14 DAY TRIAL // One of the most interesting features of the upcoming BioShock Infinite is the new 1999 mode, which is supposed to offer a hardcore experience for those fans who don’t like the handholding of modern video games.
Ken Levine, who is the leader of the development process at Irrational Games, told CVG that, “I think there'll be a few custom nostrums but 1999 mode is really about a feel and a style of play, and the player's experience in terms of difficulty.”
He added, “Really I think the most interesting thing about 1999 mode for me is being, for example, 'I'm really a melee guy', 'I'm really a ranged weapons guy', 'I'm a guy who's great on the Skylines', 'I'm a guy who should never go on the Skylines'.”
Each choice made while playing 1999 mode will greatly influence the way the player experiences the rest of the game and will make Infinite very different from what previous titles in the series have offered.
Levine says, “With this mode we have the luxury of being able to have our cake and eat it too by providing something that's brutal and punishing for players who want that type of experience, but not just in terms of difficulty, but also in saying that you really need to find a play style and go with it.”
BioShock Infinite takes gamers away from the underwater Rapture and introduces them to Columbia, a flying city that has gone rogue and threatens the stability of the entire world.
The player will take on the role of Booker, a former detective who needs to navigate the complex geography and political landscape of the city in order to save Elizabeth, a little girl with complex supernatural powers.
BioShock Infinite was initially set to arrive this fall of the PC, the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3, but it has since been delayed to February 26, 2013.