I’m a sucker for a good dystopian first person shooter, so naturally I consider the Bioshock series one of my favorite franchises of all time. And now that 2K games is officially developing Bioshock 4, I felt it was the perfect time to go back and play the series again.
Despite the first title coming out way back in 2007, I can honestly say all of the Bioshock games are still worth playing in 2021. Whether you’re looking to try out the series for the first time, or even just go back and play Bioshock Infinite again, these games still hold up after all these years. Hear are five reasons I recommend you go back and play these titles.
1. Bioshock 1 and 2 Have Been Remastered
One of the biggest downsides of going back and playing older games is that the graphics aren’t usually up to par compared to newer games. Fortunately, many titles go along with what games like Skyrim have been doing and release a remastered version of their most popular games. So if you’re concerned about the resolution and texture quality, don’t be — you can play Bioshock Remastered.
Although the main benefit of the remastered games is that they can run on 1080p and 60 frames per second, there are also some added easter eggs. Players can unlock episodes of commentary by finding new collectible objects that were sprinkled throughout the game.
2. The Story Is Still Fantastic
One of the main reasons these games hold up years after their release is that games like Bioshock don’t come around that often. There are plenty of action RPGs out there, but not all of them offer make you feel like you’re part of the story. Each title offers a unique look into dystopian world filled with surprising twists.
Whether you’re navigating the underwater dystopia of Andrew Ryan’s Rapture, or battling religious zealots in the floating city of Columbia, each game has something unique. And because you don’t have to play Bioshock 1 and 2 to play Infinite, It’s easy to dive into the latest game in the series without missing anything important to the story.
3. The Cityscapes are a Beautiful Nightmare
Something that always drew me to the Bioshock games was the atmosphere. Whether you’re in Rapture or Columbia, there is something incredible to look at every turn. The developers do a great job of making you feel like you’re looking at the potential of man in all its glory as you slowly uncover the rot that became its downfall.
Between the underwater city of Rapture and the floating city of Columbia, I tend to prefer the original. Both settings were created out of the desperation to free humans from the shackles of modern society, but I just prefer the dark beauty of Rapture.
4. The Combat Mechanics are Flawless
As someone who loves a mix of shooting people with guns and blasting them with magic, Bioshock is one of the only series to ever offer me this combination in perfect harmony. Along with a variety of guns (including a crossbow), you also get access to various plasmids that mutate your DNA to allow you to essentially do magic. Though they make it seem like science in the game, it’s magic to me.
And while this combination of combat tools is great for fighting enemies directly, it’s the way the Bioshock Games integrate the fights into the surrounding environment that makes it so great. With the use of plasmids and vigors you can shock enemies as they wade through water, burn them as they step in oil, or even release a swarm of bees. Fighting enemies is a lot of fun and there are plenty of different ways to get the job done.
5. The Antagonists Have So Much Depth
It usually goes without saying that if a game has a great storyline, it likely had some excellent character arcs within it. While some games focus mainly on companion characters like Elizabeth, the Bioshock games tend to put the majority of their effort into the antagonists. Whether it’s Frank Fontaine or Father Zachary Hale Comstock, each primary enemy comes with a unique twist and a deep conviction that makes them believable.
Beyond the main antagonists, though, the Bioshock games also offer a look into the motivations of lesser bosses as you work your way up. You don’t just show up and fight a stranger, you battle your way through every twisted individuals backstory before you have to kill them.
Where Can You Play Bioshock Games in 2021?
You can play Bioshock Infinite on pretty much any console, and more often than not you can find bundle pricing on all 3 of the games together. You can even pick up a copy of Infinite on the Nintendo Switch seeing as the game made it’s way over to the handheld console back in 2013.
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