Looks the same, feels the same, except it isn't the same...STRICTLY mediocre at best!
First we'll start with the negatives as I feel these out way the positives of the game.
- Graphics are EXACTLY the same as the first except less believable. Things like bump mapped gears on doors that look entirely too fake and something that gave me that "Wtf is this?" feeling. Water still looks like mercury, no new DX10 features, textures still have that muddy blurry look that 2 years ago looked fantastic now look old and definitely dated. Bioshock 2 seems more like a expansion pack than a new installment to the series. Game engine is definitely the same with no changes other than new character models and maps.
- Its all the same as the first. Granted your character and weapons are different, however, everything else is the same. Same bag of potato chips, same splicers, same everything. Expect NOTHING new thats worth noting except perhaps the hacking and under water stuff.
- Enemies are WAY too strong. Explain to me how a splicer with a pipe can hit a me once (remember, you are a Big Daddy now) and take 1/4 of my health? If I remember correctly, I couldn't hit a Big Daddy four times in the first Bioshock with my wrench and kill him...I seem to remember it taking everything I had (ammo included) to bring one down. Just way too difficult and way too unrealistic (in that "gamey" way of course) and THIS is what brings the game down for me...Im in this big ass suit with armor and stuff...what gives?
- The weapons are too WEAK! I can pump 10 round into a splicer with my .50 caliber chain gun before killing them. Isn't a .50 caliber bullet the same that would blow your arm off in real life? Granted this is a game, but come on! Enemies too strong, weapons grossly underpowered...did no one test this game before launch and not have any problems with this? This doesn't make the game more challenging, just more frustrating!
- Just too "console" feelish. This is something that Ive never experienced before, even in games that most people would say this. However, in Bioshock 2, if I had my Xbox 360 controller hooked up I honestly could not tell you this was a PC game...everything is build for the console version, no more complex hacking and the sort, its all been tailored for the controller and "ease" of use.
- Game DEFINITELY needs a patch. Ive been playing for about 8 hours so far and the game 3 times now has cause my computer to crash. And yes I said my COMPUTER to CRASH...no Alt+tab, no Ctrl+Alt+Delete...I literally had to reset my computer. WAIT FOR A PATCH!
- Just not that good, way too hyped for sure. Extremely disappointing, to the point of it kind of hurting my feelings...would not have spend $50 on this game, MAYBE $20 at best.
WHERE ARE THE GOOD THINGS?! you might be asking???
Honestly, I cant think of anything worth its own point. If you liked the first one and found it engrossing, Bioshock 2 isn't a bad game at all...its just more of the same, and kinda in a bad way. Nothing really exciting or worth while. I definitely have that "mehhh..." feeling. I mean, sure, there are new characters and you get to explore more of Rapture, but that's about it, DO NOT expect anything new or anything to give you that "Wow, wish this was in the first one!" feeling.
Definite 5/10...simply not worth the hype, and especially not worth the $50!!!