"Bioshock 2" Too Similar for its own Good?

 

    I absolutely adored the first Bioshock game, as seen in my review I fawned over its atmosphere, storyline and just overall polish as a first person shooter game. However, I am sad to report that Bioshock 2 is proof that lightning does not strike twice, and even if it does its difficult to capture the same magic that made the first game so wonderful.

    One of my major complaints about the game is that it is too derivative, which works against it, despite it copying an all time great game. The reason for this is that much of Bioshocks charm and wonder came from the mystery as the player attempted to unravel what happened behind the fall of Rapture, which is completely gone in the sequel. By having the second game take place in the same universe, it ends up losing the sense of danger that players once felt. 

    No longer do you fear flickering lights while desperately looting washrooms for any sort of advantage , as now the player already as one of the most fearsome characters in the game, "The Big Daddy". Although, this actually works towards the games favour, as its combat system is much improved compared to the one introduced originally in the first game. 

    Plasmids, a unique feature of this game, becomes much more feasible in combat, as the player can finally dual wield, allowing for more variety in combat. Not only does this allow for the players to actually utilize their favourite plasmids more, but it creates a much more fluid experience, where players can run around with 2 drones, constantly using their abilities to the max in tandem with their weapon of choice. Personally, I went for a more melee build this time around, and found that having plasmids on hand made it a much more viable playstyle.

    Moreover, it also fixes one of my main complaints in the last game, which is how the postgame forces the player to basically use the crossbow to maintain any sort of edge over the competition. Gone are the bullet sponges and now even the melee weapon proves formidable against the most powerful of opponents.

    Now, I have to address the story, which while serviceable for a big name game, is shoddy with odd holes and random questions that are left unanswered? Like, why is Sofia Lamb trying to make Eleanor a Utopian, and why in Rapture, which is clearly in massive disarray and barely being held together(as shown in both the main story and the DLC)? What was the point of having Doctor Tannenbaum show up for the first 2 minutes of the game and not even be mentioned until the end? Why did Sinclair randomly just have a change of heart? These questions and so many more leave the story much weaker, as it feels like they were just trying to find a way to add new lore in the preexisting setting, while also trying to have high stakes. Overall, while I wouldn't recommend skipping this game, I would warn that the story does get a bit boring and confusing at times, even if you do find all the optional tapes.

    Even with these flaws, there is some hope that the series can return to form, as shown through the DLC Minerva's Den. A completely separate side story, it answers one of the major questions, specifically about Doctor Tannenbaum (even if her role is small), while also providing a much more compelling story. While the stakes aren't as high, the reality is there never needed to be a sequel to a story on Rapture, and if the developers wished to continue creating stories in that setting, it should have been done like this DLC. This time around, players are treated to both good combat, and a good story, as they finally learn what makes Rapture actually tick, and more about the people who actually lived there.

Final Score: 70/100

    In conclusion, Bioshock 2 is a mixed bag that feels more like 1 step forward 2 step backwards. While it would have been difficult for it to live up to the standards set by the first game, the only real improve is the combat system, and even that is not as major as one would expect. Personally, the game feels too samey, and it very much loses it charm, leaving me feeling like I had more than my fair share of Rapture. In the end, I felt that it had overstayed its welcome, at least in big ways such as this game, and was better suited to smaller DLC's such as Minerva's Den if people were still itching to get their fix of Rapture. Ultimately, this game is still solid enough to recommend to others, but still disappointing in many ways.