BioShock

[robdood]

Are you sure you want to add user 'danbotding' to ignore list?

I clicked yes.

Edit -

[Shindig]

I'm going to work through System Shock 2, now. I'm whacking God mode on, though. I'm not very good at sneaking.... in System Shock 2, anyway.

[Steven]

Yep yep. I really love the concept of camera hacking but have yet to see any real benefit. I'm not really surprised as I'm right at the start. Does anyone want to borrow my kids for a week so that I can get in to this properly?

Got Michael Jackson's number on my Rolodex if you want it.....

[Garibaldi]

I'm going to work through System Shock 2, now. I'm whacking God mode on, though. I'm not very good at sneaking.... in System Shock 2, anyway.

You're doing what? Begone from my sight!

[Timmo]

everyone: Would you kindly cover over any spoilers.

[Raff]

Just to make sure my 360's DVD drive isn't going kapput, is everyone else getting really rather frequent and spontaneous stutters, apparently for loading sound and textures?

[Majora]

Just as I was gloating about how easy I was finding the game, it suddenly seems to get harder. I made it to Frolic by the skin of my teeth, the encounter at the end of Arcadia drained me of nearly all my first aid kits. It annoyed me a bit though, I mean

the respawning was so fucking blatant. and throwing a big daddy in there on top of everything else was just sadistic, I found it almost impossible not to get him involved.

Frolic seems ace so far, and I'm finding it genuinely creepy for the first time in hours. The game really needed more sections like this and less blandathons like Neptunes Bounty.

[Majora]

Just to make sure my 360's DVD drive isn't going kapput, is everyone else getting really rather frequent and spontaneous stutters, apparently for loading sound and textures?

It's a cache issue. Hold down LB and RB from boot up of the game until the end of the red 2k screen to clear the cache. I had the same problem and it fixed it.

[Raff]

Ah cheers. Silly me, I should have remembered from Oblivion.

[Shindig]

You're doing what? Begone from my sight!

But it's got massive robots in it.

[Timmo]

I think I'm near the end. I'm at the bit where

my powers have been taken off me,

and y'know what? I'm bored of it. It doesn't look like I'm going to get any new plasmids, and I just want it to end.

[FishyFish]

Anyone else had the game freeze? I've only had chance for a few hours play since friday but the game's crashed twice now - both times requiring the console to be reset.

Starting to enjoy it now, although I'm still really close to the beginning (just at the part after you

unblock the doorway with a caught grenade

).

[gandhi]

Anyone else had the game freeze? I've only had chance for a few hours play since friday but the game's crashed twice now - both times requiring the console to be reset.

It's the reason why the quick save system was actually a brilliant idea. It's happened about five times now, mostly when picking up new tonics.

[Stroker Ace]

and throwing a big daddy in there on top of everything else was just sadistic, I found it almost impossible not to get him involved.

He's there to help.

[FishyFish]

It's the reason why the quick save system was actually a brilliant idea. It's happened about five times now, mostly when picking up new tonics.

That's what I was doing when it froze last time. Yeah, the quicksave feature is a boon.

[Guest]

It's the reason why the quick save system was actually a brilliant idea. It's happened about five times now, mostly when picking up new tonics.

Quick save, howd you do that? Is that the respawn?

[gandhi]

Quick save, howd you do that? Is that the respawn?

No, I just meant how you can save in any place, like.

[Straps]

Question about the last part...

I lost the little sister I was protecting during the escort mission, am I not going to be getting the save all sisters achievement now?

[deerokus]

just started this, on hard which is much harder than I was expecting, the game mostly seems to be me scrabbling around trying to find ammo or first aid right now. Good to see though that you can reduce the difficulty in game if it gets too much, more games should have that option.

It's great, so far.

[MalevolentPanda]

Question about the last part...

I lost the little sister I was protecting during the escort mission, am I not going to be getting the save all sisters achievement now?

I believe you should be ok. I ruined the atmosphere of that section totally by reloading quite a few times because I had exactly the same fears, and wanted the achievement that time because I knew I'd be playing it the other way next. But I checked after completion and according to the internet, it doesn't matter.

[Alan Stock]

Ah, the great chain works in mysterious ways...

I finished Bioshock last night, I thought it was really good, I'd probably give it a 9. I haven't been that caught up in a game for a long time! Uncovering the plot and wanting to discover all of Raptures secrets keep you going even through the duller sections. I thought the plot was cool, and the characters ace. Ryan and Atlas are great in their different ways. I love how you find out stuff later on, and then remember earlier bits of the game with a new light.

I'm going to do a plot post now. I might post about the gameplay and stuff tomorrow:

Warning, end of game spoilers below!

For example, I really liked how as you go on, you discover that the citizens of Rapture are like that because they've all been tooled up on Plasmids in Atlas and Ryan's civil war. And that also explains the weapons everywhere, and the home-made turrets like the RPG turrets, and even the Power to the People machines, part of Atlas' playing to the poor.

The clever thing is, that like the above, pretty much every aspect of the game and environment has some connection with the game world, and their meaning is drip-fed to you as you go on. For instance the Big Daddies and Little Sisters are tools of Ryans, to collect Adam to fuel his war, but initially you just think "what are these freaky things wandering around?". And then you realise one of the reasons Atlas hates them so much is they've been thorns in his side in his war. And as you learn about the Sisters, you realise why the splicer women wail on about their babies, which you now realise have been taken for Sister conversion. Then, in the Sister's ward, you find out what Angels are, and the Sister's mental conditioning.

Question: Where does Ryan get the recruits to become Big Daddies? Is this explained somewhere I missed?

One thing about the civil war that I don't get is, why aren't the splicers all fighting each other still? As far as the plot makes out, Atlas and Ryan are still at war when you arrive, so why aren't the splicers taking sides and fighting each other? Or is it that Atlas has lost control of everyone now that Ryan is using pheremones to control everyone? I thought it was cool how Fontaine realised he could become a new man and make his own army by making the poor uprise.

I thought Ryan was an ace character, especially as you discover that all isn't well for him in Rapture, and yet he still clings to his ideals to the very end. And then you discover you're his son (though it took me reading this thread to realise that the mother is that stripper). So, I guess the order of events goes: Ryan has unwanted son, murders the mother, and then raises you before selling you to Fontaine? I seem to remember a tape that says that Fontaine bought you. Or does Fontaine just raise you?

I like how what seems like an accident, the plan crash, is actually Fontaine's ace in the hole, bringing his super-weapon into play to try and either escape or take over Rapture. Or is he not trying to escape at all, and just using the sub as part of the "revenge" charade to spur you on to take out Ryan? I've read some of the thread, and I agree that the "Would you kindly" thing seems patchy in places. Something I don't get though, is why Ryan doesn't just use your conditioning to stop you from messing up his plans. And it's unclear as to how Ryan knows about your conditioning, when it was Fontaine who privately commissioned it. Unless Ryan can hear Atlas on the radio, which I'm pretty sure he can't.

Another thing which seems weird is how Atlas/Fontaine gets around Rapture, considering he isn't part of the Ryan family? He shouldn't be able to use the subs because they are wired to Ryan's genetic code. You know he must have moved from Neptune's Rapture to at least Promethius Point.

I got what I assume is the "evil" ending, annoyingly, despite the fact I only harvested 2 sisters at the very beginning, just to see what would happen. It's a bit annoying that the game assumes your character's personality is "evil" just for experimenting with the game mechanics. In real life it would have been fairly obvious I was atoning for my sins by rescuing the other 16 or whatever afterwards! Yet I'm portrayed as a monster at the end, though it was quite a cool ending I must say.

Anyone notice that you mysteriously lose the Big Daddy suit for the final fight? Pity your voice box is still mashed by that machine! It doesn't really explain whether Big Daddies are still living people or not - one tape says the skin and organs are needed on the inside of the suit, but that could be fueled by the mechanics I guess. I thought the final fight was alright, certainly 10 times better than the final boss of System Shock 2! The ending sequence was very brief though, the whoel game felt like it ended quite suddenly. It might have been nice to see more around Rapture, or hear more back-story or something as the credits rolled.

Do you find out what happens to Sullivan, the police guy? I looked through the tape messages I found and couldn't hear any reference to it, and I don't remember finding a body. Also, do you find out what happens to Diane McKintock, after she joins Atlas and starts raiding? Or did I miss a tape or message (don't spoil it for me please!)?

Another thing I don't get, it how the artist freak in Fort Frolic has turned people into stone, yet he doesn't seem to have any similar power when you fight him. Also, can you get him to open the locked chest without killing him? He implies that you haven't done well enough, is it possible to satisfy him? Does killing him affect the game ending, or just this extra room that I hear you all talking about in the flats level?

I really liked the story in this game, lots to think about!

[Alan Stock]

It's the reason why the quick save system was actually a brilliant idea. It's happened about five times now, mostly when picking up new tonics.

Yes, I had the game crash three times, all on Upgrade screens or plasmid screens. Really, really annoying, each time I lost an hour or two's play, because you don't think to save because of the Autosaves and auto-respawn! GRRR! Considering 3 consistent crashes on one playthrough, it's pretty shocking that it made it to the final game!

Tip - once I managed to get out of the game freezing, by pressing the Xbox controller middle button, waiting for the menu to come up, and then closing it again. The game then unfroze.

[Alan Stock]

I believe you should be ok. I ruined the atmosphere of that section totally by reloading quite a few times because I had exactly the same fears, and wanted the achievement that time because I knew I'd be playing it the other way next. But I checked after completion and according to the internet, it doesn't matter.

Damn. I kept reloading there too when I failed it once, I thought it might have plot repercussions from what she tells you. Does it really make no difference to anything? Grr!

[Mogget]

I have tried persevering with the game tonight. It actually picked up a notch through the Smuggler's Hideout and the first part of Arcadia, but since then it's just reverted to the same old rinse and repeat process. The level design can be a bit confusing at times, which is probably why that big, fat arrow was added as a tour guide

[robdood]

Funny I haven't used it once then, eh?

[Alan Stock]

I got rid of that objective arrow straight away as I found it very distracting from the atmosphere, and I much prefer exploring with my own free will anyway. You can turn it off in the options.

Persevere through Arcadia, it is a bit long winded and dull in places.

[JoeK]

Well, I got the good ending. It all ending slightly abruptly really. It was pleasant enough, but not completely what I was expecting. Can someone please tell me what happens if you go on a killing spree with the Little Sisters? Chances are I probably won't summon up the urge to play through this all again

(Whether that was spoiler material or not, I dunno).

I really don't know about this game. Personally, it sticks to an awful lot of old conventions for the format. Did I expect more from it? Not at all, as I actually came into the game with relatively little hard info, so I wasn't disappointed. Some of it was very, very good. Yet an awful lot of it felt slightly laboured to me.

I don't say this very often, but I thought there was far too much killing really. It would have been nicer to have some citizens of Rapture who'd still just about hung onto their sanity...at least long enough to tell me more stories (thus doing away with the tape recorders?).

Oh well. The game certainly had something - it's a rare thing these days for me to complete one, so that's a definite thumbs up.

[Alan Stock]

Just as I was gloating about how easy I was finding the game, it suddenly seems to get harder. I made it to Frolic by the skin of my teeth, the encounter at the end of Arcadia drained me of nearly all my first aid kits. It annoyed me a bit though, I mean

the respawning was so fucking blatant. and throwing a big daddy in there on top of everything else was just sadistic, I found it almost impossible not to get him involved.

Hypnotise Big Daddy plasmid is your friend in that bit, unless you haven't got it (in which case I cry for you). I love having a Big Daddy escort, and once you've upgraded it, he'll stay with you for quite a while. Nothing better than watching a Bouncer Big Daddy smashing through everything on your behalf!

[Mogget]

Funny I haven't used it once then, eh?

I haven't used it either. My point is that Irrational/2K Boston (or whatever else they're calling themselves these days) presumably added it because they thought that some people might find the level design a bit confusing.

[Sir DangerM]

Just started playing it tonight, just killed my first big daddy.

Its all good so far. All the options for plasmid stuff are a bit daunting though, I hate having to choose upgrades because i can't afford them all. RE4 was the same, and I much prefered that once i'd played through it once or twice and had enough money for everything so didn't have to choose. I WANT IT ALL.

Also,

it scares the crap out of me when they keep turning the lights off

As for the arrow, I don't really mind it. In fact I like it because I know which direction not to go in if i want to explore and collect stuff.