Bioshock thoughts (part 1)

Bioshock is a video game released by 2k Boston in 2007. In the context of video games 2007 was a long time ago, and plenty of fantastic video games have come out since then, but this video game has caught my interest for three key reasons. The setting/ context for game, the discussion in how video games should be made and the fact that it is the most recent game that I beat. The 20ish hours I spent playing the game can't be refunded, but that means I do have a very good impression on the game. This is not a review or recommendation of the game rather an analysis where I can offer some personal opinions and ask some question about what the game could have been. Bioshock is an first person shooter, with horror elements, and minor rpg elements. This blend is very good and at the highest difficulty a blend of guns and super natural powers is necessary in order to succeed at the game, at lower difficulties you can get away with dominantly gun play. Some points of interest is that in the beginning of the game is where all the horror elements can be found, the game actively sets up jump scares and and each individual enemy is a capable threat. As you go through the game and gain power as the protagonist the horror element of the game vanishes. At this point as a player you are more familiar with the city of rapture, to this transition makes sense game play wise and from a thematic stand point. This is an example of what makes the game special. Another core concept is that every enemy gives you a negative return on investment, the amount of resources (ammo, "mana") you need use to kill an enemy is much higher than the reward you gain for the kill. This makes exploration necessary and resource management a constant struggle in the game. Each gun having projectiles that fire in various ways (i.e. machine guns, shotguns, and rocket launcher all fire different projectiles) and different types of ammo. All of this in combination creates a situation where the player needs to actively think about what is the most efficient combination of supernatural powers, guns and ammo to take down an enemy, with added intensity because of the scarcity of the resources. This is excellent, but unfortunately this emphasis on special guns and magic powers does detract a little bit from the importance of aiming. Where this game's core game play mechanic is gun play, the game is in first not third person for a reason, aiming and shooting is has to feel good and be satisfying. In Bioshock a lack of aim can be supplemented with tactical knowledge or guns that are easier to control, and this is excellent but it does take away from the importance of aim, which a first person shooter is built around. This being said, the trade of in Bioshock is worth while, and unique for the time, the horror element can only happen in first person, its not hard to say many games take some inspiration from this system. That being said we have to wonder if a dodge mechanic would benefit the game, and would thematically make sense for the character. I do not think it makes sense for this game, because the game benefits on not being able to out run your enemies so they must be fought.... but dodging could add another layer of complexity and skill to most game.

The fact that enemies have infinite bullets while shooting you but when you kill them they only have 5 is the one thing that does annoy me in this game, that I wished the game addressed.