Bioshock 2: Out Now!

[dimorphic]

I got the message the other day at work that Bioshock 2 has officially been delayed until 2010. Upon further internet reading it looks like a few of the titles that Take 2 would have been relying on (Mafia 2 and possibly the new GTAIV DLC) has also hit the point where a delay was necessary.

It does suck, but in saying that with ODST, Modern Warfare 2, Forza 3, Arkham Asylum, Assassin's Creed 2 and the billion other awesome titles due out within the next few months it does mean that when Bioshock 2 finally rolls around there will be time to properly dedicate our full attention too it.

I am still sore over the inclusion of multiplayer though, I truly believe this title has no need for it.

[Cian]

This is the first bit of good news from the BioShock camp in months.

Hopefully the time will be used wisely in tuning the single player as opposed to the completely irrelevant multiplayer.

[AranchineD]

Yes, I'm thinking now the multiplayer is easily going to be the worst thing about the game, and given a few people who have played have already commented that it really isn't fun to play, that'll probably be right.

[Lex]

This is the first bit of good news from the BioShock camp in months.

a delay is a good thing to you?

****ing hell

[Xanafalgue]

Bayonetta as well :(

[Cian]

a delay is a good thing to you?

****ing hell

It sure is when you consider how many quality titles are being released towards the end of the year. I need to spend time on Splinter Cell and Assassin's Creed, along with Modern Warfare 2 and heaps more. Plus the fact I have a budget when it comes to buying games.

I dunno if it's just me but so far, what BioShock 2 has shown is less than impressive. How can they possible recreate the atmosphere of the original by changing the main enemy into an anorexic ****? If this delay helps in improving the singleplayer then I'm all for it.

[dimorphic]

The Big Sister does look like she will be weaker than Andrew Ryan/other dude whose name escapes me, but what I've seen of the SP so far still looked really, really good.

[Cian]

The Big Sister does look like she will be weaker than Andrew Ryan/other dude whose name escapes me, but what I've seen of the SP so far still looked really, really good.

Fontaine?

[dimorphic]

Fontaine?

That's the one. Those bad guys were much deeper, they had charisma and suited the story really, really well. The Big Sister seems like she will be little more than a final level battle with no deeper interaction throughout the game.

But I'm purely speculating here, I obviously don't know what 2K have done.

[Dunkurtin]

What's everyone's problem with the inclusion of multiplayer? It's being developed separately so it's not drawing away from the time being put into single player at all.

[AranchineD]

And if the game is delayed because the separate team haven't finished the multiplayer yet?

[Dunkurtin]

Blame the first team for not helping once they finished their share. >_>

[Spudzilla]

At least I'll have Alan Wake to keep me going until then.

[banjoeskimo]

If it's a quality control measure, I'm honestly okay with a few months extra polish. It'll give me time to get through the inevitable Christmas rush.

That said, was really looking forward to this. Hope it turns out to be good. Honestly the biggest drawcard for me is the story; it's what really made the first game so special (when coupled with solid mechanics and fantastic art direction), so I'm confident that if the overall atmosphere / game engine is still in place, this game will be just as enjoyable so long as there's a good narrative.

Unfortunately, however, they can't really give away the story before we've played it, so I'm guessing that's why it feels like BioShock 1.5 at the moment.

[Jay]

http://www.eurogamer.net/videos/bioshock-2-single-player-trailer

New single player trailer. :)

[banjoeskimo]

So despite not enjoying shooters at all, my wife was uber-excited for the first BioShock 2 teaser and decided to crochet a little something to celebrate.

This is the Big Daddy doll from the first teaser. It's also for sale on Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35936545).

http://www.dasgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/bioshock2.jpg

http://ny-image3.etsy.com//il_430xN.107313575.jpg

[dimorphic]

Well that's incredibly awesome.

[aubergine]

Teo etremely positive reviews have appeared.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=231532

[banjoeskimo]

Thoroughly unsurprised. I fully expect we'll see a significant turnaround in the "BioShock 1.5" crowd who will prove "pleasantly surprised" about a month after launch. They will be disputed by only the most absurdly shrill of purists, who whose reaching arguments against its existence will achieve new heights in wankery.

/prediction

[sausage]

Can we do other things to little sisters besides releasing or harvesting them??


???

[FrozenSoul80]

Can we do other things to little sisters besides releasing or harvesting them??


???

Like what? Forcing them to make shoes in a sweatshop?

[aubergine]

They will polish Big Daddy's rivets until he shines like C3PO.

[Ninjalada]

The MP doesn't look too fantastic, but who cares. The single player will be epic.

[concrete donkey]

The MP doesn't look too fantastic, but who cares. The single player will be epic.

yeah, to me, the multiplayer is just a bonus.

[jwalka]

bioshock has always been about the story, multiplayer is only there to keep the little group of "spoilt" people happy (they always have something to complain about or want something more)
the multiplayer story mode however is cool, i like how they made it a prequel to the original and that the actual single player is the sequel

[concrete donkey]

Has anyone seen the achievements list for this? I'd look my self, but i dont want any spoilers, just wondering if theres any multiplayer achievements? Hopefully not..

[Vindik8or]

Yeah, there's a dual ending one for "Save the Big Sister/Kill the Big Sister" obviously you'll need to play through twice or maybe use a save game exploit to get both? Most of the achievements are multiplayer anyway. Oh. Hope I didn't spoil anything for you!

[concrete donkey]

Yeah, there's a dual ending one for "Save the Big Sister/Kill the Big Sister" obviously you'll need to play through twice or maybe use a save game exploit to get both? Most of the achievements are multiplayer anyway. Oh. Hope I didn't spoil anything for you!

yeah, i was trying to avoid spoilers...but i guess the big sister thing is a given. so you are saying that most of the achievements are multiplayer? it better be good

[Vindik8or]

Yeah, by the looks of it you have to be good at playing video games to get all the achievements, not just persistent.

[aubergine]

I suspect Vin made that up actually. Very droll.

Is anyone getting the nifty special edition, with the superflous yet somehow awesome vinyl soundtrack LP?

[Vindik8or]

Yeah, especially since I can upload it to my DJ Hero deck and lay down some original scratches.

[concrete donkey]

Yeah, especially since I can upload it to my DJ Hero deck and lay down some original scratches.

Vin, are you just ****ing with me as to the achievements?

[Clockw0rk]

33 non-secret achievements, 12 of which are multiplayer related for a total of 210 points.
17 secret achievements.

[concrete donkey]

33 non-secret achievements, 12 of which are multiplayer related for a total of 210 points.
17 secret achievements.

thanks clockwork

[Zace]

Yeah, especially since I can upload it to my DJ Hero deck and lay down some original scratches.

You can?

[jwalka]

i bet the secret achievement will be story related, like darksiders e.g upgrade all your weps=achievement.
i hope this one is more challenging that the 1st one, i finished the 1st hard mode in less than 4 hours (i wasnt really rushing as i had to get some other achievement to)

overall though the graphics look the same and gameplay is somewhat the same except you fight more splicers and play as a big mother F***er, hope story mode multiplayer is as good as the main story

[concrete donkey]

i bet the secret achievement will be story related, like darksiders e.g upgrade all your weps=achievement.
i hope this one is more challenging that the 1st one, i finished the 1st hard mode in less than 4 hours (i wasnt really rushing as i had to get some other achievement to)

overall though the graphics look the same and gameplay is somewhat the same except you fight more splicers and play as a big mother F***er, hope story mode multiplayer is as good as the main story

4 hours? is that even possible? I dont recall there being a clock counter on the game either

[jwalka]

@ concrete donkey
it was around 4-6 hours, but i do know that i finished it really quick (it was all in one day) its really easy because once you play the game a few times through you know where everything is/how to approach certain points of the game.
ashame the replay value wasnt that high, i would have loved for there to be more stuff to do after finishing the game, hopefully it wont bother me as much since bioshock 2 is having multiplayer and all.

[tau]

http://www.dasgamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/bioshock2.jpg


Can I please marry your wife? Does she mind that usually I'm into dudes? No? Schweet!

[V²]

Dear Hyper,
I am in a bite of a bind.
I want this edition of the game:
http://img707.imageshack.us/img707/209/149134detail.jpg
avaiable for 150au$ exclusively from EB games in australia.

But Game have a pre order bonus of a little sister, which would go perfectly with my big daddy from Bioshock 1 CE.
http://www.game.com.au/bioshock-2--rapture-edition/xbox-360/BIO2RAP36

Help me and tell me what to do

[Vindik8or]

Get it on steam for 25 cents in three months time.

[Natrak]

Honestly, the most appealing things about EB's edition are the art book and the steelbook case. The record doesn't do much for me. I say go the Game pre-order.

[Ninjalada]

I saw the Little Sister figurine when I was in Game today, it is rather sweet.

[aubergine]

God damn it, this store-specific pre-order-bonus bullshit has to stop! How the hell am I supposed to get the super-duper EB-only edition AND the little sister figurine?

***edit***

Holy crap! This is something about Bioshock 2 that you can't un-see. (http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/02/you-cant-unsee-bomberman-in-bioshock-2/)

[Sweating Bullets]

Get the Little Sister via ebay.

Personally I want the LP more than the little sister.

[sausage]

Shit I want this now; I have the PC Bioshock CE with the Big Daddy figurine so...

[Clockw0rk]

Is anyone even going to bother with the multiplayer? I honestly couldn't care less about it.

[dimorphic]

Is anyone even going to bother with the multiplayer? I honestly couldn't care less about it.

I'll give it a shot. But honestly there are very few games out there that can top Halo 3 or MW2 in terms of online multiplayer, at least for FPS. Hopefully AvP will change that.

If only Gears 2 wasn't such a cluster*****.

[Clockw0rk]

I'll give it a shot. But honestly there are very few games out there that can top Halo 3 or MW2 in terms of online multiplayer, at least for FPS. Hopefully AvP will change that.

If only Gears 2 wasn't such a cluster*****.
I don't trust AVP to have decent balance between the three species, but we'll see. I'm sure most people will give Bioshock's multiplayer a try, if only for the achievements. But it won't have any lasting appeal.

[dimorphic]

I think the Predator will be the least used class. If AvP2 is anything to go by the controls are annoying and the class itself is too finicky.

[AranchineD]

The multiplayer will be a hive of activity for the first few weeks while everyone gathers achievements, and then it will quickly turn into a ghost town as everyone stops giving a shit about it.

[dimorphic]

The multiplayer will be a hive of activity for the first few weeks while everyone gathers achievements, and then it will quickly turn into a ghost town as everyone stops giving a shit about it.

Unless by some miracle it turns out to be good.

[AranchineD]

Whether it's good or not is entirely irrelevant, this is what will happen.

[aubergine]

So is writ in the scrolls of AranchineD by the prophet Mufias, son of Mufion and Mufette, of the clan Wahtevaar.

[Clockw0rk]

Discussion threads regarding single player will be a hive of activity for the first few weeks while everyone gathers achievements and raves about the story, and then will quickly turn into ghost towns as everyone stops giving a shit about it and bitches about how bad the whole thing is.
Prove me wrong, kids. Prove me wrong.

[AranchineD]

That will only happen if it's like the first game though!

[aubergine]

Unboxing the Bioshock 2 Special Edition video. (http://www.kotaku.com.au/2010/02/bioshock-2-special-edition-unboxing-goes-horribly-wrong/#more-377532) This is worth watching as it also serves as an announcement for the super-premium Uber Edition.

[Clockw0rk]

That will only happen if it's like the first game though!
I'm of the opinion that it will be like the first game, but I'm sure it'll happen regardless.
Bear in mind that I absolutely loved the first one, and will no doubt love the sequel.

[aubergine]

Look people, the guy who was in charge of this game was the guy who was in charge of Fort Frolic, which was the greatest single part of Bioshock and could more or less stand alone as a game, with it's own antagonist and clearest, most self-contained arc of any level of the game.

I don't agree with people who think the second game will just be some passionless cash in, because in this case I believe even the publishers realise why the first game was successful and the need to chase quality with quality.

[sausage]

...Fort Frolic, which was the greatest single part of Bioshock and could more or less stand alone as a game, with it's own antagonist and clearest, most self-contained arc of any level of the game.



Totally, totally agree with you here; Sander Cohen is one of the greatest, if not the maddest, characters of any medium; period.

Best part of Bioshock hands down. Yes, even the reveal is bested here.

[aubergine]

I was simply confused by the reveal actually. I had to play it a second time to come to grips with the whole Andrew Ryan finale scene, at the time I was just baffled, what the **** just happened?

[Clockw0rk]

The guy who was in charge of this game was the guy who was in charge of Fort Frolic
I did not know this. I am now considerably more excited about Bioshock 2.

[sausage]

Same; pumped as.

[aubergine]

The guy who was in charge of this game was the guy who was in charge of Fort Frolic.

guy in charge was the guy who was in charge of Fort Frolic.

guy in charge was in charge of Fort Frolic.

guy in charge of Fort Frolic.

guy of Fort Frolic.

guy Frolic.

I don't know his name but I dub him "Guy Frolic."

[banjoeskimo]

Look people, the guy who was in charge of this game was the guy who was in charge of Fort Frolic, which was the greatest single part of Bioshock and could more or less stand alone as a game, with it's own antagonist and clearest, most self-contained arc of any level of the game.

I don't agree with people who think the second game will just be some passionless cash in, because in this case I believe even the publishers realise why the first game was successful and the need to chase quality with quality.

Thread over. Glad to see I'm not the only one who thinks the hate-train for this game is completely unwarranted so far.

[AranchineD]

I'm of the opinion that it will be like the first game, but I'm sure it'll happen regardless.
Bear in mind that I absolutely loved the first one, and will no doubt love the sequel.

And if it's anything like the first game I won't be buying it, at least for a long while until it gets below $30 or so.

Fortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case, at least from previews of the game. But I'm still wary.

[Ninjalada]

I wish Andrew Ryan would come back from the dead. His radio messages were so creepy and sinister in the first game.

[Citizen Erased]

I wish someone would break the street date already.

[aubergine]

And if it's anything like the first game I won't be buying it,

That's just weird of you. Weird.

[AranchineD]

I greatly disliked the gameplay of Bioshock, only thing keeping me going in that game was the story.

[aubergine]

Fair enough, to each their own on gameplay. You're wrong of course but I respect your right to be wrong.

[AranchineD]

I guess some people are just strange in that they don't enjoy clunky, slow, repetitive combat in a game!

[aubergine]

This isn't the Mass Effect thread. I found Bioshock to be none of those things, although I'm limited in my FPS experience and only on console.

[AranchineD]

And there's your answer.

[aubergine]

If other games had been Bioshock I would have played them.

Makes me want to make a thread on FPS.

[Vindik8or]

There were some pretty weak elements to Bioshock's gameplay. I'm thinking specifically of the Adam and empty choice of saving or killing the girls. With you gaining more than enough Adam to buy just about everything from simply saving the little sisters, what was the point of the choice (in gameplay terms)? I feel that it probably would have been a better game if Adam was (much) more scarce, even if you chose to harvest the little sisters and you couldn't buy just about everything in one go.

[aubergine]

The "choice"(tm) was shit, no arguments. I didn't even regard it as part of the "gameplay" - Aran specifically means the shooter mechanics are arse.

[AranchineD]

Well I did mean that too, as well as how poorly done the early Big Daddy fights were, plus the standard "VITA-CHAMBERS SUCK BALLS" clause. But I've mentioned those enough times on the forum that I thought they were just a given.

[jwalka]

how poorly done the early Big Daddy fights were
have you tried doing the game over on hard with the chambers turned off?
the most annoying thing, you literally have to reboot your last save every few minutes so annoying.
but this is going to be different, more intense, sure not like CoD or other shooters but it is going to be entertaining.

i hate online play, probably because i suck or that there isnt any real strategy involved with modern day games e.g CoD consists of shooting people all the time, and the higher rank you are the better/stronger weps meaning faster/easier kills, no fun at all.
bioshocks mutliplayer will add challenge and make players think differently

[AranchineD]

but this is going to be different, more intense, sure not like CoD or other shooters but it is going to be entertaining.

Like I said before, this game looks to be addressing most of those things I said (even if you move even slower than in the original game :/) so it's not really a problem.

[jwalka]

not really a problem.
for those CoD players it will be, they're heavily reliant on sprinting/ducking, hind site etc, so i bet there will be a large group of other fps players complaining about there not being any spirit etc, thats why halo reach is going to be like crysis and CoD, they're adding bonus skills for multiplayer that allow you to sprint etc, its stupid how FPS's have to compete with the likes of CoD, its ruins the sense of originality, i bet bioshock 2 would have been singlelpayer from the get go but they decided to add multiplayer for those online junkies

[Vindik8or]

How the hell is there only one sentence to that entire post?

[sausage]

Technically there was no beginning or end to what you are calling a "sentence" so what I'm saying is I don't know what it is.

[jwalka]

hahah sorry about that, i tend to do alot of 'running on' with my sentences.
what i meant to say was:
bioshock players will love online, CoD players wont like bioshock and therefore rant about it 'sucking'.
i saw the wep preview on ign, and it seems guns might have hind site (at least the shotgun will), and melee attacking is now available.
turns out my fears are coming true - bioshock will be similar to modern shooters :(

[Citizen Erased]

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/w6Vs5XBOlh0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/w6Vs5XBOlh0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[jwalka]

hahaha that vid was posted earlier, but still great promo, i didnt think the art book would have been so big and detailed. guess im going to have to try and get it somehow

[Ninjalada]

I went to the Big Dub today to check the price of BioShock 2, they will be selling it for $88.

[Mr.Mew]

Wow. That's the most impressive Special Edition for any game I've ever seen.

How the hell did the G-Man get onto the first lithograph though?

[Vindik8or]

Unboxing videos are the lamest shit I've seen come out of the internet.

[AranchineD]

Unboxing videos are the lamest shit I've seen come out of the internet.

Words cannot express how much I agree with this.

[Mr.Mew]

But they did have someone in a Big Daddy suit trash the place. Or would you prefer the wobbly cam home video with sub-partially excited gamer making a mess of things.

[Vindik8or]

I don't think you quite realise what I mean by "lamest shit". Basically you're asking me to choose between getting crapped on my a seagull or a pigeon. Either way I will still have shit on me.

[aubergine]

Unboxing videos are the lamest shit I've seen come out of the internet.

I think that one was a play on that though, it's got a laugh in it. It also makes me glad I preordered that too.

I went to preorder the expense edition of AVP today but EB "Sold out" of them at 2pm today apparently.

[jwalka]

expense edition of AVP
never heard of it until just now, what does it have?

the art book looks so good, makes me regret pre-ordering the standard edition. im probably just going to return it and get it from big w hehehe damn those guys are cheap

[aubergine]

A facehugger and some shit. Doesn't look worth an extra $50-$70
to me!

(given it may be $80 at Big W for the standard game.)

[Blue]

for those CoD players it will be, they're heavily reliant on sprinting/ducking, hind site etc, so i bet there will be a large group of other fps players complaining about there not being any spirit etc, thats why halo reach is going to be like crysis and CoD, they're adding bonus skills for multiplayer that allow you to sprint etc, its stupid how FPS's have to compete with the likes of CoD, its ruins the sense of originality, i bet bioshock 2 would have been singlelpayer from the get go but they decided to add multiplayer for those online junkiesWe have no beginning. We have no end. We are infinite.

[sausage]

If and when I pick this up I may break my online virginity just to see Rapture before it all went pear-shaped.

[jwalka]

If and when I pick this up I may break my online virginity just to see Rapture before it all went pear-shaped.
i think you can just do split screen multiplayer for the prequel story, at least thats what i think.
@ aubergine - i think i have seen it now that you mention a face hugger. i saw this online for $70 plus $5 for shipping and it comes within 48 hours :D

[aubergine]

I think it's called "Hunter Edition" and rrp is $150. JB have it on their website for $135 instore.

[jwalka]

I think it's called "Hunter Edition"
yeah i think i've seen it somewhere online, but like i said not to keen on this. just another online based shooter with no good story etc.
hope bioshocks online stays like the actual game (gameplay to be more precise)
got my plan all set, buy from eb and return it the next day (that way my store credit=cash money) run down to big W and get it there for $20 cheaper (assuming the $88 release price is correct).

alot of hassle for $20 but i need the cash for my PC :D

[Ninjalada]

yeah i think i've seen it somewhere online, but like i said not to keen on this. just another online based shooter with no good story etc.
hope bioshocks online stays like the actual game (gameplay to be more precise)
got my plan all set, buy from eb and return it the next day (that way my store credit=cash money) run down to big W and get it there for $20 cheaper (assuming the $88 release price is correct).

alot of hassle for $20 but i need the cash for my PC :D

Maybe I'm just tired, but that doesn't make sense to me. You're going to buy it from EB for (presumably) $109.95, then return it, get your $109.95 back then go to Big W and buy it again for $88? Why don't you just get EB to price match, or buy it from Big W in the first place? You would still save $20.

[aubergine]

He wants to cash out some store credit.

[jwalka]

yeah what aubergine said, i have $58 from darksiders and they dont give cash, and they wouldnt price match (i tried with assassin 2 and they said big w was out of stock, went there and they had 8 copies+more in the back)

[dimorphic]

yeah what aubergine said, i have $58 from darksiders and they dont give cash, and they wouldnt price match (i tried with assassin 2 and they said big w was out of stock, went there and they had 8 copies+more in the back)

EB won't give you cash back though. I presume Darksiders was a trade, it'll say trade in the computer and on your receipt so even if you return Bioshock it'll only be for store credit because of the earlier trade.

[jwalka]

i did it before with darksiders, they didnt seem to mind, as long as its before 1 week.
i also did the same thing with fallout 3, got my $90 back full cash, and i used previous store credit for that to.
some staff are @$$holes and play fully by the rules but this one guy is pretty cool, he let me keep the pre-order crap after i returned darksiders.whilst the other staff said i had ot give everything back :P

[aubergine]

Ign review gave it 91%.

[dalmatian]

Anyone know if JB will be adding this, Aliens vs Predator and Dantes Inferno to the 3 for 1 trade offers? Want this game but like hell im paying $89 for the right to play it.

[Sweating Bullets]

I saw a few ads over the weekend saying that this out already? wtf?

[Citizen Erased]

Pics or GTFO (Ive always wanted to do that)

[Sweating Bullets]

I saw it yesterday on Channel 10 during Star Wars. I did not take any pictures

[aubergine]

I think it's out Thursday.

[Hyperblau]

Tuesday

[dimorphic]

My store got a promo CE in to show off. It's gameless, but has everything else which I've shotty'd. Hells yeah!

[aubergine]

Tuesday

Hey, the 9th IS a Tuesday, freaken sweet.

[jwalka]

the 9th IS a Tuesday, freakin sweet.
im pumped man cant wait hahahah and judging by ign's review its not going to be much of a let down either.even the multiplayer sounds good

[Nic Xtreme]

My store got a promo CE in to show off. It's gameless, but has everything else which I've shotty'd. Hells yeah!

I saw that at EB today, it looked very, very pretty.

[Gutsman Heavy]

I saw it for sale today, $89.

[jwalka]

I saw it for sale today, $89.
where at , im hoping EB can price match saves me the time of running around looking for good prices (if big w doesnt have it for $88)
guess its no more CoD online for me for a while ;)

[Spudzilla]

At least now you'll finally have something else to talk about

[Ninjalada]

I just realised how close the 9th is. I'll be getting EB to price match Big W at $88 and then trade in my unplayable copy of NHL 10 for $31, bringing the price down to $57.

I love having an EB 5 minutes walk from my house.

[Gutsman Heavy]

where at , im hoping EB can price match saves me the time of running around looking for good prices (if big w doesnt have it for $88)
guess its no more CoD online for me for a while ;)

Shin Tokyo, Adelaide's local Weeaboo store

[jwalka]

Shin Tokyo, Adelaide's local Weeaboo store
that sucks, im in NSW :(
i hope this doesnt turn into another darksiders or AvP.i hope its the real deal and is equally as good if not better than the 1st bioshock.i was really disappointed with darksiders (considering the amount of promo it got and all the good stuff people claimed it had).
its good to see that they havent really added multiplayer for the sake of it either, there's full upgrades/customisations for characters.

[Frostillicus]

Shin Tokyo, Adelaide's local Weeaboo store

Really? Is that for the public, or Shin Tokyo members?

I'm considering bussing it to the city, so i hope you're not lying... :cool:

[shallowdays]

Just got an email through from head office. We'll (GAME) be doing it for $89 on 360 and PS3 and $79 on PC. $114 and $104 for Rapture Edition.

EDIT: I should add that not all of our stores will be doing it at that price.

[Gutsman Heavy]

Really? Is that for the public, or Shin Tokyo members?

I'm considering bussing it to the city, so i hope you're not lying... :cool:

I saw it on the shelf, $89 members price. You could ring ahead to confirm first.

[jwalka]

so hyped hehehe less than 24 hrs to go :D
i'll probably end up finishing this in a week or so, got to get used to the mechanics of bioshock, been playing borderlands/CoD for to long

[Zace]

Dear Gaming Gods,

As I have been keeping away from the BioShock 2 info, please make sure this game is super aweseome.

kthxbai

[Spudzilla]

so hyped hehehe less than 24 hrs to go :D
i'll probably end up finishing this in a week or so, got to get used to the mechanics of bioshock, been playing borderlands/CoD for to long

Yeah, don't rage when you can't sprint ha ha ha

[jawsy]

Mine shipped today.

[jwalka]

Yeah, don't rage when you can't sprint ha ha ha
i havent forgotten that much hehehe i liked bioshocks mechanics, aiming and walking/running where all fine.
one thing that got worse every time i started a new game was the graphics lag, when i focused on corpses they would be in their pre-render form and then the game would individually load them.hope this doesnt happen in 2

[aubergine]

Reviews are spawning everywhere while you sleep. 8/10 from Eurogamer. They say the first few hours are too much of a retread but it comes into it's own after that. I'm happy with a spot of retread so it might be 9/10 for me.

[sausage]

Yeah, totally understandable for the first couple of hours so as to bring newbies up to speed with shit. I don't mind either.

[jwalka]

yeah IGN recons the game feels alot like the 1st, and idk why the say the graphics arent as good as the 1st either.
less than 5 hours until i get throw back into that creepy nightmarish hellhole known as rapture.

[concrete donkey]

The multiplayer is surprisingly good fun. A bit of lag with overseas players, but all aussie games a fine

[AyatollaofRocknRolla]

My only concern for this game is whether it will carry the same weight visiting rapture for the second time. I'm interested to know if it feels too familiar?

[adam_91vn]

My only concern for this game is whether it will carry the same weight visiting rapture for the second time. I'm interested to know if it feels too familiar?

This is what I am unsure about. I was pumped then I watched the ign video review and wasn't really feeling it.

[Cobla]

I've only played the first hour of the single player but yeah it does feel very familiar. As aub said before the first couple hours are apparently a bit of a re-tread so this is probably to be expected.

I would say my sense of wonder at the location has diminished this time around though. Maybe it's just because I've had 2.5 years to get used to the idea of Rapture? Maybe it's because you start the game already in Rapture, and hence don't make that short trip down from the surface? (a brilliant mood setting device IMO)

Maybe it's also got something to do with the fact that, as a Big Daddy, the ocean rushing in and crushing you is no longer a threat? Yeah, it's true that didn't really happen in the 1st game, but it felt like it could, especially in a couple of scripted sequences.

Anyway it definitely still seems like a great game, just very similar to its predecessor.

[Natrak]

Bah, whilst ebgames.com.au had told me they shipped this for me yesterday it looks like they didn't actually post it until today. If I had have known I wouldn't be receiving it on launch I wouldn't have shelled out for express postage when I ordered it.

Don't think I'll be pre-ordering from eb's site again.

[jwalka]

so boring and annoying, whats the point of being a big daddy if you hit like a bitch.
even with the rivet guns damage upgrade it takes me 4 or so shots to kill a single splicer.
i really hope the game gets better/more fun later on, because if it stays the same (boring, dull, repetitive (i mean a copy of the 1st) and to some degree frustrating) i might consider returning it

dont even get me started on multiplayer, laggy unbalanced and again boring as hell.it seems that if i shoot someone 5 times they dont die but if they shoot me twice im out wtf people ?!?!
the customisation for characters is so limited to, only letting you change your mask, melee wep and guns/plasmids, no costumes ot other accessories

[sausage]

sounds like a must-buy.

[concrete donkey]

Dont let jwalkas opinion turn you off you off the multiplayer

[jwalka]

hhahahah i presume it gets better once you more upgrades but atm the games making me sleepy

[lex3191]

so boring and annoying, whats the point of being a big daddy if you hit like a bitch.
even with the rivet guns damage upgrade it takes me 4 or so shots to kill a single splicer.
i really hope the game gets better/more fun later on, because if it stays the same (boring, dull, repetitive (i mean a copy of the 1st) and to some degree frustrating) i might consider returning it

dont even get me started on multiplayer, laggy unbalanced and again boring as hell.it seems that if i shoot someone 5 times they dont die but if they shoot me twice im out wtf people ?!?!
the customisation for characters is so limited to, only letting you change your mask, melee wep and guns/plasmids, no costumes ot other accessories

is it better than darksiders?

[concrete donkey]

hhahahah i presume it gets better once you more upgrades but atm the games making me sleepy

yep, it does. One of the good things about it is that i havent come across any Americans yet.

[jwalka]

how far are you CD ?
and yes it is better than darksiders, i presume its longer, but the story and upgrades etc are way better

[Cerebral]

Steam says it's available, but I can't download it on my games list?

What the heck !

[concrete donkey]

how far are you CD ?
and yes it is better than darksiders, i presume its longer, but the story and upgrades etc are way better

I havnt touched the single player yet, ive spent about 5hrs on multiplayer and i just hit rank 15. each rank unlocks guns, plasmids or other upgrades. Its great fun mixing plasmids and weapons in battle

[Frostillicus]

I've played about an hour. So far it feels a little... clunky. It doesn't feels as smooth as the first. I found about 10 audio logs within 10 mins, one still playing while i pick up another. The train station, doesnt feel like a train station. I'm sure it will get better, but atm im a little bored.

on a positive note, i do like the new hack system and the atmosphere is feeling fresh.

[aubergine]

I'm a couple of hours in (though I plod through examining textures) and am interested but not enraptured so far. Graphics are disappointing so far, texture-pop has been cured but I think they have achieved that through lower-quality textures on some surfaces. The place is truly in ruins now with barnacles everywhere, so it may not look as hood simply as an art direction decision, but little details seem to be letting it down. Water is now clear instead of murky green through the windows, it's less convincing for it. Environments so far are samey and uninteresting compared to the first games distinct and purposeful areas.

However, I just stopped as I entered an amusement park, which sounds like an opportunity for interesting level design - what's an underwater amusement park?

Only major disappointment for me really is that Andrew Ryan has a new voice actor
attempting a sound-alike. Maybe the other guy wanted a raise, it's a pity.

Like I said earlier, reviews have said the game is mediocre for the first couple hours before coming into its own, so I'm optimistic about my next session with it.

[jwalka]

to top things of my friend past away :( i wont be playing this for sometime.
@ aubergine have you fought your 1st big daddy yet ?
i got glitched at the part where the train thing hits you, now i have to start 30 min prior to where i was.
i dont get it we're a big daddy be kill little splicers like nothing (at least in the 1st one we did) and yet the drill takes a few seconds to kill wtf.

[aubergine]

Like I said, I'm just at the entrance of Ryan Amusements.

[jwalka]

has anyone else noticed the graphic lag for online play?

[V²]

I have played up to where the sister has harvested the two lots of ADAM and am returning her to the wall hole.
There was one part that I noticed.
A stream of water was falling from the roof of the room I was in, when I walked under the stream, I could here it hitting the big daddy suit, so I looked up and expected to see droplets appear on my helmet, they didn't :(

[AranchineD]

Pfft, Metroid Prime did that, and it was a Gamecube game for f***'s game!

This game is sounding worse and worse

[aubergine]

Droplets appear on MY helmet so not sure what's up with yours.

I thought the rain-hitting-metal was a nice effect and yes, reminded me of everyone going nuts for Metroid's visor effects.

[Ninjalada]

I'm up to what seems to be the final level (Fontaine Futuristics) but I'm hoping that there will be a twist like in the first game.

I just completely dominated a Big Sister. There's nothing more satisfying than finishing one off with a drill charge.

[Mr.Mew]

'Acheivement Unlocked: Drill a Big Sister'?

[Frostillicus]

Im in the amusement park, and my thing is glitching like crazy. I walked into a pipe and all of a sudden im across the other side of the room. Also, i havnt had the need to work out an interesting tactic for killing enemies. Electro-zap and then drill punch does the trick everytime.

[sausage]

...and my thing is glitching like crazy.

Clarify thing please, 360 or PC?

[jwalka]

I walked into a pipe and all of a sudden im across the other side of the room.
hahaha welcome to rapture, i got that to, during a fight with 3 splicers.
and i got glitched in the area where you go to get the 2nd batch of adam (to get incinerate) i had to restart from last checkpoint (30min prior to the glitch)
i do like the effects and audio, the sounds of rapture are nice. but the game is all to familiar - you see a shadow, it runs and then the F***er creeps up on you BORING !!!

[McChimp]

Not sure what the 360 version's like, but I'm finding the PS3 one to be seriously lacking graphical polish. Textures seem decidedly blurry (and I'm not talking super-close-up either), and some of the other effects are jaggy and dodgy looking. Not to say it's ruining the experience, as I'm liking it so far, but I honestly don't remember the first game to be looking this rough around the edges.

[Ninjalada]

Yeah a while ago I came acrosss Houdini Splicers for the first time and it's pretty much the same as when you first met them in Arcadia in the first game - 1 Splicer toying with you, disappearing all over the place.

Although because I was expecting it, she didn't last long.

[Cobla]

Not sure what the 360 version's like, but I'm finding the PS3 one to be seriously lacking graphical polish.The 360 version looks similar to the first game but doesn't seem to perform quite as well. Understandable with the new effects perhaps, but it's noticable.

Even with the V-Sync option on (as it is by default, also they call it 'framerate lock') there are times when the engine can't keep up with the 30 fps lock and tears a few frames. Usually this only happens if there are both dynamic water effects and a Big Daddy on the screen. Just like in the first game, except in that iteration sub-30fps would still be V-locked and would just output at 15fps. Here you get a few torn frames but probably a more consistent overall rate.

[Frostillicus]

Clarify thing please, 360 or PC?

The Playstation 3 version.

[sausage]

Ah yes, I see now.

[Natrak]

My copy arrived, I've played it for a couple of hours - just got through Ryan's Amusements.

It did indeed start a little slow, but it feels like it's settling into a nice rhythm now. The dual wielding, hacking and little sister adopting all feel like really good improvements over its predecessor, my biggest complaint so far is that I feel kind of distant from Delta, whereas I really felt like Jack exploring Rapture in the original.

[Ninjalada]

The twist in the end is....that there is no twist

I didn't enjoy this as much as I did the first BioShock.

I just gave multiplayer a try, it really is quite terrible.

[jawsy]

Mine arrived today but I was at work so the post office took it in for the night. Bastards.

[Frostillicus]

I am finding it incrediably frustrating that so many developers think that when it comes to making a sequal, they need to make the enemies bigger, stronger, faster and more quantity.
There is NO tacticle method for killing enemies in Bioshock 2. Because they throw about 20 enemies at you at one time, and with the speed that they move, its really hard to aim and shoot you guns/plasmids at them. This forces me to use the drill all the time. Plus, how much money and medi-kits do they give us? It totally takes away the need to conserve our rations. I was in a boss battle, and there was a vending machine right there so i could buy more medi kits.

Even if the game does improve, this is a very dissapointing game.

EDIT: Perhaps I just suck at playing Bioshock 2.

[Citizen Erased]

Not sure what the 360 version's like, but I'm finding the PS3 one to be seriously lacking graphical polish. Textures seem decidedly blurry (and I'm not talking super-close-up either), and some of the other effects are jaggy and dodgy looking. Not to say it's ruining the experience, as I'm liking it so far, but I honestly don't remember the first game to be looking this rough around the edges.

Same here, like when you hit someone with electrobolt, the sparks almost seem pixelated from a distance. Im pretty sure the first game didnt have this problem.

[jwalka]

just finished the theme park place (where you get incinerate) and its getting somewhat better, but like Frostillicus said, the enemy is to fast for the machine gun or rivet to shoot, unless you get close to them.
they should have put more thought into enemy AI to make it challenging but not stupid (big daddy can get beaten by 1-2 splicers)

@ ninjalada are you serious?
i mean i think how they tell you who the sister your after is in the beginning ruins the whole suspense factor, but seriously if that's really what happens then im not impressed.

the game lags alot for me, multiplayer and single player, enemies skip to other areas and the visuals arent the best (worse than the 1st imo).
idk why ign gave this a 9.1
it should be a 7 or 8 at most.

[Ninjalada]

just finished the theme park place (where you get incinerate) and its getting somewhat better, but like Frostillicus said, the enemy is to fast for the machine gun or rivet to shoot, unless you get close to them.
they should have put more thought into enemy AI to make it challenging but not stupid (big daddy can get beaten by 1-2 splicers)

@ ninjalada are you serious?
i mean i think how they tell you who the sister your after is in the beginning ruins the whole suspense factor, but seriously if that's really what happens then im not impressed.


Pretty much, exactly what you expect to happen, happens. It might be different depending on what actions you take (saving or harvesting Little Sisters, killing or not killing other characters) because Elenor sees it all and does what you do.

In the last 2 levels, it gets easier because you have so much ammo (I had max everything) and improved plasmids. I had Electro Shock 3, which is basically Force Lightning and a gene tonic that gave me health whenever I used it. So I could paralize groups of enemies and shoot them at the same time while gaining health.

[aubergine]

Just finished Ryan Anusements, the first proper "level" of the game after the slighly passionless setup.

It's enjoyable. If Bioshock is 10/10, this is 8/10. So far. Judging by the art book though enemies get more varied and intersting further in, which could change up gameplay a good deal. So far the only significant threat I've faced (on Hard) is the Big Sister. The Big Daddy went down pretty easily with trap rivets, tk'd exploding barrels, wet electroshock and the drill.

[Blue]

The feelings most people seem to be having about this game (mild amusement, slight disappointment, indifference) seem to echo my thoughts on the original, which I still haven't finished. I always thought that the setting and themes had potential, but it wasn't delivered on as far as gameplay and exposition were concerned.

Even if I do eventually complete the original, I can't imagine ever picking this up. By all accounts, a rehash.

[jwalka]

@ blue - the 1st one was epic, great story nice action (although limited at times) and the game was overall 'better'.
im playing multiplayer atm and i got 1 thing to so
xbox live is a piece of shit.not only do we have to pay monthly (or buy pre-paid) but the connection is close to shit and makes online play the biggest bitch ever.either that or bioshock's multiplayer has some serious issues:
glitching doors - you appear on the other side without them opening
terrible respawn rates
sometimes other players start the match prior to you and therefore have enough time to come and kick your ass as soon as you start the match (happened numerous times).

the one thing i do like in the upgrade system, yeah its alot like CoD but i like the bioshock feel it has. they said online/multiplayer was going to be a prequel didnt they ?
i dont see any prequel just some original guns and settings no story mode or anything explaining the beginning wtf

[concrete donkey]

@ blue - the 1st one was epic, great story nice action (although limited at times) and the game was overall 'better'.
im playing multiplayer atm and i got 1 thing to so
xbox live is a piece of shit.not only do we have to pay monthly (or buy pre-paid) but the connection is close to shit and makes online play the biggest bitch ever.either that or bioshock's multiplayer has some serious issues:
glitching doors - you appear on the other side without them opening
terrible respawn rates
sometimes other players start the match prior to you and therefore have enough time to come and kick your ass as soon as you start the match (happened numerous times).

the one thing i do like in the upgrade system, yeah its alot like CoD but i like the bioshock feel it has. they said online/multiplayer was going to be a prequel didnt they ?
i dont see any prequel just some original guns and settings no story mode or anything explaining the beginning wtf

Ive got a feeling your internet connection may be the trouble here. The respawn rates are around 3 or 4 seconds, its counts on screen.Its pretty fast really, especially when you look at far cry 2's respawns which could take 18secs. The only time i notice lag is if im playing with alot of americans. If you've joined a game where other players are already playing, means you've joined a game that has already started.

[jwalka]

i have ADSL2+ and cabled connection, my downloads of market place are really fast but games get laggy at times.
the respawn rate is long enough for me to figure out where the guy who killed me is etc, it should have been like CoD something like 3 secs.
most the time i start the game when everyone else does, but even still i get an opposing character standing next to me loading it out before i even notice him being there.

[banjoeskimo]

i dont see any prequel just some original guns and settings no story mode or anything explaining the beginning wtf

Wait, how did you miss the mandatory intro video? It doesn't explain much, true, but it at least lets you know where you are (Rapture, 1959, during the civil war) and what you're doing (weapon / plasmid testing for Sinclair Solutions).

To my knowledge you get more information about the characters, their motivations, and Sinclair Solutions itself as you level up.

[concrete donkey]

Wait, how did you miss the mandatory intro video? It doesn't explain much, true, but it at least lets you know where you are (Rapture, 1959, during the civil war) and what you're doing (weapon / plasmid testing for Sinclair Solutions).

To my knowledge you get more information about the characters, their motivations, and Sinclair Solutions itself as you level up.

yep and it also made it clear it was the 1 year anniversary and it was new years eve or somthing. But really, who needs a story for the multiplayer? you just need to kill

[Natrak]

This is a really good game. Just putting it out there.

[concrete donkey]

This is a really good game. Just putting it out there.

Im loving the multiplayer. I know they have a different approach, but im enjoying this way more than the AvP multiplayer demo.

[McChimp]

Same here, like when you hit someone with electrobolt, the sparks almost seem pixelated from a distance. Im pretty sure the first game didnt have this problem.

I played the first on 360 and I was 'WOW' over the visuals. THIS should've super-wowed me, but as I walked around Rapture I just felt rather disappointed with all these graphical things that seriously should've looked much, much better.

That and the fact that I've found the game a little too combat-heavy for my liking, like the combat just tends to get a bit too crazy at times, and I just found myself spamming the triggers more than I would've liked. Too much combat, too little story, is basically the gist of what I'm saying.

It's a 'meh' from me, which I hate to admit, 'cos I had such high-hopes.

[jwalka]

i couldn't resist youtubeing the ending for the game and i only have one thing to say (judging by the comments users made)
shit ending, nothing like the 1st one

i had real high hopes for this game but it looks like another hyped title of 2010 had been somewhat close to trash imo.
its a fact never make a sequel to something epic... happens with almost everything

[Ninjalada]

Close to trash? That's going a bit too far.

I do agree that there was more focus on combat this time, which wasn't as fun. None of the characters were memorable (I loved Ryan, Cohen and Fontaine), Lamb was just an annoying bitch.

I'd give it an 8/10. Not bad but not great either.

[dimorphic]

So for a Big Daddy you are REALLY underpowered in this game. I'm only up to the part where you take the Little Sister to harvest the Adam from the first two splicer bodies and keep dying on the second one, consistently. I have no money left for ammo or health and no Eve left for my plasmids.

[Tonez]

So for a Big Daddy you are REALLY underpowered in this game. I'm only up to the part where you take the Little Sister to harvest the Adam from the first two splicer bodies and keep dying on the second one, consistently. I have no money left for ammo or health and no Eve left for my plasmids.

Did you hack the turret to help you out?

[dimorphic]

Did you hack the turret to help you out?

Yeah, it got destroyed. I reloaded my save, all the way back to the Big Daddy fight. >_>

[jwalka]

does anyone know where i can get the audio soundtrack for this game, without pre-order ?
the music in the end is really upsetting but at the same time soothing.
2nd area.

btw guys THERE IS ON REPLAYABLILITY, YOU CANT GO BACK LIKE YOU COULD IN THE 1ST ONE. i havent finished the game but alot of people are complaining about not being able to go back on the train and visit old areas.
just thought i would give you guys the heads up and save you the time of starting again, to find left over tapes etc.

also, is it me or are the levels in this game annoyingly big, i either get lost/confused or wander of to pick up stuff and find another set of paths to take.
this was good in fort frolic but not so much for #2. to big= confusion and boredom

[McChimp]

does anyone know where i can get the audio soundtrack for this game, without pre-order ?
the music in the end is really upsetting but at the same time soothing.


It's either on the official Bioshock 2 site, or a site called 'The Cult of Rapture' (I think), but wherever I saw it had it there as a free download, if I remember correctly.

[sausage]

Just rip it from the game and turn them into mp3s using goldwave or something similar; that's what I do.

[Natrak]

I'm really digging the size of the levels, personally. It feels like there's a good amount to explore away from where the big gold arrow is pointing while still managing to not be overwhelming.

The lack of backtracking doesn't really bug me, but then it's not a feature I took much advantage of in the original anyway.

[Ninjalada]

also, is it me or are the levels in this game annoyingly big, i either get lost/confused or wander of to pick up stuff and find another set of paths to take.
this was good in fort frolic but not so much for #2. to big= confusion and boredom

I was always worrying about going the right way (when there wasn't an arrow guding me) because I wanted to go the 'wrong' way and find loot.

[jwalka]

@ sausage
i have the game on 360 not PC.
i wrote it wrong, i dont hate the levels but i dont like it how they make all these different paths to go through, its easy to miss things.like i said once you leave the current area you cant go back so it forces you to check literally every corner encase you missed something.
the game doesnt seem so bad now that i've completed another area.

the recording thing that replaced the camera sucks, i would much rather the online method of analysing enemies.

i think they should have just done a fable TLC and made an expansion for #1 letting you play as a daddy and only single wielding.

[Natrak]

I feel the new research system is loads better than the original's. I didn't really use it a whole lot in Bioshock because it felt like such a bother. I like the way you don't need to worry about getting a good shot with the new camera (pull out camera, hit RT and then it quickly switches back to your previous weapon) and that it encourages experimentation with different weapons and plasmids.

[Nic Xtreme]

I picked this up today, and I'm really hoping it is better than the overall disappointing first one. My wishlist is for (1) less drawn out combat - more is OK, as long as it is action-packed, (2) better pacing - I really hope the game moves faster this time around, many parts of the original were really very boring (3) no more shitty hacking minigames god damn shit and (4) a return of the camera plz.

Pacing is the main thing I'd like to see improved, so we'll see how my retarded tastes handle it.

[Ninjalada]

I picked this up today, and I'm really hoping it is better than the overall disappointing first one. My wishlist is for (1) less drawn out combat - more is OK, as long as it is action-packed, (2) better pacing - I really hope the game moves faster this time around, many parts of the original were really very boring (3) no more shitty hacking minigames god damn shit and (4) a return of the camera plz.


1. There is more combat. Whereas in the first game it was about only one or a few enemies at once that required strategy (which I prefer), BioShock 2 just throws a cluster**** of enemies at you every 5 seconds, requiring you to spam whatever weapon and plasmid you have equipped.

2. It does move a lot faster, too fast in my opinion. I liked the slower pace of the first game.

3. Bad luck buddy. And they're even more annoying this time.

4. You get a camera but it's a video camera this time. I liked the camera in the first game more.

[Nic Xtreme]

Haha, score. As long as it isn't boring and drawn out, I'm going to be happy (I hope). And more combat is good: I was that one guy who did like the final boss in Bioshock ;)

Also: THE DRILL IS AWESOME.

[V²]

I wish to rectify my previous post.
I am now getting raindrop keep falling on my head.
and the droplets appear on the helmt.
A question to people who have finished, can you collect enough ADAM to purchase all available upgrades, ie tonics, plasmids, slots, health and eve extensions.
And is there another wallet upgrade? what's the highest you can pocket?

[Frostillicus]

MY LITTLE REVIEW - to vent my $114 of frustration!!!

I've finished and did not dig the combat.
It's very unbalanced. No matter how logical you think in conserving ammo/plasmids, soon enough, it's all wasted. I have to constantly just wait to die and spawn again with new health. Pisses me off. I played through medium mode, and theres no logical technique to killing enemies, other than button mashing. The first game, ive finished on hard mode, and although freaking difficult, at least theres a technique to it.

Beautiful design/art, great music/sound, decent storyline. it's too bad the gameplay kills it. I urge Hyper to look past the hype and beautiful art, judge this on the gameplay and give this game what it deserves.

My score 7/10. Try before you buy.

v-squared - i bought most plasmids, minus all the upgrades.

[Natrak]

I picked this up today, and I'm really hoping it is better than the overall disappointing first one. My wishlist is for (1) less drawn out combat - more is OK, as long as it is action-packed, (2) better pacing - I really hope the game moves faster this time around, many parts of the original were really very boring (3) no more shitty hacking minigames god damn shit and (4) a return of the camera plz.

Pacing is the main thing I'd like to see improved, so we'll see how my retarded tastes handle it.

1) Combat doesn't tend to feel terribly drawn out, there are a lot of moments where you get a significant amount of enemies tossed your way, though.

2) The game moves about the same pace, to be honest - but then I tend to be looking in every nook & cranny, maybe it'd move along faster if you stuck to the big arrow, but I can't confirm that. :P Most of the time when you do explore you'll run into random splicers fairly often, possibly that could help the boredom factor.

3) The pipes minigame is gone, replaced by a small meter with parts marked White (gives you a shock, causing you to have to start again), Red (triggers an alarm), Green (progresses the hacking process) and Blue (gives an added bonus when the hacking is complete). A needle runs back and forth along the meter and you need to stop it on either the green or blue parts.

Hacking now takes place real-time, so while you're hacking an object you can move to cover/continue fighting if need be - you don't get pulled out of the game into a minigame screen. You get hack darts that can be fired at anything hackable from a distance which starts the hack process (you can also just get close and press X like in the original, so darts are good for turrets/cameras/security drones and you can just press X for vending machines). You can also find auto-hack darts where you simply need to fire one at the desired target to instantly hack it for you.

4) The camera has been replaced by a video camera. You grab your camera, point it at an enemy, hit right trigger and the camera starts recording - automatically putting the camera away and pulling out your last equipped weapon. Your ensuing fight with the target is then graded by your method of attack and the variety of tactics you employ (for instance, recording the use of the drill against splicers multiple times is going to yield diminishing results). If you liked the Camera for its Pokemon Snap style need for good framing etc. you're going to be disappointed by the new research system. I really like it, however - In Bioshock 1 the last thing on my mind whilst a Rosie was baring down upon me was trying to get a great shot with my camera. :P

Gameplay-wise I think it's an improvement overall. It's the narrative and characters that don't hold up.

On a side note, it honestly feels like I'm playing a different game to what a bunch of you are talking about, I've yet to really find any real/constant examples of the complaints levied at it. (Currently most of the way through Dionysus Park.)

[Ninjalada]

A question to people who have finished, can you collect enough ADAM to purchase all available upgrades, ie tonics, plasmids, slots, health and eve extensions.
And is there another wallet upgrade? what's the highest you can pocket?

I got more than enough to purchase all of the extra plasmid and gene tonic slots, all of the plasmids and all of the health and eve upgrades. I don't think you can get all of that as well as all of the gene tonics, there's a lot.

There's only one wallet upgrade, from memory, you can carry $750 max. Not that it matters, you won't really need to buy much towards the end of the game.

[V²]

thanks for the answers,
i have $800 in my wallter now, but i guess that is the fullest my sack will get.
i dont need to buy anything now.
one rivet head shot kills most splicers
the majority of the tonics in the gathers gardens i dont think ill ever use.
just got the spear gun. in the next room there are two splicers having a conversation, they both are now stuck to the walls with spears through their heads.

also ninjalada accept my friends requesting

[concrete donkey]

So can we get an Aussie multiplayer group together?

[jwalka]

@ concrete donkey, that would be pretty cool.
im finally getting the hang of the multiplayer, i hardly notice the time delay for respawns.
is it me or do all multiplayer games that involve strategy get bombarded with people just running around shooting like nuts, i was hoping that players would actually think strategically in bioshock but guess not. half the time they dont even try to dump the sister in the vent the just run around like a chicken without a head

[concrete donkey]

@ concrete donkey, that would be pretty cool.
im finally getting the hang of the multiplayer, i hardly notice the time delay for respawns.
is it me or do all multiplayer games that involve strategy get bombarded with people just running around shooting like nuts, i was hoping that players would actually think strategically in bioshock but guess not. half the time they dont even try to dump the sister in the vent the just run around like a chicken without a head

yeah, most people just run in gunning. When you've got a game full of americans and your lagging, theres not much else you can do. :(
It would be good to have a group of Aussies and Kiwis to play. I'll be on tonight. Ive got a couple of Aussie Bioshock2 friends already but 10 would be sweet.

[Ninjalada]

I'll be up for some MP tonight. Maybe with fellow Aussies, I won't be so shit.

[concrete donkey]

Ok, we'll try and get some games going from 7pm AEST each night. hopefully we'll get a few people

[Ninjalada]

Errr, are you in Sydney? Brisbane doesn't have daylight savings so we're an hour behind.

Goddam time zones!

[jwalka]

im in sydney, i'll probably be on at around 10, GT is DOB 29292
i'll probably just play capture the little sister, i get the most adam from that then any other mode

[Natrak]

Just finished, all in all I thought it was a really good game.

All of the splicers and Alpha Daddies thrown at you during the final sequence became a bit of a cluster****, which is a shame. I should have prepared a little better, too - a bunch of traps would have been handy. I did enjoy it more than Bioshock's final fight with Fontaine, though, to be honest.

By the end I had become quite attached to Eleanor and Delta's story, so I found the ending held a lot of weight. I'd also grown to like Sinclair (even if he did prove to have some unsavory practices) so it was a bit of a shock seeing that Lamb had turned him into a Big Daddy.

I really liked getting to see Rapture from a Little Sister's point of view, too. And I felt some real anger towards Sofia Lamb when she smothered Eleanor. Glad that wasn't the end of it.

[tau]

Oh my. I envy Eibach for having a wife so awesome her crochet big daddy made it into Bioshock 2...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/tau/eibach.jpg

well mostly.

[Cerebral]

Loving how I have a modest computer and this runs silky smooth with everything maxed out.

Damn, should've gotten Mass Effect 2 on PC.

[Ninjalada]

Has anyone else found the dead cat with a name? I called Schroderberg or something like that. Maybe it's a tribute to one of the programmer's pets.

[V²]

I'm guessing Schrodinger.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger's_cat

I saw the cat in the birdcage.
Poor kitties with there rigour mortis.

[Natrak]

I had a few games of multiplayer tonight, the lag got pretty unbearable in my last game. I only played Free for All but it seemed a bit meh to me (relatively fun, but not terribly good, really). I'll probably give the other modes a go so I can form a clearer opinion.

[Ninjalada]

I'm guessing Schrodinger.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schr%C3%B6dinger's_cat

I saw the cat in the birdcage.
Poor kitties with there rigour mortis.

Yeah, that's it but I found it buried in ice so I guess there's 2.

[jwalka]

does anyone know why xbox's would crash?
i was in the middle of multiplayer (bioshock 2) and in the middle of the match the game froze, so i turned the xbox off and didnt bother again.
1st time it happen to me online.

[concrete donkey]

does anyone know why xbox's would crash?
i was in the middle of multiplayer (bioshock 2) and in the middle of the match the game froze, so i turned the xbox off and didnt bother again.
1st time it happen to me online.

yeah, the game freezes alot in multiplayer. Alot of people, if not everybody has experienced it. In 21hours of multiplayer ive had it happen atleast 10 times. The worst part is if your in a good connection match, you may not be able to get back in by the time you restart

[jwalka]

good connection match, you may not be able to get back in by the time you restart
hahaa i didnt even get that, i had to completely restart the console, almost everytime this has happened to me.
i think microsoft should improve their servers. i havent once heard a ps3 user complain about online (disconnection etc)

[Blue]

hahaa i didnt even get that, i had to completely restart the console, almost everytime this has happened to me.
i think microsoft should improve their servers. i havent once heard a ps3 user complain about online (disconnection etc)For one, that's bullshit. Sony's online is nothing compared to XBL. I have never, in my years of owning the console, been disconnected from an online match.

This is clearly a software issue.

[Natrak]

The freezing issue is widespread, it's not purely an Xbox Live thing. 2k have said they'll be patching it soon.

[jwalka]

i dont just mean for 2k games, some other games i have/had freeze. fable 2 froze everytime in the beginning of the game (apparently theres a patch for this issue) but even still, its pretty annoying having to turn off your console and turn it on again. stupid xbox hardware

[tau]

Just finished the game, which says a lot in itself as hardly any games these day seem to hold me till the end. Very awesome.

[Silverwolf]

Enjoying this quite a bit, started off on hard and kept getting my ass kicked because the fighting is a little bit different to what i'm used to, I focus on shooting my enemies dead instead of using my Plasmids, so I run around with full EVE and 5 hypos and next to no ammo.
Practicing on medium (like a noob) but having lots of fun, voice recordings everywhere = woo.

[Natrak]

Seriously mayne, you have your plasmid arm constantly primed for a reason. :P

[tau]

Yeh, I ended up usually spamming both at the same time, with the plasmid either setting everything on fire or stunning them with electricity.

[Silverwolf]

Seriously mayne, you have your plasmid arm constantly primed for a reason. :P

Yeah, I think coming straight from ME2 has confused me a little bit and have to get used to ANOTHER set of shooting controls.

[Blue]

Yeah, I think coming straight from ME2 has confused me a little bit and have to get used to ANOTHER set of shooting controls.Weren't playing as a Vanguard, I take it?

[banjoeskimo]

Oh my. I envy Eibach for having a wife so awesome her crochet big daddy made it into Bioshock 2...

well mostly.

Wait, I mentioned she based it on a trailer for the game, right? But sure, I'll take it, being married to a gamer is awesome. ;)

[concrete donkey]

It took me 24 hours of game time to reach Rank 40 in multiplayer and to get that sweet 50pt achievement. Despite the lag and the odd freeze, the multiplayer is pretty good.

[Ninjalada]

It took me 24 hours of game time to reach Rank 40 in multiplayer and to get that sweet 50pt achievement. Despite the lag and the odd freeze, the multiplayer is pretty good.

Lol but that was with boosting, wasn't it? I can only imagine how long it would take to do it the 'legit' way.

[concrete donkey]

Lol but that was with boosting, wasn't it? I can only imagine how long it would take to do it the 'legit' way.

Nah, the only boosting i did was with you guys that night. and it was a bit of a debacle, only ended up getting 2000 adam from that. Not worth the hassle and it was a bit boring. the rest was legit, so 95,000 adam was legit to get to rank 40

[tau]

Wait, I mentioned she based it on a trailer for the game, right? But sure, I'll take it, being married to a gamer is awesome. ;)

Still awesome.

[Natrak]

I think I might do a Drill only run, it could be pretty cool with that tonic you get about halfway through that blocks your access to all weapons aside from the Drill, Hack Darts and Camera and boosts your Plasmid strength.

[tau]

doesn't boost their strength, just reduces the amount of Eve they use.

[Natrak]

Noted.

[jwalka]

are you guys talking about MP or SP ?
and what tonic, im a rank 10 :D

[Natrak]

Single Player. The tonic is named 'Drill Specialist' iirc.

[concrete donkey]

people are being too harsh on the single player. Its pretty damn good. exploring different parts of rapture is intruging and the graphics are better, more detailed

[Natrak]

Ugh, in my limited experience with multiplayer I seem to only ever be able to get one or two good matches (after waiting forever) before it all turns to shit through lag and lop-sided teams. I don't think I'll bother with it, if I'm going to play multiplayer I'd probably rather just play Halo/MW2/Uncharted 2 or something.

[jwalka]

the story mode is so shit, just got past the cathedral thing (where you have to find the pump) and all i have to do to past the next area is and i quote 'get 3 sisters' WTF HAVE I BEEN DOING THIS WHOLE TIME MOLESTING THEM ?!?
i dont see why i dont just shove the drill through the window and reactivate the F***ing train.
they could of at least thought of a better excuse to make you run through another maze.
i really hope there isnt a sequel (anyone wanna play as a big sister ?), to me it ended at #1 all it needed was a add on pack for MP, or more gameplay and that would have been it.

[Silverwolf]

Focusing too much on the objectives laid out, and not enough on all the audiotapes and the story.

[Natrak]

God, your posts are terrible. I'd be able to suffer through your horrid english and punctuation, but the content isn't even particularly intelligent.

[Silverwolf]

God, your posts are terrible. I'd be able to suffer through your horrid english and punctuation, but the content isn't even particularly intelligent.

The best part is he has edited it for spelling already, and it is still in that state.

[concrete donkey]

yeah, jwalka it may be time to stop talking about Bioshock2 for a while.

[Blue]

God, your posts are terrible. I'd be able to suffer through your horrid english and punctuation, but the content isn't even particularly intelligent.Took the words out of my ****ing mouth.

jwalka, it's a pain to read your posts.

[tau]

I <3 people like jwalka. They made me think Bshock2 would be average-below average, making it a nice surprise when i enjoyed the hell out of it.

[dimorphic]

Ugh, in my limited experience with multiplayer I seem to only ever be able to get one or two good matches (after waiting forever) before it all turns to shit through lag and lop-sided teams. I don't think I'll bother with it, if I'm going to play multiplayer I'd probably rather just play Halo/MW2/Uncharted 2 or something.

The MP is a nice enough diversion but like I said before it came out it would have to be very special to pull the majority away from the already established FPS multi giants like Halo and COD.

It isn't special enough to do so as it turns out.

[Natrak]

Yeah, which isn't really a surprise. I appreciate it being thrown in there as an added bonus, it's fun enough when it works and thankfully it didn't detract from the single-player at all. I wish it were a bit more stable, I wouldn't mind ranking up enough to check out more of those audio diaries, although they seem to pale in comparison to anything found in either Bioshock or Bioshock 2's campaigns.

[dimorphic]

Yeah but I do like the concept of bringing a story to the multi. If there is a Bio 3 or if they release DLC it's an area they can really build on.