Bioshock offers excellent atmosphere that will keep you wanting more with each chapter of the story.
The frame rates are mostly rock solid, graphics are very good with exception of little bloom effect which takes few minutes to get use to and my personal only downside that I believe could had been avoided if developers spent more time with the system. It's nothing ground-breaking that will make you not to enjoy the game, however I believe with todays HD TV's and powerful console, we should have clear resolution textures.
For those who haven't played the game already, you're aboard the plane which crashes into the middle of ocean. You survive the crash and swim towards what seems to be a lighthouse. From there on your adventure begins.
Once you're involved into underwater utopia you will instantly get involved into one of the best first person shooters on the market. The gameplay is excellent, you can play the game with run and gun method, however Bioshock is very enjoyable when you use your environment and abilities against your foes.
This could mean from hacking security cameras and turrets which will attack any foe giving you time to sneak by or land a crashing blow with little ammo use to using your very own "plasmids".
Plasmids are genetically changed code that you inject yourself with very early into the game. By gathering "Adam", it will fuel your plasmids allowing you to chose your favorite ones.
This ranges from setting foes on fire to creating holograms.
Bioshock is definitely different then traditional FPS, plasmids, adam and weapons that you will use are very enjoyable and strategic. It depends on your playstyle, but there are quite a few different approaches to any situations. Bioshock feels like FPS game but it definitely has RPG elements.
The world of Bioshock is something that got me hooked for over 20+ hours. While the game on first play through should last about 12-15 hours, it has a lot to offer from exploration standpoint.
If you look hard enough, you can have all of your weapons upgraded before the game ends and you can also visit previous locations once you discovered them.
The atmosphere is what really stands out, you really feel you are inside the underwater city where leaks are constant, long water hallways have cracked windows, water if trying to break through, nuts and bolts are falling apart.
You can also use the environment in your battles- Low on ammo? Track the enemies to follow you to water and shock them with electricity, while they are stunt, smack them with your trusty wrench, or you can use pool of liquid to set it on fire.
How you play it is open to you. That's what makes Bioshock so unique and appealing. The game is very gory, Adam turned many inhabitants into lunatics and the game isn't hiding it either.
Blood is no small amount, gruesome deaths and experiments are detailed and in few occasions, the game will scare you nicely.
The story of Bioshock is also well done, with one major twist that you simply didn't expect, it's a mature game with mature story.
If you want to know more of what happen to this city, look out for many hidden audio logs.
They tell many stories and are all very well voice acted and will expand the story even further.
As of writing of this review PlayStation 3 version includes extra downloadable content. The price is set to 9.99$ and it offers additional missions that are set in the same atmosphere as Bioshock but are not in any way continuing the original game story.
The missions are separate mode that sets you up with various challenges and puzzles where you have to use your mind to overcome majority of the game.
There are also missions where plenty of gunning is required so everyone will find something to enjoy. Trophies are of course supported in both versions.
The game takes little over 4.5GB of space to install and it plays, looks and sounds phenomenal.
If you haven't had a chance to play Bioshock before and were sceptic about it, rest assured - PS3 version is excellent in every way and deserves to be in your collection.