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BioShock 2

DEVELOPER: 2K Games and Digital Extremes
PUBLISHER: 2K Games
SYSTEM: Microsoft Xbox 360 (PS3, PC)
PRICE: $59.99
ESRB RATING: M (Mature)
REVIEW RATING: 4.5 stars (out of 5)

Big Daddy, Big Sister, Splicer, Adam, Eve, Rapture; these words might create conflicting imagery in the minds of the uninitiated, but like Pavlov’s dog, those in the know salivate at the mere thought of playing “BioShock 2.” This engrossing sequel provides an exciting extension to the first game and also introduces several fun online multiplayer modes to round out the undersea package.

Ten years after the mayhem that ensued in the original “BioShock,” Rapture is once again in turmoil. While the first game ended with players donning the suit of a lumbering Big Daddy, players begin “BioShock 2” as one of the steel-toed behemoths. Someone has been snatching young girls and turning them into Adam-leeching Little Sisters, and only a Plasmid-wielding Big Daddy can stop them!

That’s right, this Big Daddy can use gene-splicing Plasmids in addition to lethal weaponry. Players can literally bore enemies to death with their gas-powered drill-arm while lighting them on fire or electrocuting them with plasmids. Not surreal enough for you? How about shooting an enemy with the new Trap Bolt ammo and watching them run up to their comrade, who inadvertently triggers it in close proximity and kills himself? Now that’s quality entertainment!

One of the more interesting aspects of playing as a Big Daddy is temporarily adopting Little Sisters. Just like in the original game, the Big Daddy carries them around on his shoulders and protects them from nasty Splicers, while she harvests Adam from fallen enemies. If she is successful, the Little Sister gives the player some Adam to spend on new Plasmids. Players must fight other Big Daddies to obtain a Little Sister, but it seems easier to defeat them this time around.

“BioShock 2” offers seven addictive multiplayer modes that pit players against each other in the bowels of Rapture, which only makes it harder to return to reality.

Star Ocean: The Last Hope International

DEVELOPER: tri-Ace
PUBLISHER: Square Enix
SYSTEM: Sony PlayStation 3
PRICE: $59.99
ESRB RATING: T (Teen)
REVIEW RATING: 3.5 stars (out of 5)

Glancing at the description on the box to “Star Ocean: The Last Hope International”: “Explore the galaxy, discover allies and enemies, encounter a threat to all of humanity,”  one might think that the game seems comparable to “Mass Effect.” On the contrary, the only similarity these two games share is interstellar exploration because Star Ocean is much more of a traditional JRPG, while “Mass Effect” is an action game with RPG elements.

This title is basically a slightly enhanced version of last year’s Xbox 360 prequel that follows a pilot named Edge as he and his crew embark on the Space Reconnaissance Force’s debut journey to the stars. After WWIII decimates Earth, humanity’s only hope is to colonize a new planet. Unfortunately, problems with the warp drive force a crash landing on an unsavory planet, and the inhabitants aren’t very friendly.

Don’t let the deceptively large outside levels fool you: This is a dungeon crawler where players will have to trudge through seemingly endless dank caves only to find out they have to backtrack their way out. As if this frustrating and outdated level design wasn’t enough, the designers placed save points very far apart, so players have to replay large portions of the game if their characters perish.

Combat is performed in real-time, but it is initiated by literally running into enemies to trigger “enemy encounters.” This old-school mechanic starts a battle scene where players control one character at a time that can freely engage any enemy on-screen and also switch between teammates at will. As a result, players can utilize each character’s skills, and their behavior can also be customized to act a certain way when the computer controls them. Switching characters also helps to control which character the enemy attacks.

With most of the environments so closed-in, I’m surprised that the visuals aren’t more impressive. Even worse is noticeable pop-up from many elements of the game, ranging from plants to enemies. Thank goodness the awesome item creation system from past games is intact, or else “Star Ocean: The Last Hope International” would be just another fading star.

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