The Hawkeye

The original Bioshock was easily considered the best game of 2007 despite borrowing heavily from both critically acclaimed System Shock and Fallout. Bioshock 2 is a game that is far separated from the original developer team and original vision.

The story of Bioshock 2 is separated from the first by ten long years. This time you play as the very first Big Daddy, Delta. The Alpha series of big daddies will die if separated from their single bonded little sister for too long. Delta's little sister is a girl named Eleanor Lamb who just so happens to be the daughter of Bioshock 2's antagonist Sophia Lamb.

The only true downfall of Bioshock 2 is the lack of charismatic characters. Augustus Sinclair is a well written character and a voice of comfort in Rapture's dirty slums, but Sophia Lamb's voice becomes annoying after the same speech drones on for the 40th time in an area.

Also, Lamb is not an adequate replacement for Andrew Ryan or Frank Fontaine of the first game. While Fontaine was just a good villain, Ryan was one of the most well-written video game characters of all time.

The gameplay in Bioshock 2 is actually the exact same as it was in the first Bioshock. I suppose the only real difference is that you can now wield plasmids and weapons simultaneously. This is easily the best way to go as it feels more natural this way. There are a few promises that 2K made that fall short though and should be pointed out. The underwater gameplay sections that were talked about so often basically amount to walking from point A to point B underwater with no enemies or anything to do.

All of the fights with the game's new enemy, the Big Sister, are very much scripted. She only comes after you deal with every little sister in a level, and she is not the 'constant threat that may attack at any time' as promised.

Finally, the 'combining plasmids to create elaborate traps' boils down to the fact that you can charge Cyclone Trap with any other plasmid. This isn't all bad but they shouldn't have played the feature up if it was going to be this minor.

The presentation in Bioshock 2 is as perfect as the first. Rapture looks amazing, sporting its own little art style. The water and lighting effects are great as well. The soundtrack and sound design are simply brilliant, especially if you have a surround sound system.

Bioshock 2 adds an adequate multiplayer component with a Modern Warfare 2 style leveling system.

I still recommend the first game over it if you haven't played either. Bioshock 2 is a must play for fans of the first, if only to spend a little more time in the city under the sea.

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