Learn more about Bioshock - Xbox 360. (Flash demo) SynopsisImagine flying high above the arctic seas, anxiously awaiting your descent to dry land. Without warning, the plane plummets to the cold and unforgiving water at unimaginable speed. Once the aircraft makes contact, you realize that falling from the skies is only the beginning of this nightmare. Wrenched into Rapture, a doomed city beneath the sea, you come across a rusted bathysphere. You learn that this once idealistic society, the brainchild of a hopeful group of scientists, artists and industrialists, now has corpses littering the city limits.Going beyond run-and-gun corridors BioShock presents a unique and unpredictable first-person shooter experience in real time. In order to survive an onslaught of assailants, you must take control of your world by hacking mechanical devices, capturing security towers and crafting items to protect yourself. Upgrade your weapons and genetically modify your body to evade the grotesque ghouls who are after you. Make meaningful choices and mature decisions to ultimately answer the question: Should you exploit the innocent survivors of Rapture or save them?
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Bioshock represents years of pining by "cerebral gamers" to get a game that's finally both fun AND features an intelligent story with smart gameplay. After System Shock 2 was released to fantastic reviews but lukewarm sales, it started to seem as though developers were shying away from similar design fearing that it might be too highbrow for the gaming audience, but Bioshock bucks that trend by becoming one of the year's most well received and best SELLING games out there. Bioshock is, at its heart, an FPS with a sci-fi twist on magic abilities. Set in an underwater city during the late 60's, it features a host of genetically altered people, and a rock solid story that is told through the use of audio players and a mic system connected to some of the game's main characters (complete with old-time static for extra audio goodness). The game also features an pseudo RPG-lite setup, and allows you to sort of create a character that fits your gameplay style, which goes well with the fact that the game also features multiple endings and multiple paths for winning. The levels aren't necessarily open-ended, but the solutions to problems ARE, which makes for some incredibly varied gameplay, as well as something that will draw you back into giving the game's 20+ hours another play through. The game isn't perfect. There are a lot of complaints about lack of penalty for dying (you get revived automatically at no charge, and the damage you've dealt to characters remains), and the story can get confusing... especially during the first play through. But don't let the stop you from getting the game. At its heart, this is as much an interactive story as it is a game, and the ease of beating the title doesn't deter from the fact that it's one of the greatest gaming experiences to come along in years. If you like your games mindless and fast and furious, you might want to look elsewhere. But if you want a little more depth to your games, and a good story that you can walk away from feeling satiated, you're not going to find a better game than this one. From atmosphere, to graphics, to gameplay, to story, this is the perfect example of a AAA title, and shouldn't be missed.