Opinion: Bioshock 2 is the best game in the trilogy

Source: Wallpaper Abyss

Bioshock 2 is the best game in the trilogy. From gameplay to storytelling, Bioshock 2 mastered what the first game brought to the table while dialing back the stakes of a "lightning in a bottle" story. Opting for a more personal story (one that Bioshock Infinite fails to adapt) and delivers on a meaningful sequel that is similar yet, is worthy of it's namesake.

Bioshock 2's Story

The first Bioshock game delivered a story that was unheard of in the video game medium. It was essentially lightning in a bottle as the story leaned heavily on the "message" it wanted to tell. Yes, it actually did succeed and is to this day, still considered as a first and the greatest ever told in terms of what story video games have to offer.

Bioshock 2 never really took this risk in storytelling, instead thy opted for a more personal story that expands and continues on the previous lore established in Bioshock 1. That being, the bonding of a Little Sister and her Big Daddy. In the first game, it's established very early on that the Little Sisters and Big Daddies are this "force" that stands in the players way. As Atlas puts it, "You think that's a child down there? Don't be fooled. She's a Little Sister now. Somebody went and turned a sweet baby girl into a monster." This dynamic between the Little Sisters and Big Daddies are present throughout the entire portion of the game and work as a small narrative device and a big gameplay device. Most of the time, you are faced with killing the Big Daddy and either rescuing ore harvesting the Little Sister.

This is where Bioshock 2 comes in, It sought out to further expand upon this relationship and it did even more than that. The main premise of the story is the very foundation of the Big Daddy. The player (briefly referred to as Johnny Topside) has to explore rapture and find your little sister, the biological daughter of Sofia Lamb, Eleanor Lamb. The game uses the father/daughter relationship before Infinite and does better use with it. As I've previously mentioned, Eleanor Lamb was never your biological daughter, she only ever acted as your Little Sister. By the end of the game though, she technically becomes your "real" daughter through the matter of a common enemy and a shared history (as her Big Daddy). The endgame cutscene also changes depending on your actions throughout the game, something neither Bioshock 1 or Infinite ever utilize. For example if you were merciful to the Little Sisters and other characters Eleanor would say, "You taught me that 'evil' is just a word. Under the skin, it's simple pain. For you, mercy was victory. You sacrificed, you endured, and when given the chance, you forgave. Always. Mother believed this world was irredeemable, but she was wrong, Father. We are Utopia, you and I, and in forgiving, we left the door open for her." On the other hand, if you killed everyone in your path, her outlook would change, "You taught me that innocence is chrysalis, a phase designed to end. Only when we are free from it, do we know ourselves. You showed me that my survival, my joy, are all that matter. I Indulge, nothing else exists."

These multiple endings do well to encourage replayability on a refined gameplay loop.

Bioshock 2's Gameplay

As previously mentioned, the Big Daddies still roam around with their little sisters and offer a fun challenge. This time however, with you being a Big Daddy, you arsenal of weapons make it less intimidating than the first game. The biggest gameplay change come from the Plasmid/weapon duality. In the Bioshock 1, you had to do a quick swap before you could use either the plasmid or a weapon (whichever you weren't using at the time). This make Bioshock 2's day-to-day encounters more seamless and less tedious. It's worth mentioning that Infinite did adopt this playstyle. Bioshock Infinite does tote the greatest amount of weapons you can use that being 10, not including vigors (plasmids). However, Bioshock 2's use of the superior upgrades make for far more deadly weapons than Infinite. With the drill, the weapon you start out with, being the most exceptional. Fully upgrading it grants it's permeant use of ice to freeze your enemies while you drill and amazing damage buff/oil reservation. With this being merely one weapon in your arsenal, a stacked out loadout in Bioshock 2 is a force to be reckoned with. Bioshock 2's plasmids are just as effective as Bioshock 1's with the one-up being, you can use your plasmid and weapon simultaneously.

Bioshock 2's Forgotten Multiplayer Experience

Bioshock 2 also uses a multiplayer component to bring the gameplay up a notch above the other games in the series. In Bioshock 1, all you had was the single player experience and (thanks to the remaster) a challenge arena to play though. The same can be said about Infinite, having it's own version of a single player arena pit to fight npcs. However, Bioshock 2 actually had an online multiplayer experience with loadouts, maps, leaderboards, ranks, and in-map items like the Big Daddy suit. This was an online only experience that had it's own competitive nature. Unlike the single player arenas of the other games, Bioshock 2 used the online component to it benefit in creating memorable matches and a sense of actual competition.

Closing Thoughts

Overall, Bioshock 2 does everything both the first and third game offer and depending on who you ask, it does it better. Over the years, the game has seen a steady increase in attention in the Bioshock community. When most people think of Bioshock, they think of the big twist in the first game or the father/daughter relationship of the third game. However, Bioshock 2 pulls it's own weight in the Bioshock franchise and I'm happy to see that others are finally recognizing this.