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Wednesday, April 24, 2024
The independent student publication of The University at Buffalo, since 1950

Daddy's home

Bioshock is back and this time it's packing more plasmid-pumping, gene-splicing, over-the-top action than ever before – all of it served from the prototype ‘Big Daddy' himself.
The in-house development crew at 2K studios worked internationally to make this game as dark, or even darker, than the first. But like all metal juggernauts, this game has a few exploitable weaknesses.
For those new to the franchise, this game may not appear to be anything special. Yet, delve into the city of Rapture for a few hours and the difference between this game and other shooters will become noticeable.
The biggest feature of this game is the use of the super-substance ADAM to wield plasmids. These plasmids are bio-enhancements meant to give the user superhuman powers, like telekinesis or the ability to shoot lightening. For returning players, the best news about the sequel is the ability to have both a weapon and a plasmid out at the same time.
Sadly, these plasmids don't become powerful until about mid-game, which makes for much more difficult gameplay.
However, players will get a chance to use Subject Delta's drill, which dishes out quite a beating. Whether it's directed at another hopped-up gene-splicer or the new Big Sisters, the drill is the bread and butter of the player's arsenal. The game developers made the use of this weapon more difficult by making it run on drill fuel, a sparse commodity in the submerged apocalyptic Mecca that is Rapture.
Thankfully, every gun in the game comes with its own unique melee move, similar to a Left 4 Dead push back. The melee doesn't inflict an incredible amount of damage, but can give the player a bit of space to work with.
The game's plot is enthralling from the moment the player picks up the controller until the credits; Bioshock 2 isn't lacking in story department. Focusing on retrieving Delta's little sister, the story begins by showing the game's antagonist Sofia Lamb, a psychotic psychologist with dreams of total control.
Without giving away too much of the game's artfully crafted plot, Sofia Lamb wants Subject Delta dead, and she succeeds. The game begins with Subject Delta's forced suicide, as Lamb attempts to take back her daughter, Eleanor.
Resurrected eight years after the events in Bioshock, Delta sees that Sophia Lamb has become the new leader of Rapture after the death of Andrew Ryan. Let's just say that Lamb has a pretty deadly sense of the word 'community' as she rallies the inhabitants of Rapture to hunt Delta.
The game is polished, yet it lacks a certain dynamic to help new players get into the franchise without getting incredibly lost. The game can be overwhelming at times, as it throws the player into the action. Hordes of splicers will attempt to kill your little sister while she tries to harvest the all-important ADAM from seemingly random corpses.
Multiplayer is the real standout addition in this game. Players will take on the role of a splicer endorsed by Sinclair Solutions, the famed plasmid manufacturer. Chaos ensues as the player can either play a capture-the-flag type game involving little sisters, or the standard variation of a death match.
The game is great for the fans of the franchise, since they can explore more of the Bioshock universe and enjoy every facet of the incredibly deep plot. But for those new to the franchise, Bioshock 2 may not be the droid you are looking for.

E-mail: arts@ubspectrum.com


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