a fantastic game, but not quite up to par with the original in terms of atmosphere and story.
I think what makes this review more difficult is that the game must obviously and inveitably be compared to the original BioShock, and perhaps that game just set the bar so high that a slight letdown was possible, if not likely. In any event, when judged on its own merrits, this is still a fantastic game and well worth playing, though I can't help but feel it doesn't stack up to its predacessor.
CAMPAIGN:
This is where I felt the game let me down slightly. Its still absolutely beautiful to look at, and the gameplay, just as in the first game, it solid and well implimented. There are a few graphical pop-in and frame rate drops, but that shouldn't detract from your enjoyment too much, as the game still offers some fantastic combat and set amidst a unique, stunning, and memorable gameworld.
The two complaints I have are only personal insights, and not technical hinderances, though I feel they are nonetheless important to illustrate. Both of those complaints are unavoidably related to a comparison of the original game.
Storywise, the game was more than adequate, but still somehow didn't stack up to the original. As opposed to playing as a person, you will play as the first Big Daddy this go-round, and the story will further explore the relationship between the Big Daddys and the Little Sisters they are linked to. While this was an interesting and obvious attempt to give a different perspective and objective to the game, it just somehow wasn't quite as immersive as the previous game's story. Playing as a Big Daddy means you'll move about more slowly, and progression can often feel cumbersome compared to the first game (in which you played as a person who could move about more freely). Aside from that, it just doesn't hold the same atmospheric impact. When you arrived in Rapture the first time, you felt intimidated and truly vulnerable. The enemies were larger and more menacing than yourself, and you truly felt a sense of claustrophobia and isolation, as your leaky surroundings seemed to pose a threat in and of itself. That aspect of atmosphere is somewhat lacking here in the sequel. There are still some surprises and atmosphere here, and the story is certainly interesting, but it just doesn't quite hit on the same level in terms of relevance and intensity (as compared to BioShock 1)
To me personally, I just felt there were avenues or opportunities for a more flushed out or interesting story here. Its a personal taste thing, but I would have prefered to play as another human character, with a greater sense of danger, atmosphere, and vulnerability. Playing as a Big Daddy had some interesting back-story and technical interests, but those seemed to come at the expense of the overall atmosphere. Simply put, this second journey into Rapture just doesn't feel as intimidating or interesting.
Furthermore, the campaign just seemed to not be as detailed as in the first game, and while you still had to move about various themed areas, those areas weren't nearly as detailed as in the original game, and didn't contain the same sense of exploration. In BioShock, you often took your time to explore and investigate every little nook and cranny, whereas in BioShock 2, many areas seem like they're just there to be paced through. Part of this relates to them being more streamlined. In the original BioShock you would often re-visit the past areas, whereas BioShock 2 is a more linear journey, in which you'll leave most sections never to reaturn. Even the areas that could have been very interesting, were slight letdowns. For example, playing as a Big Daddy means you now have access to some underwater areas outside of the city, as in the ocean floor, but these areas (which could have been very intrigueing) were generally dull and uninspired. They looked great, but lacked the combat or exploration elements you'd come to expect from the rest of the game.
Again, I don't want to sound overly negative, this is a very interesting and enjoyable campaign, it just didn't have the same impact that the original had.
MULTIPLAYER
The multiplayer portion of BioShock 2 was actually a pleasant surprise to me. Its not that I expected it to be bad, I just didn't expect it to be good. In so many games, the online maps feel like they're stripped down or more streamlined than the rest of the game, but the multiplayer maps in BioShock 2 capture the feeling and style of the game more closely than any other online game I've played to date. All the weapons, skills, plasmids and abilities are unlockable, and you can do things like hack turrets, set up traps, and such just like in the game. You can customize your character and their set-ups with lots of detail, and generally speaking the online battles are not only addictive and fun, but very interesting. There is the expected free-for-all and team deathmatch match types, but there is also some game specific matches, such as ones where you must capture or protect the little sisters.
Positives are plentifull, but there are also a few negatives and frustrations.
The biggest frustration with the online component is found in the balancing. Moreso than any other game I've played, you'll have to grind some levels before you're competitive. The weapons, skills, and abilities unlocked by progression are very interesting, but not having them is a massive dissadvantage early on. If you're a level 3 just starting out, and you come across a team of higher level players who have the unlockable superior plasmids and abilities, you're in for a rough go. This also relates to the inclusion of the Big Daddy. At random points during the game, a message may indicate that a Big Daddy suit has appeared in the level somewhere. Getting this suit is a huge advantage, and actually one that is a little too one-sided, as it can often completely turn the tide of a battle. The suit can take quite a bit of damage, so it allows the player lucky enough to find it, the ability to romp around for some easy kills. Furthermore, a common tactic is for the other players on your team to follow you around, essentially using you (as a big daddy) as a shield of sorts. Later on, when you have some powerfull weapons and plasmids unlocked, taking one of the Daddy-players down isn't too bad, but coming across them early (say prior to reaching level 10+) can be intimidating and frustrating to say the least.
The other aspect of importance with the online is the actual skills and abilities themselves, as they can be both a blessing and a curse. For people who love the lore and concept of BioShock, it is fantastic fun to be weilding the plasmid abilities in online combat, but be forewarned, not all of your teamates will "get it".
For example, the online levels contain the aspects you'd use in the campaign; items can be hurled with telekinesis, oil spills can be set ablaze with incinerate, puddles of water can be electified with electric bolt and so forth. Some players will use these strategically and properly, creating some exciting and interesting encounters, but often times your own teamates will become a hinderance. Simply put, fire spreads. If your teamate catches on fire, he can injure his own team by touching them (as the fire will spread to any players the emblazened player touches). This also relates to the oil spills; if your teamate uses his incinerate fire ability near an oil spill that your near or on, he can set you ablaze aswell. The stupidity of some online players will definitely be noticeable.
Generally speaking, the online portion of BioShock 2 is well done, and will be one of the more unique online multiplayers you're likely to find.
OVERALL
I hope this review didn't sound too negative, as thus was not my intention. This is a very good game, and contains great gameplay, story, and the inclusion of the online multiplayer is a bonus (in fact, its probably one of my favorite online experiences).
That said, when it comes to the story and atmosphere, this sequel is still a noticeable step behind its predacessor.