BioShock 2 has been one of the most anticipated sequels since gamers first made their way through the halls of Rapture, and this marks the return to the underwater city. It's been eight years since the events of BioShock took place and you'll now be caught up in a much different story, seeing things through the eyes of a totally new character. More specifically, you'll be playing as a Big Daddy.

In the first game, Rapture itself was a major plot element, and as you worked your way through it, you slowly uncovered the story of how and why it was built, and the cause of its eventual downfall. Now that that part of the story has already been explored, the city itself is just a cool setting, rather than a part of the mystery.

BioShock 2's plot is definitely more clear and concise, which should help gamers who originally had a hard time keeping up. Rapture is now under the control of a psychologist named Sophia Lamb, whose beliefs contrast with those of Andrew Ryan. Like I said, you play as a Big Daddy, and as it turns out, the Little Sister that you've been bonded to is her daughter, who she intends to use for her own selfish purposes. Your ultimate goal is to reach her in time so that it doesn't happen. There is quite a bit more to the story, but that's the basic gist of it. The way the story is told, mostly through a series of radio broadcasts and audio diaries, complete with fantastic voice acting, is really what keeps this story unique and manages to draw you in just as well as before.

The original BioShock was released a little over two years ago and was really one of the best looking games around. BioShock 2 definitely looks just as good, although the graphical similarity is a bit disappointing. They've smoothed over some rough edges and made some other minor changes, but a few more enhancements would've been nice. Still, I'm not going to complain too much, as this really is a great looking game.

The setting is really what this series has going for it, and Rapture is arguably one of the most creative of all time. That alone sets this game apart from just about every other shooter. While not completely new, BioShock 2 does manage to do a lot more with the given scenario than the original did, as each level manages to look and feel different, and interaction with the underwater environments is much more common. There's even a few segments in which you'll walk across the ocean floor to reach a different section of the city. It's all handled very well and is a clear improvement. Looking out onto the city of Rapture is still quite an experience.

Like the visuals, the gameplay will also feel very familiar, aside from a few core changes. Seeing as you're a Big Daddy, you'll now have the option to adopt the Little Sisters that you come across, which lets you throw them onto your back and use them to gather more ADAM from the corpses lying around, until you decide to either rescue or harvest them. It can also provide for some pretty hilarious commentary along the way.

A few other changes to the more tedious gameplay mechanics have made things a bit more streamlined. You can now dual-wield weapons and plasmids, which means a lot less switching between the two in the middle of a fight, and the hacking is now a much quicker and easier process that doesn't pull you out of the action. There's also a nice number of new weapons, plasmid upgrades and alternative ammo, which does a good job of changing up the combat, and unlike before you'll get more opportunities to take advantage of just about everything at your disposal.

BioShock 2 is primarily a shooter like before, although more so this time around. One thing I had some mixed feelings about was the way the game progressed. The overall pacing is fine for the most part, but BioShock 2 is much more intense and action-oriented. While BioShock was still a shooter first and foremost, it had a more subdued feel to it, and focused on exploring Rapture and completing certain objectives while taking out any opposition in your way. This time, every enemy in the world of Rapture is specifically out to get you, and ambushes and large-scale gun fights are a more common occurrence. It's definitely a more difficult game, and much more focused on combat, which to be honest, started to get a little tiring. Your resources are going to get depleted nonstop, and you'll have to scrounge around for every health pack and every piece of ammo you can find, because you'll really need everything you can get now. Scavengers like myself are going to have a much easier time with things.

Still, it is a very fun game with a unique feel to it, and while those who preferred the slower pace may have some trouble sticking with it at first, it does become very engaging quite early on. Even with the over the top action, it will be hard to put this one down until the end.

A new addition to BioShock 2 is the online multiplayer mode. While the system itself is pretty well thought out, featuring some nice customization options as well as all the expected game modes, the gameplay itself is not exactly up to par. Don't get me wrong, it isn't bad, but it feels very typical and doesn't bring much to the table. I found it to be quite choppy, with lag around every corner, and you're forced to pump bullets into your enemy for several seconds before they finally drop, which is something I really don't care for. If you do choose to give it a try, you may enjoy it for a few hours, but I don't see most gamers getting into it.

BioShock 2 is all about the single player, and thankfully that was their focus. In sheer hours it may not be the longest game around, lasting about eight to ten hours on average, but the amount of exploring and item collection is quite substantial and can extend your playthrough much farther without feeling repetitive. Even with its somewhat short duration, BioShock 2 has a pretty epic feel to it and can be described as anything but brief.

The only downside is that New Game Plus, which allowed you to replay the game with all weapons and plasmids carried over has gone missing, which can kill some of the incentive to go through it again. If you were a big fan of the first, I would recommend a purchase, but for all others I'd advise renting it first. Either way, do not pass up this amazing sequel, because you'll be missing out on one of the best gaming experiences to date.

Visuals: 9.0
Audio: 9.2
Story: 8.8
Gameplay: 9.4
Entertainment Value: 8.5

Overall: 9.4

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