Release Date: March 26, 2013 (Pre-order Now)
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Irrational Games
Ken Levine and his team at Irrational Games are undoubtedly some of the brightest minds in the video game industry. A few years ago, the studio revolutionized game design and storytelling by creating an underwater dystopia known as Rapture, the chilling setting of the original BioShock. Instead of taking the easy route and milking that deep sea universe for all its worth, Irrational decided to spend the next five plus years working on a completely new game world, just as rich with detail and narrative intricacy. And so BioShock Infinite was born.
Set not in an underwater prison but rather a traveling city in the sky, BioShock Infinite not only provides a drastically different setting for players to explore, but also a whole new undercurrent of political and religious intrigue. In this way, both the game's landscape and inhabitants work in seamless conjunction to bring the sky-bound city of Columbia to life.
The original BioShock was praised for its incredible storytelling techniques due primarily to Levine's unparalleled writing skills. Twists and shocking revelations had gamers talking about the experience long after its launch, and BioShock Infinite promises to deliver that same jaw-dropping narrative experience. Putting players in control of Booker DeWitt, Irrational has made it clear that this time around the game's characters are just as important (if not more so) than the world they inhabit.
In an effort to wipe away his debt, DeWitt travels to Columbia to save a girl name Elizabeth who is being held captive in the sky. Naturally, there's a whole lot more to the story than what initially meets the eye, as the damsel in distress boasts some incredibly dangerous time-tearing powers. Oh, and did I mention she's being guarded by a giant two-winged creature known only as Songbird?
BioShock raised the bar for what interactive first-person stories can be, and Infinite aims to push it even higher. With a multi-layered world full of mystery and intrigue, a cast of characters you can't help but care for, and the promise of incredible plot twists, how can Irrational Games possibly fail?
After teasing the world with "Project Icarus" in the summer of 2010, Irrational Games pulled back the curtain on BioShock Infinite on August 12th with a dazzling trailer that introduced gamers to the franchise's brand-new setting, one of the game's many adversaries, and most importantly, Elizabeth, a mysterious girl possessing magical powers that the player as DeWitt is tasked with rescuing.
Of course, this was all done after leading gamers to believe that this new BioShock title would be yet another underwater adventure, thanks to some clever creativity on the part of Irrational. Relive that glorious moment by checking out the announcement trailer below.
It wasn't until E3 the following year that we finally got our first extended look at gameplay. The fifteen-minute demo showcased skyline gameplay, plenty of shooting, Elizabeth's powers, and loads of endearing banter between her and Booker. We also got an up close and personal look at Songbird, one of Columbia's most threatening foes. Give it a look right here and see why it took home one of GameRevolution's coveted Best of E3 2011 Awards.
In March of 2012, 2K and Irrational Games announced that BioShock Infinite would release later that year in October. Sadly just two months later, the game was delayed until February 26th, 2013. It was also revealed that the game wouldn't be making an appearance at E3, so the game went dark for quite a while, giving Irrational plenty of time to work away with little interruption.
By December, the studio realized it could really use an extra month to polish things up before launch, so the game was delayed a second time to March 26th. Fortunately, that was the last of the delays. At that time, the cover art was revealed, sporting the game's protagonist front and center. This disappointed a number of gamers who made their displeasure of the its generic nature known all over the internet. In an effort to appease the hardcore, the studio decided to print a different cover on the reverse side, polling the community on the final design.
Official Cover Art (Left), Reversible Cover (Right)
Soon after, Irrational Games proudly announced on February 19th that the game had finally gone gold, assuaging everyone's fears that the title might get delayed a third time.
BioShock Infinite was also selected as one of GameRevolution's Most Anticipated Games of 2013 earlier this year, serving as the only title among those chosen to get a vote by every member of the GR staff. Our review is forthcoming.
Unlike the dark and gloomy underwater world of Rapture, BioShock Infinite's city in the sky bursts with light and life. The world of Columbia is very much itself a character, as its densely packed streets are littered with personality. Massive blimps circle in the clouds above and various sections of the floating landmass are connected by a winding railway system. It's enchanting, beautiful, and yet equally disturbing.
Don't let the game's vibrant exterior fool you, as there's plenty of evil that lurks around every corner. Booker is on a mission to rescue Elizabeth, and by doing so, he puts himself in an extreme amount of danger. While Columbia is loaded with life, it holds an equal amount of death and destruction.
This harrowing alternate history takes place in the early 1900s when a man named Comstock decided to create a cult of sorts built around the worship of the founding fathers. The following "Truth from Legend" video tells the story in compelling artistic fashion.
And the horrors don't end there: Irrational's second faux documentary details the fear-inducing Songbird and the mysteries behind this monstrous creature. I'd say Booker is in way over his head on this one.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Columbia is the prisoner it holds captive. Irrational Games spent a lot of time creating Elizabeth's character. Her design has been tweaked throughout development—and emulated by a multitude of cosplayers. In fact, the studio ended up hiring one particularly impressive cosplayer to be the official face of Elizabeth. The two bear an awfully striking resemblance, no?
And what would a BioShock game be with out its fair share of insane twists and turns? Elizabeth possesses the unique ability to create tears in time, allowing for a whole host of possibilities. We've seen her open a gateway to Paris and even the future release of Revenge of the Jedi. As such, the game's artistic beauty is bound to expand far beyond the corners of Columbia.
If there's one thing players should know before diving into any creative work by Ken Levine and his team, it's to expect the unexpected. What you see on the surface isn't always what it immediately appears to be. The studio's careful attention to detail and facade conveys a game world that wants to tell you so much, yet holds back a multitude of secrets at the same time.
There's so much more to the world of BioShock infinite than just Columbia's landscape, however, as the game's rich and atmospheric music only serves to enhance and further flesh out the perplexing universe that Irrational Games has created. Take, for example, the small sample below, which was composed by the talented Garry Schyman, the same man behind the iconic soundtracks of BioShock 1 and 2.
Those who pre-order either the Ultimate Songbird or Premium Edition will get the soundtrack as part of the package. They're in limited quantities, so pre-order now while there are still some available. If you're interested, you can check out full track list right here.
Believe it or not, the musical talent doesn't stop with Schyman, as voice actors Troy Baker (Booker DeWitt) and Courtnee Draper (Elizabeth) have lent their vocal skills to perform an incredible duet for the game's soundtrack.
It's titled "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" and is embedded below.
Of course, there's more to a game's sound than just music, as voice acting is an essential piece of the puzzle, especially in the case of such a character-driven experience like BioShock Infinite. As mentioned earlier, Troy Baker does the voice for the protagonist, Booker DeWitt, and Courtnee Draper is responsible for bringing Elizabeth to life. Baker has been involved in a number of other games, including Final Fantasy XIII, Catherine, Batman: Arkham City, and several more, and you may recognize Draper from her work in Kingdom Hearts II.
Other voice acting talent involved in BioShock Infinite includes:
- Jennifer Hale (Mass Effect, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic) as Rosalind Lutece
- Oliver Vaquer (Dexter, Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, The Warriors) as Robert Lutece
- Kiff VandenHeuvel (Star Wars: The Old Republic, Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition) as Zachary Comstock
- Kimberly D. Brooks (Mass Effect, Batman: Arkham City, XCOM: Enemy Unknown) as Daisy Fitzroy
- Keith Szarabajka (Argo, Sons of Anarchy, Halo 4, The Dark Knight, L.A. Noire) as Cornelius Slate
- Bill Lobley (Sealab 2021, Alan Wake, Mafia II) as Jeremiah Fink
To get an idea of how hard this talented cast worked, see Baker and Draper in action below.
BioShock Infinite launches on March 26th for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.
