7 Mind-Blowing BioShock Traditions Fans Can’t Get Enough Of!

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Summary

  • Plasmids and Vigors add chaos and unpredictability to BioShock gunfights.
  • Turning foes into allies and hacking machines provide players with extra firepower.
  • Giant guardians like Big Daddies and Songbird make intense battles a must in the series.

As a devoted gamer, I can confidently say that even though there are just three mainline games in the BioShock series, it stands out as an exceptional and extraordinary collection of games unlike any other first-person shooter (FPS) out there. In essence, what makes BioShock so unique is its one-of-a-kind identity that has been carefully crafted over the years through shared trends and traditions, which are faithfully reflected in every game since the very beginning.

Despite Ken Levine being engrossed in the freshly minted Judas IP at present, it’s likely that we’ll see a new installment of the wildly popular BioShock series eventually. If this happens, you can bet on these key elements being part of the experience whenever you revisit the peculiar and captivating world of BioShock.

7. Plasmids

Powerful Forms Of Energy That Grant The Player Unique Abilities In Combat

Among numerous first-person shooter games, what sets apart my favorite, BioShock, is its unique inclusion of Plasmids. Unlike typical FPS games where I’m solely armed with a gun or melee weapon, in BioShock, the other hand is reserved for unleashing these powerful Plasmids. From Incinerate, which reduces enemies to ashes, to Insect Swarm, which momentarily disorients enemies and leaves them vulnerable, these Plasmids offer a versatile arsenal that adds an extraordinary layer of strategy to the gameplay. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to exploring the diverse range of Plasmids available in BioShock.

In the revised version of BioShock Infinite, these abilities could be renamed as “Vigors”. While their fundamental role remains the same, players will have access to some fresh ones, such as the “Bucking Bronco”, which propels nearby adversaries into the air, disabling them from attacking. It’s the Vigors and Plasmids that add an element of unpredictability to the gunfights in BioShock games, making them more chaotic and unforeseeable, especially when enemies start using them during battle.

6. Turning Foes Into Friends

Players Can Always Make A Few New Allies If Things Start Getting A Little Hairy

In addition to Plasmids, another exciting aspect of these games that enhances combat enjoyment is the option to convert adversaries into allies. This tactic, present in the initial two games, can be executed by approaching a turret stealthily and overriding it, providing players with additional firepower during traversal or when guarding a Little Sister.

In the game Infinite, the mechanic for hacking has been reworked. Instead of traditional hacking, players can now use the Possession Plasmid. By pressing a button, players can transform hostile mechs armed with machine guns and rocket turrets into allies, helping them navigate through difficult situations without taking damage.

5. Giant Guardians

These Guardians Never Go Down Without A Fight, Making Them A Real Thorn In The Players’ Side

In each game, there are massive, robust adversaries that serve as protectors for certain characters within the narrative. These can be either Big Daddies or Big Sisters in the first two games. They fiercely defend their Little Sisters from anyone attempting to take them, leading to intense confrontations. If players find themselves on the wrong end of these characters, they’ll have to engage in a hard-fought battle where they must exhaust every bullet and health pack to emerge victorious.

In the absence of Big Daddies within Columbia, the protector of Infinite would shift to the Songbird; a colossal bird-like contraption whose shuddering caws echo for miles. The Songbird pursues Booker tirelessly through most of the game, as it was engineered to save Elizabeth at any cost. This character is crucial in the narrative as it’s designed to shield her.

4. Audio Tapes

A Neat Mechanic That Lets Players Learn More About The Lore While Exploring

In many first-person shooter (FPS) games, the gameplay slows down after a couple of hours, usually with cutscenes or in-game sequences explaining backstory when the action subsides. This can sometimes make the story feel slower. To prevent this problem, Irrational Games incorporated audio tapes into the original BioShock, allowing players to gather information about Rapture and its inhabitants while they continue their journey.

Regardless of whether players are gathering resources or engaging in combat against Splicers using Plasmids, the audio tapes will continue unless they choose to stop them. Many games have adopted this feature since then, but BioShock has consistently included it across all its games. Its absence in a future game would be conspicuous.

3. Extravagant Cities

Rapture And Columbia Are Incredibly Creative And Outlandish Locales

Despite the inhabitants of Rapture and Columbia perhaps not being particularly welcoming, the cities themselves are breathtaking wonders to observe, to such a degree that it appears as though Ken Levine and his team strive to surpass their previous efforts with each new installment by creating increasingly impressive settings. The underwater city of Rapture stands out in particular due to its haunting yet captivating appearance, which has earned it a place among the most memorable environments in video gaming.

Apart from that, there’s Columbia – a floating city maintained aloft at all times, with its significant areas linked through travel trains and aircraft. Regardless of whether a BioShock game takes a dark or lighthearted approach, it’s safe to assume that such an epic metropolis will be featured, pushing the boundaries of realism as much as possible.

2. 20th Century Setting

BioShock Has Become Synonymous With Its 1900s Aesthetic

Regardless of the multi-timeline themes in the BioShock series, the games’ visual style consistently anchors in the 20th century. The initial installment, set in 1960, reinforces this through music that time-warps players to that era whenever it plays, combined with Rapture’s design featuring flashy rooms and vivid propaganda posters.

BioShock Infinite, set in 1912, immerses players not just in Columbia’s stunning architecture but also in the era’s fashion, with Elizabeth serving as a prominent illustration. The series has come to symbolize this epoch, and it plays a significant role in making the games so appealing.

1. Escort Missions

Every Game Forces Players To Guide And Protect A Secondary Character

In video games, escort missions are a common feature, yet the BioShock series has consistently given them significant importance. In the initial installment, gamers were tasked with safeguarding and guiding Little Sisters while they collected Adam; this theme grew even more significant in the sequel as players took on the role of a Big Daddy.

In the sequel, there will be another level called Minerva’s Den, an additional content pack. Here, players are given repeated assignments to safeguard the sisters amidst relentless swarms of adversaries, resulting in some of the most challenging missions within the game series. For BioShock Infinite, gamers will spend the entire game protecting Elizabeth instead of just one mission. However, since she proves quite beneficial during combat, this isn’t necessarily a drawback.

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2025-02-10 00:38