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| | Genre: Shooters | | | Min OS X: 10.6 |
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Health regenerates in multiplayer, but EVE doesn't. Scattered around each level are vending machines containing ammo and EVE, as well as places around every map on ledges, corners and the like. You can also hack turrets to be on your side, as well as booby trap vending machines to kill players if they go near one. Other fun touches include the water and oil spots around every map, which allows strategic use of electric and incinerate plasmids to deal extra damage to enemy players. Some modes also allow a player to be a Big Daddy, which is very powerful, but you are unable to regenerate health or use plasmids. Instead you get a rivet gun and a limited number of proximity mines. One on one the Big Daddy is overpowered, but easy enough to take down with the right combination of weapons and plasmids. Overall the mode is quite fun and can have some very intense and entertaining fights. Downsides to multiplayer include a baffling lack of communication options, either by text or voice. Curiously, you also cannot tab out of the game like you can the single player, meaning you are totally stuck and can't talk to anyone unless you are on a 3rd party voice system like Skype or Teamspeak. Lastly, the Mac version uses GameRanger, which is a fine service, but inconvenient given the lack of integration. Still, it works well once you are up and running and I was able to play smoothly even with someone setup across the country from me. While it may not quite live up to the thematic and indeed philosophical heights set by the first game, it has refinements of its own. It's bizarre, disturbing, captivating and emotional all at once. It's more than just a shooter/rpg hybrid, it's a unique and compelling experience of its own that should not be missed. If you're new to the world of Rapture I suggest starting with the first game to get the most out of the story and characters, and because the first game is just as, if not more, amazing. But Bioshock 2 also stands on its own feet for newcomers and fans alike. At times Bioshock 2 does feel a bit too familiar if you've recently played the first game, as it doesn't stray far from it, but it's still very much worth exploring. A number of different story choices and a vast number of plasmids, gene-tonics and weapon upgrades allow you to have quite a different experience should you play the game twice. For just $35 you get a deep, gorgeous game filled with a lot of atmosphere, ideas, and tense and intense combat. Bioshock 2's greatest achievement perhaps is delving into the depths of not only the realm of Rapture, but the players themselves and how affecting the choices they make to survive can be. I found myself contemplating and reflecting on the game long after I turned it off. That is perhaps the best thing you can say about any game. Check out Bioshock 2, you won't be disappointed. Pros: • Fantastically realized atmosphere and setting
• Varied gameplay and combat mechanics
• Expanded story and moral dilemmas
• Surprisingly fun multiplayer Cons • Less personal story than Bioshock
• A bit familiar for fans of the original
• Multiplayer requires 3rd party application (GameRanger) Jon Carr is an IMG writer who also hosts the MacGameCast and enjoys conducting interviews, previews and writing all the features he can think of. When not reviewing games or scheming world domination, he's probably playing a new game in Bootcamp or keeping up on all the latest game and tech news. He builds websites for a living but spends all the time he can furthering the Mac game community.
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