Is a man not entitled to the sweat of his brow?

Bioshock, the game so highly appraised by many for it's stylistic visuals, intriguing story, and great gameplay.

Thanks to the Steam sale, I've finally got a chance to see what all the ruckus was about. Well, I was pleasantly surprised.

The game starts off with  a plane crash in the mid-Atlantic, the plane shudders and jolts, and then darkness. You wake beneath the waves with a raging fire above you as the plane is, torn to pieces, is engulfed by the ocean. The game then gives you control of your character, you start swimming to what seems like a spire protruding from the ocean. Leaving the wrecked plane behind you, you enter through two golden double doors into a dark room. The lights flicker on and you see what seems like a mini submarine in front of you. You enter and pull the lever.

You travel deeper beneath the waves, and suddenly it appears right in front of your eyes. An underwater utopia, this is Rapture. And it is splendid to behold.

Well, that's my summary of the 15 minutes of the game. I haven't played so far into the game, but I am thoroughly enjoying it. Plasmids, sort of like power-ups, are extremely fun to use and they really add a new dimension to the gameplay. Sounds are very well done, I genuinely felt scared as when the lights go off unexpectedly and you start hearing footsteps, clinking sounds, and the like. It really gets you on edge.

As for the graphics, you have to keep in mind that this wasn't developed primarily for the PC, so those capabilities weren't taken advantage of. All in all though, I think it pulls off it well. Great water and lighting effects, solid framerate, good character models, and nicely detailed environments.

Going off at a tangent, I'm thinking of making a small video with Red Faction: Guerrilla. A montage of explosions in slow motion, to the sound of some classical music. I must get on with that.