Bioshock: Infinite - New E3 Demo - Post #307

[mprice]

Finished this tonight. Ending was still good, even though I'd heard a few spoilers before I played it.

Really enjoyed the first and last thirds of the game, the middle really went off the boil, I thought. Was playing through on normal which I found challenging enough to be honest, particularly towards the end there were a few bits where I just took the death a few times to thin out the number of enemies. On that note I found the combat swung wildly from too easy to overwhelmingly hard in places. Most of the time it was just ok, something to get through before the next plot point.

Like a lot of people I got really addicted to collecting stuff early on but particularly in the last third I began to realise that it was a waste of time as there was nearly always a vending machine nearby, or Elizabeth would "find" what you needed.

Best bit:

Not the ending as I'd had the Rapture bit spoiled before hand, for me it was the part with the guitar which I thought was probably one of the most natural moments I've seen happen in a game. Beautifully handled moment and honestly gave me the chills.

Worst bit:

Handymen. Even with the very obvious "shoot me in the chest where I'm glowing" I had such massive problems with these guys.

[smac]

there were a few bits where I just took the death a few times to thin out the number of enemies. On that note I found the combat swung wildly from too easy to overwhelmingly hard in places. Most of the time it was just ok, something to get through before the next plot point.

On a second run-through (on hard; couldn't quite make it past that very first fireman on 1999 mode to get out of the raffle area ), and it's amazing how differently some areas play out using different Vigors. Case in point, this time around I had upgraded Murder of Crows so that bodies became nests. In one area I laid down a couple of traps in front of the entry points for the bad guys, then hid around the corner.

Cue a couple of minutes of blood-curdling screams, followed by the 'all done' musical coda. That was it. I didn't have to lift a finger. With each body generating more crows, it became self-perpetuating.

This led to one of those interesting little details;

it was in the Hall of Heroes, just after you start chasing Slate having found the Shock Jockey storeroom all cleared out. After the encounter this time, Slate berated me for being 'not the man he remembered' and called me a 'Tin Soldier'. Pretty sure the first time around he was full of praise for my military prowess, as I did it the hard way. Guns 'n' guts. Neat touch.

[Retroguy]

I'm assuming there's no news on the DLC yet? I thought we might have heard at least a little bit about it by now. I'd like to play it whilst the plot is still reasonably fresh in my mind.

[Dr Seedyman]

I'm worried the quality of the DLC won't be great.

The season pass is essentially a commitment by the developers for 3 bits of DLC.

With this gen essentially being 'over' come November and everyone thinking about the new, will there be 3 good quality bits of DLC in 6 months.

Not even a peep about it yet either.

[RubberJohnny]

Eh, why would this gen games stop coming out the instant next-gen launches? This is the stupidest thing, I get that people are hyped and are going to get a console Day 1, but the industry doesn't work like that. Even last gen had 18 months of crossover.

[Retroguy]

I'm worried the quality of the DLC won't be great.

The season pass is essentially a commitment by the developers for 3 bits of DLC.

With this gen essentially being 'over' come November and everyone thinking about the new, will there be 3 good quality bits of DLC in 6 months.

Not even a peep about it yet either.

Yeah that's what I'm worried about, the total lack of info so far, even on the first piece of it- I'm not a fan of leaving huge amounts of time after release before the DLC either, since it seems somewhat less relevant after the buzz has died down.

[Dr Seedyman]

Eh, why would this gen games stop coming out the instant next-gen launches? This is the stupidest thing, I get that people are hyped and are going to get a console Day 1, but the industry doesn't work like that. Even last gen had 18 months of crossover.

I'm probably remembering it wrong but I'm sure the original Xbox got as good as zero support after the 360 launched.

[Don Wiskerando]

Yeah, but PS2 got Fifa last year, and MS are releasing a new 360 model this year. They aren't as eager to get rid of this gen because it's actually producing profits for them. (And it looks like next-gen may not work out so well for them).

[Uzi]

I'm probably remembering it wrong but I'm sure the original Xbox got as good as zero support after the 360 launched.

That is because the original xbox was a flop in comparison to the still very strong sales of the 360.

With MS being a joke and even Sony's console being 349 at launch with low install bases- current gen software isn't going anywhere for at least another 12 months.

[RubberJohnny]

I'm probably remembering it wrong but I'm sure the original Xbox got as good as zero support after the 360 launched.

I guess this meme has gotten out of hand. First party support dried up, but it still got copies of FIFA for years. I see no way in which this'd be relevant.

[Comrade]

Ken Levine is writing a script for a (movie) remake of Logan's Run. God knows what this means for Irrational's next game, or for that matter Infinite DLC.

[NecroMorrius]

I'm probably remembering it wrong but I'm sure the original Xbox got as good as zero support after the 360 launched.

Microsoft did their best to murder the OG Xbox when the 360 came out, but it still had games for a while.

[Unofficial Who]

I'd avoided all the spoilers and so when I got to the end....fuck! That was....amazing.

I want to say more....but.....others have not played it.

[Unofficial Who]

Oh and don't watch this until you've finished the game.

It's a fan made 'alternate' version of the ending.

VALLLLLLLLUUUUUUUUUE!!!!!!!!!!!

[Unofficial Who]

There was discussion earlier in the thread about the Vox, I was wondering if anyone read Kieron Gillen's piece http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2013/04/06/about-a-girl-assorted-thoughts-on-bioshock-infinite/#more-148620

Quote:For a left leaning guy, I’m surprised to find myself okay with the presentation of the Vox Populi’s rebellion as a murderous rampage. The period Infinite charts starts with the French Revolution and ends with the Russian one, and both had their associated capital-T Terrors. Both are clearly referenced with the visual motifs and even explicitly. I’d also say Fitzroy’s most striking literary forebear is the proletariat-angel-of-vengeance Madame DeFarge of A Tale Of Two Cities. Yes, Fitzroy’s a monster, but what turned her into one?

A corrupt and abusive system ferments dissent, and when that’s sufficient to cross into open revolt, what follows isn’t pretty. It’s less “Everyone’s as bad as each other” than “this is another side-effect of a truly broken dystopia”. Bioshock Infinite states that an obscene system that makes no attempt to reform will lead to an equally obscene revolution, and you’re a naïve romantic to think that the walls aren’t going to be painted in blood when it snaps (Elizabeth’s initial reference to Les Miserables souring into a realisation of what it really means). That said, I’d be more comfortable with more of an authorial nod towards the fact the violence is a product of the system Comstock put into motion, because it is arguable the game comes close to a shrug heavenswards rather than a firm conviction.

[Vemsie]

There have been some good pieces on this game. Like the one from Rab:

http://effingarcade.tumblr.com/post/46952849768/on-bioshock-infinite

If it wasn't for The Last of Us, it would be the story of the year.

[Stig]

Finally got around to finishing this and thought it was fantastic. I'm left pretty speechless with that ending too, I didn't guess any of that at all. Others have said that as you play through there's a lot of little clues here and there, ill have to replay one day.

I loved that idea that there are many worlds and each are similar and has a Comstock. Implying Andrew Ryan is Raptures version and that the Songbird and Elizabeth are simular to the Little Sisters and Big Daddys. At one point I was expecting it to be revealed that she was a Little Sister, especially when you go back to Rapture and she knows where to go.

[carlospie]

Just finished this. Story wise it was interest, game play wise appalling.

[nfx]

Just finished this. Story wise it was interest, game play wise appalling.

Having just completed it, I agree. I'm not sure why the Bioshock games get such good scores when other interesting story/mediocre gameplay games like Spec Ops: The Line and Nier get sixes and sevens.

[Sane]

It's not that bad is it? I'm not a big fan of first person shooting in general but I thought it worked ok, nothing special but it's serviceable. Certainly not appaling .

[nfx]

Appalling is probably overstating it, but a serviceable game is hardly worth all the accolades and a Metacritic score of 94.

Spec Ops got these reviews, and they could easily describe Bioshock Infinite...

There are several great ideas here, but they're sort of mired beneath the weight of a generic shooter. 66%

What would be a ridiculously bland and forgettable experience is rendered that little bit less so through a fairly interesting setting and narrative. But it's still not very good at all, and not particularly worth your time. Unless you're REALLY bored. 59%

[Loki]

There is no way the Spec Ops combat can even be compared to Bioshock, man!

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying Infinite's combat is top draw, it's pretty poor when it comes down to it.

But Spec Ops. Really? That game possibly has some of the worst combat I've ever sat through (and I wasn't impressed by the story either to tell you the truth). Cover, shoot, cover, reload, cover, shoot. It was dreadful man.

At least with infinite you can make your own fun with the different Vigors.

[rumblecat]

I really liked the action in Bioshock. Always enjoyed the fights, always felt in control of what I was doing and able to mix up strategies- certainly the Vigors (and the sky hooks) made sure that, for me, it didn't feel like a generic shooter and definitely not "ridiculously bland and forgettable".

[Clipper]

Agreed, I never get the criticisms of Bioshock's combat.

An FPS with limited iron sights you dont have to use?

You can run and gun?

Vigors/Plasmids to mix up the action (altho for some reason I found plasmids more satisfying)

Satisfying chunky guns that have a good "heft" to them.

I find it more than serviceable, it is flexible gives me plenty of options to despatch enemies, mostly open arenas with flanking opportunities as well. The Bosses are a pain and in Infinite I found handymen very poor compared to the big daddies. But I never like boss battles so thats par for the course.

As for comparisons to Spec Ops... jesus! The combat in that couldnt be any more generic if it tried. I almost fell asleep playing it... the story was the only thing keeping me playing. Here the gameplay kept me playing as well as the story...

I cant think of many FPS's with "better" combat to be honest, different certainly, but then this isnt a grey military shooter.

[Jonzo]

I think the design of the Handymen trumps the Daddies, I just wish they weren't so messy and manic to fight.

There was a real sense of strategy to downing a Daddy in Rapture, but here it was just like OH FUCK SHOOT FUCK FUCK getting bullied up on and there was nothing you could do.

[robdood]

..except shooting them continuously with crows and watching them flail around like idiots.

[Wroth]

The combat of bioshock is hard to pin down, because it's definitely one of those "you get out what you put in" sort of things.

It's very easy to just go through the game firing your carbine down ironsights, zapping dudes with the shock jockey, getting headshots and taking cover, and find the combat to be completely rubbish*. But if you let yourself really explore your possibilities, utilizing traps, tears, rails, vigour combos it really is an astonishing experience.

*Definitely not saying that anyone who criticises the combat didn't play it properly though.

[Blu3Flame]

It looks like the DLC is finally going to get revealed later today/tomorrow.

[NecroMorrius]

Bioshock needs the 1 - 0 keys, it's bullshit on a controller. It's a design problem, not a "yay PC" thing. Hoping for some meaty DLC

[JPR]

It looks like the DLC is finally going to get revealed later today/tomorrow.

The DLC achievements have been on Steam for a few weeks now, just place holders so don't give anything away, but someone's got them. So hopefully a sign that the DLC is in a reasonable state of completion and a release won't be long after an announcement.