BioShock® 2

A game where you, a dad, fight other dads to become the dadliest dad and aquire as many daughters as you can.

In 2007, BioShock shook up the gaming world with its unique universe and exploration of dark philosophical themes. Two years later, BioShock 2 plunges us back into the fallen city of Rapture, but this time, with a new perspective: that of a Big Daddy, these imposing and terrifying protectors that we feared so much in the first opus. This game, developed by 2K Marin, offers a new story, new characters, and above all a new gameplay dynamic. But, does it manage to match the magic of its predecessor? Or is it simply an "encore" in troubled waters? Let's dive into this review and see if this second chapter succeeds in capturing the essence of Rapture.
Good points
Playing a Big Daddy: We play as Subject Delta, one of the first prototypes of Big Daddy. From the beginning, this perspective changes everything. You feel more powerful, but also more vulnerable than ever before. The combination of brute strength and agility gives you a new way to approach combat, with the iconic drill and the ability to use Plasmids alongside traditional weapons. Playing as a Big Daddy is both rewarding and nerve-wracking, as you find yourself in charge of a Little Sister, adding an emotional layer that the first game didn’t explore as deeply.
Enhanced gameplay mechanics: Refines the gameplay of its predecessor with more fluid and dynamic combat. The ability to use Plasmids and weapons simultaneously makes for more intense and strategic encounters. Additionally, new weapons, such as the drill and harpoon launcher, are tailored to Big Daddy’s style and provide a brutal and satisfying combat experience. The sequel also features a more robust enemy variety, with foes like Brute Splicers and the terrifying Big Sisters providing a unique challenge and adding a constant level of danger.
Introducing the Big Sisters: While the Big Daddies are protectors, the Big Sisters are their female counterparts—agile, aggressive, and downright fearsome. They appear to defend the Little Sisters you adopt or free, and each encounter with them is an intense ordeal. These fights are some of BioShock 2's most memorable moments, as the Big Sisters are fast, vicious, and unpredictable, forcing you to use all your skills and resources to survive.
More emotional and touching story: Unlike the original BioShock, which dealt with philosophy in a more theoretical manner, BioShock 2 explores more emotional themes, including parenthood and sacrifice. Subject Delta is searching for Eleanor, his original Little Sister, in a quest for redemption and protection. The antagonist, Sofia Lamb, brings a vision that is the opposite of Andrew Ryan’s, advocating collectivism over individualism, which adds a new philosophical dimension to the story. This exploration of family ties and human nature offers an emotional depth that enriches the experience.
Surprising and innovative multiplayer: Tried something bold: a multiplayer mode in the universe of Rapture. This mode, although often overlooked, is actually very well integrated. Set during the fall of Rapture, it allows players to take on the role of a citizen in the midst of despair, with epic PvP combat using Plasmids and iconic weapons. Although this multiplayer mode did not mark as much as the single player, it brings a touch of novelty and replayability.
Bad points
Less mysterious city of Rapture: One of the pleasures of BioShock was the discovery of Rapture, this place both fascinating and terrifying. In BioShock 2, this effect of discovery is less strong, because we are already familiar with the places and the atmosphere. Although the game introduces new areas, such as flooded districts and less explored sections of the city, the mystery has lost its luster. The nostalgia is still there, but for players of the first opus, this sequel does not offer the same wonder.
Less complex and philosophical story: Although the story of BioShock 2 is touching, it is perceived as less rich in philosophical themes than the first. The story is more linear, with a clear motivation to find Eleanor and thwart Sofia Lamb's plans. The themes of Lamb's collectivism versus Ryan's individualism are less developed and less subtle than the ideals of freedom and power explored in the first game. This lack of philosophical depth may disappoint those expecting a new dose of existential musings.
Little artistic innovation: Graphically, BioShock 2 takes up the style of the first game with a few minor improvements, but without any real artistic changes. While the technical quality is slightly better, the environments are relatively similar to those already explored, and the general aesthetic of Rapture remains unchanged. For those who were hoping for a marked visual evolution or more varied areas, the game can seem a little repetitive in terms of atmosphere.
Sometimes frustrating AI: Enemy AI in BioShock 2 can be uneven. The Splicers, while terrifying in idea, sometimes act erratically or inconsistently, throwing themselves headlong into attacks or getting stuck in scenery. This unpredictability breaks the immersion a little and harms the fights that should be more tense. The Big Sisters, while formidable, can also show some AI weaknesses, especially if they get stuck on obstacles or don't always react logically.
Redundancy in gameplay Like the first game, BioShock 2 follows a repetitive structure with exploration, combat, resource gathering, and skill upgrading sequences. The Little Sisters' quest can sometimes become mechanical: you fight a Big Daddy, adopt a Little Sister, and then protect her while she collects ADAM. While the concept is interesting, it can feel repetitive after a while, especially for players looking for variety in gameplay.
Summary
BioShock 2 is a sequel that manages to deliver a satisfying experience without necessarily reaching the philosophical heights of its predecessor. With refined gameplay, more dynamic combat, and a touching narrative about family ties, the game explores a more emotional and intimate side of Rapture. Playing as a Big Daddy is a game changer, giving the player a sense of power while adding emotional vulnerability. While the discovery effect is less and the story is simpler, BioShock 2 is still a captivating adventure for those looking to extend their stay in Rapture.
85/100

Bioshock 2 is an amazing game from top to bottom and my favorite Bioshock game of the series. The atmosphere is some of the best in any game I have ever played. From the moment you dive into the game and hear the loading music you get this creepy and spine chilling feeling and even more so playing. The oldies soundtrack echoes in the past while also adding to the scare factor. There is plenty to explore in the vast underwater city of Rapture and its hard not to when the setting is so cool and interesting. The graphics still look good for an old game. The water effects look great and some of the plasmid power ups are pleasing to the eye. The attention to detail is in abundance, from the blood smeared text on walls to the propaganda posters and unique locations it all brings the world alive and feels as if it could have been real. There are plenty of horrific moments and scenes and it matches extremely well with the first person shooter gameplay. The combat is intense and very satisfying, playing as a Big Daddy feels great and powerful. There are plenty of weapons, gadgets, and abilities to choose from allowing you to personalize the fighting to your liking. There is always more than one way to approach a fight and having the freedom of choice is nice. The story is well written, well paced, and at times very moving. The main antagonist Sofia Lamb is one of my all time favorites. The multiplayer is a surprisingly nice addition to the game and offers a healthy variety of modes to submerge in. There is a cult following for its multiplayer and games can still be found to this day in its more popular modes. Its fun to pit your Big Daddy skills against the rest and is more fast paced and competitive than you would expect. I deeply enjoyed all my time in this game and one I am very fond of. I highly recommend anyone to play this game, there is alot to enjoy.
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To put simply: my favorite video game of all time.
The first Bioshock is a great game, but it isn’t perfect. It suffers from odd level design and a messy final act. But despite its short development time, Bioshock 2 takes everything great about the first game and streamlines it. Gone are the old PC-era RPG elements and bullet-spongy bosses. The way research works in this game promotes more variety in gunplay, pushing players to try plasmid and weapon combos they might normally not. This makes 2 extremely replayable.
The story here elaborates on a small but important part of Bioshock: the Big Daddies and Little Sisters. Putting you in the shoes of an “old-school” Daddy that supposedly existed before the events of the first game, Delta somehow manages to help us feel so much more than Jack ever did.
Our relationship with Eleanor is moving and organic. Lamb feels like a great successor villain-wise to the loud and proud Ryan. Bioshock 2's story is weirdly similar to Neon Genesis Evangelion, but with a Socialism-fearing American twist. Through themes of fatherhood battling unrighteous use of equality and unity, our actions feel much more fleshed out than the black-and-white “choice” in Bioshock (which is ironic considering that game’s main message). This game makes your choices feel like they really matter.
2 abandons a plot twist and a final boss to focus more on its spectrum of endings, which feel natural based on our choices and their influence. If Delta is good, Eleanor becomes good. If Delta is evil, Eleanor becomes evil. If Delta made mixed/nonsensical choices, Eleanor becomes broken and confused. This is especially great with how thought-provoking some of the choices are: like does Gil deserve to live, or should he be mercy-killed as he previously asked? Not to forget the Mark Meltzer subplot, which is its own whole fascinating journey that was originally revealed through an ARG before 2 released.
The multiplayer is pretty great despite how often people cite it as feeling "tacked on." Clearly a decent amount of love was put into it, even if it is unbalanced (all you need is Electro Bolt and the damage-upgraded crossbow).
This was my first Bioshock game, but I think even if I had played the first game first, I’d know that this is the better game. And probably the greatest shooter of all time. "Love is just a chemical, we give it meaning by choice." Wild that some people think this story is weaker...

Plays surprisingly better than the Remastered version - noticeably less crashes.

Like FEAR, this is a classic that actually holds up once you get past the jank. A wonderfully designed, paced, and gameplay driven experience that's fun to think back to after the fact. I'm not as invested in the setting as other people are, but the enemies being so expressive make it hard to not have fun running through this. Extremely tight gameplay, great diversity of playstyles with the upgrades, and one of the best selection of weapons within a half-life style shooter I've seen in a while.

good game but youre better off saving at every corner as the checkpoints in this game are horrendous