It is in this rather strange context that begins the adventure of Bioshock, a first-person shooter game, unlike any other in its atmosphere and design. It must be said that the developers of 2K Boston wanted more than anything else to create a coherent and original universe. From this point of view, the bet is more than successful since Rapture releases a very particular atmosphere mixing madness, dreamlike and even poetry. The gigantism of the place offers varied landscapes with a flora and decorations which contrast radically with most of the productions of recent years, sometimes tending towards Art Deco, sometimes towards Neo styles. To match the rest, the enemies also benefit from a very particular design ranging from the simple rotting zombie to the "Big Daddy" in armor and diving helmets, not to mention mutants wearing masks of Italian renaissance comedians, crazy art lovers, futuristic combat robots and turrets and correct genetic errors that remind us of the psychopaths of Condemned. A rather improbable mix of genres that gives rise to a real explosive cocktail of undeniable flavor.
The adventure, therefore, begins with the plane crash and after a brief swim, the player reaches the edges of a lighthouse in which he returns to make initial contact with the area. Entering the elevator is an opportunity to admire a sublime overview of Rapture but also to learn more about the city's past and to discover the goals that prompted Andrew Ryan to create this universe. It is only once out of the cabin, however, that the story begins and the player can finally interact with their surroundings. The opportunity to discover gameplay that is reminiscent of some big names in video games, including Deus Ex of course, but also Condemned. Because if BioShock has a very original universe, its gameplay is inspired by a multitude of games most often related to Deus Ex for the aspect of searching for objects - hacking - adventure and changing places.
In addition to these weapons and ammunition, the player will be able to use various powers coming from Adam, a parasitic substance created by the scientists of Rapture which allows changing our molecular structure to use a whole series of powers such as cremation, freezing, sending killer bees or telekinesis. So many little extras that will enable you to vary the pleasures and which are once again customizable. Of course, to evolve and therefore advance more quickly in the game, you will need to collect this substance. There is only one solution for this: to catch infected little girls to tear their Adam from them and kill them at the same time. And as you can imagine, the operation is not as easy as it seems because these little beings, as puny as they are, are protected by big "Big Daddy" who will do everything to prevent you. to approach it ... You are free to risk it or not. For the rest, you should know that the enemies killed leave many dollars and objects behind them, a currency that will allow you to buy health packs, ammunition and all kinds of upgrades for your powers. Finally, you should know that almost everything can be hacked, whether it is security cameras, defence turrets, security robots (which, once hacked, will protect you), chests and even distributors (which will grant discounts). To take control of these different elements, nothing could be easier, just press button A to open the case and create a path leading a liquid flow from point A to point B by reversing the directional parts. With the other adjoining rooms. A straightforward system which allows bringing a little variety to the gameplay, but which unfortunately quickly proves to be off-putting. Reason for which the developers included automatic hacks, rare, but which make it possible to avoid this sequence.
So much for the gameplay aspect that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of Deus Ex as the similarities between the two apps are notable. For the rest, Bioshock plays very clearly the card of the atmosphere with enemies who will not hesitate to surprise you, varied and stylish places, a solemn atmosphere, a few bosses, diverse and original missions, a storyline with twists and turns, some crazy encounters and a good dose of fun during the inevitable gunfights! You will have understood it: it is difficult to be disappointed by such a monument as it gives off that little something that is lacking in most current productions.
On the graphics side, the result is also stunning with a real technical demonstration that spans over 15 hours of play! A vast, stylish, varied, original and well-modelled universe. All this without forgetting the incredible talent of the designers who offer us a universe full of charisma with enchanting decors, hallucinating special effects of realism and a graphic style so plausible that it becomes frightening at times. As you will have understood, BioShock manages without difficulty in making us forget its few imperfections with its only formidable technical realization, which is nevertheless counterbalanced by some textures a bit bland and some disappointing special effects (fire, in particular). But never mind because rarely a game will have so upset your servant!
In the end, BioShock is indeed a great game. Only regrets: the ending is a bit disappointing and the few small mistakes in bad taste that dot the solo adventure. But despite this, the experience remains epic, relatively long and even if it is reminiscent of Deus Ex in many points (especially at the level of alleged innovations), we must recognize the masterful work carried out by the developers of 2K Boston.