There are many questions and controversies surrounding Bioshock... have we gotten to the point where games can become art? What is up with the anti-theft software on the game? Regardless of the answer to any of these questions one thing is clear to me, BioShock will be talked about for many years to come...

Gameplay: This is perhaps one the main tough point with me and will probably get some arguements later, but the gameplay isn't one hundred percent ingrossing. It comes very close, but it isn't perfect. Granted, there are hundreds of options to approach the game but like Grand Theft Auto, BioShock still has a ways to go if you want it to cover EVERYTHING.
That being said, I did enjoy the way BioShock left you spoiled for choice on how you want to exploit every little health pickup, ammo pack, and environmental effect.

Graphics: In a word, they're beautiful on the machine I played it on. The propaganda posters, the scars Rapture beared of the civil war, even the ocean that threatened to leak through was unreal.

Raplayablity: I played through as a engineering-heavy gunslinger, my brother went through the second time limiting himself to the wrench and a few choice plasmids. As I said up in Gameplay, the amount of stuff you can do isn't infinite but there are still more options then you could possibly play through.

Fun Factor: The instant I used my electro-bolt plasmid on a pair of Splicers sparring in a pool of water... killing both of them, I knew I had stepped into the sandbox-like playground I've been looking for since I beat Red Faction. And while I wasn't always thinking fast enough to take advantage of the environment, I definitely enjoyed exploiting all those traps someone so nicely left for me.

Complaints: Without giving away too many spoilers, I have to say that the "good" ending was a bit of a disappointment. Given how brilliantly characters like Cohen and Ryan were presented, the almost completely unexpected plot twist, and that even the last third of the game managed to keep the momentum it gained up until you finally met Ryan face to deranged face, the "good" ending was a feel good little nothing that completely killed your hopes for a sequel.
While getting it definitely isn't for the weak hearted, the "evil" ending felt more in tune with the rest of the game and left us open for a sequel.

In Conclusion: In my not so professional opinion, the game only has two noteworthy flaws. The first I've already pointed out, the ending doesn't fully live up to the storytelling in the rest of the game. The second is that it's not "enough." The game takes about 20 hours from start to finish, 40 if you play from start to finish twice (which is how you get both endings) and for all it's wonder you're left wanting more. More genetic powers, more locations, more citizens of Rapture you can either pity or revile.

Learning Curve: Instant!

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