thePULSEBy Katey Khaos
You’ve made the plummet into the ocean to Rapture in both BioShock 1 & 2. You’ve waited long enough. Now, it’s time to take a journey into the sky to Columbia in the latest installment of the BioShock series, BioShock Infinite.
The latest installment of this series is, once again, an action-packed, first-person shooter that’s chock full ‘o plot. Your goal this time around? Your name is Booker DeWitt, a former New York Pinkerton agent, and you must fight your way to the top of Columbia to find and rescue a young girl by the name of Elizabeth. Sounds pretty easy, right? There’s also this ~ Columbia has a dark, protected secret, and it’s also up to you to find out what that secret is.
The combat system implemented in this game flows rather seamlessly, despite being fairly repetitive at times. Don’t worry, included in the mix is one of the factors that makes this a BioShock game: a substance called Vigor (plasmids) ~ special serums that give certain powers. Every Vigor has upgrades you can purchase at the various vending machines you’ll find. However (and this is one of my only issues with combat in this game), it’s likely you’ll find a use for three or four specific Vigors and neglect the rest. With money being somewhat scarce in BioShock Infinite, it must be spent wisely, so keep that in mind.
Earlier, I had mentioned this was a first-person shooter, and what would a first-person-shooter be without … guns? Well, I suppose it would by Skyrim, but never mind that! Like the Vigors, all guns can be upgraded for a modest fee at vending machines, but also like Vigors, you can only equip two guns at a time. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself latching on to one or two types of guns and ignoring the rest, but be advised: There are quite a few options to choose from!
BioShock Infinite is hands down one of the best titles to be released this year, and yes, it was definitely worth the setbacks. The combat is only slightly repetitive, which is more than most titles can say. Columbia is always changing, so it’s rare to feel like you’re visiting the same place twice. The A.I. is clever enough to keep you interested and, in Elizabeth’s case, even help you appreciate it. (You’ll see what I mean, but trust me when I tell you she’s a much better companion than Navi!)
Oh, and one last thing: Feel free to theorize and speculate all you want, but you will not see the ending coming, and when it does, you will be nothing short of amazed.
BioShock Infinite is available now for PS3 Xbox and PC. For more information, visit bioshockinfinite.com.
