A while back I picked up the first Bioshock for the ps3 and figured I would try the game out. I never finished it because it was very hard to navigate the game, and to be honest I just found the game a bit weird. So when Bioshock Infinite came out, I figured I wouldn't like it so I ended up passing on it, and I remember a lot of people saying it was a fantastic game, but I just didn't think I could get into it. So it became available on PS network and for free for Plus users and I figured this was the perfect time to get this game and see what I thought of it.
Story: Whats their to say about the story? maybe its the most beautiful engaging story possibly in gaming. basically the game starts out with that iconic saying "Bring us the girl and wipe away the debt" So basically your first mission is to find this girl named Elizabeth and take her to new york to settle your debt, but to do so is going to be very hard because she is being held by the leader of Columbia Comstock, Comstock is an evil man who keeps his daughter Elizabeth locked away and does experiments on her, So the main story is finding Elizabeth and getting rid of your debt, I will explain more of the story later in the review.
Presentation: The presentation in this game is absolutely masterful, most of the game is played on Columbia, and this overworld is possibly one of the best overworld's I have played on, it's beautiful and this game may not have the best graphics ever seen but it has so much more to it with its art style and it's charm to it's world. The voice acting is superb Troy Baker as usual does an outstanding job as Booker Dewiit and Courtnee Draper absolutely kills it as Elizabeth, both character had some of the most deep character development I have seen in a game and not only that but I just loved each one and they will go down as some of my favorite characters in video games. The soundtrack in this game does have some hit or miss songs to it but songs like will the circle be unbroken, and Lighter then air are just absolutely beautiful and set the tone for this game perfectly. The presentation is outstanding.
Gameplay:When it comes to gameplay Bioshock Infinites gameplay is pretty simple, and many might see this as a turnoff but I think it's pretty good and not only that but their is a lot more to this game then the actual gameplay. The gameplay is your normal First person shooter, you pick up most of your weapons you find and they can be upgraded by certain machines you see throughout Columbia, it isn't the best upgrade system, but it's not bad. Their are Vigors that are basically a special type of power that you can use by drinking them, some are really good and some are just alright. Their is a lot of looting you can do for extra money, bullets, salts, and even collectibles that kind of distract you from the main story, and I have to say I think they did this well. Elizabeth is also a huge help in this game when your low on health, she will give you more health, low on salts? she will also give you more, same thing with bullets, this is done completely fair too because she will only do this once every fire fight when you are running low on all three. The gameplay isn't the most in depth shooter but it's good and as I mentioned above the game is not all about that.
(Spoiler Alert) there is a lot to the story but I already explained most of the main plot and I want to explain the ending. The ending is nothing more than utter brilliance, basically as you get to the end Booker will Kill Comstock but before he does Comstock tells Booker to tell Elizabeth what happened to her finger, Booker has no idea what he is talking about, after a huge battle Elizabeth transports Booker to Rapture, she explains what truly happened to her finger and what this game is truly all about. Basically the two people who follow you throughout most of the game the Lutece's are the one behind a lot of whats going on. The Luteces are not brothers and sisters they are the same person, but due to so much time travel somehow they were able to find each other throughout the time travel as different genders, therefore they are the same person different gender. The Luteces are the ones who help Comstock create Columbia, but when Comstocks wife could not have a child, he ended up killing her and lying and saying that the false prophet(Booker Dewitt) killed her, so he ended up going to a different dimension where he stole Booker's child for a debt he owed. As he was getting away Booker tried to chase them down and take her back but as he did the portal was closing and Comstock got most of her through it besides her pinky which was taken off because of it, and that's why Elizabeth can open tears. Because Comstock did this their is now two different universes. you see everybody has a choice in life each one has different consequences and will change that persons future depending on which choice they make, this brings us to the main ending. Elizabeth explains that the only way to truly get rid of Comstock is to get rid of the big decision that was the birth of Comstock, Elizabeth brings Booker to a place in his past. You see after fighting in the Boxer Rebellion Booker had a decision to make to get baptized and confess the sins he did or ignore the Baptism and live with himself, their is two paths Booker can choose if he chooses to not get baptized he has to live with his mistakes and becomes a gambler from it, and if he chooses to get baptized he becomes a new person.... do you have any idea what I'm getting at? Yeah.... that's right if Booker gets baptized he becomes Comstock, quite a shock huh, so basically this all puts everything into perspective, After this Booker must accept his fate and lets Elizabeth drowned him to death so their will be no Comstock, and also no Elizabeth. In the last part of the ending credits the Booker's universe will start normally and Anna will be in her bed. if you still don't get it I would recommend watching a video about it because we will be here for hours. This was done flawlessly and I just love the story it's one of my favorites of all time and the message I get out of this game is you can do everything right and make the right decisions but it doesn't make you a good person and you can be a person who has made the wrong decision that is down on their luck but can be a completely good hearted person and that what I truly love about this game their is truly not one perfect interpretation too it we will all see it a different way and that's what I think makes this game so special.
Overall Bioshock Infinite when it comes to it's actual gameplay might not be the most in depth shooter but to me that's not what makes this game so special, for me it's the message and just all of the whole game is just beautiful, I truly love this game, not because its the best game you will ever play but because it holds a special place in my heart.