Much like my Dead Space 3 article, my BioShock Infinite one is just in time for some last minute, pre-release hype. Here is a (little more on-time) collection of everything we know about BioShock Infinite including plot and setting to abilities and baddies. Can Infinite deliver to the same degree as its BAFTA award-winning younger brother?
Setting
Fortunately (if you didn’t like BioShock 2) or unfortunately (if you loved BioShock 2?) Infinite takes place in a completely separate environment, the cloud-top city of Columbia. Unlike Rapture, this city was never a secret and was built under the jurisdiction of the American government. It was later disowned due to a firing upon Chinese civilians, leaving the Columbia inhabitants completely isolated and the location of the floating city unknown. Heralded as the dystopian lovechild of the Deathstar, Cloud City and the Steampunk style, Columbia looks set to be an incredibly unique playground.
Plot
Infinite is based around the retrieval of Elizabeth, a woman who has remained trapped in Columbia for many years and seems to have a strange connections with the current civil war the city is experiencing. This may or may not be due to her special powers of manipulating the time-space continuum. You’re an ex-American special agent tasked with Elizabeth’s rescue to fulfill some kind of debt. Naturally, it isn’t ever as simple as walking in and walking out. During isolation the city has broken out into civil war between the common people (Vox Populi) and the elitists (Founders), which causes some friction when you try and rescue/kidnap Elizabeth, especially with her previous guardian, Songbird.
Enemies
Songbird you say? Songbird is a terrifying creation of a robot/steam-powered bird that was tasked with the protection of Elizabeth. Upon rescuing her, you really anger Songbird as it was programmed to feel betrayal and anger at her escape. The bird then continues to hassle and scare you throughout gameplay. Other enemies include:
- The Handymen (plausible Big Daddy counterparts), elaborate disability aids that have become relatively weaponized
- The Boys of Silence, blind children outfitted with a hearing-enhancing helmet that act as the intimidating surveillance of Columbia (think “violent security cameras”).
- The heavy machine gun wielding mechanized Patriots that looks like an angry porcelain George Washington.
There’s also the dead-raising Siren, the mechanized furnace Firemen, and the classic Police of Columbia.
Vigors
BioShock Infinite‘s answer to Plasmids, the genetic enhancements of Rapture, are Vigors. They are fueled by the limited resource of Salts (Much like EVE in Rapture) and come in eight varieties:
- Murder of Crows – Much like Insect Swarm from Rapture but more powerful..and..with..crows.
- Devils Kiss – an improved version of Incinerate.
- Bucking Bronco – Causes enemies to float for a short time, unable to retaliate to attacks.
- Shock Jockey –An improved Electro Bolt.
- Possession – Manipulates enemies to fight for you rather than against you through an irresistible charm.
- Undertow – An altered Telekinesis power.
- Charge – A high impact melee attack.
All of the above plas…I mean Vigors, have trap varieties like Skyrim’s Runes and can be upgraded much like Raptures Plasmids.
Weapons
The firearms in Columbia resemble its surroundings with much of the weaponry appearing to have Steampunk styling. Weapons include the heavy duty Paddywhacker, the long range rifle Bird’s Eye, and a minigun-like weapon called The Pepper Mill used by the Patriots. Another key weapon in BioShock Infinite is the Skyhook. Not only does this weapon prove admirably effective at carving holes into peoples faces, it also acts as a vital method of transportation throughout Columbia via Sky Lines. The Skyhook is showcased in most of the trailers of BioShock Infinite, which can be seen at the bottom of this article.
Extras
A DLC announcement for BioShock Infinite consists of a Season Pass that will entitle you to the three upcoming DLC packages already confirmed for the game. The Early Bird package, the first to be properly outlined, will contain: “Four pieces of exclusive gear, a Machine Gun Damage Upgrade, a Pistol Damage Upgrade, a gold skin for both weapons and five Infusion bottles that allow players to increase their health, their shield durability or their ability to use Vigors by increasing the quantity of Salts they can carry”. I must admit the sound of pimping out in Columbia is brilliant. The Season Pass knocks 30% off the price if you were to buy each DLC package individually, so it is definitely worth considering.
Here are a few of the trailers released fro BioShock Infinite, watch and get pumped for 26th. The rest can be found here.
False Shepherd Trailer
Lamb of Columbia Trailer
City in the Sky Trailer
What are your thoughts about this game? Excited? Or are you just going to stick with Rapture? Let us know in the comment section below.
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