If your looking for an immersive environment, amazing gameplay, and a superb story, then look no further than Bioshock.
Ok, my review is as follows: Gameplay/Graphics/Story/Audio/Synopsis
Gameplay:
Easy to learn and responsive. The addition of plasmids to the conventional (and not so conventional) weaponry only added to the greatness of this game. It took me a little time to get used to switching between plasmids and weapons and switching ammo variants, but once I did the combat soared tremendously. It was quick and exciting with numerous ways to go about the battle. If your like me in that you don't like to die then you'll agree with me when I say, "Vita-Chambers are awesome!" These chambers bring you back to life when you die. However, everything that you have damaged stays that way. I've heard, "that's stupid," "why would they just make it easier every time you die?" Well, it really isn't so bad. I found myself 100% of the time always trying NOT to die, as if the Vita-Chamber didn't exist. I'd use up my health packs and hope that I got out of that battle alive. If you don't focus on the fact that you never really, "die" then you'll enjoy the battles that much more. As far as everything else standard to a FPS goes, it was fluid. Crouching, jumping, small environmental puzzles, weapons, they all functioned well. Btw, you WILL have to kill Big Daddies and you WILL have to make choices that influence how parts of the game play out. Still, no downside here.
Graphics:
Hahaha...what do I say for this? That is was, "amazing!" or maybe, "it blew my mind!" Well, how about this..."I love water." Yeah, it's that simple. Truly jaw-dropping graphics and environments. I always found myself trying to read the bloody messages on the walls or watching the fish outside the window act like...fish. If anyone has watched the demo then they know that you pass through a glass corridor after getting Electro-bolt and while your traveling, the glass breaks and water spills through. Yeah...I just stood there. I watched the ripples and gushes and listened to the water rushing and glass creaking and cracking. Oh...and it was worth every wasted second. You pass under a waterfall and your vision blurs. Realistically, might I add. You could see smoke after firing rounds from your gun, steam out of vents, bubbling lava, fragments blown off a wall if an RPG hit it. Everything. No nook or cranny went un-developed.
Story:
I can't get into too much detail without giving anything away. But, you get sucked in. You look at your clock when you start and then when you end and **** it's been 3-4 hours! For a hybrid FPS, it has a REDICULOUS amount of extra areas and items to collect and unlock. The more audio diaries you collect, the more in-focus things become. You eventually find out WHAT, exactly, happened to the people, the city, and the ideology. Finding the hidden diaries around Rapture only helps make it more clear; I don't know how else to say it. Your always wanting to progress farther into the game because you know that bits and pieces of the story will be reveiled. One of the reasons I bought this game was because of the fact that...I'M STUCK IN AN UNDERWATER UTOPIA! HOW AWESOME IS THAT!
Audio:
Ahh, yes, the double-edged sword. Great for some, horrible for others, and often the "make or break" point of this game. It's been debated that the game shipped with audio glitches, but I've come to suspect that the REALLY SERIOUS glitches only occured on machines that didn't meet the specs. Plain and simple. Anyway, if you've ever played F.E.A.R then you know that sound plays an important role. It sets the mood and tempo of the task at hand. You can hear the distant footsteps of a Big Daddy, or the clanking of a spider splicer as he/she/it approaches you. Hideous laughter and sometimes even somber tales of past lives. Splicers are still human and you will approach some who are talking as if they were with someone they loved or hated. Compelling. Weapons sound realistic and if your hit or hurt then you'll wince and scream. Enemies will act the same way. SOME sounds are a nuisance after a while...like the wailing of a security alarm, but, given the right powers, you shouldn't have to worry about it too much.
Overall:
I thoroughly enjoyed playing this game almost more than ANY game I've ever played. I've played many. Everything mentioned above combines to form an experience that will keep you emersed for a couple dozen hours (if you take the time to explore). Anyone who loves RPG's/FPS's or just loves a good game, then check this out...I guarantee you won't be disappointed! (JUST PLAY ON A GOOD COMPUTER!)