I've just returned from an afternoon playing the first three levels of BioShock 2 and I can't stop smiling in anticipation of the game's release in less than a month. The game kicks off with the main character, the first Big Daddy, waking up and trying to figure out what exactly is going on in Rapture.

It's All About The Atmosphere

The game's visual style is very reminiscent of the first game, albeit with some upgrades. The level designs have a wonderful style and ambience that will suck you into the world of Rapture. Of particular note during the demo was the audio, the voice-diaries, ambient noises, music and voice-acting in the game are all top-notch and really help to make the experience all the more real.

I can't give you any details on the story but from what I have seen so far, I seriously doubt fans will be disappointed. Every set piece and environment in the game helps to tell a part of the story and its amazing to see all the visual, audio and story telling elements work together. I'll just say that my visit to Ryan's Amusements was amazing.

Arming Yourself (Get it?)

You start the game off with the Big Daddy's drill arm as your first weapon. You can either perform a quick swipe attack or a prolonged drill attack which uses fuel but is far more devastating. Both feel suitably powerful and sending a Splicer flying off into the air with a massive strike is deeply satisfying.

The first plasmid you'll acquire is the Electro Bolt plasmid which allows you to toss lethal bolts of electricity that can stun enemies and allows you to follow up with a critical strike. Unlike the first game, in BioShock 2 you can dual wield a traditional weapon in your right hand and a plasmid on the left. The dual wield system feels very natural and offers a great amount of freedom so much so that you'll wonder why it wasn't included in the first game.

Zap Bang Zap Drill

As a Big Daddy, one of the toughest enemies in the first game, you can take quite a fair bit of punishment so the battles in BioShock 2 set you up against much tougher odds. Because of this the game has more action-packed battles which I felt were much more fun than the original. The dual wield system of plasmids and a regular weapon feels very fluid and using both hands in combination offers a very rewarding experience.

One of the more fun experiences I had during the demo was the Little Sister defence sequences. At certain points in the game you'll be able to adopt a Little Sister to help you harvest Adam. During these sequences, you'll have to defend your Little Sister while she does her dirty work. What is most interesting about these battles is that you can prepare yourself before initiating a battle, so you'll be able to set up a perimeter and even booby trap the area.

In one such battle I was able to hack into a health dispenser making it hurt enemies that used it, hack a security turret to help defend the area, and finally set up some traps using trap rivets which launch deadly rivets at enemies that get in range. Planning and preparing a perimeter and watching as enemies attempt to penetrate your defences in a futile effort is extremely fun. It also allows for numerous ways to play the game making each and every gamer's experience unique.

Goodbye Pipe Dream

The hacking mini-game in BioShock 2 is replaced by a new, more simplistic but faster paced and less intrusive mini-game that takes place in real-time without pausing gameplay. The mini-game involves stopping a moving needle at the correct time. If you stop the needle at certain, more challenging areas you can gain benefits during hacking such as extra turret damage or free items from a vendor.

The new hacking mini-game, paired up with the new remote-hacking darts allows for a variety of new strategies. In one instance, I was able to rush into an enemy compound, fire a dart at a security camera, and flee the area while at the same time hacking the camera, providing me with backup from security bots. While the new hacking system is simpler I feel it offers a more dynamic approach.

My Way Or The Highway

Throughout the demo one of the things that stood out was the ability to play the game the way you want to. This was one of the best features in the first game and it returns here again. Gamers with different play styles will all find something to suit their tastes in BioShock 2. There is ample opportunity for exploration, combat, uncovering stories and many things in the game can be achieved with different methods. You can customize weapons, plasmids and tonics (which give you passive abilities) all of which greatly change the way you experience the game. One of the most rewarding things in gaming is seeing how choices you make affect gameplay and that is definitely something you'll be able to do in BioShock 2.

Last Words

I only had a brief time with BioShock 2 but I must say that almost all my initial fears for the game have been dispelled. I was sceptical about the game's ability to surpass its original and what new things it could bring to the series. Both of these worries I had have been resolved and I can say with full confidence that BioShock 2 is once again on the top of my list of anticipated games this year.