Game Evaluation By Chad Seippel CIS 487

Game Evaluation By: Chad Seippel CIS 487 – Fall 2013

Bio. Shock Infinite • • • Developer – Irrational Games Publisher – 2 K Games Genre – First Person Shooter / Action Adventure Price – $59. 99 Release Date: March 26, 2013

Hardware • Available for Xbox 360, PS 3, and PC/Mac • Minimum Requirements (PC) OS: Windows Vista Service Pack 2 32 -bit Processor: Intel Core 2 DUO 2. 4 GHz / AMD Athlon X 2 2. 7 GHz Memory: 2 GBHard Drive: 20 GB free Video Card: Direct. X 10 Compatible ATI Radeon HD 3870 / NVIDIA 8800 GT / Intel HD 3000 Integrated Graphics Video Card Memory: 512 MB Sound Card: Direct. X Compatible

Hardware • Recommended Requirements (PC) • OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 64 -bit • Processor: Quad Core Processor • Memory: 4 GB • Hard Drive: 30 GB free • Video Card: Direct. X 11 Compatible, AMD Radeon HD 6950 / NVIDIA Ge. Force GT • Video Card Memory: 1024 MB • Sound Card: Direct. X Compatible • Digital installation available through Stream • No installation required for 360 or PS 3

Story • The player takes the role as Booker Dewitt • Former Pinkerton agent, and in debt to the wrong people • To resolve your debt you must go to the majestic floating city of Columbia and capture a young girl named Elizabeth and bring her back to NY • Players travel throughout Columbia with the goal of seeking out the residence of Z. H. Comstock, leader of The Founders, who Elizabeth must see before they can escape • Elizabeth is held captive in Columbia and has the mysterious ability to create tears in space/time • There is unrest and revolution coming to Columbia. This leads to the player and Elizabeth fighting their way to escape the dangers of Columbia

Gameplay • Played from the firstperson perspective. Right hand fires weapons and left hand fires your powers • Various powers called “Vigors” such as fire, lightning, murder of crows • Player can use vigors and weapons simultaenously, allowing for interesting ways to destroy enemies • Player can also equip four slots of gear that can give added bonuses to weapons, vigors, melee, etc.

Gameplay • Elizabeth has the power to manipulate "tears" - windows in space and time. • You can ask her to open these tears at any time during battle. These tears can bring in objects and weapons in from another dimension. • Columbia also features an intricate series of "Sky. Lines" a rail system that connects the different parts of the city. • Players can leap onto these rails using the Sky-Hook, a magnetized tool that allows for quick travel around the environment. • These rails can also be useful in battle, as players can perform jumping melee attacks onto enemies.

User Interface • UI is very basic and shows only the essential information. • Shield and health, Salts (mana) and ammo • Two vigors and two guns that the player can quickly switch between during battle • Menu system allows the player to look at the objectives, equip weapons and vigors. As well as get more information about them.

Scoring • Money system (silver eagles) and player upgrades • Buy or sell through “vending machines” found throughout Columbia • Ammo, med kits, upgrades to vigors and weapons can be purchased in vending machines • Various gear hidden throughout Columbia • “Infusions” are hidden bottles of special formula that allow you to upgrade one stat of your choice (Health, shield, salt)

Artwork • • • Colorful and beautiful scenes Very detailed world Takes advantage of Unreal Engine 3 Great mixture of cartoon and realistic design Steampunk vibe, circa 1912 Not as good on Xbox 360 or PS 3 when compared to PC (obviously)

Sound and Music • Composed by Garry Schyman • Dynamic music • Dramatic music during combat • Special noises with critical hits or head shots • Outro music to let player know when combat ends • Various old period pieces to set the mood of circa 1912

Special Features • Three DLCs to be released • “Clash in the Clouds” released June 30, 2013 that adds wavebased survival • “Voxophones” are in-game audio devices that can be found which give an interesting background on the plot of the game • Upon completing the game, you unlock “ 1999 Mode” which greatly increases the difficulty

The Good • Fast, smooth, and unique combat experience • Different combinations of vigors and weapons allow you to kill enemies in creative ways • Dramatic and emotional story plot • Unique plot that has twists and turns • You actually care about the characters • Very beautiful and colorful art style with a world that you can explore • Companion that is actually helpful fun to play with

The Bad • No multiplayer • Versus, Cooperative, Leaderboards • Navigation arrow shows you where to go • Discourages exploration

How does it compare? • It's a very unique first-person shooter so I can only compare it to the original Bio. Shock and Bio. Shock 2 • Graphics are much more colorful and lively compared to original games • It has characters you actually care about • Added melee sky-line combat • Bio. Shock 2 has various competitive multiplayer modes and leaderboards while Bio. Shock Infinite does not • Better in almost every way

Audience • • • This game is targeted to a wide range of gamers Big world, action-adventure with a great story and fast gameplay Not overly violent so it's not only playable by adults Strong male and female protagonists Men and women 17+ would enjoy this game, fans of shooters or adventure games

Summary • Strengths • Fast, fluid and creative gameplay • Amazing story • Beautiful and big world • Weaknesses • Lack of multiplayer • Some hand-holding that pushes the game linear instead of encouraging exploration

How can it improve? • Multiplayer support at release! • I'll accept multiplayer in a DLC

Verdict • BUY IT! • One of the best games I have ever played • Potential GOTY