Game Evaluation By: Chad Seippel CIS 487 – Fall 2013

1. Game EvaluationBy: Chad Seippel CIS 487 – Fall 2013

2. BioShock Infinite • Developer – Irrational Games • Publisher – 2K Games • Genre – First Person Shooter / Action Adventure • Price – $59.99 • Release Date: March 26, 2013

3. Hardware • Available for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC/Mac • Minimum Requirements (PC) • OS: Windows Vista Service Pack 2 32-bit • Processor: Intel Core 2 DUO 2.4 GHz / AMD Athlon X2 2.7 GHz • Memory: 2 GBHard Drive: 20 GB free • Video Card: DirectX10 Compatible ATI Radeon HD 3870 / NVIDIA 8800 GT / Intel HD 3000 Integrated Graphics • Video Card Memory: 512 MB • Sound Card: DirectX Compatible

4. Hardware • Recommended Requirements (PC) • OS: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 64-bit • Processor: Quad Core Processor • Memory: 4 GB • Hard Drive: 30 GB free • Video Card: DirectX11 Compatible, AMD Radeon HD 6950 / NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 • Video Card Memory: 1024 MB • Sound Card: DirectX Compatible • Digital installation available through Stream • No installation required for 360 or PS3

5. Story • The player takes the role as Booker Dewitt • Former Pinkerton agent, and in debt to the wrong people • To resolve your debt you must go to the majestic floating city of • Columbia and capture a young girl named Elizabeth and bring her • back to NY • Players travel throughout Columbia with the goal of seeking out • the residence of Z.H. Comstock, leader of The Founders, who • Elizabeth must see before they can escape • Elizabeth is held captive in Columbia and has the mysterious • ability to create tears in space/time • There is unrest and revolution coming to Columbia. This leads • to the player and Elizabeth fighting their way to escape the • dangers of Columbia

6. Gameplay • Played from the first-person perspective. Right hand fires weapons and left hand fires your powers • Various powers called “Vigors” such as fire, lightning, murder of crows • Player can use vigors and weapons simultaenously, allowing for interesting ways to destroy enemies • Player can also equip four slots of gear that can give added bonuses to weapons, vigors, melee, etc.

7. Gameplay • Elizabeth has the power to manipulate "tears" - windows in space and time. • You can ask her to open these tears at any time during battle. These tears can bring in objects and weapons in from another dimension. • Columbia also features an intricate series of "SkyLines" a rail system that connects the different parts of the city. • Players can leap onto these rails using the Sky-Hook, a magnetized tool that allows for quick travel around the environment. • These rails can also be useful in battle, as players can perform jumping melee attacks onto enemies.

9. User Interface • UI is very basic and shows only the essential information. • Shield and health, Salts (mana) and ammo • Two vigors and two guns that the player can quickly switch between during battle • Menu system allows the player to look at the objectives, equip weapons and vigors. As well as get more information about them.

12. Scoring • Money system (silver eagles) and player upgrades • Buy or sell through “vending machines” found throughout Columbia • Ammo, med kits, upgrades to vigors and weapons can be purchased in vending machines • Various gear hidden throughout Columbia • “Infusions” are hidden bottles of special formula that allow you to upgrade one stat of your choice (Health, shield, salt)

13. Artwork • Colorful and beautiful scenes • Very detailed world • Takes advantage of Unreal Engine 3 • Great mixture of cartoon and realistic design • Steampunk vibe, circa 1912 • Not as good on Xbox 360 or PS3 when compared to PC (obviously)

16. Sound and Music • Composed by Garry Schyman • Dynamic music • Dramatic music during combat • Special noises with critical hits or head shots • Outro music to let player know when combat ends • Various old period pieces to set the mood of circa 1912

17. Special Features • Three DLCs to be released • “Clash in the Clouds” released June 30, 2013 that adds wave-based survival • “Voxophones” are in-game audio devices that can be found which give an interesting background on the plot of the game • Upon completing the game, you unlock “1999 Mode” which greatly increases the difficulty

18. The Good • Fast, smooth, and unique combat experience • Different combinations of vigors and weapons allow you to kill enemies in creative ways • Dramatic and emotional story plot • Unique plot that has twists and turns • You actually care about the characters • Very beautiful and colorful art style with a world that you can explore • Companion that is actually helpful fun to play with

19. The Bad • No multiplayer • Versus, Cooperative, Leaderboards • Navigation arrow shows you where to go • Discourages exploration

20. How does it compare? • It's a very unique first-person shooter so I can only compare it to the original BioShock and BioShock 2 • Graphics are much more colorful and lively compared to original games • It has characters you actually care about • Added melee sky-line combat • BioShock 2 has various competitive multiplayer modes and leaderboards while BioShock Infinite does not • Better in almost every way

21. Audience • This game is targeted to a wide range of gamers • Big world, action-adventure with a great story and fast gameplay • Not overly violent so it's not only playable by adults • Strong male and female protagonists • Men and women 17+ would enjoy this game, fans of shooters or adventure games

22. Summary • Strengths • Fast, fluid and creative gameplay • Amazing story • Beautiful and big world • Weaknesses • Lack of multiplayer • Some hand-holding that pushes the game linear instead of encouraging exploration

23. How can it improve? • Multiplayer support at release! • I'll accept multiplayer in a DLC

24. Verdict • BUY IT! • One of the best games I have ever played • Potential GOTY