‘BioShock,’ An Underwater Horror Video Game Like No Other
2KBioShock takes place in an underwater city in ruins.
BioShock was released by 2K in 2007 — and almost immediately, it was considered one of the best scary video games of all time.
The story follows Jack, a plane crash survivor who discovers an underwater utopia called Rapture. The city was created for society’s elite to live outside of the confines of modern culture and government. Eventually, Rapture fell into ruin following uprisings, political and social issues, and the rampant misuse of gene-altering substances.
In the game, players must collect weapons and other items to make their way through the ruined city of Rapture while fighting off its mutated occupants. BioShock presents a wide variety of actions, including weapon usage, hacking, photography, and even eating to restore health.
Overall, the game set the standard for world-building and immersiveness. Players were immediately charmed by the design of Rapture and the intricate gameplay.
“To call this game simply a first-person shooter, a game that successfully fuses gameplay and narrative, is really doing it a disservice,” a 2007 IGN review read. “This game is a beacon. It’s one of those monumental experiences you’ll never forget, and the benchmark against which games for years to come will, and indeed must, be measured.”
