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Bioshock 2

2K Games Product Details
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Sales Rank: 698
2K Games
Released: 2010-02-09

Avg. Customer Review: 2.5 Star
Media: DVD-ROM
Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows 2000, Windows XP
ESRB Rating: Mature
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Product Features
Bioshock 2
  • Online and offline multiplayer modes including: Free-For-All, and Team Death Match and more.
  • Return to the underwater city of Rapture where now the 'The Big Sister' is the toughest creature around.
  • Play as the original the Big Daddy as you harness raw strength to battle Rapture¿s most feared denizens as you battle powerful new enemies.
  • New game mechanics including the ability to wield plasmids and weapons simultaneously; flashback missions detailing how you became the Big Daddy; the ability to walk outside the airlocks of Rapture to discover new play areas, and many more.
  • New game environments including Fontaine Futuristics, headquarters of Fontaine's business empire and the Kashmir Restaurant.

Product Review
Product Description
Most gamers agree that Bioshock was one of the greatest games ever made. From the shocks to the deep storyline to the innovative gameplay to the stunning graphic effects, it was a solid game all around. Now, brace yourself for its successor, Bioshock 2. This game is one of the best games coming out in 2010. You can't afford NOT to get it.
Amazon.com Product Description
Follow-up to BioShock, 2K Games' critically acclaimed and commercially successful 2007 release, BioShock 2 is a first-person shooter set in the fictional underwater city of Rapture. As in the original game, BioShock 2 features a blend of fast-paced action, exploration and puzzle-solving as players follow varying paths through the overarching storyline based on the decisions that they are forced to make at various points in the game. In addition to a further fleshing out of the franchise's popular storyline, players can look forward to new characters, game mechanics, weapons, locations and a series first, multiplayer game options.

BioShock 2 game logo
Big Sister front and back from BioShock 2
The new power in Rapture.
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Duel wielding plasmid and weapon in BioShock 2
Duel wield plasmids & weapons.
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Deciding whether to harvest or adopt a Little Sister in BioShock 2
New choices as Mr. B.
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Multiplayer screen playing as one of the available characters BioShock 2
Franchise first multiplayer options.
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The Story
Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the halls of Rapture once again echo with sins of the past. Along the Atlantic coastline, a monster — somehow familiar, yet still quite different from anything ever seen — has been snatching little girls and bringing them back to the undersea city. It is a Big Sister, new denizens of Rapture who were once one of the forgotten little girls known as Little Sisters, known to inhabit the city's dank halls. No longer a pawn used to harvest ADAM, the dangerously powerful gene-altering lifeblood of Rapture, from the bodies of others and in turn run the risk of being harvested herself, the Big Sister is now the fastest and most powerful thing in Rapture. You, on the other hand are the very first Big Daddy, in fact the prototype, that for some reason has reactivated. You are similar to the Big Daddies familiar from the original BioShock, but also very different in that you possess free will and no memory of the events of the past ten years. The question is, as you travel through the decrepit and beautiful fallen city beneath the waves, hunting for answers and the solution to your own survival, are you really the hunter, or the hunted?

Gameplay and Multiplayer
In BioShock 2 players will take on the role of the original Big Daddy, not that of game one protagonist, Jack. As a Big Daddy you will have access to all the strengths and weapons of a standard Big Daddy, including the drill and rivet gun. More importantly you also possess free will and the ability to use plasmids and gene tonics — genetic modifications allowed for through ADAM, a stem cell harvested from conquered enemies, or sea slugs outside the Rapture air lock, and powered by the in-game injectable serum known as EVE, which can be found, captured or purchased. Plasmids and gene tonics provide a wide range of aggressive and passive abilities which can be upgraded and arranged for quick use. The ability to use plasmids and tonics gives you a decided edge over other Big Daddies and most other denizens of Rapture, excluding the powerful Big Sisters. In addition, due to their role as a Big Daddy, players will experience a new relation to the Little Sisters. Upon defeating standard Big Daddys you are given the familiar choice as to whether to harvest or adopt them. Harvesting gains you ADAM immediately, but could alter your path through the game, while adopting makes you responsible for Little Sisters, who then accompany you through Rapture, but also provide aid and warning in times of danger. Additional gameplay features include: new plasmids, weapons and the ability to combine these two.

The game also features the anticipated multiplayer modes. Several of these are team-based, allowing up to 10 players. Within these players are provided with a rich prequel experience that expands the origins of the BioShock fiction, and allows you to play as one of several characters pulled from Rapture's history before the events of the first game.

Key Features

  • The Big Sister - No longer just something to be harvested or not, the Big Sister is the most powerful resident in Rapture.
  • You Are the Big Daddy - Take control with the original prototype Big Daddy, and experience the power and raw strength of Rapture’s most feared denizens as you battle powerful new enemies.
  • New Plasmids - New plasmids such as "Aero Dash" allowing for bursts of speed over short distances, and "Geyser Trap" a stream of water used as a jump pad and electrical conductor, join the ample list of Plasmids from the original game.
  • New Game Mechanics - BioShock 2 contains many new gameplay mechanics. Just a few of these are: the ability to wield plasmids and weapons simultaneously; flashback missions detailing how you became the Big Daddy; the ability to walk outside the airlocks of Rapture to discover new play areas, and many more.
  • New Locations - Just a few of the locations and environments debuting in BioShock 2 are Fontaine Futuristics, headquarters of Fontaine's business empire and the Kashmir Restaurant.
  • Evolution of the Genetically Enhanced Shooter - Innovative advances bring new depth and dimension to each encounter, allowing players to create exciting combinations to fit their style of gameplay.
  • Return to Rapture - Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the story continues with an epic, more intense journey through one of the most captivating and terrifying fictional worlds ever created.
  • Genetically Enhanced Multiplayer - Earn experience points during gameplay to earn access to new weapons, plasmids and tonics that can be used to create hundreds of different combinations.
  • Experience Rapture’s Civil War - Players will step into the shoes of Rapture's citizens and take direct part in the civil war that tore Rapture apart.
  • See Rapture Before the Fall - Experience Rapture before it was reclaimed by the ocean and engage in combat over iconic environments in locations such as Kashmir Restaurant and Mercury Suites, all of which have been reworked from the ground up for multiplayer.

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Product Details
Bioshock 2
  • DVD-ROM: 0 pages (2010-02-09)
  • Platforms: Windows Vista, Windows 2000, Windows XP
  • Publisher: 2K Games
  • Label: 2K Games
  • Format: DVD-ROM
  • Studio: 2K Games
  • Our Recommended Age: 17 - 20 years
  • Average Customer Review: 2.5 Star based on 80 reviews
  • Sales Rank in Software: #698

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Customer Reviews
Avg. Customer Review: 2.5 Star

Customer Rating: 3 Star
Summary: Bioshock 1.5 2010-03-19
Comment: Like many others, I enjoyed the first Bioshock greatly. While I wouldn't have named it as one of the best games ever, I still found the game refreshing and different. Moreover, the game was just the right length -- right when I thought that the novelty was about to wear thin, the game ended.

When I heard about Bioshock 2, I was concerned that the new game would feel stale and played out. After playing it, I think my fears were well-founded. The new gameplay features, such as the ability to wield a plasmid and a gun at the same time, and the new hacking mini-game, are all welcome improvements. However, even if you put all the new features together, they're still so minor that they could have easily belonged in an expansion pack. The graphics, the setting, and everything else still look and sound great, but they are also virtually unchanged from the first Bioshock.

Because of the fairly conclusive ending to the first Bioshock, I also keenly felt the attempts by the developers to twist the story and setting so that you can go back to Rapture "for round 2". It's not a great sign when Andrew Ryan, who's been dead for a decade, was figuratively resurrected in order to provide a proper foil for the game's new villain, Sophia Lamb.

In conclusion, the game is still fun, just like Bioshock, but while the Bioshock was bold, innovative, and novel, Bioshock 2 feels timid, trite, and bland. The overly restrictive DRM, and the obvious ploy to extract another $5 from players via DLC (the DLC was already on the disk, and you pay to unlock it) don't help either.
Customer Rating: 3 Star
Summary: Bioshock 2 2010-03-17
Comment: I have never bought a game within 2wks of debut normally
I would wait it out, maybe test off a friends pc / console, or a good price drop

I was originally looking to get Bioshock 1, but no one had it in store
But they had Bioshock 2 - I was interested, so I bought it

Recently, I upgraded my cpu and applied crossfire to my pc with goal to improve overall performance (likely maxed out sensible specs to MB)
Supreme Commander held up well from 2 battle skirmishes without lag and pausing, so I was sure Bioshock 2 should be fine

Better than expected so far - it was so fluid and possessed smooth operations
I found out shortly afterwards, it was due to being 64-bit ready and multi-threaded
Would not be surprised if this was the first game to apply both 64-bit ready and multi-thread support codec

Storyline has been great and surprisingly has that sensation to keep playing on
Last game I had that happen with was Star Wars Republic Commando (Great older game)

This game for gameplay and storyline could go down a path similar to HalfLife saga (Not equivalent, but great) and be recognized in introducing innovations and coming up with a great game.

Did not try MP yet - need Internet I'm sure (duhyee)


Now, the gripes:
Games for Windows requires internet to use profile in SP
This is my first time to encounter being confined to playing a SP game needing internet to handle gameplay data

I teased with Guild Wars years ago and it needed internet - duh, it was a MMORPG - and it made sense
But this is not freakin multiplayer - its just the campaign. W Ya Tee eFF?!!

So I have a LIVE profile (made prior) and I cannot use it, since wireless network in my house is crap.

This should be precursor to why we should not allow software industry to pursue this "cloud computing" bunch o' bull turds
We are not always connected and we would like to have some files readily available at anytime

Also I'm assuming some DRM is in it (As what affected several of my recent games including BF2142 & RA3)
Customer Rating: 4 Star
Summary: Cinematic & challenging 2010-03-15
Comment: This game provides many different types of combat challenges & various ways to overcome them. Choices that the player makes affect one's abilities later in the game, not to mention how characters treat you. Great for adults.
Customer Rating: 5 Star
Summary: A review of the actual game Bioshock 2 2010-03-14
Comment: Bioshock 2 is an excellent game. The environments are new, and terrifying keeping you on your toes at all times. I did find it more challenging than the first game, although I haven't re-played the first in a while. There are different choices that define the ending, as opposed to the single decision regarding the little sisters in Bioshock 1. There were many aspects of the game I enjoyed, such as dual wielding plasmids and weapons, adopting a little sister to harvest Adam, which acts as a side mission, and playing as a big daddy. However, the thing, I enjoyed the most and still remember out of the entire game, was the fact that the developers removed the annoying audio tracks, "welcome to the circus of values", and "come back when you get some more money buddy" from the vending machines! This game does have DRM protection which I have no problem with, because the PC game industry is trying to protect their investment! The only thing DRM requires you to do is verify the install ONCE online, then you can disconnect from the net and save your game with a local OFLINE Windows Live account. You don't have to be online to play and save on single-player, but you do have to be online and have a windows live account to play multiplayer.
Customer Rating: 1 Star
Summary: Crash after crash after crash = annoying game 2010-03-13
Comment: I managed to make it through the end of the game, but, let me tell you it was a terrible experience. The game constantly crashes. I've loaded all patches and done everything support said to no avail. This game forces you to use Windows Live, which is likely the source of the problem. You can play without Live, but you can't save your games. Who would do that with crashes every 15 minutes?

Other griefs:
- Loads v-e-r-y slowly
- Saves games v-e-r-y slowly
- Takes forever to start up.

Once you get it to playing the game is not half bad. Again, though, continuous crashes are the norm for this game. Check the reviews here and elsewhere. Shame on the authors for selling out to Windows Live environment and destroying what could have been a nice game.