14 DAY TRIAL // BioShock 2 has the potential to be something like System Shock 2, a game that builds on the potential of its predecessor while making some concessions to gameplay in order to create a smoother and more attractive experience.
But the same BioShock 2 has the potential of being something like Deus Ex: Invisible War, a sequel fans will banish from the continuity for the way it took out the exact elements that made the initial game great. We'll see how BioShock 2 shapes up after February 9, when the 2K Marin made game is set to be released for the PlayStation 3 from Sony, the Xbox 360 from Microsoft and the PC through Games for Windows Live.
BioShock 2 is set ten years after the events of the first game. Rapture is controlled by newcomer Sophia Lamb, whose socialist and communitarian ideals stand in stark contrast with the libertarian and individualistic concepts held by the now dead Andrew Ryan. There's also a new figure called the Big Sister, who will serve as the main threat in the game and as a mirror held up to the face of the new main character, the original Big Daddy, now capable of autonomous action.
The gameplay will also see significant changes. The fresh main character can fire a gun at the same time as using the plasmid-based special powers. Being a Big Daddy, he will also be able to lead with his shoulder, use a drill and a rivet gun.
The Vita Chambers are set to return, as are the audio diaries as a way to offer backstory and to create atmosphere. The levels seen in BioShock 2 will not be those already visited in the first iteration and will offer more of a look at the slums of underwater Rapture. It all points to an experience that aims to keep the strong points of the original while improving on the combat and on the exploration.
The questions remain: what made BioShock so attractive and can the sequel keep the magic? It will probably end up somewhere between System Shock 2 and Invisible War, being a solid shooting experience that does not tell as good of a story and manages to recreate just part of the charm of the original game. Make your own verdict on February 9.