2.5/5 ★ – Pencil_Nexus's review of BioShock 2.

Replay: So, currently we live in a revisionist history where people who used to be in agreement that this one is lesser than the first are now saying it's as good, if not better. I don't subscribe to this notion one bit. I will say that I'm a little less harsh on this one in some aspects. The gameplay loop can be satisfying, but not as much as the first. The streamlined research and film system is a remarkable improvement to the first system, as it feels more interconnected with the combat. Art direction is still great... that's all my positives. Mission structure is the same as the first, despite "fetch quest" being through out without realizing the similar game progression of both games. Making the game more action based takes away from the eerie and sometimes daunting moments of the early first game. The little sister horde mode sections, while a challenge and can bring some enjoyment, feel lazy and padded as a way to get more Adam. That being said, it varies up the basic morality system of the first and spreads little sister presents more... albeit, you still feel overpowered and full of money, with no fear of death... on hard. The worst aspects of the game are dialogue and writing, which take a massive step down in quality. Ryan feels character assassinated, Lamb is nowhere near the intimidating and threatening force the game wishes she was. Honestly, towards the end she just gets more and more grating. Sinclair is probably the best bits of writing, but that doesn't excuse shit like Lamb or Alex the Great... what a great and not shit character. The first one has issues, but I won't pretend to rewrite history and say this game is as good, cuz it's just not.