Yakoob on 28/3/2015 at 18:07
Well I just finished Burial at Sea and and it had few annoying gameplay segments (hey lets go from stealth-based gameplay to forced fight sequences! srsly how have devs not learned this doesnt work yet?) But I absolutely LOVED what they did with the story, bringing all the games together not just story-wise but thematically as well, shining a whole new light on Bioshock. I'm a sucker for these kind of inception-y/retellings (one reason I loved Wicked)
I agree the Elizabeth/Booker stuff wasn't THAT amazing, but I think they did a phenomenal job of taking all of Bioshock 1 and retrofitting it into BS:I universe, with Suchong/Fink exchanges, Atlas Uprising/Vox Populi, constants/variables and how Elizabeth sets off the events in Bioshock. It's a bit predictable, but it was really well done and cool to see yourself slowly setting up the scene for the first game.
I also have a crazy theory myself about the ending:
If the two world are really parallels (again, Suchong/Fink, Atlas/Daisy, BigDaddy/Songbird,Splicers/Vox, Plasmids/Tonics etc.) then it appears that the equivalent to Comstock/Booker is Ryan/"Would You Kindly" dude... which means both of them ARE Booker as well, just in a different form! Taking it further, though, Elizabeth and the "Would YOu kindly" guy were both experimented with as kids and could also be equivalent which means... Elizabeth IS Booker. Which is a big mindfuck, especially since she is his daughter. Or perhaps the reality is that we are all connected and effectively just different reincarnations of the same person. The chain Tattoo of the "Would you kindly" guy takes on a new meaning then - not chain, but a link. (We can also go even further and draw a Christain parallel to the 3 pair (Ryan/WouldYou/Elizabeth and Comstock/Booker/Elizabeth) representing Holy Spirit/God/Jesus, which also explains Elizabeth godlike powers. But now I'm just babbling
No, I don't really think any of this is the intended explanation and I doubt it was even thought of back in BS1 days, but with so much symbolism and events, it's fun to make up new theories :)
scumble on 2/7/2016 at 15:31
The "now what are you playing" thread is getting ridiculous, I think we could have a few more games come out for a thread of their own.
The game is picking up a bit when you find Elizabeth, probably because she's an engaging character and not as bland as Comstock is turning out to be.
However when she uses the key in the door:
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/72776465@N03/27424875164/in/dateposted-public/" title="The Key isn't in the lock"><img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7217/27424875164_3da2faa512_c.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="The Key isn't in the lock"></a>
It's detail, yes, but irritating and I supposed it just slipped through. However I think some physical logic in the key going into the keyhole correctly would be obvious in this situation, a point where you're going to be watching Liz unlock the door.
I'm also finding it unconvincing to be running about with a machine gun in a fairground (trying to get to the airship) shooting police with people wandering about apparently oblivious. It seems to be arbitrary when the incidental civs get spooked. I walked straight up to the guy at the counter in the ice cream shop, and he appeared unconcerned, then suddenly ran round at tried to hit me with a baseball bat.
Also Liz is suddenly quite happy to do this:
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/72776465@N03/27758170380/in/dateposted-public/" title="Elizabeth the daredevil"><img src="https://c5.staticflickr.com/8/7077/27758170380_ca4cf9443e_c.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="Elizabeth the daredevil"></a>
What a girl. She seems to be bringing a bit of life to game.
scumble on 2/7/2016 at 17:26
Apparently resurrection is preferable.
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/72776465@N03/27426488213/in/dateposted-public/" title="20160702170131_1"><img src="https://c6.staticflickr.com/8/7370/27426488213_e932a8a81a_c.jpg" width="800" height="450" alt="20160702170131_1"></a>
I'm finding the game seems a bit flaky in places. I lost Liz completely while getting back from the Hall of Heroes, only to have her magically reappear later. Also I've had her cowering in a corner long after a fight has finished.
It's quite helpful having her assist in throwing coins and ammo at you, but should she really have been turned into a vending machine?
The tears mechanic - it may add something to the gunfights technically speaking, in that you get some strategic choices, but it is another quite weird thing to throw in as an ability.
I feel like the game is throwing a number of elements together that feel more like pure fantasy than the suggested scientific origin of all this floating city technology. The elements seem to work in the game, but it's like they were invented first and it wasn't entirely thought through how they fit into this world. I like the fact that it is a very non-realistic setting, but I'd have liked some more logical consistency. One of the little movie boxes claims the bits of the city are kept floating by "quantum mechanics" but it's still very vague.
I liked the character moment when Booker is whacked by Liz with a wrench after she realises he's taking her back to New York, but now I'm suddenly working for the Vox Populi and trying to find Liz again. Seems like a weak excuse to get me to go after another objective. The story isn't hooking me in so I'm mostly playing for the scenery and the action.
