I no longer feel like a tourist in Rapture. Once wondrous and foreboding, this underwater society now has the familiarity of a local shopping mall. Audio recordings of Andrew Ryan detail the need for rational selfishness in a controlled world, Big Daddies moan dejectedly in every corridor, and the biggest decision we are faced with is to save or harvest a Little Sister. For roughly 10 hours, "BioShock 2" follows directly in its forefather's footsteps, too fearful to inject anything new into this twisted world.

The developer's reluctance to veer off the beaten path clashes with the game's premise. In this installment, players assume the role of the first Big Daddy. Had the game not made this abundantly clear within the introductory cutscene, I would have thought I was playing as a character similar to the original game's protagonist. Because the Big Daddy's suit appears to be made of cotton, splicers pose just as great of a threat to your Big Daddy as they did to "BioShock's" human lead. Shouldn't I be just as big a threat as the other Big Daddies in the world?

This inconsistency in "BioShock's" lore stretches into the realm of the absurd when your Big Daddy's drill is in play. Yes, this violent device turns splicers into satisfying smears, but it guzzles gas faster than a Hummer. After just a few uses, it runs out of fuel. When this happens, its role is demoted to that of a whacking tool ... like a wrench.

With writer/director Ken Levine not returning for this sequel, 2K Marin took on the task of continuing the "BioShock" franchise. The new developers seem to be spinning their creative wheels, and the tiny bits of new content feel tacked on. The Big Sister is the most noticeable mistake. Her combat prowess dwarfs yours to a degree that you immediately think, "I'll never be able to take her down." As imposing as she is initially, you end up defeating her within the first hour of play. As the game progresses, her class type becomes a recurring boss. Given the potential she exhibits in the first hour of the game, I'll never understand why 2K Marin opted to change her from a unique antagonist to a faceless enemy type.

Eventually this disappointing adventure does turn a corner. It takes 10 hours to get there, but the final two acts are brilliant. One plot twist in particular shows you a side of this world that you never thought you'd see. It comes out of nowhere and helps this game find unique footing. The twist gives reason to plow through the rest of the game, and rewards players with a fantastic conclusion.

This turning point also brings on new gameplay dynamics. When your plasmids are leveled to the max, when the final weapon is obtained, and when your Big Daddy finally realizes he can run fast, the Adam hits the fan. You become a cold-blooded murderer capable of downing multiple splicers, Big Daddies, and Big Sisters in one fight. The pacing gets a welcome shot of urgency, and you finally feel like ... well ... a Big Daddy.

When this game recognizes its true potential, it shines. It's just a shame that it wanders misguidedly for so long. The first 10 hours are not bad or forgettable, they just don't branch out from the safe confines of the first "BioShock." "BioShock 2" eventually becomes the sequel I hoped for, but spends too much time getting there.

Bioshock 2

  • Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360.
  • Publisher: 2K Games.
  • Price: $60.
  • Rating: Mature.