GS used to my favorite review site. But starting about a year ago, I started to see them in a different light. This Ratchet review is just the straw that broke the camel's back. Let me show you a list of games with their GS and Gamerankings scores:

Metroid Prime 3 - 91%(GR) 85%(GS)

Bioshock - 95.3%(GR) 85%(GS)

Blue Dragon - 77%(GR) 60%(GS)

Lair - 57%(GR) 45%(GS)

Legend of Zelda Twilight Princess - 94%(GR) 88%(GS)

Folklore - 77%(GR) 70%(GS)

Ratchet and Clank - 92%(GR) 75%(GS)

All of these games had a good bit of hype and were severely underrated(from 17 percent off to 6 percent off with an average of about 10.7 percent off for these games). Why is this? Is Gamespot just really tough? No as seen by their Gears of War (93% at GR, 96% here), Halo 3 (94% at GR and 95% here), Ace Combat 6 (85% at GR and 85% here), Zack and Wiki (85% at GR and 85% here) reviews.

This seems to be a pattern: GS flops hyped games for very minor and possibly contradictory issues(read the Metroid Prime 3 review, it complains about and praises the more fps-ish controls). But if a game isn't hyped (like AC6) then they review the game fine. Or if a game is hyped to infinity(like Halo 3 and GeoW) and published my Microsoft, then GS gives a glowing review and ignores legitimate problems. I believe that GS flops moderatly hyped games to increase their traffic and they don't flop extremely hyped games to keep their credibility.

Here

I don't think it flopped, but I'm not sure.

AAA all the way!!! (The first time I have hyed a game AAA)

Great graphics, good gameplay, varied multiplayer and online features.

Cavemen

All of G4 except for X-play and Ninja warrior

Mind if Mencia

Three things thjat would have made Bioshock make better use out of the amazing underwater city theme...

1. Should have been a RPG instead of a FPS.

2. Should have set it when the city was populated and going well and then seent he downfall.

3. Get rid of Plasmids because they just ruin it and have a more realistic downfall.

Grantelicious

1 and 3 would completely ruin Bioshock. Bioshoch is gritty and intense, RPGs for the most part are good at being huge and fantastic, but not intense. Also irrational makes FPSs not RPGs. The plasmids were also totally central to the storyline and are among the best abilities in any modern video game in my opinion( C'mon, you get to shoot bees at people for god's sake.)

Also, that bit about a realistic downfall. You want realism in a game where you explore an underwater distopia and where you can genetically enhance yourself. And the downfall makes total sense in the context of the game.