BioShock Infinite Review

Can Irrational's ambitious shooter break the circle of FPS repetition anew?
Those gamers privileged enough to have experienced the incredible BioShock (10/10) back in 2007 will recall that it was by far one of the defining first-person shooters of this generation, packing an artistic storyline that changed the way that the player perceived their protagonist and the surroundings around them. Ever since BioShock Infinite was announced, then, there have naturally been questions aplenty as to whether this audacious prequel adventure could ever possibly match its predecessor. The answer? Irrational have truly outdone themselves, creating a product that not only matches its inspiration, but surpasses it in many ways and actually breathes fresh air into the entire franchise.

For the uninitiated among you, Infinite's storyline revolves around Booker DeWitt, an investigative detective dispatched to the city of Columbia in the sky in order to 'find the girl, and wipe away the debt'. The girl in question? Elizabeth, a mysterious ally who finds herself locked in a tower and protected by a deadly guardian. This initial fairytale-esque premise of rescuing a damsel in distress may at first appear simple for players, but anyone who's been to Rapture and back since 2007 will know that the 'main' mission set out for the hero in the BioShock universe is rarely everything that it seems. Sure enough, there's plot twist after plot twist to come, allowing the player to infinitely interpret the vast and complex storyline which Irrational's writing team have laid out right in front of them.

Make no mistake, it's this breathtaking narrative experience that will win you over, combining logical science-fiction concepts with gripping character drama the likes of which most other FPS (first-person-shooter) games could only ever dream of. Come the storyline's climax, you'll begin to realize that the true answer behind everything has been staring you in the face from the moment the game boots up- a realization handled masterfully by the writers to transform your perspective on everything that's come before. There are few video game endings which match the sheer ambition of Infinite's- the most recent that this reviewer can recall of such magnitude is Mass Effect 3, and it's safe to say that what transpires here should go down a heck of a lot better than the 2012 RPG finale's denouement. No element of the conclusion is without narrative logistical foundation, nor any element of the layered plot left unhinged by later revelations. It all fits together, in the glorious skies.

Were this to be Infinite's only true strength, then it would likely still warrant a fairly high score. What ensures that the latest BioShock instalment gets the worthy score you'll see below is that the gameplay is often just as innovative as the core narrative. The implementation of Vigours, the skylines and Elizabeth's tears within the main FPS gameplay engine all allow Infinite to transcend the limited boundaries of usual 'gritty' FPS experiences, still undoubtedly an FPS yet one which is unlike anything that's come before it. I've seen some reviewers lament a lack of FPS innovations for some reason or another, yet to this reviewer it genuinely seems that the BioShock franchise has taken the genre further forward than any other annualized guff thrown our way since the original game's release six years ago.

On top of the groundbreaking storyline and innovative gameplay mechanics Infinite has offer, there's plenty of excitement to be had aesthetically too. The visual effects depicting the world of Columbia are every bit as impressive in 2013 as those that brought us Rapture in 2007, perhaps moreso, with character facial expressions from the likes of Elizabeth, Comstock and the rest putting most other FPS franchises to shame graphically. In addition, the soundtrack is absolutely beautiful and damn close to iconic, an accolade that's rarely warranted in the realm of video gaming yet here remains completely true to the game's form- the blend of classic and new tracks which build up auditory atmosphere within Infinite is simply unlike anything we've seen before in these realms, an incredible feat given this format of entertainment's recent growth.

What with a recession in our midst and the times a'changing, the modern video gamer in 2013 may rightly ask reviewers such as myself this question- why should I spend £40 of my hard-earned cash on a video game that contains no multiplayer and just a single ending to its non-open-world storyline? Put simply, BioShock Infinite's depth and value comes through a narrative adventure that surpasses the vast majority of titles that I have played this generation, bringing a storyline that ties it together to the seemingly distant world of BioShock, while actually making the idea of playing the original again seem like something which will cast a whole new light on it, a trait which is unspeakably rare these days. Franchise fans will find so much to love and explore here, but any newcomers need not fear- Infinite's is a standalone storyline too that is just as rihc for first-time players.

Whatever way you look at it, BioShock Infinite is a video game that you simply cannot afford to miss either this year or indeed in your lifetime. Irrational have redefined the FPS genre all over again, and ensured that unless any of the other 'big' games of 2013 can do the damn-near-impossible and miraculously somehow best it, I have already got my Game Of The Year 2013 chosen eight months before the deadline. It's the perfect sequel, prequel and standalone entry, and takes the franchise to heights even greater than the lofty skies themselves.
10/10