Video games have taken us through multiple adventures through our world, other worlds, and the skies. The one world we haven’t got to explore is what lies underneath the ocean.  Bioshock’s setting takes place leagues under the deep-sea in a city called Rapture.  The city is inhabited with citizens who have embraced genetic engineering before rapture turned them insane.  While everything seemed as calm as Rapture could be, civil war has broken out among the citizens.  The player, who is named Jack, stumbles upon this utopia by barely surviving a plane crash and is thrust into this exotic aquatic metropolis.  Getting out will be a difficult task, because the citizens know you’re here, and they are after you.

          Going through the utopia, Jack is constantly using different ways to attack by introducing great new concepts.  Your two main strategies used in combat are with weapons and by genetically modifying your body with plasmid.  Using plasmid garners Jack special powers including telekinesis and the ability to electrocute your foes.  Some of your enemies might have special weaknesses that you can use to your advantage by upgrading your weapons with ionic gels, explosives, or toxins.  You also have the ability to hack mechanical devices or gain control over security turrets.  

          Depending on how you play the difficulty of the game will vary. Will you consider yourself a hero to the people of Rapture?  One of the main resources of Bioshock is ADAM, which is a mutagen that allows genetic changes.  One of the best ways to obtain this supply is from the harvesting of “little sisters,” who are guarded by Big Daddies, they are shown on the cover of Bioshock.  Harvesting the “little sisters” gain ADAM which can be used to purchase plasmids to help adapt and advance Jack.  Morality is up to the player though; you can choose to save the “little sisters” or use them to make Jack stronger.  Battling Big Daddies is no walk in the park either; they are large, genetically enhanced humans that can easily tear you apart, but they will not attack unless you provoke them.

          PS3 owners will not only get this award winning title but gain some system exclusive content as well.  A new difficulty setting, called Survivor, has been included to test your skill.  Trophy support has been announced as well, which should be easy to adopt since Bioshock previously had achievements in the 360 version.  In addition to these new features, downloadable content will surface shortly after the release and will continue to be released, but to how many different “episodes” is unclear.

          The game did well on the Xbox 360 gaining over 50 Game of the Year awards, and some claim it to be one of the finest games in interactive entertainment history. For someone that have never played this game before due to console exclusivity, I’m pretty excited explore the utopia of Rapture. October is turning out to be a crazy month filled with a vast amount of blockbuster titles.  Here’s to hoping Bioshock doesn’t get swallowed up in the immense plethora of games when it gets released on October 21, 2008.