A completely timely and not at all late Bioshock Infinite review.

[I wrote this review a little after Infinite came out. The format was tailored for a site that I was hoping to write for at the time.]

Bioshock Infinite

Release date: Out now

Developer: Irrational Games

Publisher: 2K Games

Platforms: PS3 (tested), Xbox 360, PC

Gameplay: 8.5

Replay Value: 8

Visuals: 9

Positives:

+A wonderful, detailed world to explore

+Explores fascinating themes

+Fun combat

Negatives:

-Can drag a little in the middle portion

-Ends

Bottom line: One of the best games ever made.

Total score: 9.5

Bioshock Infinite arrives in the twilight of the current console generation. Its predecessor, Bioshock, arrived early in the Xbox 360’s life and set a benchmark of quality for the following years. A beautiful underwater dystopia, filled with meaning and horror. Following up such a masterpiece would be no mean feat. Further exploration of Rapture was left to a different development team, as Ken Levine and co sought to create a game and a setting every bit as captivating as that of Bioshock. And they damn well did.  

As with Bioshock, Infinite’s setting is integral to the experience. Columbia is beautifully realised. As trite as it is to describe a setting as a character in its own right, here, it really is.  After an opening act as stunning as anything you will see in videogaming, the idea of a fully functioning, floating city dwelling in the clouds become quite believable. Aesthetically, the game is absolutely stunning. At times, most of the city is visible in gorgeous vistas that play backdrop to your adventure. On consoles, the game lacks a little sharpness compared to high end PC versions. This is no real barrier to enjoyment, though. The imagination of the design masks any (comparatively) rough edges.

The relationship between protagonist Booker DeWitt and Elizabeth is central to the game. Arriving in Rapture tasked only to “bring us the girl and wipe away the debt”, things soon spiral out of control. Elizabeth is a wonderfully realised character, initially full of childlike wonder. Almost immediately after entering the city, Booker cuts through opposition with horrifically brutal efficiency, with melee takedowns particularly gruesome. Normally one accepts this as part of any FPS, but it is fascinating to see the revulsion your actions cause in Elizabeth. One begins to wonder just how necessary the slaughter is. This is indicative of the introspection Infinite provokes throughout. As with Bioshock, there is a game changing plot twist towards the end. We won’t spoil it for you, but the finale of Infinite is every bit as thrilling and revelatory as anything else in gaming.

Gameplay is fairly similar Infinite’s forebears. Booker has access to the standard FPS fare of pistols, machine guns and suchlike, but you also get vigors to play with. Similar in function to the plasmids of Rapture, each vigor you acquire bestows a different power, allowing you to throw fireballs, weaken enemies with a flock of crows and other pretty badass effects. For a slightly bigger salt charge (effectively magic points), Booker can lay a trap with a vigor, adding a layer of tactical flexibility. Vending machines allow vigors and guns to be upgraded, adding potency to your preferred combinations of bullets and powers. Speaking of tactics, early trailers for Bioshock Infinite made great show of the Skyline and the ability to jump on and off of it at will using the grappling hook. This adds the option of rapid relocation and the potential to gain a bead on enemies from above. And rest assured, there are plenty of enemies.

The standard forces are fun to combat. They too are fully aware of the benefits of using the Skyline, and use it in a pleasingly intelligent way. They’ll pop up behind you, and pursue you if you seek higher ground. In addition, you have rocket troopers, the giant Handymen and a collection of bizarre locals we’ll let you discover for yourself. As far as Elizabeth goes, she can take care of herself in a scrap. Booker will attract a great deal of bullets, but fortunately Elizabeth hides when things get aggressive, reappearing only to supply you with ammo, health packs and salts. More interestingly, as the game progresses, it emerges that Elizabeth is capable of manipulating holes is time. Central to the plot, in gameplay terms this allows Booker to command her to open tears in combat. Grainy cover, ammo and automated weaponry appear around the city, flickering and fuzzy. Do you erect some cover in the distance and approach your enemies aggressively, or summon a Mosquito miniature gunship to distract your foes whilst you flank them? Added to the healthy assortment of guns and vigors, the game allows you to react fluidly to battles, tailoring them to the way you want to play. Occasionally, especially in the middle portion of the game, the pace of the game drags in comparison to the rest of the game. Whilst no means a short game, Infinite could perhaps be a little tauter, but it is hard to grumble at any time spent in such a well realised setting as Columbia.

Infinite is a truly great game. Whether it will be held in such reverence years down the line as Bioshock will remain to be seen, but it certainly deserves to be. If this is the last hurrah of the current console generation, I can think of no more fitting send off.