BioShock (PC) review

When it comes to high profile games, the weight of expectation can do one of two things to it - Cause it to sink under the weight of its own initial promise, or to ride it like a wave to become the classic that everyone was hoping for during its development cycle.

As far as BioShock goes, that weight of expectation really couldn't get much heavier.  For starters, the developers of this game are broadly based around the team who worked on the cult classic, and much venerated, System Shock 2.  Couple that with the general feeling of hype and anticipation that has built up around this title across various online communities, particularly over the past few months, and you have a game that will be branded a failure by gamers if it proves to be anything other than 2007's game of the year.  That's a pretty big ask for any first-person shooter, no matter how classy its origins or intentions.

If impressing the general gaming public is going to be difficult, then whipping up us bastardly types into a frenzy will undoubtedly be even more difficult.  So, can the PC iteration of BioShock live up to the hype, or is the only shock it gives us going to be how much we dislike it?