Bioshock 2 has always held a special place in my heart: I was about 14 when it came out (Bit of backstory me and my dad never really understood each other it wasn’t that he was neglectful or anything we just sort of drifted apart as we grew)but me and my dad were HUGE fans of the first game, we would take turns over Sessions and we bonded over it more than we ever had before, I think the themes of fatherhood and how the people that we love influence us definitely helped with that. So I’m a really dumb way, Bioshock 2 saved my relationship with my dad
I prefer 2 over 1. I just like the gameplay and being a Big Daddy. I like how you can carry the little sisters around and harvest Adam. The first one is a masterpiece but I always find myself wanting to play the second one again and again.
Gameplay trumps all, this means Bioshock 2 is the superior game in my opinion. Not quite up there with the System Shocks, but if you're gonna do a console immersive-sim Bioshock 2 comes closer than most. The recently released System Shock 1 remake is very close to how I envision a "console" immersive-sim to be and I loved it, even as a PC player
I love how Bioshock 2 was ahead of the curve completely on the upcoming “AAA dad simulator” wave of games that would come into the market in the 2010’s. Not just by beating them to the punch, but by parodying and critiquing the gimmic by perverting the parental love into an obsession, for both Eleanor and Delta
I agree. Bioshock 2 is a fun game and it showed despite Andrew Ryan's death, Rapture continues and it's slowly decaying and we get to play as a Big Daddy.
Bioshock 2 was the first game i played in the series and after playing all of the games + DLC, i can easily say that Bioshock 2 is the better game. Not only just for the combat improvements but also the story it tells. It tells a very intimate story of a father putting everything on the line, including his own life, to save his daughter from a tyrannical mother. This is only reinforced by a headcanon (which is both corroborated and denied by unused audio logs) that Delta is Eleanor's biological father. Delta also feels incredibly human. He moves as human as a big daddy can move, in cutscenes he acts like a human, in gameplay he fights and reacts like a human would without losing that powerful feeling of being a big daddy. I'm biased, i know, but i really do love Bioshock 2 far more than Bioshock 1. Its just an overall better experience for me
I agree with all those points, it is a great story. I still do prefer Bioshock 1’s story but 2 is fantastic as well. Now that I think about it, I’m actually having trouble thinking of other father/daughter video game stories - I can come up with Bioshock Infinite and Dishonored off hand but you could also kind of use The Last of Us and Telltale’s The Walking Dead. I’m sure there are others but it’s a story not often explored in games.
honestly even at the time on release I was so HYPED when bioshock 2 was announced when i played it i loved it through and through. I was so excited to revisit rapture and to just play more in that world. I was intrigued at the introduction of the big sister and the new factions. I thought it was peak gaming at the time. But watching this video ( which was great btw!) I see not everyone felt the same way which is a hugeeeee (bio) shock to me.
Great video! Definitely deserves more views, it's super well put together! One interesting point to make: you mentioned numerous times that you wished there were sections involving underwater combat. Concept art actually showed prototype ideas for an underwater splicer that had its own mechanics and looked shockingly different from the more humanoid-type splicers we are used to. Cool to see that the developers thought very similarly at one point!
This is news to me, thanks for sharing! Those are really cool (and creepy) designs but probably would have looked a bit out of place among the rest of the splicer designs. Would have been a really great inclusion I think but I guess they just couldn't get them in a place they were happy with.
I think a lot of the criticism comes from the change in developers. In people’s heads that equates to a lesser title - while that is often the case, it isn’t for Bio2. People go in expecting an inferior sequel and don’t give it a fair shake because of that.
One thing I found cool about the ending though is it allows for a middle option between the good and bad endings. Within it you can choose wether or not you want Delta to be saved.
This game was defoes under the radar when it came out... like I only ever played the first Bioshock, and am kinda annoyed I never got round to the sequel...
Another commenter had pointed that out to me too and, yeah, you’re right I did forget. I don’t think it changes my stance on the ending that much though so my thoughts still stand, just an unfortunate omission on my part
I did, and I'm glad you expressed your opinion on the endings more thoroughly than others, who have dismissed the endings as negligible. To me the endings are one of the biggest improvements made in Bioshock 2, with your choices in the game ultimately shaping who Eleanor becomes in the end. The neutral ending is especially poignant, as it's the only ending where Delta chooses to die than let her absorb him, thus allowing her the one thing she has been denied her whole life; her freedom.
BioShock 2 is what got me into this franchise and it's my favorite by far but I don't think I'm a very trusty source since I personally prefer these smaller scale stories. I completely fell in love with the idea of a deep sea diving dad looking for his daughter in a creepy world. Not to mention that it fascinates me that Delta is nothing like other big daddies... he's a man, he thinks and acts like one. That makes it all a lot more interesting, lovable and tragic to me. I remember trying to play this on my laptop when I was like 12yo but being too scared of big sisters xD I agree with most of your analysis and I'm so happy you went through this without looking down on the game like I usually see. Also thanks for putting the weirdness I felt with Eleanor's fight sequence into words. It really was a nice idea but the execution was, unlike Rapture, shallow (I'm sorry for this lol) Man, I just remembered that I used to have Subject Delta listed as my father on Facebook when I was a kid.... holy crap 😂 But anyways, BioShock 2 may be the weird one on the family, but it's still awesome, and it will always have a special place in my heart.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the game! I’ve really enjoyed hearing everyone’s memories from an older game like Bio2 in the comments - lots of nostalgia!
4:28 Ryan had those comprises too. Its why its a critique on them both and why at the end Elanor says mother would only be happy if everyone in the world was equally miserable
Bioshock 1 and 2 is like Terminator 1 and 2, you could argure the first is more original and maybe you prefer the story, but the second has better action and feels more polished and tighter. I think Bioshock 2 gets underrated because Ken Levine was not involved but seeing how Infinate turned out maybe that's a good thing, he seemed to go a bit "m. Night shamylan"
Bioshock infinite is widely hated over 2, from what I've seen and I've seen a lot, the tide changed because people aren't stupid, it was bound to happen eventually because as time passes people become more receptive to the flaws these games have, so maybe back in the day infinite was more appreciated but now the majority vastly prefers the first 2 over infinite, the only time I find people nowadays saying infinite is their favorite either haven't played the other 2 or played inf first.
I'd beg to differ on the question of it's uniqueness. Obviously it follows many common design tropes, but I can't think of any other games so effective at immersing you in the setting. And I hope you'll agree that Rapture is an undeniably unique setting. If you have examples of similar games, please share them! I would love to find some other titles that scratch that Bioshock itch.
I never understood at the time bioshock 2 came out why it was hated. When i played it i thought the gameplay was far better then the first and sure like you said the story is on a smaller scale but it still pretty good. Now looking at it, i understood that yeah this came out to cashgrab on bioshocks success but with what they had to work with here its still a good game
Just to be clear, I absolutely don't think of Bio2 as a cashgrab. I was just saying that at the time it looked like one which is probably why it was ignored in it's day. The game was unfairly maligned and deserves far more recognition than it got.
I wholeheartedly agree with most of your points. In the long run I believe BioShock 2 to be better than the first one, especially because of the key changes made to the gameplay that make the experience more organic and smoother.
Bioshock 2 is the best game in terms of gameplay (combat), better than Infinte and 1 both, yes in terms of story and atmosphere both infinte and 1 felt more exciting as you explore a new city for the first time and the story is a bit more tidily knit
This is kind of a dejavu but i thought someone has said something like this, im just paraphasing: Lamb does not contradict herself, if you think outside of Rapture. In fact, persume she was willing to scarify the whole Rapture to make the world utopia. Compare to the World, rapture people are truely the few, and expendable.
The is a bit more variety and nuance to the endings of Bio2 compared to 1 but I still don’t consider the multiple endings to be essential to the series. I’d rather one really great ending which I think 1 and 2 both fail at.
I share your feelings regarding Bioshock 2. I also think it is ultimately the better game. Of course this is a matter of perspectives. To me the main character of the game was always Rapture itself. The whole plot twist/meta commentary thing in the first game didn't have this big impact on me and I just connected way more with the idea of being a Big Daddy coming to save my daughter. All the great things Bioshock 2 did wouldn't have been possible without the great ground work done with Bioshock 1, so I'm not dismissing any of it. But overall the reality is: When it comes to Bioshock, once every other year I just replay the 2nd one. It's the perfect one to me.
Bioshock 2 was my favorite game in the series. I actually enjoyed playing the multiplayer. The one thing that I was disappointed in was the fact that I didn't get the chance in the good or bad ending to kill Sophia lamb. Also you failed to mention that Sinclair was the one that picked you to forego the testing of becoming a big daddy.
The multiplayer isn’t bad but it’s not a selling point or anything for me. It’s got a surprising amount of content though - I remember there were a ton of maps.
@@AustinAshworth True. It wasn't a selling point for me either. Just an added bonus. Winter blast was my favorite plasmid with crossbow/spear gun favorite weapon. Though nothing beats the drill. I like the updated plasmids. Biggest example is Winter Blast lv.2. Charge up to freeze enemy in block of ice. Shatter it to get loot box. Best tonic was by far fountain of youth
I love all three to death but, at least right now, 2 is my favorite. It’s definitely possible that my options shift in time though, I think I’ve had each game as my favorite at some point haha
dude, there's more than just 2 endings, I think there's 4, If you save the sisters, but kill grace, stanley, and alexander, you're presented with a choice, you can let her absorb your adam like the evil ending, but you can also sacrifice yourself, which is the only ending where she doesn't absorb your adam, doing this means that she is alone, but all her choices from that point will be her own.
I knew there was a middle ground where you make the choice, but I didn’t know it was substantially different from the other ones. I appreciate the correction, thanks for sharing
Bioshock 2 is better than either 1 or Infinite. Glad I'm not the only one who agrees. Both story and gameplay were just amazing there. B1 feels more like the exercise of worldbuilding, and it is great, don't get me wrong, but the main character and the actual events happening in the game itself's timespan are very much eh, except The Twist. B2 on the contrary presents a very human story which gripped me instantly. And the gameplay, my god... First, playing as THE Big Daddy vs some rando feels way cooler (I mean, the drill, the heavy steps, the underwater walks, come on), but the cherry on top is dual-wielding. B1 feels so cumbersome now without it, I can't even replay it, it bothers me that much.
I do think dual wielding actually works to Bioshocks disadvantage. Even the strongest enemies are complete pushovers if you can just stunlock them with spamming electrobolt and simultaneously shout them with rivets, that deal way too much damage. Bioshock works best as long as you feel you are in some kind of danger, Bioshock 2 was a cakewalk even on hard. You can 1shot all Splicers with a Rivet Headshot, giving you no need to ever take the Tonika for having more crit dmg. Hypnotize Big Daddy and Turrets make defending little Sisters way too easy too. I felt the same way in some points in Bioshock 1 even on survivor difficulty, the games throw way too much ressources at you and often times take the incentive for getting creative away. This problem however is far stronger in Bioshock 2 than in one, because you cant just Ionic Gel Big Daddies in Bioshock 1 on survivor difficulty. Bioshock 2's world building is significantly worse than 1's though, nothing will ever be as good as Sander Cohen or enemy introduction or Holotapes in general as they were in Bioshock 1. I'd love for both games to have a real hard difficulty making every encounter way scarier and making resources actually scarce, in both games you will almost always be full on ammunition and have a full wallet without trying too hard
If half the game wasn't protecting a little sister from waves of enemies like some kinda Bioshock themed shooting gallery, it might've been alot better.
The game doesn't force you to play out the protector segments but yeah you are HEAVILY incentivized to so it can feel mandatory sometimes. I personally love them but I guess the could get tiring if you don't.
you can literally skip the defence part you know? the result is that you will get way less adam. after you kill the big daddy just bring the sister to the vent right away, and you can rescue/havest. the game does not force you to extract adam.
To say Bioshock has gotten overlooked is untrue given all that’s happened since it came out I love Bioshock 2, it’s a great game with great characters and story on top of fun gameplay. It’s nice that it has gotten more love Also lamb being a hypocrite in parts isn’t a flaw in the game but just shows more of her character, Ryan was also a hypocrite Bioshock 2’s story isn’t less memorable imo Bioshock 2’s story does just as hard as 1’s and is equally as memorable and good The big sisters aren’t “fan fiction” they mesh well in the world and make perfect sense. It makes sense that not all little sisters got rescued and it shows the evolution of the world and feeds into the story Can’t say I thought 1’s levels had a dip in quality myself Ryan doesn’t overshadow lamb and she is an interesting character Sinclair isn’t a copy cat as he stands on his own The summon Eleanor plasmid doesn’t cheapen her character or reduce her to a gameplay mechanic, perhaps it could have been done better but it’s not bad as is imo and it definitely doesn’t take away from the climax
Am I the only one who dumped many hours Into the awesome multiplayer? Even the multiplayer was an absolute blast. Really sad that it's gone. The main game is still a masterpiece regardless, but I miss the multiplayer days on Xbox 360
You can still find some matches on PC if you are patient! It was one of the better tacked on multiplayer modes from that era but I can’t say I personally got invested in it. I did appreciate the seeing more of Rapture in the creative multiplayer levels though.
@@AustinAshworth Really? I figured the servers were down. I've got it on PC though I typically play on switch so that explains why I had no idea the multiplayer was still possible to play. Thanks for letting me in the know!
@@markmaidens5911 sure thing! The remastered version doesn’t have the multiplayer fyi, only the original release. I don’t have a link but I used a Bio2 multiplayer discord server to find games to get the multiplayer achievements not long ago so it’s definitely still possible!
@@AustinAshworth Oh yeah I imagine Discord would be pretty helpful for getting messages. And thankfully everybody on PC still has the originals as long as you got the game before the remaster.
I wanted to say this bioshock 2 is a great game with a pretty good story but not as good story as the first but like is still a pretty sound game also delta is a pretty sick character
That’s funny, I’ve never thought of the Sinclair fight that way even though he is the last boss in the game. I don’t think that’s the intent because he goes down really easily and it doesn’t really fit the story, but I guess technically you are right haha
Ever since I first played it (the day it released) I've always had mixed feelings. Maybe you were too tough on BioShock's 3rd act, but overall this review felt fair. However for every step forward in BioShock 2 came two steps back. The story has some great emotional high points, but not only is it less memorable, the pacing is bad. Most of the game is spent doing 1 thing, riding the train to Eleanor. Like Infinite, it's mostly needless stalling. The gameplay is more refined and polished in many aspects, but even on Hard it is way too easy. Most splicers go down to one or two hits even by the end. More natural moral choices and more use for the Little Sisters are great ideas. However the gathering gets super repetitive. Doing the math, you will have to do this hoard mode 24 times for max Adam. It hurts every time I replay this. And yeah while the Big Sisters are a fun, unique challenge I agree with your fanfiction statement. Also I feel like their dread is greatly reduced since they're 100% scripted. You know every single time you're gonna fight one after a single playthrough. This ruins the tension. I'm not surprised there are so many BioShock 2 fans because it makes many improvements and additions. But for me, it takes just as many steps backwards.
Thanks for a well thought out counter opinion! I personally never got sick of the gathering segments but I can see that being an issue for others. I believe it's important to have the Big Sister encounters be scripted, just like how Big Daddies don't fight until you engage them. Bioshock's combat is at it's best when you have time to prepare a plan, set up traps, and pick your battlefield. That being said, you definitely make some good points! Thanks!
Sorry, I’ve never gotten into the Fallout series. Which would you recommend someone start out with though? As for future videos, I’m maintaining a focus on Zelda and Bioshock, but I might throw a couple surprises in there as well.
@@AustinAshworth well the fallout games don't really have a connected story between them... The one I'd recommend tho is definitely Fallout: New vegas. It's really ugly for 2021 but was made by obsidian in 18 months and has an amazing world, characters, and story. Good luck on the youtube grind btw.
It's kind of funny, that to me I completely disagree with your assessment on the gameplay. I just finished both 1 and 2 for the first time recently, and to me 1 is the better title. The guns feel more fun to use, honestly to me the rivet is such a boring gun compared to the pistol of 1. The enemies are more fair and balanced, while for me 2 felt extremely frustrating, and you and I played very similarly. it could be I'm more annoyed because BioShock 2 crashed on me multiple times that it could have muddled how I felt about it. I like duel wielding plasmids though, however I also liked how it was separate in 1, so to me it's nice that we get to have both. I loved both stories though, how 1 is more grand while 2 is reserved and small. Great video, I enjoyed hearing someone with a more positive outlook on it, that encourages me to give the gameplay another try some day. I'm gonna start infinite here soon, and I can't wait to see where this franchise that I completely slept on for so many years goes from here
Agree to disagree! I actually find it hard to go back to the first game, the combat feels so much smoother to me in 2 (especially plasmid usage). I will give you that the pistol feels much better to use than the rivet gun. That's awesome that you are catching up on the games a decade later, I hope you enjoy Infinite! It's very different from 1 and 2 (for better and for worse).
I have skipped bioshock 2 for too long I ll play it and come back to tell you how wrong you are (tbh I don't even know what this video is saying) and that people from arcane studios helped making bioshock 2 and that's why it's the best/worst (based around what you think)
You definitely should play Bio2! Let me know what you think. I've only recently come around to love it as much as I do, but the gameplay enhancements really make a huge difference. That's fascinating that Arkane helped out, I know they did a similar thing with Wolfenstein Youngblood not long ago. Have you played their game Prey? It's one of my recent favorites: an excellent immersive sim that fits right in with the likes of Bioshock.
@@AustinAshworthI have played prey If I had to describe it with one word would be Bioshock 4 or Psychoshock . Loving Bioshock we still have to admit that they lack a lot of immersive sim characteristics Prey to me is Top of the top on that department
Oh yeah I agree that Bioshock is a very light immersive sim but it still fits in that category. Prey is the real deal. I’m still struggling through Mooncrash but loving it regardless.
In fairness, I respectfully disagree with your take on the Big Sisters. I thought they were a great inclusion, if only for the purpose of giving a believable possibility of what happens to the Little Sisters over time. Tenenbaum says in the first game that despite their conditioning, that they're "still children". It is not implied anywhere that the Sisters permanently stay young girls while under this conditioning. While Jack did save all the Sisters he encountered (as was shown to be the canon ending in Burial at Sea), he couldn't have saved every one in existence, and certainly one would have to wonder what would happen to those Sisters over time. Or at the very least, it gives an interesting take on something that fans may not have considered before. 🤔
Even if it's fascinating to explore the lifecycle of Little Sisters deeper, I don't know if there was anyway to accomplish this without it coming off as a ham-fisted addition to the worldbuilding. I understand maybe there hadn't been enough time for any Little Sisters to grow into Big Sisters at the point where Bioshock 1 takes place, but without any hints or setup at all in the original game it's hard for me to get fully on board with their inclusion. I appreciate hearing a different perspective though and you did make me think a bit deeper on why they don't feel like they belong to me. Thanks for sharing!
Bioshock 2 has always held a special place in my heart: I was about 14 when it came out (Bit of backstory me and my dad never really understood each other it wasn’t that he was neglectful or anything we just sort of drifted apart as we grew)but me and my dad were HUGE fans of the first game, we would take turns over Sessions and we bonded over it more than we ever had before, I think the themes of fatherhood and how the people that we love influence us definitely helped with that. So I’m a really dumb way, Bioshock 2 saved my relationship with my dad
That’s an incredible story, thank you for sharing. I’m sure your dad remembers those sessions fondly as well.
the combat in bioshock 2 is very fluid and has remained relevant to this day. the improvements aren't much, but they make the game much better.
100% agree! Small changes add up to a big improvement
I prefer 2 over 1. I just like the gameplay and being a Big Daddy. I like how you can carry the little sisters around and harvest Adam. The first one is a masterpiece but I always find myself wanting to play the second one again and again.
💯
Gameplay trumps all, this means Bioshock 2 is the superior game in my opinion. Not quite up there with the System Shocks, but if you're gonna do a console immersive-sim Bioshock 2 comes closer than most. The recently released System Shock 1 remake is very close to how I envision a "console" immersive-sim to be and I loved it, even as a PC player
I love how Bioshock 2 was ahead of the curve completely on the upcoming “AAA dad simulator” wave of games that would come into the market in the 2010’s. Not just by beating them to the punch, but by parodying and critiquing the gimmic by perverting the parental love into an obsession, for both Eleanor and Delta
That’s totally true haha!
I agree. Bioshock 2 is a fun game and it showed despite Andrew Ryan's death, Rapture continues and it's slowly decaying and we get to play as a Big Daddy.
Bioshock 2 was the first game i played in the series and after playing all of the games + DLC, i can easily say that Bioshock 2 is the better game. Not only just for the combat improvements but also the story it tells. It tells a very intimate story of a father putting everything on the line, including his own life, to save his daughter from a tyrannical mother. This is only reinforced by a headcanon (which is both corroborated and denied by unused audio logs) that Delta is Eleanor's biological father. Delta also feels incredibly human. He moves as human as a big daddy can move, in cutscenes he acts like a human, in gameplay he fights and reacts like a human would without losing that powerful feeling of being a big daddy. I'm biased, i know, but i really do love Bioshock 2 far more than Bioshock 1. Its just an overall better experience for me
I agree with all those points, it is a great story. I still do prefer Bioshock 1’s story but 2 is fantastic as well. Now that I think about it, I’m actually having trouble thinking of other father/daughter video game stories - I can come up with Bioshock Infinite and Dishonored off hand but you could also kind of use The Last of Us and Telltale’s The Walking Dead. I’m sure there are others but it’s a story not often explored in games.
honestly even at the time on release I was so HYPED when bioshock 2 was announced when i played it i loved it through and through. I was so excited to revisit rapture and to just play more in that world. I was intrigued at the introduction of the big sister and the new factions. I thought it was peak gaming at the time. But watching this video ( which was great btw!) I see not everyone felt the same way which is a hugeeeee (bio) shock to me.
Bioshock 2 is definitely better than infinite. I’m not sure I’d put it over the first one even the the combat is better in 2.
It’s a tough choice! I’m so glad we have both Bio 1 and 2. Thanks for watching!
Not gonna lie, the part where you said Big Sisters were fan-fiction material made me laugh pretty hard
Great video! Definitely deserves more views, it's super well put together! One interesting point to make: you mentioned numerous times that you wished there were sections involving underwater combat. Concept art actually showed prototype ideas for an underwater splicer that had its own mechanics and looked shockingly different from the more humanoid-type splicers we are used to. Cool to see that the developers thought very similarly at one point!
This is news to me, thanks for sharing! Those are really cool (and creepy) designs but probably would have looked a bit out of place among the rest of the splicer designs. Would have been a really great inclusion I think but I guess they just couldn't get them in a place they were happy with.
Minerva's den is the best Bioshock game yet
From one Bioshock fan to another.. I respect your opinion. Solid video, my guy 👌🏻
I adore bioshock 2. never understood the harshness behind some peoples criticisms. love the video.
I think a lot of the criticism comes from the change in developers. In people’s heads that equates to a lesser title - while that is often the case, it isn’t for Bio2. People go in expecting an inferior sequel and don’t give it a fair shake because of that.
One thing I found cool about the ending though is it allows for a middle option between the good and bad endings. Within it you can choose wether or not you want Delta to be saved.
This game was defoes under the radar when it came out... like I only ever played the first Bioshock, and am kinda annoyed I never got round to the sequel...
No time like the present! It holds up wonderfully and it’s not to late to play it today!
It's still a great game. They both are. I still have both installed on my series x for whenever I get the bioshock craving... which is pretty often ;)
Aw no, you forgot about the neutral ending, where Delta chooses to die rather than be absorbed!
Another commenter had pointed that out to me too and, yeah, you’re right I did forget. I don’t think it changes my stance on the ending that much though so my thoughts still stand, just an unfortunate omission on my part
I do enjoy hearing people point that mistake out though because it means they made it to the end of the video haha. Hope you enjoyed!
I did, and I'm glad you expressed your opinion on the endings more thoroughly than others, who have dismissed the endings as negligible. To me the endings are one of the biggest improvements made in Bioshock 2, with your choices in the game ultimately shaping who Eleanor becomes in the end. The neutral ending is especially poignant, as it's the only ending where Delta chooses to die than let her absorb him, thus allowing her the one thing she has been denied her whole life; her freedom.
Drill Dash is literally the best ability in the entire franchise don't @ me
That or Bucking Bronco for me lol
BioShock 2 is what got me into this franchise and it's my favorite by far but I don't think I'm a very trusty source since I personally prefer these smaller scale stories. I completely fell in love with the idea of a deep sea diving dad looking for his daughter in a creepy world. Not to mention that it fascinates me that Delta is nothing like other big daddies... he's a man, he thinks and acts like one. That makes it all a lot more interesting, lovable and tragic to me.
I remember trying to play this on my laptop when I was like 12yo but being too scared of big sisters xD
I agree with most of your analysis and I'm so happy you went through this without looking down on the game like I usually see. Also thanks for putting the weirdness I felt with Eleanor's fight sequence into words. It really was a nice idea but the execution was, unlike Rapture, shallow (I'm sorry for this lol)
Man, I just remembered that I used to have Subject Delta listed as my father on Facebook when I was a kid.... holy crap 😂
But anyways, BioShock 2 may be the weird one on the family, but it's still awesome, and it will always have a special place in my heart.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the game! I’ve really enjoyed hearing everyone’s memories from an older game like Bio2 in the comments - lots of nostalgia!
4:28 Ryan had those comprises too.
Its why its a critique on them both and why at the end Elanor says mother would only be happy if everyone in the world was equally miserable
Very much enjoyed this video. Earned a new sub!
Thanks so much! Happy to have you on board!
Bioshock 1 and 2 is like Terminator 1 and 2, you could argure the first is more original and maybe you prefer the story, but the second has better action and feels more polished and tighter. I think Bioshock 2 gets underrated because Ken Levine was not involved but seeing how Infinate turned out maybe that's a good thing, he seemed to go a bit "m. Night shamylan"
That’s a great comparison. I might be one of the few who actually prefers Terminator 1 though haha. I like the more restrained simplicity of it
Bioshock infinite is widely hated over 2, from what I've seen and I've seen a lot, the tide changed because people aren't stupid, it was bound to happen eventually because as time passes people become more receptive to the flaws these games have, so maybe back in the day infinite was more appreciated but now the majority vastly prefers the first 2 over infinite, the only time I find people nowadays saying infinite is their favorite either haven't played the other 2 or played inf first.
It wouldn't exactly say Bioshock is unique but it's definitely good.
I'd beg to differ on the question of it's uniqueness. Obviously it follows many common design tropes, but I can't think of any other games so effective at immersing you in the setting. And I hope you'll agree that Rapture is an undeniably unique setting. If you have examples of similar games, please share them! I would love to find some other titles that scratch that Bioshock itch.
@@AustinAshworth It's essentially System Shock underwater with a retrofuturistic 1950's coating.
Well when you name your characters Andrew Ryan and Atlas you are bound to get some eye rolls.
Stellar content friend, had to sub.
Thanks! Happy to have you on board!
I never understood at the time bioshock 2 came out why it was hated. When i played it i thought the gameplay was far better then the first and sure like you said the story is on a smaller scale but it still pretty good. Now looking at it, i understood that yeah this came out to cashgrab on bioshocks success but with what they had to work with here its still a good game
Just to be clear, I absolutely don't think of Bio2 as a cashgrab. I was just saying that at the time it looked like one which is probably why it was ignored in it's day. The game was unfairly maligned and deserves far more recognition than it got.
@@AustinAshworth well i knew you didnt think that cause of this video, i should have worded that better but i do agree with you
No worries! Yeah I figured I was misunderstanding you but wanted to make sure we were on the same page anyway.
I think half of it was just people being pedantic that Ken Levine wasn't involved
I wholeheartedly agree with most of your points. In the long run I believe BioShock 2 to be better than the first one, especially because of the key changes made to the gameplay that make the experience more organic and smoother.
Bioshock 2 is the best game in terms of gameplay (combat), better than Infinte and 1 both, yes in terms of story and atmosphere both infinte and 1 felt more exciting as you explore a new city for the first time and the story is a bit more tidily knit
I’d agree with you on all of that. The gameplay of Bio2 is definitely the peak of the series, but it suffers from being back in Rapture
💯💯💯💯
This is kind of a dejavu but i thought someone has said something like this, im just paraphasing:
Lamb does not contradict herself, if you think outside of Rapture. In fact, persume she was willing to scarify the whole Rapture to make the world utopia. Compare to the World, rapture people are truely the few, and expendable.
The multiplayer for bioshock 2 was awesome,l and severely underrated, change my mind.
I like how there are neutral endings but they are so hard to get ngl
The is a bit more variety and nuance to the endings of Bio2 compared to 1 but I still don’t consider the multiple endings to be essential to the series. I’d rather one really great ending which I think 1 and 2 both fail at.
Great review! 💪🏽
Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Nice vid dude keep it up
Thanks! Took an unplanned hiatus due to life stuff but hope to get a new video out soonish
I share your feelings regarding Bioshock 2. I also think it is ultimately the better game. Of course this is a matter of perspectives. To me the main character of the game was always Rapture itself. The whole plot twist/meta commentary thing in the first game didn't have this big impact on me and I just connected way more with the idea of being a Big Daddy coming to save my daughter.
All the great things Bioshock 2 did wouldn't have been possible without the great ground work done with Bioshock 1, so I'm not dismissing any of it. But overall the reality is: When it comes to Bioshock, once every other year I just replay the 2nd one. It's the perfect one to me.
Bioshock 2 was my favorite game in the series. I actually enjoyed playing the multiplayer. The one thing that I was disappointed in was the fact that I didn't get the chance in the good or bad ending to kill Sophia lamb. Also you failed to mention that Sinclair was the one that picked you to forego the testing of becoming a big daddy.
The multiplayer isn’t bad but it’s not a selling point or anything for me. It’s got a surprising amount of content though - I remember there were a ton of maps.
@@AustinAshworth True. It wasn't a selling point for me either. Just an added bonus. Winter blast was my favorite plasmid with crossbow/spear gun favorite weapon. Though nothing beats the drill. I like the updated plasmids. Biggest example is Winter Blast lv.2. Charge up to freeze enemy in block of ice. Shatter it to get loot box. Best tonic was by far fountain of youth
Finally someone who think that bioshock 2 is a little better then the other two I often defend this game saying that this game is super underrated
I love all three to death but, at least right now, 2 is my favorite. It’s definitely possible that my options shift in time though, I think I’ve had each game as my favorite at some point haha
I'll be honest with you people, I prefer Bioshock 2 over 1 and Infinite.
YES
dude, there's more than just 2 endings, I think there's 4, If you save the sisters, but kill grace, stanley, and alexander, you're presented with a choice, you can let her absorb your adam like the evil ending, but you can also sacrifice yourself, which is the only ending where she doesn't absorb your adam, doing this means that she is alone, but all her choices from that point will be her own.
I knew there was a middle ground where you make the choice, but I didn’t know it was substantially different from the other ones. I appreciate the correction, thanks for sharing
Bioshock 2 is better than either 1 or Infinite. Glad I'm not the only one who agrees. Both story and gameplay were just amazing there. B1 feels more like the exercise of worldbuilding, and it is great, don't get me wrong, but the main character and the actual events happening in the game itself's timespan are very much eh, except The Twist. B2 on the contrary presents a very human story which gripped me instantly. And the gameplay, my god... First, playing as THE Big Daddy vs some rando feels way cooler (I mean, the drill, the heavy steps, the underwater walks, come on), but the cherry on top is dual-wielding. B1 feels so cumbersome now without it, I can't even replay it, it bothers me that much.
Couldn’t agree more!
I do think dual wielding actually works to Bioshocks disadvantage. Even the strongest enemies are complete pushovers if you can just stunlock them with spamming electrobolt and simultaneously shout them with rivets, that deal way too much damage. Bioshock works best as long as you feel you are in some kind of danger, Bioshock 2 was a cakewalk even on hard. You can 1shot all Splicers with a Rivet Headshot, giving you no need to ever take the Tonika for having more crit dmg. Hypnotize Big Daddy and Turrets make defending little Sisters way too easy too. I felt the same way in some points in Bioshock 1 even on survivor difficulty, the games throw way too much ressources at you and often times take the incentive for getting creative away. This problem however is far stronger in Bioshock 2 than in one, because you cant just Ionic Gel Big Daddies in Bioshock 1 on survivor difficulty. Bioshock 2's world building is significantly worse than 1's though, nothing will ever be as good as Sander Cohen or enemy introduction or Holotapes in general as they were in Bioshock 1. I'd love for both games to have a real hard difficulty making every encounter way scarier and making resources actually scarce, in both games you will almost always be full on ammunition and have a full wallet without trying too hard
If half the game wasn't protecting a little sister from waves of enemies like some kinda Bioshock themed shooting gallery, it might've been alot better.
The game doesn't force you to play out the protector segments but yeah you are HEAVILY incentivized to so it can feel mandatory sometimes. I personally love them but I guess the could get tiring if you don't.
@@AustinAshworth it's boring as fuck
you can literally skip the defence part you know? the result is that you will get way less adam. after you kill the big daddy just bring the sister to the vent right away, and you can rescue/havest. the game does not force you to extract adam.
To say Bioshock has gotten overlooked is untrue given all that’s happened since it came out
I love Bioshock 2, it’s a great game with great characters and story on top of fun gameplay.
It’s nice that it has gotten more love
Also lamb being a hypocrite in parts isn’t a flaw in the game but just shows more of her character, Ryan was also a hypocrite
Bioshock 2’s story isn’t less memorable imo
Bioshock 2’s story does just as hard as 1’s and is equally as memorable and good
The big sisters aren’t “fan fiction” they mesh well in the world and make perfect sense. It makes sense that not all little sisters got rescued and it shows the evolution of the world and feeds into the story
Can’t say I thought 1’s levels had a dip in quality myself
Ryan doesn’t overshadow lamb and she is an interesting character
Sinclair isn’t a copy cat as he stands on his own
The summon Eleanor plasmid doesn’t cheapen her character or reduce her to a gameplay mechanic, perhaps it could have been done better but it’s not bad as is imo and it definitely doesn’t take away from the climax
Bioshock 2 is my favorite game in the series. But I still dont think it's better then Bioshock 1 in terms of game design
That’s interesting that you separate between what is your subjective favorite and what you consider to be objectively the better design
Bioshock 1 has a more memorable story
Bioshock 2 has better gameplay
Agree on both accounts. Not that either has a bad story or gameplay but that’s the way it shakes out
Yes
Am I the only one who dumped many hours Into the awesome multiplayer? Even the multiplayer was an absolute blast. Really sad that it's gone. The main game is still a masterpiece regardless, but I miss the multiplayer days on Xbox 360
You can still find some matches on PC if you are patient! It was one of the better tacked on multiplayer modes from that era but I can’t say I personally got invested in it. I did appreciate the seeing more of Rapture in the creative multiplayer levels though.
@@AustinAshworth Really? I figured the servers were down. I've got it on PC though I typically play on switch so that explains why I had no idea the multiplayer was still possible to play. Thanks for letting me in the know!
@@markmaidens5911 sure thing! The remastered version doesn’t have the multiplayer fyi, only the original release. I don’t have a link but I used a Bio2 multiplayer discord server to find games to get the multiplayer achievements not long ago so it’s definitely still possible!
@@AustinAshworth Oh yeah I imagine Discord would be pretty helpful for getting messages. And thankfully everybody on PC still has the originals as long as you got the game before the remaster.
I wanted to say this bioshock 2 is a great game with a pretty good story but not as good story as the first but like is still a pretty sound game also delta is a pretty sick character
I always thought Mark Meltzer's story was more interesting than Delta's. It would've been cool if the player was Meltzer.
As cool as it would be to get a fuller picture of his story, I love Delta and wouldn’t to give the existing story up
Isn't Sinclair the final boss? Sure he dies before the final fight, but still.
That’s funny, I’ve never thought of the Sinclair fight that way even though he is the last boss in the game. I don’t think that’s the intent because he goes down really easily and it doesn’t really fit the story, but I guess technically you are right haha
I'm currently seeing no dislikes on your vid but it might be outdated when you read my comment.
I liked the multiplayer.
Ever since I first played it (the day it released) I've always had mixed feelings. Maybe you were too tough on BioShock's 3rd act, but overall this review felt fair. However for every step forward in BioShock 2 came two steps back.
The story has some great emotional high points, but not only is it less memorable, the pacing is bad. Most of the game is spent doing 1 thing, riding the train to Eleanor. Like Infinite, it's mostly needless stalling.
The gameplay is more refined and polished in many aspects, but even on Hard it is way too easy. Most splicers go down to one or two hits even by the end.
More natural moral choices and more use for the Little Sisters are great ideas. However the gathering gets super repetitive. Doing the math, you will have to do this hoard mode 24 times for max Adam. It hurts every time I replay this.
And yeah while the Big Sisters are a fun, unique challenge I agree with your fanfiction statement. Also I feel like their dread is greatly reduced since they're 100% scripted. You know every single time you're gonna fight one after a single playthrough. This ruins the tension.
I'm not surprised there are so many BioShock 2 fans because it makes many improvements and additions. But for me, it takes just as many steps backwards.
Thanks for a well thought out counter opinion! I personally never got sick of the gathering segments but I can see that being an issue for others. I believe it's important to have the Big Sister encounters be scripted, just like how Big Daddies don't fight until you engage them. Bioshock's combat is at it's best when you have time to prepare a plan, set up traps, and pick your battlefield. That being said, you definitely make some good points! Thanks!
Fallout next?
Sorry, I’ve never gotten into the Fallout series. Which would you recommend someone start out with though?
As for future videos, I’m maintaining a focus on Zelda and Bioshock, but I might throw a couple surprises in there as well.
@@AustinAshworth well the fallout games don't really have a connected story between them...
The one I'd recommend tho is definitely Fallout: New vegas. It's really ugly for 2021 but was made by obsidian in 18 months and has an amazing world, characters, and story.
Good luck on the youtube grind btw.
Cool, maybe I'll finally dive into New Vegas - I've heard nothing but praise. And thanks for the encouragement, I hope you stick around!
@@AustinAshworth ofc, waiting for that video now hehe.
Delta would kick jack and bookers asses
I liked Bioshock 2 better. Maybe because I got spoiled the whole slave thing.
The curse of a memorable twist…
This game is better than infinite in every way.
It's kind of funny, that to me I completely disagree with your assessment on the gameplay. I just finished both 1 and 2 for the first time recently, and to me 1 is the better title. The guns feel more fun to use, honestly to me the rivet is such a boring gun compared to the pistol of 1. The enemies are more fair and balanced, while for me 2 felt extremely frustrating, and you and I played very similarly. it could be I'm more annoyed because BioShock 2 crashed on me multiple times that it could have muddled how I felt about it. I like duel wielding plasmids though, however I also liked how it was separate in 1, so to me it's nice that we get to have both. I loved both stories though, how 1 is more grand while 2 is reserved and small. Great video, I enjoyed hearing someone with a more positive outlook on it, that encourages me to give the gameplay another try some day. I'm gonna start infinite here soon, and I can't wait to see where this franchise that I completely slept on for so many years goes from here
Agree to disagree! I actually find it hard to go back to the first game, the combat feels so much smoother to me in 2 (especially plasmid usage). I will give you that the pistol feels much better to use than the rivet gun. That's awesome that you are catching up on the games a decade later, I hope you enjoy Infinite! It's very different from 1 and 2 (for better and for worse).
Bioshock 1 has better atmosphere. Bioshock 2 has better gameplay. I prefer better gameplay.
You and me both!
Same
I think it succeeds as a shooter/story game. But it kind of fails as a bioshock game
I have skipped bioshock 2 for too long
I ll play it and come back to tell you how wrong you are (tbh I don't even know what this video is saying) and that people from arcane studios helped making bioshock 2 and that's why it's the best/worst (based around what you think)
You definitely should play Bio2! Let me know what you think. I've only recently come around to love it as much as I do, but the gameplay enhancements really make a huge difference. That's fascinating that Arkane helped out, I know they did a similar thing with Wolfenstein Youngblood not long ago. Have you played their game Prey? It's one of my recent favorites: an excellent immersive sim that fits right in with the likes of Bioshock.
@@AustinAshworthI have played prey
If I had to describe it with one word would be Bioshock 4 or Psychoshock .
Loving Bioshock we still have to admit that they lack a lot of immersive sim characteristics
Prey to me is Top of the top on that department
Oh yeah I agree that Bioshock is a very light immersive sim but it still fits in that category. Prey is the real deal. I’m still struggling through Mooncrash but loving it regardless.
In fairness, I respectfully disagree with your take on the Big Sisters. I thought they were a great inclusion, if only for the purpose of giving a believable possibility of what happens to the Little Sisters over time.
Tenenbaum says in the first game that despite their conditioning, that they're "still children". It is not implied anywhere that the Sisters permanently stay young girls while under this conditioning. While Jack did save all the Sisters he encountered (as was shown to be the canon ending in Burial at Sea), he couldn't have saved every one in existence, and certainly one would have to wonder what would happen to those Sisters over time. Or at the very least, it gives an interesting take on something that fans may not have considered before. 🤔
Even if it's fascinating to explore the lifecycle of Little Sisters deeper, I don't know if there was anyway to accomplish this without it coming off as a ham-fisted addition to the worldbuilding. I understand maybe there hadn't been enough time for any Little Sisters to grow into Big Sisters at the point where Bioshock 1 takes place, but without any hints or setup at all in the original game it's hard for me to get fully on board with their inclusion. I appreciate hearing a different perspective though and you did make me think a bit deeper on why they don't feel like they belong to me. Thanks for sharing!
Chill with the hyperbole. You’ve kinda got me worried
Haha point taken. But can you blame me for being enthusiastic?