now for the next thing I'm going to be harassed with: "Then why don't the physics make your arm rip out of your socket when you ride the Skylines?" Now, this one I'm not 100% sure on. But the thing is magnetized. The level of magnetism is unknown, but I'm going to presume the trigger causes the small blade on it to spin, propelling you towards targets, with the magnetism drawing you closer. I don't know. Maybe being farther away from the Earth reduces gravity just slightly? I'm not a fucking Lutece!

Next issue for those who hate the game: "Last-gen graphics!" Stop whatever you're doing and have your eyes checked. Maybe you played on a console, I don't know. But claiming this game has "last-gen graphics" as I HAVE seen some people complain is wrong, especially if you're looking at the PC version. Of course console versions are limited.

"The game was too short/Poorly written!" Too short? 14 hours on Hard. Played the game TWICE, and I got the same result. I explored pretty much everything I saw, because I always needed ammo and health. Others have testified slightly lengthier playthroughs. This series has always been more of a story-driven shooter. General aspects as opposed to specific are kept and this is an example. Atmosphere is major in this game, and skimming right through it only for gameplay means you're missing out on a major part of it.

Calling the game "poorly written", or any part of it that, is untrue. Calling it hard-to-understand is probably a better way to say it. Piecing the game together and fully understanding it is difficult, but that's sort of what Irrational wanted. This is an experience similar to LIMBO or Binding of Isaac in terms of story; they wrote the story in such a way that it allows the fans to interpret it as opposed to having a strict meaning.

Huge rant in spoilers, addressing those who are upset with the game.

 

[The Ubermensch]

Argh!

This game is not the best thing since sliced bread

It is not ten otta fukken ten

Its seven out of ten in a world where COD gets a four

This is not the game gaming's Citizen Kane. Please stop acting like it is and that it's flawless

What reasons do you have for stating this? Don't just say "It's mediocre" without giving us a reason. Please stop acting like it is with no stated reasons and that we can magically know what's wrong with it.

I direct your attention here, I've already posted my critical analsis. Make sure your read it in a droning monotone voice.

CLICK ME

People think I'm a game reviewer but I'm not. I'm just a guy who likes to complain.

@Zhukov: Tch, whatever. It doesn't hurt me, but you are right, you are being very anal about this. BTW, another spoiler everyone: Booker is a guy.
@The Ubermensch: Star Trek Elite Force? Really? What is the term usually used here...? Ah, yes, cool story bro.

You think this is a game mother fucker? well it is, and I was being a little bit facetious wasn't I? To show that, you know, its my opinion and that if you enjoyed the game there is nothing wrong with that aside from the fact that your part of a system that has beaten you down into having low expectations.

 

[Parallel Streaks]

I'm not going to bother listing everything I loved, because I love pretty much everything but these two points. One, I found myself using the same two weapons (the Hand Cannon and the shotgun) for pretty much the entire game (but that's really my own fault), two, there wasn't enough fights with Handymen in a large area with a large amount of skyrails (or whatever they were called).

Being perfectly honest the Handymen are possibly my favourite videogame enemies in a good long while. They're what Skyrim's dragons should've been, every time I encountered one it was a swashbuckling, dynamic and exhilarating experience. I'd say there should've been more, but becoming accustomed to fights with them might just make them humdrum.

 

[Mikejames]

Despite my issues with the pacing and overall ending, the beginning was one of the most beautiful introductions to a setting that I've ever seen.

Also these two.

Loved these two.

 

[scorptatious]

I've just beaten the game today, and holy shit was it good.

I loved the setting, the characters, the gameplay, almost everything.

The ending in itself was pretty crazy did not see it coming.

So yeah, definitely worth the purchase.

 

[Mark D. Stroyer]

Okay, so advice time:

My computer is slightly old, and at the current moment the only 'system' I have is a Vita.

My PC has an nVidia GTX260. So, I can basically run console ports at full spec, but nothing flashy. While that is definitely above minimum spec, am I losing out on the visuals and stuff with the PC version, or will that kind of thing be enough to run it without complaint?

'Cause honestly, I'd rather not ruin my experience by attempting to run a compromised version on my computer.

 

[nymz]

Okay, so advice time:

My computer is slightly old, and at the current moment the only 'system' I have is a Vita.

My PC has an nVidia GTX260. So, I can basically run console ports at full spec, but nothing flashy. While that is definitely above minimum spec, am I losing out on the visuals and stuff with the PC version, or will that kind of thing be enough to run it without complaint?

'Cause honestly, I'd rather not ruin my experience by attempting to run a compromised version on my computer.

I ran the game on low, and I still found it beautiful. Only once I stopped and faced some kind of terminal up close, and was like, oops, this looks like crap compared to other textures. Other than that I didn't notice, and it didn't detract from my experience (which I was worried about at first). If you're not the kind of person that cares or really notices or searches for bad textures, you'll be fine.. Some NPC faces might look a little... lifeless? But, Elizabeth and all major characters still look amazing, and are well animated. So bottom line, if you really care about graphical fidelity and such, you will probably notice it in places. If you don't, the game is still damn beautiful, most likely due to it's lightning and extremely detailed world. I mean you can find several sidetracks that are only there for loot/voxophones/exploration/visual narrative, that by todays CoD standards can be quite large sometimes. You will find yourself wandering off many times to absorb the environments.

 

[Casual Shinji]

This game is not really hooking me in at all.

I've been playing it for a good couple of hours now, and so far the only parts I liked were the beginning when entering Columbia, and right after you first save Elizabeth. So basically it's the quiet moments where I'm just wandering around the city in peace that I enjoyed. The moment the action comes knocking the fun stops for me.

I've also come to the conculsion that the way Bioshock games tell their story doesn't resonate with me one bit. Depending almost solely on audio files to flesh out characters and their motivations does work to get me engaged. Audio files are great as an extra bit of insight, but not as a crutch for the narrative.

I wish I could like it more than I do, since from a visual design point of view the game is fucking brilliant. A barbershop quartet singing God Only Knows...? Priceless. I just had to stand there for a few mintues to watch them croon.

 

[invadergir]

"Because he doesn't row!"
"He doesn't row?"
"No, he doesn't row."
"Ah, I see what you mean."
Granted,I still have no idea what that line even meant but it's still hilarious to me, I don't know why.

I think it means that:

Spoiler

Since the Lutece "twins" are no longer really bound by space and time and universes, they were bringing Booker to Columbia from different universes almost as an experiment (see the heads/tails board counting to 122 before you add to their tally.) 122 Bookers were brought to Columbia in different universes, and all failed until you did. What this has to do with the rowing though, is that in all universes, presumably, Booker DOESN'T row, so there's no point in asking because that's a constant of the universe(s)(there are constants and variables)

Hope that helps.

EDIT: Oops I forgot that I replied to someone else's comment too and should have just editted this one into the previous one. My bad.

Maybe it's a pun that "he doesn't know". I find it highly suspect that the Rowers would comment on Booker's transport to the lighthouse like that. In fact, why would any rational person ask a cabbie if they could help them transport themselves to a covert and largely unwilling job?

I think this point specifically is badly interpreted after the fact of game completion when reviewing Infinite. This dialogue was meant to introduce us to the story and not do some waaaaaay back foreshadowing of a plot we wouldn't understand till 12 hours later.

 

[Sight Unseen]

"Because he doesn't row!"
"He doesn't row?"
"No, he doesn't row."
"Ah, I see what you mean."
Granted,I still have no idea what that line even meant but it's still hilarious to me, I don't know why.

I think it means that:

Spoiler

Since the Lutece "twins" are no longer really bound by space and time and universes, they were bringing Booker to Columbia from different universes almost as an experiment (see the heads/tails board counting to 122 before you add to their tally.) 122 Bookers were brought to Columbia in different universes, and all failed until you did. What this has to do with the rowing though, is that in all universes, presumably, Booker DOESN'T row, so there's no point in asking because that's a constant of the universe(s)(there are constants and variables)

Hope that helps.

EDIT: Oops I forgot that I replied to someone else's comment too and should have just editted this one into the previous one. My bad.

Maybe it's a pun that "he doesn't know". I find it highly suspect that the Rowers would comment on Booker's transport to the lighthouse like that. In fact, why would any rational person ask a cabbie if they could help them transport themselves to a covert and largely unwilling job?

I think this point specifically is badly interpreted after the fact of game completion when reviewing Infinite. This dialogue was meant to introduce us to the story and not do some waaaaaay back foreshadowing of a plot we wouldn't understand till 12 hours later.

Spoiler

You realize that the two rowers were the Lutece twins right? The two theoretical physicists who are constantly commenting on their thought experiments and on the nature of the universe(s). Knowing this, how do you find it MORE inane for them to be talking about the experiment they are in the process of performing (bringing Booker to Columbia to see if he succeeds) than to be making a completely unobvious and, frankly, pretty bad pun that doesn't make any sense in relation to the plot.

Why shouldn't it be foreshadowing? Even the first line of dialogue and the first caption are foreshadowing. The first verbal line of dialogue is Elizabeth saying "Booker, are you afraid of God?" and Booker replying "No, but I'm afraid of you."

Then it fades into a quote that says "The mind of the subject will desperately try to create memories where none exist..."- R. Lutece

Both of these quotes are HEAVILY foreshadowing events to come in the game, and neither will fully make sense until the game is completed, so why should the rowing scene be any different? First play through you'll just think "huh, well these rowers sure are strange" but the second time through it'll make perfect sense (if you think about it and piece everything together"

This is basic story layering here...

Editted for spoiler tags.

 

[scorptatious]

Being perfectly honest the Handymen are possibly my favourite videogame enemies in a good long while. They're what Skyrim's dragons should've been, every time I encountered one it was a swashbuckling, dynamic and exhilarating experience. I'd say there should've been more, but becoming accustomed to fights with them might just make them humdrum.

I agree the Handymen were really fun enemies to fight. They really were Infinite's answer to the Big Daddies, as they were large, fast, and relentless.

I also really like how you can't abuse sky lines on them, as they eventually electrify them, forcing you down.

 

[invadergir]

"Because he doesn't row!"
"He doesn't row?"
"No, he doesn't row."
"Ah, I see what you mean."
Granted,I still have no idea what that line even meant but it's still hilarious to me, I don't know why.

I think it means that:

Spoiler

Since the Lutece "twins" are no longer really bound by space and time and universes, they were bringing Booker to Columbia from different universes almost as an experiment (see the heads/tails board counting to 122 before you add to their tally.) 122 Bookers were brought to Columbia in different universes, and all failed until you did. What this has to do with the rowing though, is that in all universes, presumably, Booker DOESN'T row, so there's no point in asking because that's a constant of the universe(s)(there are constants and variables)

Hope that helps.

EDIT: Oops I forgot that I replied to someone else's comment too and should have just editted this one into the previous one. My bad.

Maybe it's a pun that "he doesn't know". I find it highly suspect that the Rowers would comment on Booker's transport to the lighthouse like that. In fact, why would any rational person ask a cabbie if they could help them transport themselves to a covert and largely unwilling job?

I think this point specifically is badly interpreted after the fact of game completion when reviewing Infinite. This dialogue was meant to introduce us to the story and not do some waaaaaay back foreshadowing of a plot we wouldn't understand till 12 hours later.

You realize that the two rowers were the Lutece twins right? The two theoretical physicists who are constantly commenting on their thought experiments and on the nature of the universe(s). Knowing this, how do you find it MORE inane for them to be talking about the experiment they are in the process of performing (bringing Booker to Columbia to see if he succeeds) than to be making a completely unobvious and, frankly, pretty bad pun that doesn't make any sense in relation to the plot.

Why shouldn't it be foreshadowing? Even the first line of dialogue and the first caption are foreshadowing. The first verbal line of dialogue is Elizabeth saying "Booker, are you afraid of God?" and Booker replying "No, but I'm afraid of you."

Then it fades into a quote that says "The mind of the subject will desperately try to create memories where none exist..."- R. Lutece

Both of these quotes are HEAVILY foreshadowing events to come in the game, and neither will fully make sense until the game is completed, so why should the rowing scene be any different? First play through you'll just think "huh, well these rowers sure are strange" but the second time through it'll make perfect sense (if you think about it and piece everything together"

This is basic story layering here...

Yeah I specifically don't mention who they are because this is supposed to be a spoiler free thread.

In the context of what is being said at the time, they are debating if they should tell him things. Why do people think that they are theoretically debating if he picks up the rowing oars when he wasn't even asked and on the opposite side of the dingy, when it's far more likely that they are speaking in code?.

Spoiler

especially when this is the 122nd time they have brought him to the lighthouse. In the context of variables that the game theorizes, whether or not he rows seems like nonsense