Bioshock is a remarkable first-person shooter released by 2K. However, to strictly call it a first person shooter does not do the game any justice.

On the surface, Bioshock is a first person shooter with your basic choice of weaponry: Wrench, Pistol, Shotgun, Machine Gun, Grenade Launcher etc…However, when you dig deeper, this game is so much more. You can alter your DNA with plasmids and turn yourself into a weapon. You can control, fire, electricity, use telekenisis, and many, many more biological upgrades. Words cannot express the joy of setting someone on fire so they run into water and then electrocuting them as they try and douse the flames.

And that’s not all folks. No, there are…things…called little sisters. They apparently used to be little girls who were genetically altered and you have to either rescue them or harvest them. However, before you make this decision you have to kill their guardian, a Big Daddy, which is a super fast guy in a diving suit, by the way, he’s crazy. So once you dispose of her guardian you are faced with the difficult decision of either killing the little girl or freeing her from her demons. Both choices have their ramifications within the game.

Although a large part of the game is combat, there is an incredible story going on here. The writers did such an amazing job through the usage of diaries and narratives from other characters to create a truly realistic environment. This is a story that will grip you and not let you go until you complete the game.

Moreover, this game plays differently than other shooters. You must use strategy, one cannot simply walk into a room and open fire. You need to think about what plasmids are best for certain situations and against certain enemies.

Not only does Bioshock play differently, it feels different also. Bursting pipes, creaks, groans, rust: every aspect of this now worn down city suck you into an atmosphere that can be described as abnormal.

Bioshock is beyond perfection, however. Once you have completed the game, unless you want to go back and try to find all the diaries, there is no real need to play through again. Although, many will want to play through anyhow just because the game is that good. Furthermore, one feature of the game that is flawed is the revival system. If a user dies, they are revived in a vita-chamber that is usually not too far from combat. The only problem is that there is no penalty for dying in Bioshock. You can die and keep getting revived as long as you like. This doesn’t necessarily break the game, however, it does detract slightly.

This game is unbelievable, if you own a good PC or an Xbox 360 you need to own this game. What I have described are only small facets to the story that is Bioshock.