Advanced Search >
Help Me Search

Games

Sony

PS3 | PSP | PS2 | PS One

Microsoft

Xbox 360 | Xbox

Nintendo

Wii | DS | GBA | Cube | N64

Other Platforms

PC | N-Gage | Dreamcast

Upcoming &
Recent Releases

sort by namesort by score

46 .detuned
xx Agarest: Generations of War
xx Aliens vs. Predator
74 Army of Two: The 40th Day
91 Assassin's Creed II
62 Assassin's Creed II: Battle of Forli
xx Assault Heroes
64 Bakugan Battle Brawlers
76 Band Hero
xx Battlefield: Bad Company 2
86 Bayonetta
89 BioShock 2
xx Blur
83 Borderlands
60 Borderlands: Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot
82 Borderlands: The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned
93 Braid
83 Brutal Legend
80 Buzz! Quiz World
78 Call of Duty Classic
94 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
xx Chaotic: Shadow Warriors
76 Dante's Inferno
59 Dark Void
82 Darksiders
67 Diner Dash
86 DJ Hero
87 Dragon Age: Origins
57 Dragon Ball: Raging Blast
70 EyePet
53 Fairytale Fights
91 FIFA Soccer 10
87 Final Fantasy XIII
xx Fret Nice
xx Frogger Returns
91 God of War Collection
xx God of War III
72 Gravity Crash
60 Guitar Hero: Van Halen
93 Heavy Rain
80 Hustle Kings
69 Hyperballoid HD
60 James Cameron's Avatar: The Game
xx Jurassic: The Hunted
xx Karaoke Revolution
70 LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
75 LEGO Rock Band
xx Madagascar Kartz
60 Madden NFL Arcade
75 MAG
xx Major League Baseball 2K10
66 Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond
xx Military Madness: Nectaris
75 Mushroom Wars
77 MX vs. ATV Reflex
xx NBA Unrivaled
75 NCAA Basketball 10
93 Peggle
xx Peggle Nights
86 PixelJunk Shooter
50 Planet 51
71 Polar Panic
78 Pro Evolution Soccer 2010
xx Puzzlegeddon
87 Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in Time
66 Revenge of the Wounded Dragons
xx Rock Band Metal Track Pack
27 Rogue Warrior
72 Saboteur, The
53 Scene It? Bright Lights! Big Screen!
73 SingStar Take That
xx Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing
71 Star Ocean: The Last Hope International
64 Star Trek: D-A-C
79 Tekken 6
xx Thexder NEO
44 Tony Hawk: RIDE
83 Trine
96 Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
55 Vancouver 2010: The Official Videogame of the Winter Olympic Games
68 Vandal Hearts: Flames of Judgment
67 Way of the Samurai 3
55 Where the Wild Things Are
63 White Knight Chronicles (International Edition)
xx Winter Sports 2010: The Great Tournament
81 WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010

Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.

BioShock

EMAILPRINTps3

BioShock
94
8.0 User Score:

Game Info

Publisher: 2K Games

Developer: 2K Marin, 2K Boston, 2K Australia, Digital Extremes

Genre(s): First-Person Shooter

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: October 21, 2008

Summary

Going beyond "run and gun corridors," "monster-closet AIs" and static worlds, BioShock creates a living, unique and unpredictable FPS experience. After your plane crashes into icy uncharted waters, you discover a rusted bathysphere and descend into Rapture, a city hidden beneath the sea. Constructed as an idealistic society for a hand picked group of scientists, artists and industrialists, the idealism is no more. Now the city is littered with corpses, wildly powerful guardians roam the corridors as little girls loot the dead, and genetically mutated citizens ambush you at every turn. Take control of your world by hacking mechanical devices, commandeering security turrets and crafting unique items critical to your very survival. Upgrade your weapons with ionic gels, explosives and toxins to customize them to the enemy and environment. Genetically modify your body through dozens of Plasmid Stations scattered throughout the city, empowering you with fantastic and often grotesque abilities. Explore a living world powered by Ecological A.I., where the inhabitants have interesting and consequential relationships with one another that impact your gameplay experience. Experience truly next generation graphics that vividly illustrate the forlorn art deco city, highlighted by the most detailed and realistic water effects ever developed in a video game. Make meaningful choices and mature decisions, ultimately culminating in the grand question: do you exploit the innocent survivors of Rapture...or save them? [2K Games]

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)

A remarkable achievement, a triumph of gameplay and narrative that everyone should choose to play. [Nov 2008, p.70]

100

GamePro

There's no doubt that Bioshock is one of the finest FPS games ever made and the PS3 port is stellar through and through. [Nov 2008, p.103]

100

Meristation

Bioshock is a masterpiece and it has not lost its shine. It´s one of the most visually amazing games you can find in PS3, Rapture is still a breathtaking scenario, the combat mechanic is rich and demand the player to be creative and think on a tactical way instead of the usual mindless approach, and overall, is one of the most magnificent games you can add to your collection.

Read Full Review >
100

1UP

BioShock remains one of the most impressive and (if you never had the chance to play spiritual predecessor "System Shock 2") fresh first-person shooters around.

Read Full Review >
100

GameSpy

It's perhaps most telling that although we have already played BioShock a bunch of times on other platforms, it's still every bit as intoxicating on the PS3. In fact, the temptation to complete additional playthroughs proved too much to bear as we immediately began a new game after finishing it the first time around.

Read Full Review >
100

Eurogamer

Is BioShock the greatest game of all time? I honestly don't know, but it's one of the most interesting and immersive experiences to grace our beloved medium.

Read Full Review >
100

G4 TV

A classic in every sense of the word.

Read Full Review >
100

Gamervision

BioShock presents moral choices that haven’t been successfully achieved in gaming before. It takes risks, demolishes taboos, and is still one of the most impressive titles ever released. While the game is not perfect I cannot bring myself to give it any less than a perfect score. It is easily one of the best games ever made, and one of the most entertaining experiences ever created. The plot rivals great novels and the voice acting and animation trump some of the best movies.

Read Full Review >
100

Gaming Age

The game plays wonderfully -almost to a literal pick-up-and-play extent.

Read Full Review >
100

Playstation Official Magazine UK

It's a triple lightning strike of character, freedom and sound. [Dec 2008, p.90]

100

Gaming Nexus

Last year’s spectacular action/shooter/RPG-lite finally makes its way to the PS3. If you haven’t already tried this on a different platform, do yourself a favor and pick it up.

Read Full Review >
100

Game Revolution

Bioshock is that rare game where the plot, environment, and combat are all steps above the normal video game experience. Games at their very best, like this one, can create amazing alternative worlds for us to inhabit, doing those things we can't do in real life. This is one product the free market should be very happy to have.

Read Full Review >
100

LEVEL (Czech Republic)

An improved version of the blockbuster game can’t get anything else then 10 out of 10. A stylish world, uneasy atmosphere, different options to solve different problems, super-abilities... plus mad and nightmarish opponents. [Dec 2008]

100

PTGamers

BioShock PS3 stood the test of time and maintains all the qualities that made the previous versions a classic. Not to be missed by anyone.

Read Full Review >
100

Game Chronicles

With stunning visuals, immersive sound, and an epic story, BioShock hearkens back to a time of fantasy and wonder, blending elements of Jules Verne and John Carpenter into a cinematic masterpiece of sci-fi horror that you won’t want to miss. I said it last year on the Xbox and I’ll say it again this year on the PS3 - I can’t think of any game more deserving of a perfect ten than BioShock.

Read Full Review >
98

Play.tm

This is still the Big Daddy of action games, the benchmark by which stories and environments will be measured. An essential purchase.

Read Full Review >
95

Kombo

BioShock is still the game it was a year ago and is an amazing entry for the PlayStation 3's line-up.

Read Full Review >
95

Playstation Universe

Despite being over a year old, Rapture shines through the dark sea like a lighthouse on a foggy night. 2K Games has delivered on its promise in providing PS3 owners with an equally impressive port as the original.

Read Full Review >
95

ZTGameDomain

The game is a masterpiece that deserves to be experienced by everyone who calls themselves a gamer. If you have already been through the vistas of Rapture there is little here to warrant a return visit, however if you have managed to remain closed off from the story it is definitely worth the trip.

Read Full Review >
95

WonderwallWeb

Only a slight improvement on the Xbox original, but if you have not played that yet then this is the perfect opportunity to see what all of the fuss has been about over the past year.

Read Full Review >
95

3DJuegos

Bioshock is one of the best video games for PlayStation 3. As simple as that. Its duration of 10 hours and its absence of multiplayer mode do not cloud one of the most frightening and at the same time captivating experiences that can be lived at this moment. This is an innovating, funny and exciting game. Technologically very advanced, it is a new attempt to get to the highest degree of videogaming.

Read Full Review >
95

GameZone

This is a game that melds story and action, philosophy and insanity, gives pause for introspection while urging you along a designed course. It is the high-bar in the field, on one hand, but on the other, it creates its own genre.

Read Full Review >
95

TotalPlayStation

It's unfortunate that the game is a year late coming to the PS3 in a hectic season full of fantastic games, but it's still up there with the best of them and is most certainly worth playing if you haven't yet experienced it.

Read Full Review >
94

IGN

If you never experienced the halls of Rapture and have been waiting for its appearance on the PS3, there really is no discussion to be had. Go out and get your hands on Bioshock -- you will thoroughly enjoy exploring the incredible story and the excellent action that the game is known for.

Read Full Review >
94

GamingTrend

Containing all of the downloadable content from the other two versions, as well as a fantastic story to boot, Bioshock is an incredible title.

Read Full Review >
94

Cheat Code Central

BioShock for PS3 may not be as impressive as I thought it was going to be, but that’s not to say it isn’t the definitive version; it is. And the definitive version of one of the best console games ever made spells “must-buy” for the uninitiated. Nevertheless, the lack of Challenge Rooms was rather disappointing, but, thankfully, many of the glitches have been resolved.

Read Full Review >
93

Extreme Gamer

Bioshock is still one of the best shooters ever released and it goes without saying, if you haven’t played Bioshock yet, you need to experience what the hype is all about.

Read Full Review >
93

Play UK

After another year of middling shooters, BioShock is as complex and hypnotic as it was in 2007. It’s an imperfect first-person shooter, and the quality swerves erratically towards the end, but the PS3 port has been handled gracefully.

Read Full Review >
93

PSM3 Magazine UK

With so much invention, intrigue and genuine brilliance packed into twelve hours of game-play, you just can't afford not to (pick up a copy). [Nov 2008, p.22]

93

PSX Extreme

Bioshock is one of the most superbly haunting and unique gaming experiences you will play for a long time...With an amazing story, diverse gameplay, brilliant atmosphere, solid visuals, and incredible audio, Bioshock is one of the most complete adventures out there.

Read Full Review >
92

Games Master UK

Unless you own a Wii, there's no excuse not to enjoy one of the best games in years. [Dec 2008, p.82]

92

Worth Playing

Bioshock will undoubtedly become one of the classic games that define this generation of gaming.

Read Full Review >
92

DailyGame

It's tempting to dismiss the game since it's been on the Xbox 360 for a year, but when the experience is this rewarding the second time around, the core game is definitely worth your attention, even if the downloadable content may not hold it.

Read Full Review >
92

GameFocus

If you’ve played the 360 version then you know exactly what you’re getting. If you’re new to the franchise, prepare yourself for one of the most satisfying and immersive first person shooter out on the market today. BioShock is a great game but what makes it incredible is its brilliant approach to making you emotionally invested in the game.

Read Full Review >
90

PS3bloggen.se

PlayStation 3 players are in for a treat when they descend into Rapture for the first time. The story may be linear, but it's extremely engaging, and the 1950's design is sublime.

Read Full Review >
90

Gamers' Temple

BioShock a year later is still a fantastic experience, and its still a game that every gamer should play.

Read Full Review >
90

Gameplanet

No major graphical updates here, nor has the story been modified in any meaningful way. But, it's BioShock, and therefore a must-buy for any platform it's available on.

Read Full Review >
90

DarkStation

Bioshock is an absolutely fantastic game and one of the best of this generation first on the 360, and now just as good on the PS3.

Read Full Review >
90

Eurogamer Portugal

Still, we stand before a memorable and highly recommendable game to the lovers of quality. An amazing story like few nowadays and a mixture of very well recreated elements that once again make Bioshock a game to have in mind.

Read Full Review >
90

GameSpot

Intriguing moral choices and a chilling story make BioShock a must-play adventure, even a year later.

Read Full Review >
90

NZGamer

One of the best survival action adventures you’ll come-across. To be experienced with dimmed lights, the sound cranked up and a pair of diapers handy.

Read Full Review >
90

Game Informer

BioShock was undoubtedly the best game of 2007, but after a year with so little extra polish, its luster has diminished slightly.

Read Full Review >
90

TheSixthAxis

Bioshock is one of those once-in-a-lifetime games. Think "Super Mario World"; "Legend of Zelda"; "Ocarina of Time"; "Halo," genre defining classics that are still just as stunning years later. It’s a richly constructed, lavish game which wraps you up from the first second to the last, and yes, the PS3 version is every bit as brilliant as 2007’s Xbox 360 version.

Read Full Review >
90

Gamer.nl

BioShock's arrival on the PS3 is long overdue, but it's still a lot of fun to play through. BioShock is still a must-have for every PS3 owner. The graphics haven't aged that well, but it's not that much of a problem, because if you start with the game you'll have a hard time putting down the controller.

Read Full Review >
90

VideoGamer

BioShock is still as powerful an interactive experience as it was a year ago. It's lost none of its freshness, its newness or its impact. It's the thinking man's shooter and poster boy for the 'games are art' brigade. On PS3 it still is.

Read Full Review >
90

Games Radar (in-house)

Really, though, the only glaring weakness we can find in BioShock is that it may be too unusual, too original, too artistic and too genius to be embraced by the general public. Please don't let this game become that forgotten, one-of-a-kind masterpiece. We need sequels. We need more.

Read Full Review >
90

GameDaily

With the addition of PS3 trophies, all of the Xbox 360 version's downloadable content and a bonus Survivor Mode (which makes enemies tougher and ammo harder to come by), BioShock is a must play.

Read Full Review >
88

GamingXP

Before you know what is going on, you are a witness to a murder. From this point on in the story, the only motto of the game is: Survive or die! Great gameplay guaranteed!

Read Full Review >
85

PALGN

For those who haven't already been down to Rapture, Bioshock is an experience not to be missed.

Read Full Review >
80

Playstation Official Magazine Australia

And while 2K make up for this downgrade via added content, this isn't as extensive as we had hoped. [December 2008, p.64]

80

Level7.nu

Bioshock for the PS3 is, like it was on Xbox 360, one heck of an fps-adventure. It's also still a tad bit linear and monotonous at times. But despite these minor flaws this is still a game where design and atmosphere sets the mark for other developers to aim for. Everything from your moral choices to the interconnected mythology of Rapture is intriguing and a must have for those who haven't experienced the Xbox 360 counterpart yet since this version is just as good in every way.

Read Full Review >

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 149 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

aspen titan gave it a7:
I enjoyed Bioshock but it is overrated at 94. When it first came out I think it may have deserved this score but since then many games have come out with lower ratings that are better than this game. Bioshock was just ahead of the curve so to speak and this game is fortunate to get high ratings just for being one of the first games out that was actually a good next generation console game/port. After browsing the PS3 lineup now, this game gets pushed way back. Bioshock had a real nice atmosphere and some great sound and cinematics but I was annoyed by many things in this game. The first is an outdated game called pipedream that is really (now in 2010) a cell phone application game which acts as a puzzle to various items to hack. I didn’t like pipedream in 1996 or whenever it came out and to be packaged into this game annoyed me a lot. The other thing I disliked was the vita chamber glitch. If you died while firing a machine gun and you respawned to a vita chamber your gun would continue to unload all it bullets until you stopped it manually. The map in this game was a little confusing and should have been done better as well. It kind of looked like a football play map at times with so many arrows pointing everywhere to define which rooms were attached to each other. I also found the story quite uninteresting and many aspects of the fantasy unbelievable to lame. I think they could have created a more imaginative way to distribute ammo. Just having vending machines lying around in the context of the story seemed to ruin the whole credibility of the story they were trying to go with. I was also very frustrated by the lag of the hypo’s. Making the game difficult in this respect was ok, but it became overly frustrating and annoying. Anyway, despite what I think that this game had a lot of shortcomings I would recommend this game to play, mostly it was very enjoyable, just in my mind it was around a high 7 to low 8, not nearly as fantastic as the ratings suggest. Since there is no online it is really difficult to replay and enjoy a second time since most of the appreciation of this game is tied to the stunning atmosphere. By a second play you are not as “WOW’d” as when you initially purchase and play. But give it a try. I doubt anyone could be fully disappointed in this title. Bioshock contained some of the best scenes and sound effects in any game I’ve ever played and these scenes and sounds deserve to be experienced by all gamers, especially now that you can easily find this game for under $20.

Dave L gave it a9:
Great game. Love how the controls fit so nicely to the PS3 version. Definitely a must play. The only problem I have is that you have to buy the add-on to get all the trophies. From what Ive heard the add-on is good, but not fully worth the $10. Still, extremely fun game.

Ole T gave it a0:
Hate the controlls, and there is no alternative one. Hate the aim sensitivity, kind of similar to Half Hife 2 ps3(The Orange Box). Dont know about story, since this game was unplayable for me, using a ps3 controller. No doubt this was ment playing on a computer.

Tye S gave it a10:
One things that games struggle to accomplish where their cinematic brethren achieve is a sense immersion. Bioshock's city of Rapture has such deep atmosphere, backstory, and life that you get sucked into its eerie world and don't want to leave until the credits roll. The gameplay is new and refreshing and also its sense of choice made me want to explore every nook and cranny of Rapture's world. Even if there was a Big Daddy waiting around the corner to make me piss my pants.

Emil S gave it a10:
This has to be one of my favorite games of all time. I have gotten all achievements for it and have replayed it 10 times since. The story is unforgettable. Yes, if you are a CoD fanatic then save yourself the trouble and don't buy it, since you are going to complain about it not being the greatest shooter. This game excels in its environment, story and its unique plasmid system.

Fuzzy M gave it a10:
This game was amazing. Sure the gameplay was a little boring, not the best FPS ever made, but the story! Oh, the story. It was just amazing.

Euan F gave it a10:
this game has got it all: incredible graphics, amazing storyline, great gameplay, tons of atmosphere, ingenius originality, fascinating and tough enemies and you can play the game and 'customize' your main man to the way you see fit. the game is so in-depth, so involving, and with the massive plot twist, so affecting. apart from the stupidly annoying hack system and the stupid noise the camera's make when you get into their sights, there isn't anything i don't like about this game.

Read more user comments >

Popular on CBS sites: College Signing Day | Olympics | Lost | iPhone | Cell Phones | Video Game Reviews | Free Music

About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2010 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy (UPDATED) | Terms of Use