GAMERS DECIDE - bioshock infinite

BioShock Infinite Review 2016: Is it worth playing?

PrettyPistol — Mon, 13 Jun 2016 19:14:58 +0000

“The mind of the subject will desperately struggle to create memories where none exist…”

Barriers to the Trans-Dimensional Travel,

-R. Lutece, 1889

BioShock Infinite Early Game Play Demonstration: Our first glimpse at the Murder of Crows Vigor and the Skyline.

There have been mixed reviews on BioShock Infinite. Some say that it’s just ok and doesn’t feel like BioShock. They believe that it fails in comparison to BioShock 1 and 2. Still others say that it is wonderful and easily one of their favorite games of all time. I fall into the latter category.

BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter adventure developed by Irrational games. It was released worldwide for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 platforms on March 26, 2013. Infinite is the 3rd installment of the BioShock series.

Although it is not part of the immediate storyline of the previous games it has similar gameplay, concepts, and themes. When BioShock first came out in 2007 I was immediately a fan. The games concept and dark ominous atmosphere were right up my alley. After seeing the trailers for BioShock infinite I was a bit skeptical but hopeful. I was not disappointed. I am not afraid to say that, in my opinion, it is the best single player campaign I have ever played. It’s something so familiar yet so different. This game will challenge you, open your mind, and change you.

Gameplay

You choose the difficulty and pick your settings. There are so many options to make gameplay optimal to your own desires. You may also change your settings during gameplay. You may only carry two weapons and two vigors at any given time (that is if you are playing on a console), but you can switch them when the need arises. There will be more on this later.

Once you leave an area it is generally impossible to go back and claim things you may have missed. So you much be thorough. Also, there is no save element in this game other than the auto save. If you stop playing before the next save point you will restart the chapter from the last moment it was auto saved.

The Story

In BioShock Infinite, you play the role of Booker DeWitt. He is an ex-Pinkerton agent with a dismal outlook on life. You soon learn that Booker has racked up an impressive debt in NYC. Thus, our story begins.

The game is set in 1912. In the opening scene, you (as Booker) are on a boat with a male and female character. They are talking amongst themselves and completely ignoring you, other than handing you a small box which contains what seems to be clues in helping you on your mission. They are rowing in a storm somewhere off the Coast of Maine. You learn that Booker has been hired by an anonymous employer to bring them a girl that is being held captive and they will wipe away his debt. The boat arrives at a dock with a lighthouse and your two companions leave you there with little information on what to do next.

You eventually figure out how to use the lighthouse to ascend into the sky to the city of Columbia. The force of the ascension causes you to pass out. You first get a sense of the weirdness that is Columbia when you wake up in a church-like area flooded with water. You soon encounter a member of the clergy who insists that you must be baptized to enter the city. You resist at first but soon realize that this is the only way into the city and you eventually concede. The clergyman nearly drowns you and you pass out yet again. When you awake for the second time you are outside in front of three statues of America’s Founding Fathers (the first of many of Infinite’s historical references). You walk through another door and get your first glimpse of Columbia. It is through exploration that you find out more about the city and the girl you were sent there to rescue.

Father Comstock is the ruler of the city. He is known as The Prophet and the city looks up to him as though he is a God. However, not everyone reveres Comstock. He faces opposition by way of the Vox Populi. Their leader is Daisy Fitzroy. Father Comstock accused her of murdering his wife, she fled his home and formed the Vox Populi due to her detest for Father Comstock and his ways.

As you explore the city you will acquire vigors and weapons to arm yourself and then your journey truly begins. You must make your way to Monument Island where you finally become face to face with Elizabeth, the girl you were sent to rescue. She has lived on Monument Island her entire life and is guarded by a gigantic and terrifying mechanical bird called Songbird. He has been Elizabeth’s warden and is programmed to feel betrayal if she ever tries to escape. As they try to escape Songbird refuses to let her go easily. In the escape attempt, the tower is nearly destroyed and you and Elizabeth narrowly escape with your lives by jumping into the water below. They wash up on Battleship Bay and from there they catch a ride on the First Lady’s Aerodrome. This takes you on a journey to the Hall of Heroes to find a power source and help Elizabeth escape. Your journey is not an easy one. You are faced with many fearsome enemies and game altering secrets.

As with the original BioShock, there are many underlying themes such as:

American Exceptionalism
Racism
manifest Destiny
Imprisonment
Lustful Violence and Cruelty
God and Society
Water and Cleansing
Multi Dimensions

Imprisonment seems to be one of the main themes in the BioShock universe. The citizens of Rapture were trapped underwater unable to escape the rule of Andrew Ryan. It is the same for the people of Columbia, though the atmosphere is not nearly as oppressive, the city is floating miles in the air and is nearly impossible to leave.

Story Review

The best part of infinite is by far the storyline. It builds slowly, but that is part of its beauty. It takes the time to draw you in and before you know it you have lost all track of anything else. The game honestly plays like a novel. Although the plot can be a bit confusing at times it is worth the extra strain on your thought process. There is so much heart in this story. The characters are well developed and dynamic and there is so much emotion. I have never had the pleasure of playing a game where the characters were so affected by the violence.

Other games I have played seem to rely on either gameplay or storyline. BioShock infinite incorporates both seamlessly for an unforgettable gaming experience. The story is a phenomenal and unreal experience. The story is rich and needs an incredible amount of analysis. There is so much more to this game than what is on the surface. You will have a billion unanswered questions and the ending will blow your mind.

"Lamb of Columbia" trailer. The cinematics of this game make you feel like you are in a movie.

Cinematics

The Cinematics in BioShock infinite are certainly a step above the rest. It feels like you are part of a movie and not merely playing a game. After some of the cut scenes, it took me a moment to refocus on what I was supposed to be doing because I got so sucked into the story. The propaganda is exquisite and holds true to the 1900’s vibe.

Adventure and RPG aspect

The RPG elements have been toned down a bit in this game. Although it is quite entertaining to walk around and listen to the citizens of Columbia talk I found it disappointing that you cannot really interact with them.

The unveiling of the city’s culture is perfectly revealed through propaganda, audio logs, and rather gruesome raffles. Everything you come across helps you understand Columbia more and more. It also helps you find out a few things about yourself.

Combat

Combat, in my opinion, is a bit less tedious. Things seem to die much easier in this new installment as opposed to its processors. It has a faster pace and because of the skyline a much more open feel. There is a very good set of controls in terms of how the gunplay feels, but it takes a bit of getting used to due to the fact that some of the controls have been changed from previous games.

Although you cannot really change how your character looks, you can change your stats. You can upgrade your health, shields, and salts by way of infusion potions that are scattered all around the world. You can also equip your character with gear such as hat, shirt, pants, and boots. You can only wear one piece of gear per section, but each has its own unique ability and can switch them at will. It allows you to really customize your gameplay. Gear is also hidden all around the world and give you many abilities from regenerating health after a devastating attack, or causing your opponents to burst into flames if they are foolish enough to hit you.

Along with your gear, you have tons of weapons and new powers called vigors (which are comparable to plasmids in previous games) Some of the many guns you have to choose from include: crank guns, shotguns, heater, repeater, RPG, hail fire gun, carbine, pistol, machine gun, hand-cannon, sniper rifle and more. You also have a Skyhook to not only navigate the city on the Skyline, but it is also an impressive melee weapon. Your weapons and vigors can be updated but your skyhook cannot. The Skyhook is by far my favorite weapon. Being able to use the zip line and attack enemies from above is beyond thrilling. You can also use your Skyhook to perform what is known as a critical hit. It causes glorious death cinematics for your viewing pleasure.

There are eight vigors available to your character:

Shock Jockey- is an electric zap to enemies
Murder of Crows- Sends out a Murder of crows to kill your victims
Devils Kiss- Basically a large fireball
Bucking Bronco- throws your enemy up into the air giving you time to shoot them while the fall
Possession- is the ability to possess other characters for a short amount of time.
Undertow- you can wash away your enemies, grab and release them.
Charge- is a high-impact melee, target enemies at a distance and then charge towards them.
Return to Sender- Lets you absorb incoming enemy projectiles and may be upgraded to redirect them towards their origin.

All of these can be used to your advantage and every one of them has a trap version where if you hold down and release it in front of you traps your enemies. You can upgrade your vigors at vending machines. You also have salts which are basically mana. You use the salts to deploy your vigors. It can be depleted and must be replenished. You can find salts on people and randomly throughout the world. In addition to salts you have shields which serve as a buffer to your health. These must also be recharged.

There are many enemies to battle in the city of Columbia. You must face The Founders, the Columbian Police, and soldiers in the Hall of Heroes. You are also up against renegades and rebels from the Vox Populi. There are not just men after you, but you also must face spirits and giant machines such as the Patriots and the Handyman and the Fireman.

The combat was epic and the skyline adds verticality with is much needed in a first person shooter. The combat can only be described as intense and ridiculously fun. The best part for me is the fact that Elizabeth isn’t a helpless damsel in distress. You do not have to waste your time protecting her. In fact, she proves herself quite useful during combat. She will often toss you ammo and health packs, as well as opening Tears for cover.

My one disappointment in the combat would be the fact that you don’t get to fight many main characters. I would love to have battle the Prophet himself or Slate. I especially would have liked to take on the Songbird. Such an impressive character and so underutilized.

Quests

The quest in this game are really simple. You won’t find any complex puzzle solving like in previous games. It really just a lot of walking and searching.

There are six side quests. Two involve finding chests you have to open with a key, one of them involves, having to find a secret button under a register, and three of them involve finding ciphers that need decoding. Although there are only a handful of side quests in this game, I believe they are worth doing.

Characters

Finally, we get a main character that speaks! Booker is always blunt and honest which tends to get him into a lot of trouble. He is a bit hard to like. He is heartless and nonchalant about nearly everything. He is a character you love to hate and you sympathize with him in the end.

All of the characters are so well developed and never boring. They are so full of life and throughout the game you begin to feel like you know each and every one of them. This game does a wonderful job of making believable characters. Some you love, and some you love to hate.

Graphics, Sounds, and Soundtrack

Even with a wonderful storyline a game is nothing without the scenery and music to back it up. The soundtrack lined up perfectly with the gameplay from the futuristic songs coming from somewhere within the Tears to the mounting tension built during the combat scenes the music and sound effects are spot on. They really add an element of realism to a not so realistic game. The sound design is on another level and the voice actors are spectacular. The soundtrack and sound effects are loud and eerie. They work together to fill the spaces that the graphics depend on. It creates a very cohesive feel.

The graphics in this game are phenomenal. You can tell there was great care and imagination put into them and the result is pure beauty. Although not terribly realistic, the game isn’t about realism. It’s about its very own specific style and it does it very well. With detailed color and amazing texture, this game is gorgeous.

Price

Since this game is a few years old now there is no doubt that it is worth the price. It is sold quite cheaply now although it is still worth every penny of its original asking price.

Final Verdict

I give BioShock Infinite a 9.5 simply due to the fact that no game is perfect and there were a few things I felt could be improved on like citizen interaction and saving elements. All in all this game is as close to perfect that I have found.

Even if you don’t think you will like this game, I implore you, give it a try anyway. I bet you will be pleasantly surprised. It is designed to suck you in and spit you out, in the end, wondering what the hell happened. This game is as brilliant as it is bizarre. It is truly a generation defining game. It is an amazing experience from beginning to end.

“There is always a man, always a lighthouse, always a city.”

-Elizabeth

Main Image caption:

Is it worth Playing

Image Gallery:

More on this topic:

Share this Article:

BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode Two

aswin_rajeev25 — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 09:55:24 +0000

The second episode starts directly after the events of the first. The game follows Elizabeth as she makes her way through the underwater city of Rapture in search for her little sister whom she abandoned.

The second episode features brand new areas of Rapture that is never shown before. The game also has new plasmids, which are serums used for mutations and genetic modifications. Apart from that, the second episode also has a modified stealth gameplay with new weapons.

Year Released:

2014

Genre:

First Person Shooter

Platform:

PC-Games

Share this Article:

System Requirements:

OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 64-bit
Processor: Quad Core Processor
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Graphics: DirectX11 Compatible, AMD Radeon HD 6950 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560
DirectX: Version 11
Storage: 30 GB available space
Sound Card: DirectX Compatible

Releasing status:

Rating:

7.7/10

Rate and Review PC Games:

Developer:

Irrational Games

Popularity Rank:

Best Game Rank:

Latest Rank:

Average Vote:

50.00

Number of Votes:

Editors choice:

Image Gallery:

Theme:

Role Playing Adventure

More on this topic:

10 Video Game Characters I’d Like to Be Friends With

AzaleaValkyrie — Mon, 11 Jan 2016 02:46:53 +0000

Real life is hard. But games can help!

Many people who played video games growing up didn’t have a lot of friends. But playing games brought us a fictional world where we were special when we felt ostracized, where characters relied on us to be the hero when we couldn’t do anything right.

Video games are a form of escapism, but who can blame us? We found our power among pixels—it’s no worse than watching television or reading a book.

I don’t know about you, but I grew quite attached to the characters I grew up playing with. Looking at my modern life, I’ve compiled a list of characters that I’d like to be friends with.

Let’s take a look at who they are and why…

1. Sora (Kingdom Hearts series)

He... he knows how to use that, right??

Sora has long been one of my top picks for fictional characters I’d like to know in real life. Sora is endlessly cheerful and relentlessly loyal.

He never gives up and will do anything to make his friends happy. The most important thing in his life is making people’s lives better. He loves to see people smile and is willing to do the work to get someone to do so, whether it means crossing the universe or simply making a silly face.

I’m just really excited for Kingdom Hearts III right now.

2. Yuna (Final Fantasy X/X-2)

Does she always have to look so sad?

Yuna is soft-spoken but has one of the same major character traits that Sora has: she loves to make people happy. She’s absurdly selfless! She knows that she’s merely considered a beacon of hope and that her continued existence is much less relevant than what she does with it.

Because of this, she allows herself to be taken advantage of in her pursuits to make others happy. I’ve definitely spent a lot of time being like this, so I’d like to teach her the importance of self-care. It’s okay to live a life that revolves around making other people happy, but if you don’t spend any time taking care of yourself, then it wears you down.

The recent remaster of FFX/X-2 is gorgeous.

3. Navi (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)

At least she’s cute and little.

I know Navi gets a lot of crap from gamers because most people see her as really annoying. But think about the practicality of Navi in real life.

On your way to a test but forgot to grab your pencil? Navi would tell you that you probably need that before you leave.

Wanna teach Navi who’s the boss? Try eating her.

What is an annoyance in a game would be a blessing in real life if you’re a forgetful person or if you’re in a rush. Plus, she gives you a targeting mechanism, so you could use that to throw things exactly where you want them—even darts or spitballs!

4. Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog series)

GOTTA GO FAST

Sonic taught me that it’s important to stand up for the little guys. The armies of evil may be scary and tough, but you can’t afford to be afraid. The entire planet depends on Sonic and the Freedom Fighters.

It’s daunting to fight against robot forces, but if Sonic didn’t do it, then who would? It doesn’t matter how small you are—every little bit helps, especially when you allow courage to carry you past even the most frightening of challenges.

Having that much bravery alone makes him a worthy friend. But he’s also a hyperactive speedster, and I can’t help but want him around so he could help me do things more quickly.

Sonic has sped over to mobile devices, too.

5. Carmen Sandiego (Carmen Sandiego series)

You haven’t seen the last of Carmen.

Carmen Sandiego may be considered a villain, but could you imagine having her as a friend?

She’s a woman of the world—she knows a lot about different places and time periods, and she loves to travel. What more could you want from a friend?

Wouldn’t it be amazing to go with her to Italy so she can steal the Leaning Tower of Pisa? Personally, I’d just love to know where she keeps all of her famous landmarks. That’s gotta be one big warehouse!

Carmen will always be relevant to me, no matter how old I get..

6. Pyramid Head/Red Pyramid Thing (Silent Hill series)

Just another day in the life.

Pyramid Head/Red Pyramid Thing might seem like a strange choice to you, but if you’ve seen the second Silent Hill movie, you won’t have a hard time understanding why I’d like to have him as my friend.

He’s already an intimidating character in the series, so he’s certainly someone you should hope to get along with. In the second Silent Hill movie (Silent Hill: Revelation), Pyramid Head [SPOILER] acts as a bodyguard of sorts for the main character. When she calls for help, Pyramid Head is there to save the day [/SPOILER].

Even if you don’t like the Silent Hill movies and/or don’t consider them canon, wouldn’t you still rather be on good terms with the scary creature that has a giant, sharp weapon and a propensity for violence? Seriously.

https://www.facebook.com/SilentHillRevelation/videos/772373686133366/

Pyramid Head IRL

7. Elizabeth (Bioshock Infinite)

Most NPCs don’t waste their time judging you. Elizabeth, however, makes time for it.

Elizabeth is the kind of character that you can’t help but remember. She’s intelligent, and not only can she pick locks like a pro, but she can also rip holes in the fabric of the space-time continuum.

Her power to unzip the universe is like a better, more efficient Portal gun. Yes, she has some troubles learning to control her ability, but she’s clearly intelligent enough to improve at it.

Watch this video to learn about the process of creating Elizabeth!

While I don’t promote using lock-picking for illegal purposes, I can’t help but think it would be nice to have her around if you get locked out of your car or something.

8. Princess Zelda (The Legend of Zelda series)

Fashionable and functional clothing!

Princess Zelda serves as a reminder that a princess can be pretty and feminine while also being a strong, effective leader. Okay, yes, she gets kidnapped. But she is clever and has her own sneaky methods that help her be a self-rescuing princess.

This is a princess who is well-versed in a variety of subjects, making her well-rounded and pretty awesome. She can fight with several different weapons, use amazingly powerful magic, plan military strategy, use diplomacy, and think her way out of just about any situation.

Plus, she’s got a talent for music and destruction!

Zelda has moved from being a two-dimensional bunch of pixels to a brilliant woman with many useful skills. This is seen the most clearly in Hyrule Warriors, but for those of you who don’t consider it canon, you can see these aspects of her shining through in other games in the universe. After all, it’s the legend of Zelda, not Link.

9. Unnamed Prince/Dastan (Prince of Persia series)

He looks a little bit like Yuna from the back.

The unnamed protagonist of the Prince of Persia series (known as Dastan in the movie, Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time) is someone else who I think could be handy to have around.

The main reason is that he’s an amazing climber! Got locked out of your house? He could climb up your house and down through the chimney and just unlock the door for you.

The iconic rooftop escape from the Prince of Persia movie

I’d love to be able to use his Dagger of Time, but I’m pretty sure it wouldn’t work in our world since the Sands don’t exist here.

In any case, he has stellar acrobatic skills and a fierce determination. I’d love to spend time with him just because he seems so cool.

10. Luigi (Super Mario Bros. franchise)

That is not the face of a merciful man.

Luigi is one of the more respectable members of the Super Mario Bros. universe. He’s not a flashy attention-seeker—he just does what he knows how to do.

He wants to help, but he doesn’t have the massive hero complex that his brother does. Luigi understands how the world works and doesn’t try to affect the status quo.

Despite being shoved to the side all the time, Luigi remains optimistic, even when he’s scared. He admits to his fears and tries to conquer them. Isn’t that more admirable than being someone who will jump into any pipe he comes across and doesn’t have to work toward being brave at all?

Luigi has his own version of adventure.

Honorable Mention: Juliet Starling

Zombies suck!

Since finishing this article, I played Lollipop Chainsaw. Let me tell you this: it is now my favorite console game!

So why Juliet as a friend?

Well, she's got a strong sense of all the qualities I find important in a friend: loyalty, justice, and determination.

Juliet saves her random classmates from hordes of zombies (despite the classmates routinely saying really crude stuff to her when she saves them), saves her boyfriend from becoming a zombie, and goes on to defeat the zombies that are controlling the hordes and taking over her town.

It sucks when zombies put themselves back together!

Her sense of loyalty to her school, her friends, and her (now decapitated) boyfriend truly makes her stand out among all of the generic heroes we're given on a regular basis.

When the zombies are being rude and harrassing people, she makes sure that they know it's not okay to be mean, even if you're the undead! She doesn't tolerate any form of bullying at all.

Juliet also knows that it's going to be a serious uphill battle to save seven different areas of her town from powerful zombies, but she knows it's up to her and her family to take care of it. Despite the world crashing down around her, she doesn't stop, even when it gets really scary and disturbing.

She loves her boyfriend, her family, her friends, her classmates, and her hometown. She's not afraid to stand up for herself or anyone else.

And that's exactly the kind of friend I look for.

And now for the part with audience participation...

Now that you’ve seen my picks, what are yours? What characters from video games would you like to be BFFs with?

Tell us in the comments below!

10 BioShock Infinite Cosplays You'll Love

EMK — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 01:41:59 +0000

10.) The classic Booker and Elizabeth

Credit to the incredible ver1sa.

9.) The Lutece Twins

So lifelike, from Aicosu.

8.) This genderbent Booker

Absolutely incredible by Angela Bermudez.

7.) A motorized patriot

Amazing work done by Erri Kitten Cosplay.

6.) The best dad ever

From the wonderful Aingeal11.

5.) The breathtaking Elizabeth

Beautiful Elizabeth done by ver1sa.

4.) This creatively done Elizabeth

Another great one from Angela Bermudez.

3.) Booker DeWitt

Because you can’t have this list without a Booker, done by Titanesque cosplay.

2.) The perfect Elizabeth makeup

This infuriatingly perfect makeup was done by Sallywhale.

1.) Booker and Elizabeth one more time, because they're perfect

This unbelievable cosplay done by ver1sa.

Weren’t those awesome? Don’t you want to just run home and replay BioShock for the tenth time? Go ahead, no judgement here.

If you think another cosplayer deserves some recognition or you just feel passionately about one of these cosplayers leave a comment and let me know!

Main Image caption:

Beautiful cosplays and BioShock Infinite, how can you go wrong?

More on this topic:

Share this Article:

BioShock Infinite: 5 Reasons You Should Be Playing It

EMK — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 02:33:30 +0000

5.) The Storyline

"Save the girl, clear the debt"

The storyline of BioShock is a complex and intriguing one. You start out as former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt on a simple rescue mission in order to clear his gambling debt. The rescuee: Elizabeth who’s been imprisoned since childhood on the flying city of Columbia.

All hail Father Comstock

Once you’re launched into the city however, you find that this isn’t going to be the easiest rescue mission. And as you continue to fight your way through the army of automatons and citizens seeking to keep the status quo, you discover that getting Elizabeth out of that tower was the easy part.

As the story evolves and you get further into Columbia you’ll realize the broken world you’re walking through and may even get a little scared at the realization of similarities in our own world.

With a storyline as deep as this and an ending as mind-blowing as you’ll see, BioShock Infinite is a game you should be playing already no question.

4.) The epic battles

Check out this nail-biter!

BioShock Infinite is a first person shooter which brings back the ability to combine your basic weapons with a little something extra.

By using your Vigors - magical powers - you can weaken your enemies by charging at them at super speeds, or shooting them with bolts of electricity, or even shooting shockwaves at them. And you can combine these powers so you can, for example, set someone on fire and then send a shockwave their way to finish them off.

He didn't stand a chance.

In the midst of some battles you can also use the Skyline Railway system to move so fast through the city that not a single bullet can catch you. What a rush right?

3.) The setting

Take a look at how visually appealing (and creepy) Columbia can be.

Don’t you just love the aesthetic of the early 1900s? With Bioshock you get that vintage vibe and then some. The flying city of Columbia is your battleground now and what a place to be.

What a lovely day.

With new sights at every turn and an impressive amount of ambience, you can’t help but be mesmerized just walking through the city. The graphics in BioShock are remarkable, you really feel as if you’re in the most beautiful city flying impossibly high and trying not to get vertigo.

The movement from propaganda to another store front as you’re walking will also give you something to think about and only increase your curiosity about this strange city you’ve been sent to.

2.) The depth of the society

Even the background noise lets you know something’s not right.

Speaking of propaganda, the folks at Irrational Games have done a bang up job making the citizenry of Columbia as intense and thought provoking as they could.

With inherently racist caricatures strewn about the city, the cult idolizing Abraham Lincoln’s assassin you may run across (yeah that can happen to you), and the obvious opinion that people without the perfect skin color should be slaves you can see a definite depth to the society. The people of Columbia aren’t just background noise.

The juxtaposition of the American flags everywhere and Columbia’s leader Father Comstock’s influence everywhere - a religious zealot and self-proclaimed prophet whose ideals are slightly (very) skewed - is a stark reminder that even something meant to be a utopia in the heavens can become corrupted and broken.

In God we trust.

If you like your game settings to have a little something extra, or to have you intrigued on every level, BioShock Infinite is the game for you.

1.) Elizabeth

Your time with Elizabeth is an adventure from start to finish.

Elizabeth is one of the best things about this game. She’s not just some damsel in distress, and she’s not some annoying NPC that’s always getting in the way.

This is not your day pal.

She helps you out on the battlefield by handing you health packs and even ammo. As you’re in the middle of a firefight and reaching the end of your magazine you can hear Elizabeth call you and turn around to catch the ammo pack she’s throwing you.

She can also reach through inter-dimensional tears in the environment and give you cover during a fight or create a diversion. Elizabeth’s superpowers also come in very handy if you’ve died as she can revive you.

The abilities Elizabeth possesses are just one of the reasons you can become closer to her. As you get further and further into this crazy adventure you start to feel as if Elizabeth is really there for you and can become a very good friend. Which she does.

Not only is BioShock Infinite an incredible game to play, it has the best storyline you’ll ever go through and is one of the most eye-opening and intriguing games you’ll ever play.

Now I know BioShock Infinite can also be a rather divisive game so you tell me: is the game incredible or is it the absolute worst you’ve ever laid eyes on? Can you see similarities with our world today or is it all fantasy? Can you see why it’s number 2 on our most popular games list or do you think it should be relegated to a lower slot?

Let me know what you think and leave a comment!

Main Image caption:

From the dizzying heights to the complex society, BioShock Infinite gives you no shortage of reasons to love it.

Image Gallery:

More on this topic:

Share this Article:

2K Games: A List of the 10 Best 2K Games To Play in 2015 and 2016

MichaelLogarta — Mon, 27 Jul 2015 15:44:56 +0000

2K Games has published some of the best games we know; here are ten of them!

Developer, distributor, and publisher of video games, 2K Games is home to titles widely considered to be the best of their respective genres. And they boast games for several of the most popular genres known to the gaming world. First-person shooter? Turn-based strategy? Sports simulation? You name it, they’ve got it.

Here then, is A List of the 10 Best 2K Games To Play in 2015 and 2016. We’ve focused on the most recent games, and included a few that have yet to be released but have all the signs of becoming massive hits. So let’s begin with game number…

10. Battleborn

Blizzard isn’t the only developer with a first-person MOBA in the works; Gearbox Software, creator of the Borderlands franchise, is behind the eagerly anticipated Battleborn, due for a late 2015 or early 2016 release.

Cartoon violence

So why are we excited about Battleborn? Check out those beautiful, eye-catching colors, and that charming, cartoony art style. And this being Gearbox, we can expect stellar shooting – not to mention addictive MOBA elements such as leveling up, interactive battlegrounds, and a roster of eclectic heroes to kick butt with.

Battleborn is a science fiction fantasy hybrid. Its story involves different species fleeing to the planet Solus, where they form factions and fight the Varelsi – the monsters responsible for destroying entire star systems in the universe. Sounds great to us!

That wacky art style...

New look, good old fasioned shootin'!

9. Evolve

Evolve is a first-person shooter with a twist; four players assume the role of Hunters, who have to kill a single alien Monster. The Monster, controlled by another player, has to either kill all the Hunters, or accomplish a secondary goal, such as wrecking a human base so that it becomes a pile of steaming rubble.

That epic 'stache

There are four Hunter classes: assault, support, medic, and trapper. Similarly, there are four Monster types: Behemoth, Wraith, Kraken, and Goliath. While Hunters come with a variety of unique abilities, the Monster can evolve by murdering punier creatures.

It’s innovative and tactically deep, making it one of the best 2K games.

Say good night, freak!

"That tickles!"

8. The Darkness II

Enjoy your first-person shooters soaked in blood and entrails? The Darkness II will turn your stomach as one of the goriest first-person shooters around.

You are Don Jackie Estacado, head of the Franchetti crime family. You also happen to be in possession of the Darkness, a sinister, supernatural force giving you incredible powers.

They should probably just run away

Those powers include controlling enormous worm-like monstrosities that strike at enemies, sinking their teeth into heads, necks, and whatever looks particularly scrumptious to them. And while they’re busy tearing your foes into bloody chunks, you can pump their bodies with lead using your two pistols. Talk about overkill!

One of the best 2K games, if you enjoy your first-person shooters with huge helpings of horror.

Your gun doesn't impress her

Not the best way to go

7. Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth – Rising Tide

We already know how awesome Civilization: Beyond Earth is. But come autumn 2015, we’ll be losing even more sleep with the game’s first expansion pack, Rising Tide.

So what’s new in Rising Tide? Firstly, the game introduces new factions. These were the guys left behind when the first expedition departed from our doomed planet to find a new world to inhabit. They felt a tad sore for having to stay on Earth while their forerunners got to have all that interstellar fun, so they too left for the new planet. And now they want a piece of the pie, and they’re not about to play nice.

It's time to sail the seas!

Aside from a slew of new options, systems, and units, you can also now colonize the seas by building floating settlements. Additionally, there are the new world types, including a chaotic one replete with volcanoes, and one blanketed with ice and snow.

Say goodbye to your social life!

Vast, alien landscapes await

A whole lot of squid

6. NBA 2K16

2K games is known for publishing some of the best sports simulation games, including those in the long-running NBA 2K series.

NBA 2K15 is a clear favorite among fans and critics, with its authentic feel, in-game models so lifelike you’d think you were watching your favorite basketball stars in an actual match, a MyCareer Mode, and even a coaching system that provides real-time feedback.

Dunking in style

Come late 2015, though, we’ll have NBA 2K16. A fan of Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe Bryant of the 2000-2001 Los Angeles Lakers? How about the 2007-2008 Bolton Celtics’ Ray Allen, Kevin Garnett, and Paul Pierce? In NBA 2K16, you’ll be able to play classic teams culled from the sport’s illustrious history.

We’re confident NBA 2K16 will be just as good, if not better than its predecessors.

Don't underestimate him just 'coz he's wearing glasses

Sign language

5. BioShock 2

Mixing storytelling, a grim yet beautiful world, pulse-pounding action, and genuine frights, BioShock and its sequel, BioShock 2, are modern first-person shooter classics.

BioShock 2 strands you once more in the beautifully decadent underwater city of Rapture. This time, you play as one of the series’ iconic mascots – a Big Daddy.

A house of freaks

Yes, you’re a powerhouse on two legs with a giant drill for one hand… what’s not to love? Plasmids and tonics give you special powers, such as the ability to fling bad guys about like rag dolls, and summon a swarm of bees to encourage your foes to do their best Nicholas Cage “Not the Beeeeeeeees!!!” impression.

You’ve also got Little Sisters to save or murder (you cold-hearted monster!), and a mystery to solve involving young girls being kidnapped and brought to Rapture. You’ve got your work cut out for you, you big lumbering freak, you!

If bullets won't stop her, maybe lightning from his hands will

Burn for me, baby!

4. Borderlands 2

With a bazillion guns to collect and even more bodies to drop in the most violent yet hilarious ways possible, Borderlands 2 revels in the absurd.

Set on Pandora, Borderlands 2 tells the tale of Vault Hunters who must end the rule of the cruel, narcissistic tyrant, Handsome Jack.

That meat shield won't stop a badass like Maya

Borderlands 2 is a first-person shooter RPG, with each of the six classes (the Siren, Commando, Assassin, Gunzerker, Mechromancer, and Psycho) boasting unique, upgradeable skills. It also gives you an overwhelming amount of loot to collect and enhance, from guns and grenades to costumes.

Aside from the stellar gunplay, the comedy will have you in stitches – which we mostly owe to one of the most memorable villains ever created, Handsome Jack.

One of the best 2k games in existence!

That's one way to take that aircraft down!

The local wildlife is pleased to meet you

3. XCOM 2

XCOM: Enemy Unknown is considered one of the best 2k games for good reason: not only is blasting alien invaders into tiny, gooey bits a heck of a lot of fun, the game’s strategy elements is also intoxicating.

XCOM’s addicting brand of tactical turn-based gameplay returns in the sequel, XCOM 2, which will be released late 2015. Set 20 years after the events of the first game, it pits humanity’s remaining defenders against the aliens who have conquered Earth.

Lookin' snazzy in that armor

Like its predecessor, XCOM 2 is squad-based. You’ll have to equip your soldiers with the right weapons and armor, then send them out to capture aliens. Winning means using every tool at your disposal effectively, exploiting the environment, and the smart positioning of your soldiers on the battlefield.

And when not exchanging laser gunfire with malevolent extraterrestrials, XCOM 2 has a new mobile base called Avenger, where you’ll be researching technology to give you the upper hand in battle.

We can’t wait to turn alien scum to dust in XCOM 2!

I think he could use a sandwich or two

I'm betting that sword isn't just for show

2. Sid Meier’s Civilization V

You can’t call yourself a true PC gamer unless you’ve spent at least one sleepless night playing a Civilization game.

In Civilization V, you’re given a randomly generated world to explore and exploit, an empire to build, and enemies to exterminate. Starting at the dawn of time, you grow your territory by conquering neighboring cities or founding new ones. And as the centuries progress, you’ll find that there are many alliances to be made, technologies to research, cultural marvels to build, and, of course, wars to be waged.

Going where no man has gone before!

You can bring prosperity to your people by nuking everyone else and forcing the entire world to bend the knee to you. Alternatively, you can be the first to show off your technological superiority by launching a vessel into orbit. You can also achieve the impossible and unite the world in peace, or win the cultural victory by impressing everybody with your vast collection of priceless paintings.

Trust us, you’ll be chanting “just one more turn” until the wee hours of the morning with Civilization V. Sounds like one of the best 2K games, to us!

Historical dignitaries await to shake your hand... or stab you in the back

Tank army

1. BioShock Infinite

When we think of the best 2K games, one title often pops into mind: BioShock Infinite.

Booker DeWitt, eager to escape his debts, agrees to kidnap Elizabeth from the floating city, Columbia. But it isn’t long before the two are dragged into a rebellion threatening to destroy Columbia, and worse.

Sky's the limit

The President

Infinite combines first-person shooter goodness with RPG elements. Upgradable Vigors grant Booker amazing abilities, such as frying enemies with lightning and summoning murderous crows to peck them to death. Elizabeth, on the other hand, can open Tears in reality, allowing you to reach into another dimension to grab items and interact with environmental features. Together, they are a force to be reckoned with.

It’s not all fun and games, though. Infinite also touches on significant social issues, many of which still affect our world today. So the game’s as intelligent as it is a joy to play.

BioShock Infinite is, hands down, one of the best 2k games – and a favorite here at Gamers Decide!

She needs a hug

Sending them flying

Well, those are the best 2k games for ya! Want to add anything to this list? Leave a comment below and tell us what other 2k games deserve a place in the top 10!

And when you’re done with that, check out these other articles!

See, there are several reasons why 2K Games titles are so popular. One is because they’ve got great stories, as you can see in the article 10 PC Games with the Best Storylines. Not to mention some of them have got really challenging boss fights, which you can read about in the 10 Video Game Bosses Who Slaughtered Millions of Noobs Worldwide.

In the first-person shooter department, 2K Games absolutely delivers, as we discussed in the 10 Best First-Person Shooter Games To Play in 2015.

But it’s not all about shooting things that move between the eyes for 2K Games… they’ve also got strategy games that’ll actually make you smarter, which you can check out in the 10 Strategy Games That Make You Smarter. One of those games is good it inspired a ton of similar brainy games, as the article Top 10 Games Like Civilization. If You Like Civilization, You'll Love These Games discusses.

Main Image caption:

2K goodness!

Image Gallery:

More on this topic:

Share this Article:

Top 10 Games Like Fallout, Ranked Good To Best

Rage_More — Tue, 07 Jul 2015 01:38:26 +0000

Can't get enough of post apocalyptic RPGs? Now you can experience them one more with this list of games like Fallout.

What is it about post-apocalyptic wastelands that appeals to us so much? Your guess is as good as mine, but fact is they are fun to watch and play in. Here’s a list of ten games that deliver the best Mad Max experience on the market.

10. Metro: Last Light (2013)

A nightly walk through post-apocalyptic Moscow

Developer: 4A Games

Genre: First-person shooter

A light of hope

Rejoin Artyom on his mission to rescue the last remaining Dark One, a mysterious creature that seems to hold the key to our future.

Navigate your way through the hells of a blasted Moscow, where the surface is irradiated and toxic, and the metro system below is dark and chilling. The game is highly atmospheric, and makes several sacrifices of convenience in order to keep you on your toes (for instance, instead of a map you merely have a compass). You will need to fight both soldiers and mutants, and in will need to conserve ammo in both cases because it is also used as currency.

Metro: Last Light is a brutal experience, but nothing less is to be expected from a title that attempts to immerse us into a dying world. This can be frustrating, but if you grit your teeth and push on, you will find yourself in the middle of a great game.

9. State of Decay (2015)

Explore a zombie-infested open world

Developer: Undead Labs

Genre: Stealth, survival horror, role-playing, third-person shooter, simulation

The executions are thoroughly satisfying

After returning from a fishing trip, you find the world ravaged by a zombie apocalypse. Salvaging what you can, you try to organize the survivors and live through the horror.

State of Decay is an unbelievably detailed zombie apocalypse simulator disguised as an open world video game. It will have you rescue NPCs, build and manage a base, go on supply runs, send your allies on their own missions, and everything else you can think of.

An incredible feature is the fact that the game will keep advancing whether you actually do anything or not, so the zombies will swarm and overrun areas if not taken care of, and the NPCs will do things by themselves, upgrading their skills.

8. Wasteland 2 (2014)

You are not alone

Developer: inXile Entertainment

Genre: Role-playing

Reminiscent of classic Fallout – but with a party

Lead an elite team of Desert Rangers, and investigate the mysterious death of one of your colleagues, Ace.

Being the sequel to the game that inspired the original Fallout, Wasteland 2 offers a top-down view on a turn-based battlefield. You lead and create a party of four, customizing them to your needs and desires (complete with appearance and backstory), and may be joined by up to three non-player characters.

What is amazing about Wasteland 2 is the sense of responsibility and loss the game imparts upon you. Like in the XCOM reboot, you cannot help everyone, but unlike the aforementioned game, this one directly shows you the consequences of your choice (the area you choose not to help might get exterminated to the last man, for instance). And that is what surviving the end of the world is all about.

7. STALKER: Clear Sky (2008)

An enticing mixture of FPS and survival horror

Developer: GSC Game World

Genre: First-person shooter, survival horror

The Zone is as interesting to visit as it is dangerous

After the Chernobyl disaster, the area around it (nicknamed the Zone) has started exhibiting supernatural anomalies. Scar, the man we get to play as, possesses a mysterious immunity to some deadlier anomalies, and is sent in to investigate the area and save lives.

Clear Sky is an FPS game with some elements of horror and RPGs thrown in for good measure. Ammunition and necessities are scarce and need to be conserved. Scar himself can take part in the faction wars that rage across the Zone, and trade with various affiliated and unaffiliated characters for supplies and stronger gear.

The factions themselves will fight with each other regardless of whether you help them or not, which helps immersion a lot. If you want to feel like part of a living, breathing post-doomsday world, and don’t care much for zombies, then you should at least try this title.

6. Rage (2011)

Apocalyptic enough for you?

Developer: id Software

Genre: First-person shooter, action-adventure, vehicular combat, racing

The Wasted are but one of the many rival gangs you will face

After one hundred and six years spent in stasis, you awake to find a world gone mad, civilization having been destroyed by the fall of an asteroid. After surviving an attempt on your life, you try to make ends meet in this mad new world.

Rage’s open world is explored on foot and from the insides of a vehicle. While walking around, you may enjoy a well-polished FPS game with some additional elements such as an inventory system and scavenging. When behind a wheel, however, you partake in faster exploration or racing (both armed and unarmed).

While the title does lack some mechanical depth, it doesn’t disappoint in any other way. It looks amazing, the atmosphere is on the level, and the gunplay is top notch.

5. Borderlands 2 (2012)

The charm of Borderlands cannot be denied

Developer: Gearbox Software

Genre: First-person shooter, action role-playing

The game’s cartoony graphics significantly lighten the atmosphere

After surviving a deadly trap by Handsome Jack, the Vault Hunters join a resistance movement in order to take revenge.

This title, like its prequel, is an FPS/RPG hybrid in an open world setting. Bring friends, pick your characters, and let the conquest of Pandora begin anew.

Borderlands games know what you’re after, and they won’t even try to create something like S.T.A.L.K.E.R., choosing to deliver a spectacle of cartoony insanity instead. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.

4. Bioshock Infinite (2007)

The most exciting babysitting story of the decade

Developer: 2K Games

Genre: First-person shooter

The visual design is breathtaking

While not strictly being a game set in a post-apocalyptic setting, Infinite’s Columbia can be viewed as another type of technological purgatory. It puts you in the role of war veteran Booker DeWitt, who is tasked with finding a girl called Elizabeth and breaking her out from the floating city of Columbia, where she is held captive.

The game itself plays like a first person shooter with unlockable upgrades and powers that you get by collecting certain items. There are three types of upgrades in Infinite: Vigors (granting active powers that require a resource called Salt to use), Gears (active passive upgrades) and Infusions (increasing either maximum Health, Shield, or Salt).

What truly steals the show here is Elizabeth your companion in the game. Being well-thought out and designed, as well as useful (she has an unusual ability to make tears in space), it’s no wonder that she captured the hearts of gamers everywhere.

3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)

Easily the most immersive RPG of its time

Developer: Bethesda Game Studios

Genre: Action role-playing

You will see a lot of this and it still won’t be enough

You are an unstoppable hero with the power to steal the souls of dragons and take their power along with it. Now go and do whatever you feel like.

The Elder Scrolls V sends you into an amazing world with a degree of freedom previously unheard of in other AAA games. Build your character however you like, join any organization you like and play their quest to its end, then do it again somewhere else. It might get old after a while, but we all get back to Skyrim sooner or later.

Possessing a lot of qualities we expect from Fallout, minus the setting, this title is the logical pastime to turn to while we wait for Bethesda’s next release.

2. Arcanum: Of Steamworks And Magic Obscura (2001)

It might look dated but it feels timeless

Developer: Troika Games

Genre: Role-playing

Arcanum features a unique world where high fantasy collides with the steam engine

After having your party crashed (literally) by a squad of biplane-piloting orcs, you awaken in the smoldering ruins of what was once a luxurious blimp. The only other survivor seems to be dying, and he urges you to “find the boy” before his last breath.

The first child of the late Troika games, Arcanum gave us the potential to create and advance either a magic(k)ally or technologically inclined character, right before diving into a fantasy world that had recently discovered the steam engine. Every time you level up, you gain a point that can be spent to improve a trait or buy something new, and you will never have enough of these.

The degree of freedom offered by the title is impressive even today, and the various ways you can develop the storyline and your character keep it as fresh as anything else on the market.

1. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (2016)

As is the norm for the series, options are plentiful

Developer: Eidos Montreal

Genre: Action role-playing, first-person shooter, stealth

Sometimes you just want to let it all out

The latest installment of the beloved series lets you play as Adam Jensen again, and puts you right in the middle of a ready-to-explode war between the augmented and natural human beings.

Adam’s cybernetic enhancements will see much use as we navigate the game’s version of future Prague: every situation will be solvable in many different ways, making the game replayable and exciting. Melee executions, shoot-outs, sneaking, disabling, all of these and more will be viable alternatives for overcoming any obstacle.

All things considered, Mankind Divided seems like an inevitable masterpiece. The only downside seems to be the release date. As all good things in life, this one will most certainly be worth the wait.

Main Image caption:

Humanity might be dying out, but patriotism is eternal

Image Gallery:

More on this topic:

Share this Article:

10 Best First-Person Shooter Games To Play in 2015

MichaelLogarta — Sun, 24 May 2015 19:20:52 +0000

Give that trigger finger a workout with the 10 Best First-Person Shooter Games To Play in 2015!

The PC gaming world can’t get enough of the first-person shooter.

Ever since 1992’s groundbreaking Wolfenstein 3D, we’ve been obsessed with the unparalleled level of immersion – not to mention visceral excitement – offered by the genre. One would think that, with the number of first-person shooters coming out each year, we’d already be in the throes of first-person shooter fatigue. But there’s something about shooting bad guys in the face that never gets old.

To help you pick out the best from an ocean of mediocrity, we’ve decided to make a list of the 10 Best First-Person Shooter Games To Play in 2015 – a list that’ll only include the genre’s best most recent PC titles. Counting backwards, let’s begin with game number…

10. Wolfenstein: The New Order

Not your typical Nazis

Let's be thankful the Nazis never developed their own super soldiers and robots

Like its legendary forefather, Wolfenstein: The New Order revels in the violence players are allowed to subject history’s worst villains to.

The New Order creates an alternate timeline where the Nazis won in World War II, then took over the world. As William “B.J.” Blazkowicz, your mission is to aid the Resistance in destroying the Nazis.

Though its gameplay lacks innovation, its dynamic combat – which swings between explosive gunfights and stealth assassinations – is satisfying.

It’s also the best-looking game in the franchise, with large, picturesque environments inspiring awe and dread. Stellar writing pulls you into the world, making you feel for its believable, relatable characters. Blazkowicz himself is given character development, not to mention a real personality – another first in the series.

And once you’re done with The New Order, why not try out its equally impressive expansion, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood?

The only good Nazi is a dead one

Impressive suit... too bad it's no match for B.J. Blazkowicz!

9. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Exo suits give you the boost you need to survive in the future of warfare!

Tanks sure look great in the future

Take a peek into the future of combat with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.

Set in the 2050s, Advanced Warfare involves Atlas, a technologically advanced private military organization that has become the world’s principal protector. But with that responsibility comes great power. And power changes everything.

Aside from the photorealistic Atlas CEO Jonathan Irons (played by the excellent Kevin Spacey), the greatest thing about the game is its depiction of futuristic warfare. There’s the Exo suit which augments natural abilities, which means faster sprints, higher jumps, and the ability to punch holes through doors. Firearms range from plasma rifles to grenades that lets you see concealed enemies. Then you’ve got cloaking, hoverbikes, drone swarms, tanks with legs… you get the picture!

The in-game tech provides a dramatic shift in the series, gameplay-wise. The enhanced mobility the futuristic gadgetry provides is felt even more keenly when playing with others. Combine this with excellent multiplayer maps featuring environmental hazards such as tsunamis and avalanches, and you’ve got one of the best first-person shooter games available today.

High-jumping soldiers are no joke!

What I'd give to ride one of these babies

8. PlanetSide 2

You'll need your squad to defeat the opposition

Any future that lets me wear an exo suit is a good future

An MMO first-person shooter, PlanetSide 2 is set on Auraxis, a humongous open world where thousands of players vie for control of numerous territories.

Players can choose from three factions: the authoritarian Terran Republic; the freedom fighters, the New Conglomerate; and the cult-like Vanu Sovereinty. After choosing a side, it’s off to war – either on foot, or in the cockpit of any of the land and air vehicles available.

PlanetSide 2 puts an emphasis on teamwork and player skill. Unique gameplay features include a persistent day/night cycle, which adds tactical considerations to combat, as darkness can offer concealment for coordinated offensives. Controlling territories also provides faction bonuses, while experience points allow players to unlock new skills, weapon and vehicle upgrades, and more.

Definitely a game worth checking out!

Gotta love those futuristic machine guns

All the toys you can play with!

7. Metro Redux

Can't go wrong with a Gatling gun

Fascism always rears its ugly head in these types of stories

Both based on a Russian novel, Metro 2033 and its sequel Metro Last Light come together in one exquisite package: Metro Redux.

Both games are set in a future, post-apocalyptic Moscow. Nuclear was has irradiated the surface world, mutating animals into monstrosities and forcing survivors to live in underground metro stations. As Artyom, you are one of those survivors.

Gameplay is a mix of the traditional shooter, stealth, and – as both games feature many dark, creepy areas populated by terrifying creatures – survival horror.

The survival aspect is most keenly felt aboveground; to survive the radiation, you’ll need a gas mask, which, unfortunately, doesn’t last forever. Ammunition is also hard to come by. Surface expeditions are therefore often mad dashes from one shelter to the next, in your desperate attempt to escape the ravenous beasts hunting you, and the toxic environment that’s killing you.

An excellent title to check out if you like your first-person shooter games with heavy helpings of panic and spine-tingling terror.

On the surface, the cold is the least of your worries

War is never a pretty sight

6. Crysis 3

Looking badass in that suit, friend

The Predator bow. 'Nuff said

Want to know what it’s like to be on permanent God mode? Play Crysis 3.

Crysis 3 has you returning to 2047 New York as the Prophet, a super soldier with a facility for major ass-kicking. Your Nanosuit is like the ultimate birthday gift, equipping you with cloaking capabilities, supreme armor – the works. You can now even hack electronic devices, from locked doors to turrets.

Then you’ve got the Predator bow, which can kill with one, well-placed shot. Combine this with your invisibility powers, and you’re virtually invincible.

This time, in order to stop the evil CELL corporation, the Prophet has to brave the dangers of a transformed New York. The once-thriving metropolis has become an urban rainforest split into seven sections, each with its own unique set of perils.

This well-polished sci-fi shooter is one of the best first-person shooter games to play in 2015.

Target soon to be eliminated

The ruins of a once-great metropolis (All images from EA.com)

5. Battlefield 4

Close quarters shootout

Bring the steel

One of the best multiplayer experiences returns in Battlefield 4.

Set in 2020, the story involves a war between superpowers Russia, China, and the USA, and follows Sgt. Daniel Recker as he attempts to tip the scales in favor of his country.

But multiplayer is where the game truly shines. Up to 64 players can duke it out in any of the game’s enormous, dynamic, destructible environments. Buildings and other significant structures can be destroyed during battle, altering the map and necessitating quick, intelligent adjustments in tactics. For example, a house can be collapsed to provide cover or obstruct the path of vehicles. Even the weather can affect how players approach every battle.

One player in the team takes the role of Commander, giving him the tactical view of an RTS game. This lets him issue commands to his teammates, and even order missile strikes and send reinforcements.

Several expansions, such as Naval Strike and Second Assault provide new maps and game types, extending the game’s replayability and securing its place on this list of the best most recent first-person shooter games.

Explosive

Urban mayhem

4. Far Cry 4

The wildlife doesn't take kindly to tresspassers

Chaos amidst beauty

In Far Cry 4, you are Ajay Ghale, a Kyrati-American who has come to Himalayan Kyrat to scatter the ashes of your dead mother. But you are soon ensnared in a bloody civil war between the country’s oppressive Royal Army, led by the diabolical Pagan Min, and the rebel fighters known as the Golden Path.

Kyrat is a massive, open world, and as beautiful as it is, the game’s greatest strength is how it lets you interact with it. There are cliffs to scale, fortresses to capture, and hostages to liberate. Mountains hide secrets ranging from treasure to religious sites. And aside from the dangerous animals and enemies out for your blood, there’s a serial killer on the loose.

Far Cry 4 is chockfull of variety, from its diverse, unpredictable world to its well-designed side quests, from the gear you collect to the skills you can upgrade, RPG style. It even has an awesome competitive and cooperative multiplayer. Because there’s so much to do and so much to see in Far Cry 4, it’s one of the best first-person shooter games around.

That's one way to stop a jet ski

There is nothing ordinary about this place

3. Titanfall

Wall-running is a blast!

Giant robot fight!

What’s better than a game that lets you play a super agile, free-running soldier? How about one that also lets you ride a 20-foot-tall machine of destruction?

In Titanfall, players group into two teams of six, then do battle in any of several huge maps. Players assume the role of pilots, who can also control giant, robotic exoskeletons called Titans. The three Titan types – the lumbering Ogre, nimble Stryder, and well-rounded Atlas – play differently, but are well-balanced.

Titans may be incredibly powerful, but your pilot is lithe enough to make his way up to its head and blow its brains out. Of course, there are ways to counter different tactics using various items you unlock as you gain experience points and level up. Matches always feel fresh and exciting as your abilities and strategies evolve.

Its invigorating combination of giant robot and super soldier action makes Titanfall one of the most unique first-person shooter games to play in 2015.

Man and machine

Destruction under a giant moon

2. Borderlands 2

With this many monsters to kill, the cold will never bother you

A little Siren magic

Ultra-violent and boasting about a bazillion guns, Borderlands 2 embraces the ridiculous and runs away with it.

Borderlands 2 is set on Pandora, which is ruled by the sadistic despot, Handsome Jack. As one of the six Vault Hunters – the Siren, Commando, Assassin, Gunzerker, Mechromancer, and Psycho – you must put a stop to his tyrannical rule by any means necessary.

As an RPG, each class has a host of special skills that can be upgraded as you level up. Thankfully, killing foes is made easy by the sheer amount of guns and other loot the game throws at you. Imagine Diablo as a first-person shooter that’s set in space, with thousands of guns, and a distinctively space western feel, and you’ve got the insanely addictive Borderlands 2.

The gunplay is exemplary, but so is the writing. This is one of the funniest games you’ll ever play, mostly thanks to one of the most unforgettable bad guys ever made – the narcissistic Handsome Jack.

Expansions offer new locations, more bad guys to murder, and even more guns to collect.

Meat shield

Cartoon violence

1. Bioshock Infinite

Columbia - the city above the clouds

The horrors of the sky

Here it is: one of the finest first-person shooter games of this generation: BioShock Infinite.

Buried in debt, Booker DeWitt’s ticket to freedom is Elizabeth, whom he’s charged with kidnapping from the beautiful floating city, Columbia.

The two become unlikely allies as they’re dragged into a rebellion threatening to destroy Columbia, and worse. The theory of parallel dimensions soon takes center stage in the plot, and when it does, things get really, really weird. Infinite also touches on several social issues, presenting humanity at its ugliest.

Infinite combines first-person shooter goodness with RPG elements. Upgradable Vigors grant Booker amazing abilities, such as possessing enemies, and summoning murderous crows, fire, and lightning. Gears augment Booker’s passive abilities.

As for Elizabeth, she can pick locks, scrounge around for helpful stuff, and, open Tears in reality, allowing access to items and interactive environmental features. And the best thing about her? She’s totally capable of fending for herself in any ruckus. No babysitting required!

Another exciting feature in Infinite is the Sky-Line. These are roller coaster-like rail systems that you can dangle from and speed around the environment on. Used creatively, they can provide a tactical advantage in combat.

Once you’ve seen everything Infinite has to offer, you can download its Burial at Sea expansions, which return you to Rapture. Episode 2 even has you playing as Elizabeth!

There’s much to love in Infinite, which is why it’s #1 on this list of great first-person shooter games.

Good ole George is looking a little worse for wear

Plasmids and vigors... where would we be without you?

And so we end our list of the 10 Best First-Person Shooter Games To Play in 2015. Now, we’d like to hear your thoughts! What do you think are the best first-person shooter games to play this year? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments section below!

Main Image caption:

Shoot 'em up!

Image Gallery:

More on this topic:

Share this Article:

Breaking News:

10 Video Game Bosses Who Slaughtered Millions of Noobs Worldwide

MichaelLogarta — Sun, 24 May 2015 13:28:50 +0000

Have you got what it takes to take on PC gaming’s toughest video game villains?

Ah, video game bosses. While most of them serve to challenge us at our best, there are a sordid few whose sole purpose seems to be to traumatize us for life. These are the worst of the worst – the type of video game villains so difficult they’ve reintroduced us to the infantile habit of sucking on our thumbs and crying for mommy.

Here we’ve compiled a list of the 10 Video Game Bosses Who Slaughtered Millions of Noobs Worldwide – and because this is primarily a PC gaming site, we’ve only focused on those who have appeared in PC games. Read on… at your own peril!

10. The Nihilanth, from Half-Life

Half-Life was a blessing to the first-person shooter genre, giving us intelligent enemies, scripted events, and seamless, realistic environments.

It also gave us the Nihilanth.

This giant fetus monstrosity opened the dimensional rift allowing Xen’s mutants to pour into Black Mesa. And we all know the extent of the massacre that follows.

As the game’s bid bad, there’s nothing remotely cute or cuddly about the Nihilanth. Like a petulant brat, he likes throwing clusters of energy balls at your face, and when bored, summons his underlings into the room for you to play with. He also has an off-putting habit of teleporting you into rooms crowded with alien nasties. Hey, at least you’re never lonely going up against this guy.

One of the most challenging, not to mention grotesque, video game villains on this list!

The Nihilanth wants a kiss. Pucker up!

Blooming... like a flower!

9. Fontaine, from BioShock

No one likes the sound of his own voice more than BioShock’s criminal mastermind, Frank Fontaine. Under the guise of a heroic freedom fighter, he incited the rebellion that eventually led to Rapture’s downfall.

Players face a spliced-up Fontaine at the end of the game. His veins coursing with ADAM – a substance that grants humans amazing abilities – Fontaine is now able to do things you’d normally expect from a god. Like rushing at you at blinding speeds and throwing punches that have all the force of a speeding locomotive. He also assumes three forms, each powered by a different plasmid – fire, ice, and electricity. And just when you think you’ve gained the upper hand, he’ll summon his goons and tiny hovering death machines to join in on the fun.

One of the few video game villains who’ll have you pulling out your hair in frustration!

Plasmids - one route to godhood.

Fontaine will beat you to the ground

8. Seth, from Street Fighter IV

A copycat you just want to punch in the face

What’s more exasperating than a cheap fighting game boss? How about one that copies other characters’ moves, and looks like he was designed by a lazy college student in the course of one night?

Seth is the Chief Executive Officer of Shadaloo’s weapons division, S.I.N. To complete the BLECE project – a name that strikes terror in absolutely no one – he needs to collect data about the world’s best martial artists. So he organizes an international fighting tournament for this very purpose (why he doesn’t simply hack into their Facebook accounts is a mystery).

Street Fighter IV's Seth has drastically modified his body to the point he resembles what the Silver Surfer would look like were the superhero addicted to protein shakes. Plus, Seth has this silly yin-yang basketball thing inside his stomach cavity.

As mentioned, Seth has copied several fighters’ moves, including Guile’s Sonic Boom, Zangief’s Spinning Piledriver, Ryu’s Shoryuken, and more. He does have a couple of unique attacks, such as the Tandem Stream, which sucks opponents into his stomach, before ejecting them at approximately the speed of light.

Despite his lazy design and lack of an original moveset, Seth remains one of the hardest video game villains to beat.

Giving M.Bison the cold shoulder

Talk to the hand

7. Ghost of Lady Comstock, from BioShock Infinite

Who you gonna call? (Image from BioshockWikia)

Who knew fighting a ghost could be so freakin’ hard?

Lady Comstock, as the wife of Zachary Hale Comstock, was the First Lady of Columbia. Devoted to her husband, she spread his teachings to the citizens of the floating city. She gradually lost faith in him, however, after witnessing his cruelty to those who dared question him. When she threatened to publicly disclose the truth about their daughter Elizabeth, Zachary Comstock had her killed, then framed the rebel Daisy Fitzroy for the murder.

She returns during the events of BioShock: Infinite as a Siren – a specter capable of resurrecting dead enemies. What this means is that you’ll be consistently surrounded by armies of bad guys you’ve already killed, forcing you to keep moving and shooting lest you’re overwhelmed. Requires the patience of a saint to defeat.

She lights up like a Christmas tree! (Image from GamePressure)

An altar to the departed Lady Comstock (Image from HowManyPrincesses)

6. Shao Khan, from the Mortal Kombat series

Emperor Cheap

Fighting game bosses are known to be particularly trying. But when it comes to total, unadulterated cheapness, Mortal Kombat’s Shao Khan takes the cake – icing and all.

This steroid-abusing freak murdered the previous ruler of Outworld to become its supreme ruler. As emperor, he then conquered and annexed lesser realms to his. Always scheming to add Earthrealm to his list of defeated worlds, he’s the prime antagonist in many Mortal Kombat titles.

Emperor meathead likes spamming nigh-invincible charge attacks that throw you across the screen like the lightweight that you are. He successfully blocks 99% of your attacks. Did we mention he also has a warhammer and a magical spear that he uses as a projectile? Most infuriating of all, he isn’t above petty, schoolyard taunting, never hesitating to let you know just how pathetic you really are.

If you’ve faced Shao Khan, then you already know how it feels to cry yourself to sleep – making this big bully one of the most vexing video game villains ever created.

Where does he hide a spear that big??

"No one's slick as Shao Khan, no one's quick as Shao Khan, no one's neck's as incredibly thick as Shao Khan's!"

5. Ultimecia, from Final Fantasy VIII

She should fire her make-up artist (Image from VillainsWiki)

Final Fantasy is known for its convoluted stories, and Final Fantasy VIII’s Ultimecia is one of the most perplexing video game villains ever to be contrived. Basically, she’s a time-hopping sorceress from the future who possesses a woman named Edea Kramer to bend the entirety of Galbadia to her will. Her ultimate goal? Why, to merge all eras so that she can kill everybody and become a goddess, of course!

But she’s not just absurd… she’s almost one heck of a tough boss.

Nothing is more aggravating than killing a boss, only to find out that she’s still alive. And with Ultimecia, this happens not once, but three times, as the battle consists of four different stages, each one more difficult than the last. First, she appears as her sweet, sexy self. Then, she summons the insanely powerful Griever to turn your party to dust. Then she combines with Griever, because why not. Then she transforms into something from Tetsuya Nomura’s wildest LSD trip.

She’s got area attacks that literally bring your heroes to their knees (9999 hit points down to 1 in two seconds will do that) and spells that cause all manner of status ailments. And she knows exactly how to exploit your heroes’ weaknesses. Been ignoring that crybaby Rinoa for most of your game? Tough luck – she’ll be dead in no time.

Probably needs a Snickers bar

Time travel does wonders to your complexion!

4. C’Thun, from World of Warcraft

I SEE YOUUUUU (Image from FantasyPower)

You know a video game boss is teeth-grindingly hard when the developer is forced to release a patch nerfing said boss.

An Old God residing within the Temple of Ahn’Qiraj, C’Thun awakens after millennia of sleep to marshal his army of insectoid Qiraji against Azeroth. Which means only one thing… lots and lots of dead heroes.

World of Warcraft’s C’Thun was nefarious among high level raiders as being just a few degrees away from full-on invincibility. He was able to crush even the most well-coordinated guilds to a pulp, scattering their level 70 members like so many pieces of detritus after a hurricane. He’s a little more manageable now, thanks to the nerf, but those tentacles of his still pack quite a punch. Take it from us; you’ll be seeing red before you put him down for good.

Reminds me of a Xenomorph egg - only what comes out is far, far worse (Image from WoWWiki)

His victims are a thousandfold (Image from WoWWiki)

3. Baal, from Diablo II: Lord of Destruction

From Diablo II: Lord of Destruction comes Baal, one of the Prime Evils of the Burnings Hells. After Diablo releases him from his prison, Baal and his demonic army invade the Barbarian homelands and destroy the holy shrine atop Mount Arreat. He then corrupts the Worldstone – the artifact that played a significant role in the creation of Sanctuary.

Blizzard’s dark fantasy is chockfull of unfairly difficult bosses, from Diablo’s different incarnations throughout the series to the fallen Archangel Malthael in Diablo III: Reaper of Souls. But of all the demons, monsters, and other freaks the franchise throws you, Baal is the one that’ll wear down your patience until it’s nothing but a powdery remnant of what used to be your sanity.

Baal emits a chilling wave that slows you down, knocks you back, and that’s borderline impossible to dodge. He teleports. He creates clones of himself, which retain all the original’s abilities. He drains your mana like a frat boy guzzles beer. And because he’s a demon, he’s got a kinky side, summoning tentacles that grope you in your tender spots until you’re red with shame.

One of the vilest video game villains in history.

As ugly as sin (Image from YouTube)

2. Emerald Weapon, from Final Fantasy VII

Emerald Weapon is the toughest of the five ridiculously hard optional superbosses in Final Fantasy VII. Awakened during times of great crisis, the Weapons protect the Planet against threats such as Sephiroth’s summoning of Meteor.

Because he’s been taking his breakfasts very seriously since childhood, Emerald now boasts a whopping 1,000,000 hit points. He’s immune to most status ailments. Many of his special attacks affect the entire party while simultaneously dealing thousands of hit points in damage. Those same attacks cancel out your party’s buffs. His most brutal move is the Aire Tam Storm, which multiplies the damage by the amount of Materia you have equipped. So the more Materia your characters have on them, the easier it is for him to one-hit kill them.

All your party members at level 99? To Emerald, they’re mosquitoes to be shrugged off – or swatted with utterly zero mercy.

Hold your breath... this is gonna be one tough battle!

This can't be good...

1. Ornstein and Smough, from Dark Souls

The Souls series is notorious for its murderously formidable bosses, but none are as rage quit-inducing as Dark Souls’ Ornstein and Smough.

This battle pits two bosses against you: the limber Dragon Slayer Ornstein and the lumbering Executioner Smough. Serving as protectors to Gwynevere, Anor Londo’s Princess of Sunlight, these two have the secondary duty of making your life as miserable as they possibly can.

Ornstein is fast, able to dash across the screen, impale you with his spear, and zap you with lightning attacks. Smough is slow, but his immense girth makes him harder to dodge, and his massive hammer will grind you to dust. By themselves, they’re a challenge. Together? This dynamic duo will utterly pulverize you.

But after hours of screaming at the screen, you finally manage to slay one of them. Now that it’s one-on-one, that should make the whole thing easier right? Right?

Wrong.

The survivor absorbs his fallen partner’s power, transforming into a superpowered version of himself. Think Orstein, only bigger and stronger, or Smough, with the former’s speed and lightning attacks.

We’re not kidding: Ornstein and Smough will bring out the worst in you. For that reason, they’re #1 on our list of toughest video game villains.

The toughest boss battle in gaming? (Image from DarkSouls.Wikia.Com)

And with that, we come to the end of our article on the 10 Video Game Bosses Who Slaughtered Millions of Noobs Worldwide. What about you guys? Who do you think are the hardest video game villains to beat? Leave us a comment below!

Main Image caption:

They'll eat you for breakfast.

Image Gallery:

More on this topic:

Share this Article:

10 PC Games with the Best Storylines

MichaelLogarta — Sat, 09 May 2015 14:34:57 +0000

The best video game stories ever told...

There’s an unfair stereotype that video games don’t have good stories. While this was mostly true in the early ‘80s, by the ‘90s, developers were already beefing up their efforts to tell strong, imaginative yarns that not only entertained, but also spoke to gamers on a more personal level.

Thanks to the advent of more powerful technology, the new millennium has seen developers supplementing their scriptwriting with great visuals and sound, giving rise to more well-rounded storytelling styles. This, in turn, has led to interactive experiences with some truly memorable tales – paving the way for the acceptance of the video game as a legitimate art form capable of stimulating the deepest of thoughts and emotions.

PC games started telling wonderful stories long before console games ever did. So we’ve decided to honor our favorite storytelling medium with a list of the 10 PC games with the best storylines.

So let's start with PC game #10...

10. Grim Fandango

The Grim Reaper never looked this suave

While console owners were stomping on goombas, computer game developers like LucasArts were making point-and-click adventure games for the PC, which, at the time, was the home of video game storytelling.

Released in 1998, when the craze for the adventure game genre was all but dead, Grim Fandango was a huge risk. Set in the afterlife’s Land of the Dead, players fill the shoes of Manny Calavera, a travel agent ferrying departed souls into the Ninth Underworld.

Thanks to its well-crafted, humorous story, fascinating visuals, and extraordinary characters, Grim Fandango defied all expectations, and now lives on in many a gamer’s heart as one of the best video game stories ever told.

Our rating – 5/5

9. To The Moon

Better get those tissues ready... this is going to be a real tear-jerker!

Indie games have been gaining ground, and for good reason.

In To the Moon’s poetically heartbreaking narrative, a dying old man makes a wish: to have an artificial memory of going to the moon implanted in his brain. For the procedure to be successful, scientists have to at first plunge into his real memories. In the process, they learn important and often touching lessons on love, death, and illness.

Despite its extreme brevity, the poignancy of To The Moon’s emotional impact is priceless, earning it a spot on our list of the best video game stories.

Our rating – 5/5

8. Assassin’s Creed II

Ezio Auditore da Firenze, dangerous and debonair

Considered the highlight of the series, Assassin’s Creed II wowed audiences with robust gameplay and an equally spectacular story.

The narrative follows Ezio’s transition from a carefree youth to a hardened, purposeful assassin. Set against the colorful backdrop of late fifteenth-century Italy, it blends conspiracy, mythology, and science fiction in one amazing package. The scope is made more epic by tying together fictional and real historical events with a hypothetical future threat. When we realize Ezio’s entire role is to convey a message to his modern day counterpart, we are reminded just how small man is in the grand scheme of things. A humbling message to learn from one of the best video game stories of all time.

Our rating – 5/5

7. Portal 2

Making Wall-E proud

What people expected was an intricate puzzler involving portals. What they got was one of the most recognizable villains in PC gaming, the cold-blooded artificial intelligence out for your hide in Portal 2.

Yes, Portal 2 is a stunning puzzle game, but equally delicious is the scriptwriting, often exhibited in the witty banter between unforgettable characters. It’s a story that’s rarely serious, but the charm of these characters is infectious, one that will have you smiling all the way to the end.

Our rating – 5/5

6. Silent Hill 2

“I’m starting with the man in the mirror!”

In Silent Hill 2, James Sunderland receives a letter from his wife telling him to go to the town of Silent Hill. There's only one teeny-tiny detail that complicates things:

She’s been dead a year.

But that doesn't stop James. So he enters the town hoping to find his wife. He ends up facing the truth about his sins.

James’ story unfolds through Silent Hill’s unsettling landscape, and its equally disconcerting denizens - which are twisted personifications of his most sinister secrets. A game thick with darkly beautiful metaphors, we have to applaud its courage for giving us as a main character like James - who is as much the game's protagonist as he is its villain. That alone earns it a place among the best video game stories ever.

Our rating – 5/5

5. Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic

Show-off!

BioWare owes much of its current status as one of the industry's biggest developers to the success of the Baldur's Gate series, and of course, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. KotOR not only gave the Star Wars universe an immense, satisfying back story, it also introduced a mechanic that would become one of the RPG genre’s most vital features: player choice.

Darth Malak’s machinations have embroiled the Republic in war. To defeat him, you must embark on a quest – one that entails forming alliances and making many tough decisions. These choices affect your character’s morality, which in turn has serious consequences on the ending.

Aside from the player’s direct influence on how the story ends, KotOR’s twist – which we won't spoil for you – was seen as a radical departure from the typical, safer storylines of its day.

Our rating – 5/5

4. The Walking Dead

Stay strong, Clem…

For an emotionally harrowing story of survival and sacrifice, play Telltale’s The Walking Dead.

The dead have risen to feed on the living. Running for his life, escaped prisoner Lee Everett stumbles upon the child Clementine, who has been left home alone to fend for herself. Lee promises to reunite her with her parents, who have gone to Savannah.

En route to Savannah, they pick up stragglers as desperate as they are to put as much distance between themselves and the zombie menace. Some of these realistic, well-written characters you’ll love. Others you’ll curse to your dying day. But all of them, one way or another, will end up paying for living in a world ruled by the dead.

The game’s exceptional character development is key to its success, and the gruesome events that befall them will haunt you long after the credits have rolled. For all these reasons, it deserves to be on this list of the best video game stories.

Our rating – 5/5

3. BioShock: Infinite

Columbia - beautiful, deadly

Disney princess

Buried in debt, Booker DeWitt’s ticket to freedom is Elizabeth – a vulnerable yet strong-willed young woman whom he’s charged with kidnapping. Problem is, she’s on a vast, floating city called Columbia.

DeWitt and Elizabeth become embroiled in a series of bloody events, not least of which is a rebellion threatening to destroy Columbia. But things get even weirder. Just as the science of genetics is explored in the original BioShock, BioShock: Infinite plays with the theory of parallel dimensions.

Infinite touches on several social issues, from racism to the perverted, chauvinistic patriotism behind every evil in the otherwise picturesque Columbia. For its social awareness, clever science fiction, and Elizabeth – who is the most likeable non-Disney Disney princess ever created – we give it spot number three on our list of the best video game stories.

Our rating – 5/5

2. Mass Effect

Not a hampy camper

She's got the look

So you’ve got an army of sentient automatons bent on conquering all other intelligent species in the galaxy… what else could go wrong, right?

The insanely popular Mass Effect pits you as Commander Shepard against Saren, the guy who wants to sic the Geth on everybody. Only problem, there’s something much worse out there called the Reapers.

The Reapers basically want to destroy all life in the galaxy. In fact, they’ve been doing this celestial cleaning house every 50,000 years for eons. How’s that for an apocalyptic scenario?

Mass Effect rocks because it’s quality science fiction where the stakes take on cosmic proportions. It also has an eclectic roster of wonderful characters, each with their own personal tale you can delve into. Lastly, there are lots of difficult moral choices to make, so it’s as mentally and emotionally engaging as it is thrilling to play.

Our rating – 5/5

1. BioShock

Big Daddy and Little Sister

Someone really hates their dentist

The first-person shooter has evolved. BioShock demonstrates that the genre can weave a disturbing web of sociopolitical intrigue while simultaneously giving us countless bad guys to pulverize.

After surviving a plane wreck at sea, Jack finds himself descending into the underwater city of Rapture. Built by the wealthy visionary Andrew Ryan, Rapture has deteriorated into a dystopian madhouse, where the ideals of freedom and industry have been subverted by hedonism, greed, and utter depravity. A lesson in the pitfalls of extreme capitalism and objectivism, the story of Rapture’s downfall remains a favorite among critics and fans alike, with Andrew Ryan being hailed as one of gaming’s most complex fictional politicians and villains.

But it’s not all politics and philosophy. Rapture is a veritable house of horrors, and roaming its blood-spattered corridors is one of the most suspenseful experiences in the first-person shooter genre. Rapture’s history, from its promising beginnings to its dismal end, are chronicled in audio-logs created by the city’s inhabitants. Listening to these shorter, personal stories is chilling, adding generous helpings of the macabre to an atmosphere already thick with dread. Truly, BioShock deserves top spot on our list of best video game stories.

Our rating – 5/5

So, did your favorites make it to this list? What do you think are the best PC games stories ever told, and why?

Main Image caption:

Gather 'round for some great tales!

Image Gallery:

More on this topic:

Share this Article:

GAMERS DECIDE - bioshock infinite

BioShock Infinite Review 2016: Is it worth playing?

“The mind of the subject will desperately struggle to create memories where none exist…”

Barriers to the Trans-Dimensional Travel,

-R. Lutece, 1889

Gameplay

The Story

Story Review

Cinematics

Combat

Quests

Characters

Graphics, Sounds, and Soundtrack

Price

Final Verdict

“There is always a man, always a lighthouse, always a city.”

-Elizabeth

BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea - Episode Two

10 Video Game Characters I’d Like to Be Friends With

Real life is hard. But games can help!

1. Sora (Kingdom Hearts series)

2. Yuna (Final Fantasy X/X-2)

3. Navi (The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time)

4. Sonic (Sonic the Hedgehog series)

5. Carmen Sandiego (Carmen Sandiego series)

6. Pyramid Head/Red Pyramid Thing (Silent Hill series)

7. Elizabeth (Bioshock Infinite)

8. Princess Zelda (The Legend of Zelda series)

9. Unnamed Prince/Dastan (Prince of Persia series)

10. Luigi (Super Mario Bros. franchise)

Honorable Mention: Juliet Starling

And now for the part with audience participation...

Other articles of interest:

10 BioShock Infinite Cosplays You'll Love

10.) The classic Booker and Elizabeth

9.) The Lutece Twins

8.) This genderbent Booker

7.) A motorized patriot

6.) The best dad ever

5.) The breathtaking Elizabeth

4.) This creatively done Elizabeth

3.) Booker DeWitt

2.) The perfect Elizabeth makeup

1.) Booker and Elizabeth one more time, because they're perfect

BioShock Infinite: 5 Reasons You Should Be Playing It

5.) The Storyline

4.) The epic battles

3.) The setting

2.) The depth of the society

1.) Elizabeth

2K Games: A List of the 10 Best 2K Games To Play in 2015 and 2016

2K Games has published some of the best games we know; here are ten of them!

10. Battleborn

9. Evolve

8. The Darkness II

7. Sid Meier's Civilization: Beyond Earth – Rising Tide

6. NBA 2K16

5. BioShock 2

4. Borderlands 2

3. XCOM 2

2. Sid Meier’s Civilization V

1. BioShock Infinite

Top 10 Games Like Fallout, Ranked Good To Best

Can't get enough of post apocalyptic RPGs? Now you can experience them one more with this list of games like Fallout.

10. Metro: Last Light (2013)

9. State of Decay (2015)

8. Wasteland 2 (2014)

7. STALKER: Clear Sky (2008)

6. Rage (2011)

5. Borderlands 2 (2012)

4. Bioshock Infinite (2007)

3. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (2011)

2. Arcanum: Of Steamworks And Magic Obscura (2001)

1. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (2016)

10 Best First-Person Shooter Games To Play in 2015

Give that trigger finger a workout with the 10 Best First-Person Shooter Games To Play in 2015!

10. Wolfenstein: The New Order

9. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

8. PlanetSide 2

7. Metro Redux