There aren???t many games which list a critique of objectivism as one of its selling points, but then Bioshock isn???t like other games. Indeed the only titles it can easily be compared to are System Shock and its sequel, to which this is a spiritual successor. Instead of being set in a derelict space ship though the game???s story involves you exploring a mysterious underwater city after a plane crash. The city had been created as an art deco paradise for the intellectual elite but is now in ruins and populated only by grotesque mutants ??? both physically and mentally.

Although at first sight the game appears to be a first person shoot ???em-up it is not primarily an action game. Your goal is survival, not extermination, with ammunition limited and many enemies far more powerful than yourself. You are able to upgrade your abilities though, both physical and psychic, by collecting Adam ??? the mutagen which was the cause of the disaster in the first place. Even so the best way to defend yourself is to play the creatures and environments against themselves, tricking one group into fighting against another or taking control of security robots and devices.

The game gives you full freedom to play the game exactly as you want, while at the same time creating a living world which carries on with or without you ??? with many creatures not even bothering to acknowledge you unless you attack them. With stunning graphics, especially the water effects, and an extremely disturbing atmosphere this could well be the most intelligently macabre video game ever made.
HARRISON DENT

If you ever read the stuff you agree to when installing software, you'll already know that the manufacturer is only selling you the right to run their software, and under sometimes quite restrictive 'rules'. You might think you've bought a game and own it - but legally, you don't.

But before buying *this* game you really SHOULD acquaint yourself with how VERY restrictive the rules are, and what you've really bought.

You are buying the right to install the game a maximum of 5 times, on one machine. Too bad if you upgrade your machine in the meantime.

This warning applies particularly if you're considering purchasing a second-hand version of the game, say from an amazon seller. You may install it, connect to the internet to activate it, and get a nasty shock.

Personally I feel that NO game is so good that it's worth allowing the manufacturers to get away with imposing such limiting restrictions.

Just say no!

The game itself is brilliant, wonderful graphics, surreal environments and ingenious weapons. The combat system works, and feels brilliant compared to the normal fps, in fact if it were just the game this would have got 5 stars on both categories, however it is not. Firstly the special edition content, it well.. anything but special, the model big daddy is rather low quality, the actual thing has several faults in the look, and the arms are relatively fragile, yet the content is not my main problem, it's what 2K did to the game. You have this 5 install limit, which is undeniably irritating, and is utterly mad, this realistically stops re-sale of the game, or even lending it to a friend, which makes it a bit of a bore. The game also isn't very system friendly, I had many problems, it didn't really like much at all, although it didn't hog the system it just didn't run well with other problems. There are many other technical problems and irritations caused by the game, and due to this I have to give it a 3/5, however if you don't mind living through these the game is excellent.

what a game this could have been. Graphically i love it, sound and atmosphere are all good the story line is shockingly unoriginal but kinda interesting and if i wanted a good storyline i would have read a book. The one factor that makes a potentially brilliant came average if that is the fact its a fps/rpg thing were u cant die it ruins the whole thing well it did for me in fact sometimes its better to die so u get the eve boost u get after the biochambers what sort of game rewards failuer. u cant even turn off in the option what a joke a game were u cant lose . it ruins any horror the game might have as if u die so what u are never on edge. Got so angry at it just reloaded it to last save when ever i died. I just hope they change it in the expansion pack or patch as every thing else about it i loved.

Why do people come onto the game reviews and moan???? People saying that the game won't run on their hardware, the game is too linear, can't carry enough stuff???? Moan moan winge winge.

Everyone in the world knows that the latest DX10 games need a top PC with a the latest high end graphics cards to get the best from them, if you havent got one or can't afford one, dont buy the game and don't try and review the game on a PC that can't run it properly.

Stop comparing this game to previous games as in my book it is a completely different beast and should be treated that way. With regard to the game being too linear, you would moan if the game had a free storyline because no doubt you would get lost and bored. Look at all the greats and they have all been linear to a degree (Call of Duty, Half Life 2). Without it they become another Star Wars Galaxys, which I personally found boring as there was no direction and majority of the time descended into online players killing and robbing other online players. The story line has to be linear to get everyone to the same place at the end.

I agree with the review about the Splicers getting a bit samey after a while and the Security Bots being annoying but overall this game is fantastic. The graphics on their maximum setting are fantastic, really setting the mood for the game, the game play is good and gives you lots of different challenges along the way, although I am only half way through completing this game. To me a good game isn't one you run round aimlessly, it is one that gets emotions going, apprehension when you are creeping round in a dark room, satisfaction when you complete a hard section, feeling and understanding the characters in the game. This game has it all and not since Half Life 2 have I felt these. I would recommend this game to anyone, just make sure you have a PC of high enough spec to run it.

A common thread of criticism here is the liniarity of the gameplay and plot. I depends how you look at it.
Half way through the game, this liniarity is explained most masterfully. Worked for me.