BioShock and BioShock 2 Through Jaded Eyes

[RaptureWillBeReborn]

As you may or may not have noticed, I haven't been posting as much as I used to. Why? Because I'm tired of both BioShocks. I'm sick and tired of them.

Yesterday was the first time I played both games in months. First, I played the original game. I was both emotionally empty and thoroughly unimpressed the whole time. Where I once found amazing graphics, I now see bland textures. Where I once saw hypnotic scenery I see unattractive, boring, and depressing maps. Where I once saw immersive gameplay I now see hand-shaped weapons with generic abilities that you can find in almost any sci-fi or fantasy videogame. Where I once saw an extraordinary game, I now see a blob of mediocrity taking up space on my computer.

Same with BioShock 2, except that BioShock 2 is worse. In addition to all of the things wrong with the first game, BioShock 2 has graphics that are even more unrealistic, an annoyingly stupid villain, bratty little blood-suckers who I'm supposed to feel sorry for, and a plot even worse than BioShock's. Every time I started a level or a mission, no matter how much I wanted to experience that fun I used to have, I'd get this feeling of tediousness and dullness. The city of Rapture and the franchise as a whole are now bland to me. I don't think I'll play either game from now on unless I'm bored out of my mind.

Am I the only one who feels like this? I want to have fun while playing the games, I really do, but it just feels so.... blah.

[SquigPie]

I'm pretty sure you're the only one.

[xPOORGUYx]

i still find rapture to be fascinating and beutiful.

[Brass Balls]

Well, sure, I don't play either game anymore at this point in time, but I feel you're being overly harsh/your complaints don't really have anything to do with familiarity.

[Crezth]

As you may or may not have noticed, I haven't been posting as much as I used to. Why? Because I'm tired of both BioShocks. I'm sick and tired of them.

Yesterday was the first time I played both games in months. First, I played the original game. I was both emotionally empty and thoroughly unimpressed the whole time. Where I once found amazing graphics, I now see bland textures. Where I once saw hypnotic scenery I see unattractive, boring, and depressing maps. Where I once saw immersive gameplay I now see hand-shaped weapons with generic abilities that you can find in almost any sci-fi or fantasy videogame. Where I once saw an extraordinary game, I now see a blob of mediocrity taking up space on my computer.

Same with BioShock 2, except that BioShock 2 is worse. In addition to all of the things wrong with the first game, BioShock 2 has graphics that are even more unrealistic, an annoyingly stupid villain, bratty little blood-suckers who I'm supposed to feel sorry for, and a plot even worse than BioShock's. Every time I started a level or a mission, no matter how much I wanted to experience that fun I used to have, I'd get this feeling of tediousness and dullness. The city of Rapture and the franchise as a whole are now bland to me. I don't think I'll play either game from now on unless I'm bored out of my mind.

Am I the only one who feels like this? I want to have fun while playing the games, I really do, but it just feels so.... blah.

Everyone shun this man.

[soviet prince]

seems like you played to much, I do not play bioshock maybe once ever couple of months. even a good movie if you watch it to close together you will get burned out. also bio2 was a good game imo sophia was an interesting character that had two sides she was not just a pure evil leader like many other games bad guys.

[RaptureWillBeReborn]

seems like you played to much, I do not play bioshock maybe once ever couple of months. even a good movie if you watch it to close together you will get burned out. also bio2 was a good game imo sophia was an interesting character that had two sides she was not just a pure evil leader like many other games bad guys.

Yes, I did play it too much. I play every game too much. But BioShock is the first to become completely bland to me. Maybe if PC players had Minerva's Den I'd play that a couple of times, but then, it's back to switching between Valve games and Starcraft 2.

[rootbeertapper]

Nay, I love Rapture, and Rapture likes me.

[Shades]

Nope, Bioshock never ceases to amaze me.

This is what games like Starcraft do to you. It's...sad :-(

[october_midnight]

I still love them, but also haven't played either for months and months and most likely won't. Also, you couldn't really expect to come to a forum with that opinion (valid as it may be) and expect any other replies. It's like going to a McDonald's forum and saying 'Ya know? I just can't stand french fries.'

[Codex]

I picked up the first game for the first time in about two months the other day and breezed through Fort Frolic followed by starting a new game. Medical Pavillion still makes me feel sick inside. On the other hand, the whole point about Starcraft is that it's replayable, as is the same thing with many Valve games - they have a very well balanced multiplayer component to most of them (other than Half Life). Speaking of Half Life, I've played HL2 and it's two episodes to death, so I experiance the same "oh... there's G-Man again!" feeling. It's lost all the tension that it had the first time and, because the plot is relativly far between - your main goal as Gordon seems to be "survive until you get to the end of things and then blow Breen/Citadel/bajillion Striders/Hunters/the Portal up" - I don't get as engaged with it as I used to.

But, hey. To each their own, right? I still play Valve games until my computer wants to die. I play Bioshock/2 until my xbox wants to die. Heck, I still play KOTOR on my oooold xbox.

[Cubed]

I can definitely understand where you're coming from Rapture, but I thoroughly disagree. These games are timeless for me, no matter how outdated they become.

[AK Downfall]

RWBR I understand your views but I will disagree also. No matter what I still play Bioshock 1 and 2 even after finishing it

[Brass Balls]

I really don't understand your criticisms of the aesthetic of the maps (or why "depressing" would be a negative for most of the levels). Especially compared to valve games (I love Valve, don't get me wrong). I mean even if you think everything else has aged poorly...surely the setting and environments and general atmosphere are an exception.

[Atlas-]

I am confused about your views the graphics may not be the best but they add too the atmosphere which, yes is depressing but thats the idea your are walking through a once great city that has destroyed itself. The gameplay is not the most complex but it allows for variety and the flow to continue and as for the,

origianly posted by RaptureWillBeReborn
"bratty little blood-suckers who I'm supposed to feel sorry for"

They have had there humanity taken away from them and are destined to be harvested like cattle so yes, you should feel sorry them I would like to see you voluntering for something like that.

EDIT: commas have been added

[SquigPie]

Not to be a grammar-nazi Atlas, but for a comment as intelligent as yours, could you please throw in a few commas?

Anyway, it appears RaptureWillBeReborn is somewhat alone in his statement. :P

[SHODANFreeman]

Any normal human will get burnt out on a game if they play it for hundreds and hundreds of hours.

[boxcarbully]

i'd replay bs2 if i didn't have to search and search and search for stuff all the time. that's what's tedious.

[I Would Kindly]

I haven't played since mid-december. Only because I don't want to get tired of it. I still enjoy the setting and gunplay. But then again, I have Bioshock PS3 and PC with all their perks, and Minerva's Den.

[mrgrimmykins]

i can see where your coming from being so harsh on it i played the first and second one to death also
and anytime i tried firing them up id play for 5 mins and just go mehh and turn it off even the multiplayer got old after nading people for hours and laughing at them sadly i gave them away wish i didnt just for keepsake purposes
Thats rule number one with games dont play them over and over youll burn out on them play once a year or something

[MrPhix]

Simple solution to this problem, wait a year or even 2. All games get repetitive after awhile even great ones such as these titles. Ill never forget this game nor will it EVER be sold back, both of them (even though i enjoy playing Bio 1 so much more than 2). I played it into the ground about 8 or 9 times awhile back, its been a year since, anyways im going to wait until Bioshock Infinite comes out, play the hell out of that then maybe that'll revitalize the classic.

You know when you can recall where most of the backdrop props are, that its time to move forward lol.

[That Gamer Girl Pwns]

That sounds so sad! Everything in Life is that way except for friends and mates.

I loved BioShock - was such an awesome game - sooo beautiful and Exciting to explore and play. Yes, it's true, I haven't played BioShock in a couple years. BUT - I still cherish it, as well as the people who created it. Just AWESOME!

Now, games that have longevity that you can play for years and years are far and few between. Serious Sam , Half-Life 1, Mafia 1 . I grew up with those.

Anyway, you just might have progressed beyond Video Games, or maybe...something inside you has been lost (imagination? Happiness? Your inner child?) You might want to visit those possibilities before it's too late?

My Dad is 50, and he still plays video games, AND multi-player - and I have the most fun playing in the same server as him. I hope I am like that when I get there - who knows, maybe it will be some sort of virtual reality?

HUGGS

[AgentClaret]

If I sat there and played both games in one day (after having played them both numerous times) I'd probably hate BioShock too.

I'd probably also hate my life.

[Wrapped Up In A Sheet]

Am I the only one who feels like this? I want to have fun while playing the games, I really do, but it just feels so.... blah.
Everyone shun this man.

I dont know whether or not your joking but i would just like to say that RaptureWillBeReborn did write it in his opinion so really people cant criticise him and also he does say that he played them to death so that explains it.
Me personally love the games and only get to play them every now and then so they are special to me,but we are not all the same if we were then the world would be boring.

[japester]

Opinions can be critiqued (it's not like you can critique facts, LOL), but Wrapped Up In A Sheet is correct in that shunning him isn't really appropriate. People get tired of things. That's the nature of life. If you listen to the best symphony in the world every day, you'll get tired off it. Look at the most beautiful painting every day--ditto. These are static things. They can't help it if they can't continue to surprise and impress us as we, ourselves, grow and change into different people with different views and tastes.

When I read the OP's critique I look at the big picture: he spent over a year here creating nearly 3000 posts, largely related to these games. That gum may be stale to him now, but he got a hell of a lot of flavor out it for a long time. LOL

[Wrapped Up In A Sheet]

Opinions can be critiqued (it's not like you can critique facts, LOL), but Wrapped Up In A Sheet is correct in that shunning him isn't really appropriate. People get tired of things. That's the nature of life. If you listen to the best symphony in the world every day, you'll get tired off it. Look at the most beautiful painting every day--ditto. These are static things. They can't help it if they can't continue to surprise and impress us as we, ourselves, grow and change into different people with different views and tastes.

When I read the OP's critique I look at the big picture: he spent over a year here creating nearly 3000 posts, largely related to these games. That gum may be stale to him now, but he got a hell of a lot of flavor out it for a long time. LOL

Ya i think i worded that wrong, thats what i meant though is that you cant very well shun him just for voicing his opinion's.

[Donut232]

I read the OP's critique I look at the big picture: he spent over a year here creating nearly 3000 posts, largely related to these games. That gum may be stale to him now, but he got a hell of a lot of flavor out it for a long time. LOL

Ah... A classic japester metaphor. Ive missed these. XD

That being said, I gotta play Bioshock 2 again... It's been far too long.

[japester]

Ya i think i worded that wrong, thats what i meant though is that you cant very well shun him just for voicing his opinion's.

Not to nitpick, but yes, you can. It's not you--I see lots of people making that same statement online.

I don't want to derail the thread, but this is a pet peeve of mine. There are plenty of opinions that should be shunned. A few hate groups in the deep south, where I used to live, hold particularly abhorrent opinions. Shunning is perfectly appropriate in those cases.

But here? Nah!

[Aguayo-Castro]

Hahaha man "shun him" that's kinda funny, but NO. I've played these games many times too, but never get tired of them. I always find something new in them each time I play. I've gotten all the achievements (I play xbox 360) for both games and still play the campaign. It hasn't gotten old to me at all

[Wrapped Up In A Sheet]

I don't want to derail the thread, but this is a pet peeve of mine. There are plenty of opinions that should be shunned. A few hate groups in the deep south, where I used to live, hold particularly abhorrent opinions. Shunning is perfectly appropriate in those cases.

But here? Nah!

Exactly this is a forum for a video game and in my opinion(please dont shun me on this) is not an important enough thing to shun someone who has been part of the community for over a year.
And i agree some peoples opinions do need shuning but they are extreme opinions like the Hitler's opinions or Col. Kaddaffi's opinions, or even the person who decided i should do another tour of Afghanistan in a few months after only being back 2 months! Those opinions i think should be shunned but simple one's like saying they are bored of a game is silly.

[Vito_Lucente]

The first time was amazing, the second time lost some appeal, then the third time just wasn't good. Rapture does end up getting old.

[japester]

Exactly this is a forum for a video game and in my opinion(please dont shun me on this) is not an important enough thing to shun someone who has been part of the community for over a year.
And i agree some peoples opinions do need shuning but they are extreme opinions like the Hitler's opinions or Col. Kaddaffi's opinions, or even the person who decided i should do another tour of Afghanistan in a few months after only being back 2 months! Those opinions i think should be shunned but simple one's like saying they are bored of a game is silly.

I swear this is my last comment about this: I formally agree to shun the idea of shunning. LOL

And thank you for your service. I worked at USAA for years and loved every minute of supporting our troops and their families. I'm glad you stayed safe.