BioShock 2

Before Disney’s animation department suddenly woke up with a conscience, the studio was actively churning out sequels to its legendary cartoons, and the results were, to put it mildly, questionable. Outsourced Chinese animators carefully copied classic characters, after which the new parts were sent straight to VHS (and later to DVD). This is how sequels to Aladdin, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King and even Beauty and the Beast were born. Alas, this did not bring joy: the characters looked strange, could suddenly change their gait, facial expressions or even voice, and there was something alarming in their eyes – as if they themselves understood what kind of nightmare they found themselves in. BioShock 2 is just such a sequel. The only difference is that they spared neither budget nor resources for its production, and maybe even invested more than in the original. The problem is different: the people who took on the project were smart, talented, clearly educated and pleasant to talk to, but, unfortunately, not as brilliant as Ken Levine.

BioShock 2 Free Steam Account

Bioshock 2 was released in early 2010 and immediately became an important event for gamers. After the phenomenal success of the first part, fans were waiting for something equally powerful and memorable – with the same deep plot, atmosphere and gameplay. However, the reaction to the sequel was mixed.

On the one hand, the developers really tried: they pulled up the graphics, added new mechanics, improved optimization and made the game more dynamic. On the other hand, the story no longer caused the same delight as in the original. Nevertheless, playing as a Big Daddy, making his way through the gloomy corridors of the underwater Rapture in search of his daughter, was incredibly atmospheric. Critics noted the non-linearity of the narrative and the presence of as many as six endings, which, although they did not radically change the ending, still added variability. Moral dilemmas also remained – whether to kill enemies or spare, whether to save the Little Sisters or sacrifice them? Many players felt that Bioshock 2 was just a shadow of the original, but if you give it a second chance, you can see its own strengths. The game doesn’t feel like just “big DLC” – it’s a full-fledged sequel, albeit not directly connected to the first part, but still organically integrated into the universe.

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For me personally, it was an incredible adventure. Rapture was once again mesmerizing with its locations, and battles with different types of Daddies and Big Sisters turned into a real challenge. The developers clearly paid attention to detail – there were more objects, improved lighting, and the graphics looked decent for their time. Optimization was also a pleasant surprise – the game worked much more stably than many projects of that era (yes, I’m looking at you, Crysis and The Witcher 2). After several playthroughs and getting to know the Minerva’s Lair DLC, I came to the conclusion that Bioshock 2 is primarily about the gameplay. Yes, the plot is no longer shocking, but the gameplay itself pleases with a variety of tactical possibilities. It’s a pity that many underestimated the sequel – after all, it’s still a cool and exciting game that deserves attention.

Game mechanics and gameplay

Bioshock 2 inherited most of the mechanics from the first part, but the developers did not just copy them, but significantly improved and refined them. Some elements of the gameplay remained unchanged, but others became more convenient and dynamic.
Despite the fact that we now play as Big Daddy, the difference in sensations is minimal. The character still moves dexterously, and his dimensions are almost not felt – as if you are playing for the same Jack from the first part. Only in the moments when the hero goes out into the open water space, his mass begins to be felt: steps become heavy, and diving into the ocean is more atmospheric thanks to gravity and a magnificent soundtrack.

But the most important innovation is the redesigned plasmid system. In the first part, you constantly had to switch between weapons and plasmids, which interfered with dynamic battles. Here, Daddy uses a weapon in one hand, and plasmids in the other. This makes the battles much more convenient, faster and more spectacular.
If we talk about dynamics, Bioshock 2 is not inferior to other first-person shooters. In terms of speed and spectacularity of battles, the game can easily compete with BioShock Infinite or even the Doom series (yes, perhaps the comparison is not ideal, but you get the idea).

However, it was not without its drawbacks. For some reason, the developers did not add new plasmids, which is quite strange, because they were the ones that distinguished the series from other shooters. It would be logical to be inspired by the future Infinite and come up with several new abilities that would be combined with firearms. But they worked much better with the weapons. Some samples are familiar from the first part, but they were reworked. For example, instead of a magnum, a rivet gun appeared, and the Thompson was replaced with a regular machine gun. Shotguns, cameras and grenade launchers remained unchanged, but some weapons received new types of ammunition:

• Phosphorus Shotgun Ammo – Deals additional damage
• Harpoon Rocket for Crossbow – Pierces enemies through and through
• Drill Charge – Allows you to quickly attack enemies

By the way, Big Daddy’s drill turned out to be an excellent replacement for the legendary wrench from the first part. In addition to standard attacks, you can now make powerful dashes, which makes fights even more spectacular. This moment is one of the main improvements to the gameplay.
The hacking system is worth mentioning separately. Instead of boring puzzles with pipes, a more dynamic mechanic is now used – press the button in time while the arrow moves through the zones. Hacking has become more convenient, does not distract from the main process and even brings pleasure.

Moreover, a Hacking Device has appeared, which allows you to remotely open mechanisms and even install portable turrets. This gives scope for tactical preparation before the battle. For example, you can install turrets in advance, strengthen them with mine rivets, add regular mines and stretch electric wires around the perimeter. Yes, this is complete madness, but it is precisely such opportunities that make the gameplay varied and truly exciting. If you play on a high difficulty level, Bioshock 2 becomes a serious challenge even for experienced players. On “hard” you have to count every resource, and, frankly, it was easier to complete the first part.

Economy in BioShock 2: Scarcity as the Art of Balance

The economic system in BioShock 2 is a real challenge for the player. There is never an excess of resources, and the higher the difficulty, the more you feel the lack of everything – ammo, first aid kits, Eve, money. If on easy difficulty levels you can still afford some excesses, then on “hard” every resource is worth its weight in gold.

The main features of the economy in the game:

• Fuel for the drill – at first there is enough of it, but after the dash appears, the consumption increases several times, and eventually you have to buy fuel in vending machines.
• First aid kits – are not so rare, but due to constant battles they are spent very quickly. By hacking a machine with treatment, you can get a first aid kit as a gift.
• The maximum inventory (5 first aid kits and 5 Eve injections) almost never remains full – resources are spent faster than they are replenished.
• Money – there is never enough of it, it is almost impossible to save it, because you have to constantly spend it on ammo and treatment.
• Hacking vending machines and safes is an important part of survival. It gives additional supplies and motivates the player to hack everything possible.

The game does not allow you to relax – any encounters, be it simple mutants, mini-bosses, Big Daddies or Big Sisters, force you to spend everything you have.

Enemies have become even more dangerous

While the first part had relatively few enemies – regular mutants, spiders, mages, bombers, drones and Big Daddies – BioShock 2 added new threats to the list.

New enemies in BioShock 2:

• Tank Bruisers – even more powerful and durable versions of standard mutants.
• Alpha Daddies – stronger and more aggressive versions of Big Daddies.
• Additional types of Big Daddies – now they differ in appearance and combat tactics.
• Big Sister – a fast, deadly enemy that appears after every three Little Sisters are saved or killed.

The Big Sister is a real nightmare. She moves fast, attacks furiously, uses telekinesis and literally destroys everything around her. Dealing with her is a challenge even for the most experienced players. The costs of the fight always exceed the reward: it takes a lot of ammo, first aid kits and Eve, and in return – a little adam, first aid kits and money. Thank you, of course, but the price of victory is too high. The same goes for protecting Little Sisters during adam collection. This mechanic adds dynamics to the game – you have to protect the Sister from a horde of mutants, but when you die, all progress is reset, and you have to collect adam again.

BioShock 2 System Requirements

How to play BioShock 2 for free on Steam via VpeSports

Want to relive the underwater Rapture and feel like a real Big Daddy in BioShock 2 without spending money? We have a solution! We provide access to the game through shared Steam accounts that already have BioShock 2 installed. All you need to do is register on VpeSports and follow the simple steps.

After registration, take a look at the  free steam account section, where available games are collected. Find BioShock 2, go to the review page and click the download button. You will be redirected to detailed instructions that will explain how to gain access. We always welcome your feedback – leave a comment on the review, share your impressions or just support our work. Just remember that comments are moderated, so if yours is not approved, just correct it in accordance with our rules. After verification, you will receive an email with your login details.

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If suddenly something goes wrong or questions arise – do not worry! The site has a detailed guide “How to play for free – step-by-step instructions“, where every step is chewed. Dare, dive into the depths of Rapture and enjoy BioShock 2 without restrictions!