Ben's Busy Blog
My personal online journal of daily accomplishments and setbacks
Late to the Party: BioShockFriday, February 08, 2008
Inspired by this post over at Ascii Dreams, I started thinking about the games I've played. The games I finished, the unfinished and my pile of shame (Those games you never quite get to*) Why did a game wind up in one category or another? This was fruit for thought.
Of course, being your intrepid everyman, I am not reviewing your bleeding edge stuff. I'm casting my eyes backwards. In this frame of mind, I bring you Late to the Party.
BioShock - STATUS: Unfinished
Now how's this for an embarrassment? It's been out for months and I've barely left Fort Frolic! BioShock is a game I greatly respect and enjoy. I love it, and yet I'm turning it into a slog. When I come home tired from a day of work, it's just so easy to reach for a Tony Hawk or Crackdown, as opposed to the careful attentive playthrough that I feel BioShock deserves. So often, I'm loading it up like I need to punch a timeclock. Why? The rich environment and intricate narrative make it into a poundcake of a game for me. It's just heavy with goodness. When a story features the complex interplay of Randian philosophy versus selfishness and hubris, that's something that requires intensity and attention to detail. Now don't misunderstand me here. Bereft of its rich narrative, BioShock would be a pale imitation of itself, and wouldn't be a must-play experience. I wouldn't change a thing (aside from getting myself stuck inside a wall in Fort Frolic).
So things stays the same, I find myself home at the end of the day and thinking about unfinished projects, social obligations, and spending time with my lovely wife. When I can play something of my own choice, I rarely play BioShock, because when I play that game I want to have peace of mind. I want to be able to turn the sound up and the lights down. I want to know that I will not be interrupted. I don't get that enough. Oh BioShock, why are you such a selfish mistress?
* An amusing aside is that the 1UP Yours team actually managed a pile of shame squared by starting a feature about neglected games, and then neglecting that feature.
Of course, being your intrepid everyman, I am not reviewing your bleeding edge stuff. I'm casting my eyes backwards. In this frame of mind, I bring you Late to the Party.
BioShock - STATUS: Unfinished
Now how's this for an embarrassment? It's been out for months and I've barely left Fort Frolic! BioShock is a game I greatly respect and enjoy. I love it, and yet I'm turning it into a slog. When I come home tired from a day of work, it's just so easy to reach for a Tony Hawk or Crackdown, as opposed to the careful attentive playthrough that I feel BioShock deserves. So often, I'm loading it up like I need to punch a timeclock. Why? The rich environment and intricate narrative make it into a poundcake of a game for me. It's just heavy with goodness. When a story features the complex interplay of Randian philosophy versus selfishness and hubris, that's something that requires intensity and attention to detail. Now don't misunderstand me here. Bereft of its rich narrative, BioShock would be a pale imitation of itself, and wouldn't be a must-play experience. I wouldn't change a thing (aside from getting myself stuck inside a wall in Fort Frolic).
So things stays the same, I find myself home at the end of the day and thinking about unfinished projects, social obligations, and spending time with my lovely wife. When I can play something of my own choice, I rarely play BioShock, because when I play that game I want to have peace of mind. I want to be able to turn the sound up and the lights down. I want to know that I will not be interrupted. I don't get that enough. Oh BioShock, why are you such a selfish mistress?
* An amusing aside is that the 1UP Yours team actually managed a pile of shame squared by starting a feature about neglected games, and then neglecting that feature.
Labels: Bioshock, games, late to the party
