Bioshock 2 Info, Interview and Impressions
There is no better way for me to begin my role as Senior Editor than with long-awaited information about the sequel to what has to be one of my favorite games of all time, Bioshock. The highly anticipated follow-up to the artsy shooter has been a project of CIA-level secrecy. A long time went by with little to no real information on the project, aside from being developed by new studio 2K Marin without the help of original creator Ken Levine. We got an ambiguous teaser trailer, an even more ambiguous website, and were left with nothing but our assumptions.
Well, thanks to a recent exclusive with Gamespot, much ambiguity has been revealed. Not only did the 2K Marin staff tell us a little bit about the upcoming title, they told us a lot, by means of a 12 minute long video interview. See it here:
The original Bioshock was an epic post-Darwin feat of creativity, putting you in control of a man who ends up fighting for survival and change in a crazy, underwater dystopian city. It had mystery, humor, deception, murder, revenge, insanity, science, religion and morality, all weaved into a narrative that not only looked swell and had top-notch writing, but was more fun than tickling ten blue chickens.
It seems that girl from the Sea of Dreams trailer casually standing on the shore with her Big Daddy doll in hand is one of the girls you saved from Fontaine, all grown up and not entirely coping with the above-ground world. It seems she’s gone back down to become the Big Sister, kidnap kids and re-ignite the inferno of insanity. “It seems” is the operative phrase… we’ll shave to wait and see how it really plays out.
There is a lot in the video to be excited about, and a lot of questions that get answered. Of course, it also creates new questions that won’t be answered until you boot up the final product, step into that Big Daddy suit and see what’s really what.
It definitely seems that 2K Marin has taken into consideration a lot of the things people were worried about with the sequel. One of my biggest concerns was something well-addressed in the above film: The team is aware of the super “omg”-ness that players experience their first time through Rapture. There is an extraordinary sense of wonder and curiosity that you can’t help but feel when playing the game. It’s that, “There is so much to do and see, so many intricacies, that I know it’ll take me multiple plays to even come close to seeing it all” feeling. Overall, 2K spent a lot of time trying to re-create that splendor while striving to maintain a familiarity for those who have been to the city before. I just hope they’ve executed it as well as they think they have.
At least many people will be pleased the game is slated to be simultaneously released on both PS3 and Xbox360.
From the great old-timey music to big key morality decisions, the heart of Bioshock is obviously present in this title. It’s a game that deserves perfection, and it seems to be treated as such. Which is good, because I am literally ready to go punch some people in the ears if they mess this up…
Would you kindly not make me do that?
