A strong narrative, Elizabeth and stylish combat make it the winner

Dec 31, 2013 16:56 GMT  ·  By

There are video games that I have spent more time with than with BioShock Infinite over the past year, there are games that I dream of more, there are titles that I think I will remember when the newest release from Irrational Games is long forgotten.

But, for 2013, the new BioShock is my Game of the Year because it offers some awesome moments that none other could match and because it creates a unique experience that is flawed, yet deeply engaging.

The first hour of the game is almost disorienting and devoid of confrontation, focusing instead on the feeling that any one of us would get when being dropped in an altogether new world and the dissonance that it would create.

Elizabeth, invulnerable and somewhat enigmatic as she is, is a character filled to the brim with personality, intelligence and clear motivation.

One of the most interesting surprises that the new BioShock brings is the way players get to care more about their partner than about the hero they actually control.

Booker DeWitt has a backstory and is a tragic character in his own right, but he comes across as uncaring and somewhat stiff when compared to the mystery surrounding his young companion.

The actual shooter mechanics are also solid, expanding on the previous titles in the series and adding environmental elements that gamers can use to take out a variety of enemies, including the well-designed Patriots.

But BioShock Infinite could have been just another shooter, albeit a very enjoyable one, without its final third, the section where the shooting and the killing become less important as the narrative takes over.

Ken Levine has created a beautiful, complex ending to the game, filled with philosophical questions and discussions about the nature of reality and the essence of a video game’s existence.

Some might find it tiring and unnecessary, but I loved it enough to think about it for two weeks straight and debate various story elements with my friends for another two.