If you have ever played the original BioShock or its sequel BioShock 2, you know that the creators of the game, Irrational Games, cleverly mix the fantastic and somewhat ridiculous setting with a vivid political and societal undertone. The first two games took place in the underwater dystopia of Rapture, created by the sinister Andrew Ryan in the late 1940s, which was constructed so that people can escape the brewing power of the government and thus flourish without any governmental control. Unfortunately, the city falls into the clutches of corruption and from there players attempt to survive against various monstrosities, including the iconic and horrifying Big Daddy.

   The newest game in the franchise, titled BioShock Infinite, gives players a brand new setting and much different take on the story. Instead of taking place in the underwater, claustrophobic city of Rapture, Infinite takes place in the vast and seemingly endless air city of Columbia. Columbia is a city suspended in the clouds by giant air balloons and blimps, and was launched in 1901 by the American government. The purpose of this grand city is to symbolize the idea of American exceptionalism, which is the idea that America is different and, in some cases, superior to other countries. The city, being very patriotic, has become a beacon of racist and social discrimination and white supremacy, showing hatred and disgust towards any “foreign” nationalities. By the time the player enters the floating city, it is in the midst of a brutal civil war between the Founders, the ruling class led by Zachary Hale Comstock, and the Vox Populi, a resistance group led by Daisy Fitzroy. As the war rages, pieces of the city begin to crumble and fall out of the sky, possibly hinting at Columbia’s ultimate fate.

   Players take on the role of a former Pinkerton agent named Booker DeWitt. Booker is not your average, gun-toting hero. He has a dark, but depressing backstory  and he is willing  to eliminate anything and anyone standing in his way. In order to clear his debts, Booker is tasked by a group of unknown individuals to rescue a young woman named Elizabeth from the clutches of Columbia. Once he reaches the city via rocket silo, he is quickly thrusted into the civil war when one of the civilians identifies him as the “false shepherd,” an individual who will ignite the beginning of the end for Columbia. He is then targeted by both the Founders and the Vox Populi, who ultimately want him dead. He eventually finds Elizabeth, though it becomes evident why Elizabeth has been held captive this whole time in the first place: she has the uncanny ability to rip holes in the space-time continuum and can bring items from anywhere or any place she can. Unfortunately, taking Elizabeth away from her abode also unleashes the fury of the Songbird, a mechanical bird-like creature whose mission is to protect Elizabeth at all costs, and giving anyone who seeks harm on her an agonizing and brutal death. In order for both Booker and Elizabeth to escape the city alive, they must work together and tie up any and all loose ends.

   The gameplay is very similar to the other entries in the series. It is a first-person shooter with some RPG elements, which means that while fighting against the hordes of Columbia, you must continue upgrading your skills and powers. In order to combat his foes, the player, as Booker, is able to use a large array of weapons ranging from machine guns to sniper rifles. Unfortunately, unlike the previous two games, the player is only allowed to carry two weapons at a time. In the previous games, the player is able to carry multiple weapons and then upgrade them to be even more powerful and accurate, similar to the Ratchet and Clank series. Also available in Booker’s arsenal are Vigors. Similar to the Plasmids in the previous two games, Vigors allow users to to use extraordinary abilities at their own whim and are powered by a unique resource called Salts, a liquid that replenishes the amount of energy Booker can use Vigors. Examples of these include Devil’s Kiss, a Vigor that allows its user to harness fire as both a projectile and a stationary trap, and Murder of Crows, a Vigor that allows Booker to send forth a massive swarm of crows to both distract and damage enemies. Another major gameplay element is the Sky-Line, an airborne rail system which is used as a major method of transportation in Columbia. Using a strange device called a Sky-Hook, Booker can ride on these rails at roller coaster speeds and traverse the battlefield with ease. The Sky-Hook can also be used as a melee weapon and can be used by the player to perform some very brutal execution kills on enemies.

   This game is simply incredible. Despite the game’s short length, the presentation and atmosphere are wonderful, giving the city of Columbia an awe-inspiring yet haunting ambiance, especially towards the later segments of the game. This is coupled by an incredible soundtrack. The characters are very interesting, with most key characters given an established backstory. The game’s enemies, while not as terrifying as the previous games’ Splicers and Big Daddies, are still a formidable threat to our heroes. The gameplay during combat is well-balanced, except for a few frustrating battles towards the end of the game, and the many enemy variations, such as the hulking Handymen, provide a decent challenge. Also, the game encourages players to use various strategies against enemies. Arguably the best component of the game is the story, which starts simple enough, but as the game progresses, it becomes complex, while at the same time compelling. Another feature in the BioShock games is ability for players to make choices that would affect gameplay later in the campaign. In Infinite, this gimmick is downplayed in favor for the gripping narrative. The ending, while rather confusing, is incredibly-written and very emotional.

THE VERDICT: I give this game a 9.5 out of 10. It is a great game with fun and satisfying gameplay, an epic set pieces, and an incredible soundtrack. The story is beautifully written, and the ending is by far one of the best conclusions to any video game I have ever played. My only gripes are: 1) the game’s campaign is only about 10-12 hours long, 2) holding only two weapons at a time, and 3) the choices presented in the game do not seem as impacting on the player’s progress as the first two games. However, despite these minor shortcomings, the game still manages to be one of my favorites of this current generation of video games. It is a must buy!