Rii
Rear Admiral
I've been a little leery of Bioshock 2 since it was first announced for a variety of reasons, but whilst the recently released footage appears a rather conservative evolution in most respects, it does address what was for me one of Bioshock's glaring flaws: a lack of water.
Water was everywhere in Bioshock, in every conceivable form it was used to great atmospheric effect, but contrary to what one would expect in an decrepit, dilapidated underwater city, it never actually posed a threat to the player. Rapture could've been situated above the clouds for all the difference it made. At no point was the player in danger of drowning, one didn't even have to ensure not to lob explosives in the direction of the translucent panes holding back tons of water and the odd whale. There's something to be said for not doing something at all if it can't be done well, and in any case I hardly expect anything approaching this, but in the context of Rapture the omission of water as a gameplay element was positively conspicuous.
Fortunately Bioshock 2 appears to go beyond its predecessor in this respect, the jets of water through the cracks are a little off, but the subsequent implosion and deluge look fantastic. I only hope it amounts to more than a set piece or two.
Water was everywhere in Bioshock, in every conceivable form it was used to great atmospheric effect, but contrary to what one would expect in an decrepit, dilapidated underwater city, it never actually posed a threat to the player. Rapture could've been situated above the clouds for all the difference it made. At no point was the player in danger of drowning, one didn't even have to ensure not to lob explosives in the direction of the translucent panes holding back tons of water and the odd whale. There's something to be said for not doing something at all if it can't be done well, and in any case I hardly expect anything approaching this, but in the context of Rapture the omission of water as a gameplay element was positively conspicuous.
Fortunately Bioshock 2 appears to go beyond its predecessor in this respect, the jets of water through the cracks are a little off, but the subsequent implosion and deluge look fantastic. I only hope it amounts to more than a set piece or two.
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