Burial At Sea Episode 1 is the 2nd piece of DLC from Bioshock Infinite (It's the first story-based piece of DLC).
While it was released in the US 2 days ago, it became available to Europe yesterday. I didn't pay for it, since I have already bought the Season Pass which gives you all three pieces of DLC and "The Early Bird Special pack" for just 19.99 euros. I was really looking forward to playing this, since Bioshock Infinite is one of my favorite games of all time and it seemed to be very interesting that the series was returning to the world of Rapture from the first Bioshock game.
Watch the trailer of Burial At Sea Ep. 1 below.
If you are a fan of the Bioshock series or Bioshock Infinite, you definitely have a pretty good idea about how the story and gameplay mix in Bioshock games. All three of the previous Bioshock games have a huge influence on this DLC, making it sort of a combination of all three. Although Burial At Sea Ep. 1 is short, it does deliver a good amount of content (I have finished it twice since yesterday; on my first playthrough I explored a lot, got every trophy/collectible and many times, I stood for a lot of time in some places, staring at the beautiful enviroment and it took me 2 and a half hours to beat. I played a second time just to see how quickly I could beat it without exploring and looking around and it took me no more than 1 hour and 40 minutes.) but Irrational Games has already expressed that it values quality over quantity, so I think they have achieved their goal.
Story
Even though it's too short, BAT Ep 1 manages to give you that "Bioshock" feeling. It doesn't do it to the point Bioshock or Bioshock Infinite does and that is not only due to the fact that it's short, but the fact that it just emphasizes on themes already used in previous games, so they seem familiar. But that was probably Irrational Games' intention; to create a story-based DLC with a lot of elements from previous Bioshock games, but with a different approach. Yes, the story is rushed and it doesn't really let the mystery built up like previous Bioshock games did, but it sure does a hell of a job at twisting the Bioshock Infinite plot. Though it may seem weird that it's set in Rapture (the place where the first 2 Bioshock games took place) and not in Bioshock Infinite's Columbia, there is an actual connection in both the ending of Bioshock Infinite and at certain points in the BAT Ep. 1. There are many references to both Bioshock and Bioshock Infinite and many fans will be at awe when they hear lines like "Constants and variables" or "I am in the debt collecting business" in the DLC. The main theme here, as in Bioshock Infinite, is the relationship between Booker (you) and Elizabeth, even though in BAT Ep. 1, it's not as crystal clear as in Infinite, because the story is focused on a little girl that is lost, Sally. Here, we see a much older, much more experienced and mysterious Elizabeth than we did in Infinite. She refuses to clearly state what she wants from Booker and even though all those who have played Bioshock Infinite will surely understand the story and many things Elizabeth says a lot better, she comes off as more of a mysterious woman. In Infinite, we see a weaker and more "dreamy" version of Elizabeth, whereas, here she is more strong and confident and in contrast to Infinite, she seems to be leading Booker towards the story's outcome, instead of being passive and submissive, like in Infinite. What I really liked from BAT Ep 1 was the return to a pre-fall Rapture. We get to see a lot of what was happening in Rapture before the original Bioshock. We get to see Cohen (he's as crazy as ever) and he does play a big part in the story. We get to see a lot of Rapture at its' peak era and that made me feel quite nostalgic, in a weird sort of way. And I think that is the biggest reason why I liked playing this DLC. The ending is like every other Bioshock game, a jaw-dropping, plot-twisting but much more predictable one. It's not as good as Infinites' and it's mainly because they almost head towards the same direction, but with a different approach. Its' short length is, in my opinion, what really kills the storys' impact, because even though I own and have played all of the Bioshock games and DLC, I think I would be more intrigued by Ep 1 if it was longer, because it would get to expand on the story and mull over various themes and that wouldn't damage the suspense of the story like it does now.
Gameplay
The games' combat mixes both styles from the original Bioshock and Bioshock Infinite. Even though the combat rakes place more dark and smaller spaces like in Bioshock 1, the return of the sky-hook (which is named air-grabber in BAT) and tears from Infinite spices it up a bit with Infinites' all-across-the-area battles. Ammo and supplies are a lot scarcer than in Infinite, so you will use stealth and melee a lot more often than in Infinite. Vigors are called Plasmids now, like in Bioshock 1 and there's a new plasmid called Old Man Winter, which is reminiscent (but not identical to) the Winter Blast of Bioshock. There's a new weapon, and all weapon skins from Infinite have been re-textured to fit more the Rapture era and feel. Voxophones and Kinetoscopes return, though there are very few to be found. The combat is exceptional, like in all the previous games, but it also feels different. To make it short; BAT Ep 1 is like a splicing (double entendre here!) of all previous Bioshock games, both in terms of combat and atmosphere.
Enviroment (Graphics, Sound, Atmosphere)
What is there to say about the exceptional environment of BAT Ep 1's version of Rapture? It's amazing. The graphics are great, like in all Bioshock games. At the beginning, the game has a more noir-like and jazzy atmosphere, mixing bright colors with great 50's design and beautiful NPCs. A lot of times, I found myself just staring at the beauty and "shine" this world has. The world is full of details and there are many visual references to previous Bioshock games, which made me want to play Bioshock 1 again. The game merges the dark and scary enviroments of Bioshock 1&2 with Infinites' lively atmosphere. The music in the DLC isn't as great as in the previous games (Bioshock Infinite had an amazing soundtrack) but it's justified, considering its' shortness. The voice acting is as great as ever, with both Courtney Draper and Troy Baker delivering exquisite performances and with a cameo of T. Ryder Smith as Sander Cohen.
Bottom Line
The DLC is great and even though it's short, it does deliver what we can expect from a Bioshock game. The story is good, but not great. Visually, it reaches perfection, with great sound and voice acting making for a very good atmosphere. In terms of combat, we get a very different approach that mixes everything we've seen in previous Bioshock games to make a great combination.
I believe that it's a DLC worth playing, especially for Bioshock fans. It's short, but good and Ken Levines' team does a great job at delivering a good, quality product to the fans once again. The DLC had me begging for more and I can't wait to see what happens in episode 2. It costs 15$ on the PSN Store, but you can get all three pieces of DLC (plus a special pack for the game) for 19$, which is more worth it, in my opinion.
Rating :
4/5
Pros : Amazing atmosphere, good combat and the classic feel of Bioshock games.
Hey there, world. Been a while since I posted anything. I feel ready to break my silence, even though "sometimes silence makes a sound".
Silence may be golden, but I really felt like I needed to write down my thoughts, since, sometimes, it's the only way I can express myself.
My life has been a mess lately and there's only one thing that keeps me from breaking down; being happy about who I am. I bet that sounds weird, but it's not.
All these months, I didn't stop writing as much as I used to. But I felt like all the things that I was writing about were not something I want to share. I get a feeling when I know that I have to post something while I write it, but I haven't felt like this in months. Not until now that I just felt like I wanted to share some of my thoughts.
You see, some times, you have to get to lowest point to really understand what matters. To fully realize what keeps us standing. What keeps us from breaking down, from going crazy.
It's 4 am and I am standing here, writing, so technically I am a tiny bit crazy, but you know what I mean.
Two years ago, I was a totally different person. I couldn't realize that people could be different from me. I used to think that anyone that was different was crazy or abnormal. I used to see things in a totally different and sort of "tunnel vision" way. I didn't realize many things.
But people change and I hope mostly for the better. Because since I don't believe in any religion or any god, I think believing in people is vital for me.
I remember that I used to believe atheists and gay people should be crucified. I remember feeling hate so vigorously that I still laugh at my own self. I thought "being different" meant "being wrong" not "being yourself".
Now, two years later, I am an atheist and a huge supporter of Frank Ocean, an openly bisexual artist. I learnt that I can appreciate and support things without having to be what I support.
I support being different, being honest. I support things I am not. I support pursuing dreams. I support making something from nothing. I support being creative. And I don't need to label it as something as long as I feel it is honest. My point is : I don't need to like football to support someone doing everything in his power to become a football player.
But people don't get that. People can't think outside the box. People are not inspired by something "different". People would rather hate a gay artist without any real reason and miss out on the great art he is creating. But these people won't really live until they open their minds.
In the end we're all the same, no matter how different we are; we're all human, we all make mistakes, we all love and want to be loved, we all need things, we all believe in something. Why hate anyone that's different, when you really are more alike than different? Why disdain someone for being something you're not? It doesn't make sense to me. But then again, it once did.
All these months I realized that the only thing that helped me stand on my own two feet and continue was this; being myself, supporting people that are different and not letting hate poison me. If there's one thing I am happy about is the way I am and the way I see things. I see everything crystal-clear. I see the world as it is.
To me, if someone kills a man, it's not wrong because he is black or Asian; it's wrong because it's an act of hate.
I realized that this motivated me. I motivated myself. Frank Ocean motivated me by risking his career just to be honest and different, not caring what others might think. In the homophobic world of Hip Hop and RnB, that was a first. But it was an act of freedom that inspires me to this day and will inspire me for the rest of my life.
Thanks to some people that are pushing the boundaries every day, others live more easily. More free. More different.
I think "being free" or "different" is mostly a thing that can be expressed through art. Artists are the most free human beings. I hope I can be a great artists one day. A great writer. But the only thing that will get me there is being honest, being free, being me. Because the people I admire the most, fought against all odds to get where they're at. I hope to be like that one day; to make my dreams come true by being who I am, even if it means going against all odds. I hope to be an inspiration to people as some people are to me.
Now, I can finally understand that, sometimes, the world is not "wrong". Our perspective is wrong. The way we look at things.
I hope you enjoyed reading this and I hope you understood my points.
Thank you for reading. But mostly, thank you for being yourself.
But still, through all the hard times that we face
through all the hurt, pain and disappointments in our lives,
we rise, stronger than ever, feeling like the winners of this race, even if we feel like we're trying to balance steak knives.
How many times do we feel that we live in vain, how many times do we feel lost? How many times do we say that we're the only one's to blame? How many times do we feel like we should pay the cost? But still, we rise like a phoenix from the ashes, we rise, walking tall against the rain. Against all odds, we find light in the darkness. We rise once more, 'cause it's our time to reign.
(The line "balance steak knives" was inspired by a song, so I thought I should put a link there)
This is something I wrote as a part of a blogging team a while ago and I decided to post it here, too. Here you can read my post on how to keep hope alive. Special thanks to all of you who read my posts! My last poem got hyped a lot more than I expected!
Here you can buy and read the description of one of my favorite books "ICO : Castle in the Mist" which is the theme of this poem I'm writing. I hope you like it, cause I've put my best into making it a really good poem. The story of this book is based on a videogame. It sounds weird, I know.
The theme song is also a masterpiece and one of my favorite songs.
Here it is :
Above : The boy and the girl of the story, Ico and Yorda, holding hands. In the story, when Ico doesn't hold her hand or if he is not near her, the souls of the sacrifices try to take her back to the cage through dark wholes that appear on the floor. The painting above was inspired by "The Nostalgia of the Infinite" by the painter Giorgio de Chirico and it was painted by the director of the videogame, Fumito Ueda. The painting depicts a part at the ending of the story, where Ico and Yorda try to escape the castle.
I first played the videogame when it came out, in 2001-2002. To this day, it's still one of my favorites.
There's nothing like this place, this castle in the mist
a scary place, a place of pain, but no one can resist.
It's a ripple in the ocean, yet, it is the whole world
an empty place, it can't be explained by no word.
Nothing can define this empty castle sitting on this hill, next to the sea, but so far from this world, from this galaxy
abandoned, vacant, empty, lifeless, blank , like a little cavity.
Oh, Castle, are you real, or are you a mirage?
Am I your slave, your friend, or am I in charge?
I do not know, but I do know that within you, there lies death.
Are you my rebirth or are am I to leave here my last breath?
I am a sacrifice, born for you
but I can't find a way to get through to you.
The sarcophagus broke in half, like it was made of dust
it's late now, it's the time of dusk..
No one knows where you are, oh, Castle, you're forbidden,
only the priests and kings know your location, the place where you're hidden.
A priest and two soldiers brought me to you, but they closed my eyes
not wanting me to see the way, not wanting for me to see through your disguise.
They all fear you, so they give you sacrifices, us, the horned children,
we're born once even one or two hundred years and we're considered villains,
'cause once, a horned knight tried to destroy your kingdom, your mighty Queen,
and since then, sacrifices are all you've ever seen.
But I am different, because I was born to bring you down,
that's why I fear you castle, I am the first to be capable of bringing you down,
but I'm only a child, not a wise warrior, so I'm afraid
'cause I'm abandoned, like a little cade...
I was supposed to die and give my soul to you, but I'm free, running through your hallways.
I was supposed to be here, with you, always,
to be a part of you, like the crumpled souls of the other sacrifices that live within your walls
but I am different, I'm born to bring an end to your existence, I'm stronger than those souls.
Once I began roaming through your corridors, I found a huge cage
and in it, I found the whole world... I found a girl, at first, it seemed strange
but there she was, her beauty overshadowing me, her pure soul lighted the room.
She was afraid, too, she must've been here for a long time, you're her mighty doom.
I freed her and when she touched me, my heart was filled with light,
a light so pure, it blurred my sight.
Oh, mighty Queen of the Castle, she's you little daughter,
yet, like a prisoner you hold her.
That's because, you have no body of your own, oh Queen, you're the Queen of darkness
and you want to kill the light of the world, dear Queen, that's why you bring her sadness.
You both have lived for thousands of years, but haven't aged a day,
'cause you're only a spirit and she's your vessel, you're the hunter, she's the prey.
She once wanted to destroy your deathly plans, alongside the horned knight
but you brought an end to it, guarding her from the light.
You made her you prisoner, forever to be here,
to serve your purposes. She's just a child, but she's your heir.
She wishes she could be gone,
but she doesn't even know, if she'll see another dawn.
But thousands of dawns have passed, but she did not notice,
'cause you've forsaken her, you broke another promise.
She forgot how to speak, she can't communicate, but she gives me visions,
memories of this place. I see its' glory and that it's vicious,
but tell me, Queen, why, oh why, did you want the God of Darkness to rule,
why do you deprive the world of the Light and treat it like a tool?
Me and her, your little daughter, we're born to destroy you, don't you know?
It has been your destiny, and it's happening, right now.
Can't you feel it, creeping upon you like the morning sun?
I forgot that light can't touch you, you can't feel it, none.
Every time that I touch her hand, I see another memory
another story of her life, which you've coated with emery.
I feel something that you can't, that's why I'll defeat you, it's love
but you're as gloomy and caliginous as the mist that twirls and swirls above.
The Castle is dusty, old and destroyed,
yet that is only a disguise, to make it seem void.
We face each other, Queen, and you try to kill me,
but your daughter and all those spirits, help me
to avoid your deadly curse. I want to leave the Castle and take your daughter away
to make us disappear, like a needle in the hay.
It's hard but we can make it, I fight with all my will
we're trying to escape, get away from this hill.
The Light fights the Dark and soon the end will come,
to either your whole army, or maybe of them, some
but surely, we'll escape, I have no doubt of that.
Many people that tried to do it, you've turned them to stone, I can't forget that,
but the knight comes to my sight, his ghost gives me his sword
"and with it, you'll defeat her" is all I'm told.
As we fight, I pass out and wake up in the sea
and your daughter is all that I can see,
she holds my hand, but I don't know if we defeated you
as soon as she could speak, she told me " I believe in YOU".
But my strength gives up on me, I pass out once more
I wake on a beach, left without her, the one that I adore.
I don't know where I am or what to do, so I try to return, back to my home
I travel fast, through forests and next to seas, under a sky painted orange, looking like a dome.
Days begin and end and soon I found my way back,
back to my village, while the sky's black.
I tell them all about our story and how we defeated her,
but I can't forget about you, oh, how I wish you were here..
I'll come back for you, now that the Dark is lost
I hope that when I come, I'll find you by that coast.
I still feel you, you mean so much to me
your beauty is something that's way beyond me.
I am on my way to find you, just to see
if you're there or if I lost you at the sea. I hope you're well, now that your doomed days are over
but what if I don't find you, will all of it be over?
I dream of you, but we're apart,
but soon, I'll find you and I'll give you all my heart. The journey's long, but I can't wait to live with you by my side,
it's sad, the way I'm so messed up inside.
I'll come, my love, I'll find you,
and then, I wish to live my life beside you. Sweet Yorda, where are you? Are you somewhere safe?
I hope you'll be there, so I see your face again.. One day..
There must be a few mistakes in this poem. Either way, no one's perfect, right?
