You’ve traveled below the ocean to Rapture in Irrational Games’ BioShock 1 & 2, now it’s time to soar above the clouds to Columbia in the thrilling, action-packed, and deeply emotional plot-filled first-person-shooter game, BioShock Infinite. This seemingly utopic floating city, founded and run by the enigmatic Zachary Comstock, contains hordes of religious zealots, anarchists, and various mechanical machinations. As Booker DeWitt, you must fight your way to top in order to find and rescue a young girl named Elizabeth. But Columbia has a dark protected secret, and it’s up to you to find out what that secret is.

When you first start BioShock Infinite, the year is 1912, and as with the first game, you begin in a lighthouse. The only difference is, you’re shot upwards in a rocket pod instead of descending below the depths in a submarine. The city of Columbia is a bright, shining, seemingly peaceful civilization who live free from what they term the, “Sodom below.” Former New York Pinkerton agent, Booker DeWitt (who was present at the Wounded Knee Massacre in 1890) is a hardened and emotionally disturbed man who lost his wife who died while giving birth to their daughter. He has turned to alcohol and gambling attempting to escape the pain. When a mysterious figure tasks him with traveling to Columbia to recover and deliver to them a young girl named Elizabeth, in exchange for a clean slate, he has little choice.

The city of Columbia is gorgeous to say the least: A bright, shining, floating metropolis – completely opposite from the decrepit and monster-infested Rapture from the first two games. Actually made up of several “islands,” the environment is what you might expect from a city of that era. Shops, town fairs, marketplaces, and homes all populated by sane, reasonable, and friendly citizens. At least that’s how it seems at first. DeWitt is almost immediately labeled as a, “false shepherd,” a sort of anti-Christ to the people of Columbia. A people who, it’s discovered, will fight, tooth and nail to defend their way of life. A way of life that has not progressed as it has in the world below them.

Players of BioShock Infinite will notice outdated, and at times disturbing social norms in Columbia. Racism and persecution of non-Whites is commonplace. Historic figures like Abraham Lincoln are branded as heretics and traitors. A deeply religious community, Columbia’s self-appointed Prophet, Zachary Hale Comstock is portrayed as Nathan Fillion once aptly said in an episode of Firefly, “a monster who thinks he’s right with God.” And the zealotry of his loyal citizens and personal army is not to be taken lightly.

The combat, though perhaps a bit repetitive, actually flows rather well. And of course included in the mix is one of the factors that makes this a BioShock game: A substance called Vigor (Plasmids) — special serums that afford the imbiber certain powers. The inclusion of Vigors while you battle your way through Comstock’s soldiers is seamless. The only time it isn’t is when you decide which Vigors you want to use. You have the option of 2 at any given time (same with guns, more on that later), but you will collect 8 throughout the course of the story. And they’re all integral; so don’t worry about walking by/missing any in the large landscape that is Columbia. All Vigors have 2 functions: tap the button once to use it instantly, hold and release to prepare a trap for unwary enemies who (quite literally) step in it. It is possible for your power pool (or Salts as the game calls it) to run dry. Luckily, refills are fairly common. Plus, every Vigor has upgrades you can purchase at the various vending machines you’ll find. However (and this is one of my only issues with combat in this game), it’s likely you’ll find a use for 3 or 4 specific Vigors and neglect the rest. As money is somewhat scarce in BioShock Infinite, it must be spent wisely.

Of course, BioShock is a first-person-shooter, and what kind of first-person-shooter would it be without guns? (Well…actually it would be Skyrim) Like the Vigors, all guns can be upgraded for a modest fee at vending machines, but also like Vigors, you can only “equip” 2 guns at a time. Even though there are several types of weapons in this game, you will most likely find yourself concentrating on a few and ignoring the rest (for example, I completely ignored Rocket Launchers/RPGs on my first playthrough). The player is, however, free to choose how they spend their money, but keep in mind that a balanced approach (alternating between shooting and using Vigors) is probably the best way to go, even if it feels like a “Jack of all trades, master of none.” Melee is also a feasible option however, it’s far more likely you’ll rely on shooting your way though the enemies you’ll be facing. However, if you decide to build your defense around smacking your foes, keep a look out for boxes containing “gear.” These are pieces of equipment that give minor but helpful bonuses. For instance, one piece might dramatically increase your melee capability, while another might make your weapons stronger. You can wear 4 pieces at a time, each with a different bonus.

One last note about combat is use of a shield (a la Borderlands): A yellow meter above your life gauge that will deplete and refill after a couple seconds of not being hit. It starts out small, but after locating several in-game items called Infusions, the player can choose to slightly upgrade health, salts, or the shield. Many of these Infusions are hidden and must be found. It is recommended that you find as many as you can, as they really do help. How you choose to upgrade your stats is your own choice.

When you do finally succeed in locating your target, the mysterious Elizabeth, she does what many video game followers don’t…she helps! I’m not kidding – Elizabeth is a lifesaver, literally. She will frequently toss you health, money, ammo, and salt vials when you need them most. Not only that, her special ability allows her to open rifts in the space time continuum to create walls for cover, hooks for climbing to otherwise inaccessible areas, or summon minions to help you in battle. Out of combat, she will also stop and alert you to items on the ground that you may have missed. Elizabeth’s help is a much-welcome addition to a game that can quickly overwhelm you if you’re not cautious.

When all is said and done, BioShock Infinite is a masterpiece of a game. Sure, it has its minor problems, but what game doesn’t? Combat is intense and satisfying if a bit repetitive and disjointed at times. The setting of Columbia is visually stunning, and always changing so you never feel like you’re visiting the same area twice. The AI is clever enough to keep you interested, and in Elizabeth’s case, helpful enough to make you appreciate it. As for the ending of the game, I won’t say anything to spoil it. But believe me when I tell you: you can theorize and speculate all you want, but you won’t see the ending coming, and when it comes, it hits you like a ton of bricks. I give BioShock Infinite a 9.5/10. Amazing game! I highly recommend it.

Gameplay 8.5 Graphics 9 Story 10 Overall 9.5

Thanks for reading.