By: Drew Kurzman

• Game released March 26th, 2013• Irrational Games• PC/Mac, Xbox 360, PS3

• First-person shooter• Additional ‘vigor’ mechanics

• Sequel status?• Thematically linked to 2007’s Bioshock• Connections are more ‘Easter-eggs’ than anything

Game Overview

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wevrz3e1bkE (2:48)

Setting – Columbia, 1912

• Columbia, city in the clouds• Built by Zachary Hale

Comstock, antagonist• City features pseudo-

religion worshipping American founding fathers• All is not well in paradise

Setting – Columbia, 1912

• Secret dark tendencies under the veil of prosperity• Columbia doesn’t quite

hold the most modern viewpoints on many issues• Oppressed majority

supporting elite minority• Totalitarian authority held

by Comstock

Setting – Columbia, 1912

• “Bring us the girl, wipe away the debt.”• Lighthouse• Dead men inside,

threatening notes

• Rocket to Columbia• Must track down

Elizabeth, who is wanted for unknown reasons by unknown persons

Story

• Rescue Elizabeth from prison• Getting her out of

Columbia• Discovering why she was

locked up to begin with

• Comstock’s religious warfare• Swept into rebellions,

uprisings, and the effective destruction of Columbia in entirety

Story

• Narrative triumph• Avoiding spoilers• Flawlessly delivers one of

the most complex and nuanced narratives in any game I’ve ever played• End is utterly mind-blowing• Second and third play-

throughs reaffirm genius with incredibly subtle foreshadowing

Story

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0rrqSG1Pq0 (1:33)

Characters

• Imprisoned by Comstock for initially-unclear reasons

• Aside from protagonist and antagonist, the single-most important character in the game

• Voiced by Courtnee Draper• Not merely a “damsel in distress”• Helps main character throughout game• Throws essential items and weapons in

the middle of fights• Has the ability to open up quantum

‘tears’• Pursued relentlessly by The Songbird

Elizabeth

• Protagonist and main hero of the game• Troy Baker• Gambling man with a past he’s ashamed

of• Pinkerton agent, and war veteran

• Fought at Wounded Knee• Details of secret past gradually revealed

through memory flashbacks• Dynamic character• Beginning, man driven by greed and self-

interest• Gradually learns to care and matures

from his old viewpoints as game progressed

• By story’s end, we meet a version of Booker who’s an entirely different man, and it’s these changes that make him an interesting character

Booker Dewitt

Supporting Characters

• Contribute to rich environment

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvIU1e7k7Oc (2:10)

Gameplay

• Gameplay is a FPS primarily, with vigors granting special powers for use in combat

• Vigor + firearm and multi-vigor combos allow for creativity and flexibility in combat style

• Elizabeth’s tear mechanics also introduce a strategic aspect to the game

• Elizabeth additionally aids the player as needed• If anything, this area is where I could perhaps draw the most

criticism, as the gameplay felt slightly tiresome towards the end

• Gradually became a game I finished for the story and atmosphere’s sake rather than the enjoyment of gameplay• Story overshadowed combat encounters

• Lastly, game plot progression and advancement was fairly linear

• In a market dominated by open-world games, this also serves as a light drawback

• Some elements encourage backtracking, but not very developed aspect of game

Gameplay

Graphics• Rich colors, wonderful

atmosphere, style over realism

• Atmosphere, graphics, story, setting, and characters are top-notch and among the best you’ll find in a video game

• Gameplay is multi-faceted, which can keep it interesting, but sometimes repetitive

• Multiple enemy types keep encounters fresh

• Violence might turn off some would-be fans, but it fits well with the visual style over-all

• Difficulty can be changed at any moment via pause menu

• Lacks multiplayer, but still has tons of replay value• Voxophones• 1999 Mode• Burial at Sea DLC pack

Final Verdicthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLHW78X1XeE (0:38)

• Illustrates the power that narrative, characters, and setting can have in a game

• Game plays as more than mere escapism

• Has a surprising amount to say as well

• Offers interesting opinions on recurring themes of industrialism, patriotism, and fanaticism in general

• Fascinating points of view on chance and theoretical physics that inspire thoughts long after credits roll

• Game-changer for sure

Final Verdict

Bioshock: Infinite

A+