Comments on: My biggest disappointment of 2010

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:13:31 +0000

@Angel – I’m hoping to get my hands on with Bioshock 2 to see if I indeed have that Nostradamus touch or if I will be pleasantly surprised. I’m hoping for the latter but your news does not bode well. Time will tell and I’ll be back with an official review when that copy shows up.

As a huge God of War fan, I’ve actually been looking to Dante’s Inferno with great anticipation. I think a full-out clone is fine if done well and that game, based on the demo, is dripping with atmosphere and production values. So thanks for the tip in that direction.

Same goes for Darksiders, which I just started last night. It’s a rip of Legend of Zelda, God of War and even Portal, of all things, and yet it cribs with style. I’m only about an hour in but for an early January release, it’s pretty damn fun.

One thing about this year – the normal doldrums have certainly not taken hold. Here’s hoping the steady stream of software flows through the summer as well.

By: Angel Munoz

Angel Munoz — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:41:19 +0000

@Ed: I played and finished Bioshock 2 this past weekend and I can say that it was extremely boring and convoluted. So while you may be backtracking on your original statement I on the contrary see it as a bit prophetic.

If anyone wants to play an interesting new game (and likes combo type games), get Dante’s Inferno instead. Now that was fun. And yes I know it was a rip from God of War, but still it was fun.

By: Ed

Ed — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:16:02 +0000

I wanted to clarify my statements in this article just in case anyone has any confusion – especially in light of the Blog title. I think “My Biggest Disappointment” is a misnomer as I’ve obviously not played Bioshock 2 yet, nor had any time with a preview build. The contents of this Blog are simply editorial opinion. As I looked out at the list of games that I’m just dying to play in 2010, Bioshock 2 was one of my most anticipated titles – and also – the one I am most wary of given my unabashed love for the original title, as well as its creator – Irrational Games. Irrational was behind System Shock 2 as well and there is no doubt that the seeds they planted in that cult classic bore fruit in Bioshock. Ken Levine runs a talented group of programmers, developers and above all – artisans – and their uninvolment in this project colored my pre-release ‘opinion’ greatly.
That said, I don’t mean to toss other development studios under the bus and recent comments that I’ve read in Game Informer - attributed to Ken Levine – show that he feels the property is in good hands. That makes me breathe a sigh of relief. If anything, I look at another beloved property which changed hands from the maiden effort to the sophomore release. That would be David Jaffe’s baby, God of War, whose baton was handed off to the Lead Animation Director, Cory Barlog, to helm the sequel. And that sequel was arguably as good – or better – than the original. If anything, it was bigger and a refinement of the core concepts. Another example would be The Legend of Zelda series which is Shigeru Miyamoto’s brainchild but has flourished under Eiji Aonuma’s watchful eye ever since Majora’s Mask. Both series are near and dear to my heart and both have been brought up just right. So, while the context of my posted opinion remains the same in that I do re-enter the world of Rapture slightly wary, I will indeed dive back in and hope to be brought along on another fantastic voyage. Nothing would make me happier than to be proven wrong. I live to play games and I love ‘em – and nothing rocks my world more than when my preconceptions are dashed against the rocks and I walk away completely blown away by the product.
Make me proud, 2K Games.

By: Ed

Ed — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 17:02:20 +0000

Honestly – when looking at the landscape of games I am just dying to play – Bioshock 2, the sequel to one of my most treasured game experiences – falls way down the list. Been there, done that. The point of my article though is that we all have games that we’re dying to play and at the end of the day, there’s bound to be disappointments. I just have a sneaking suspicion this will be one of them. I’d love to be proven wrong, however. That’s one of the reasons we consistently add games to our libraries – to have fun and garner new experiences.I agree with Bluebottle. If MP is absolutely a requirement for a publisher in this day and age, then go the Co-Op route to add value to the title if you can’t hang with the big boys of Halo and MW2 (again, strictly speaking in the console space).And Larry – I played MW2 and could take or leave it. I did it because it was there but I won’t revisit the single player and I’ve long tired of getting teabagged by foul-mouthed 13 year olds so I won’t be gaming in multiplayer either. So, in essence, you’re making my point.

By: Larry

Larry — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:54:39 +0000

Why so much thought about it? The game will likely be a lot of fun to play. Who cares if is is not the most perfect plot line? Like MW2 has any story at all.

By: Bluebottle

Bluebottle — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 10:29:54 +0000

Agree completely with this.What I can’t understand is, when looking to develop a multiplayer for the series, why they didn’t opt for co-op. Firstly – it’s all the rage, secondly – it’s a less crowded market area, and thirdly – SS2 had it and showed it can work in a similar title (albeit in a buggy form that could have done with more development time). Just seems like it would fit far more comfortably with the style of the series than a simple deathmatch mode.

By: Ed

Ed — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:12:51 +0000

@Bill – Thanks for the feedback. I will say that I’m quite sure I’ll end up diving into the depths once more but there was something about the first game (and all initial IP) that can never truly be replicated. As they say, you never forget your first time. : )

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 21:18:36 +0000

Great article. I don’t feel the way you do about Bioshock as a whole, but I understand how you feel in regards to sequels in general.