Is BioShock: The Collection Worth Buying?

BioShock: The Collection features the entire BioShock franchise on one disc with every piece of DLC released, with the exceptions being BioShock 2's multiplayer. The games look great with the updated visuals and smooth frame-rate. If you've been following my articles you know I'm a massive BioShock fan and consider Infinite to be one of the greatest games of the last generation. The reasoning being that BioShock 1 and Infinite revitalized the single-player experience by focusing attention on story and atmosphere, something that rarely done now. After playing through the first game I realized, BioShock: The Collection it wasn't worth it.

It's pretty shocking to consider that one of the greatest games I've ever played wasn't worth paying $60 for the remastered versions. The game featured the same solid gameplay, excellent voice-acting, and fantastic atmosphere that I've come to expect from the franchise but it wasn't the same. This was the same game I played years ago on my Xbox 360, this isn't an issue when it came to games like The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD or Halo: The Master Chief Collection. This because BioShock's crowning achievement, the shocking twist, was gone.

What made BioShock one such an outstanding hit for me was the twist halfway through the game. This revelation left me shocked and encouraged me to replay the game to see the hidden message presented right in front of me. Same goes for BioShock: Infinite, I already knew what was going to happen and the mystery was gone. For a game like BioShock the first playthrough is the only real experience, you'll never have that same feeling of shock and awe the second or third time around. I remember entering BioShock 2's Medieval's Den for the first time expecting the same stale experience from the main campaign only to have my assumptions turned upside down during the final sequence.

Does this mean BioShock: The Collection isn't worth it for everyone? No, It's a game that everyone should play, especially if it's your first time. The gripping atmosphere and intense action help compliment the excellent story. For those who already own a copy of these games it'll depend on whether you want some easy achievements or simply want to reexperience these games. Unless you're on PC and already own them, in that case you'll get them for free.

Adam Siddiqui, NoobFeed
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