BioShock: The Collection

Last updated

BioShock: The Collection
BioShock- The Collection.jpg
Developer(s) Blind Squirrel Games [lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s) 2K Games
Series BioShock
Platform(s) PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Windows
macOS
Nintendo Switch
Release
September 13, 2016
  • PlayStation 4, Xbox One
    • NA: September 13, 2016
    • WW: September 15, 2016
  • Windows
    • WW: September 16, 2016
  • macOS
    • WW: August 22, 2017
  • Nintendo Switch
    • WW: May 29, 2020
Genre(s) First-person shooter
Mode(s) Single-player

BioShock: The Collection is a compilation of the BioShock video games, developed by Blind Squirrel Games and published by 2K Games. The Collection features upgraded versions of BioShock , BioShock 2 , and BioShock Infinite , with new textures and support for higher resolution displays and framerates. The compilation was released in September 2016 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Windows; versions for macOS and Nintendo Switch followed in August 2017 and May 2020, respectively.

Contents

A remaster of the BioShock series was widely rumored for years before its official announcement. After its release, the game was updated to address bugs and crashes. Critical reception of The Collection was generally positive, with praise focusing on the value of the collection and its appeal for new players of the franchise. Complaints included the relative lack of updates to later games in the collection, and technical performance. The game was a bestselling title in the United States and United Kingdom in its initial months of release.

Contents

BioShock: The Collection contains all three titles in the BioShock series: BioShock , BioShock 2 , and BioShock Infinite . [1] The games are first-person shooters, with a focus on story and character customization. [2] [3] Players wield guns and superpower-granting genetic modifications called Plasmids. [4] [5] Also included in the collection are the games' single-player content originally released as exclusives or downloadable content packs, including BioShock 2: Minerva's Den and BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea . The multiplayer component of BioShock 2 is not included. [1] It includes the challenge game modes from all three releases, and the Museum of Orphaned Concepts, a feature from an earlier collection in which the player explores an in-game gallery of abandoned development concepts. [6]

BioShock and BioShock 2 were remastered for the collection, with higher-resolution textures and new effects. The collection adds a director's commentary called Imagining BioShock, featuring the series' creative director Ken Levine and lead artist Shawn Robertson. Players unlock episodes of the commentary by finding new collectible objects added to the remastered BioShock. [7] [8] The remastered games run in 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. [9]

Development and release

Blind Squirrel Games, who previously worked with BioShock series developers Irrational Games on BioShock Infinite, [10] assisted series producer 2K Games with development of the remastered collection. 2K decided not to remaster the Windows edition of BioShock Infinite, which already met their graphical standards for the updated console editions when using its highest graphical settings. [9] News of the remastered collection leaked from retailers and trademarks several times in advance of its June 2016 announcement. [11] [1]

The collection was released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms in North America on September 13, 2016, and worldwide two days later, on September 15, 2016. [12] The collection was released for Windows on September 15, 2016, and its remastered versions of BioShock and BioShock 2 were given as upgrades for those who owned the original Windows PC editions. [13] A macOS version published by Feral Interactive released on August 22, 2017. [14] Also produced was a limited run of 450 "Ultra Limited Edition" copies of the game which included an art book, reversible poster, and coin. [15] The Xbox One and PlayStation 4 retail release is spread across 2 discs. [16]

On release, players of the Windows versions noted that the remastered versions of the games retained bugs and removed graphic options without tweaking configuration files. [17] [18] 2K acknowledged issues with the game, [19] and subsequently released a patch in early October 2016 to address a lack of graphics options, crashes, better monitor support and mouse controls. [20] [21]

In 2020, enhancement patches were released to increase the resolution of the games when played on Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro. The patch boosted the resolution of the first two games to 1440p on PS4 Pro and 2160p on Xbox One X, and 1440p for both consoles for Infinite. [22] The collection was also released on the Nintendo Switch in May. It maintains the upgraded assets for the remasters of BioShock and BioShock 2, and runs at 1080p at 30 frames per second when docked, dropping to 720p in portable mode. [23] [24]

Reception

BioShock: The Collection received "generally favorable" reviews according to video game review aggregator Metacritic, with platform scores between 80 and 84 out of 100. [25] [26] [27] [28] Critics generally recommended the collection for players unfamiliar with the franchise, as well as returning players, [29] [33] though others, such as IGN's Jonathon Dornbush, felt that the collection's appeal to longtime players was less clear. [30] [34]

Game Revolution 's Peter Paras praised the updated visuals for the first two games, although they also noted that they felt dated graphically compared to modern games. [29] While reviews generally noted improved performance on most games, [30] others highlighted frame rate inconsistencies that Infinite still suffered from. [33] [34] [35] The games' atmosphere was regarded to have remained intact and effective, beyond the aging of the graphics themselves. [36] [34]

Nintendo Life noted that the earlier game's lack of more recent genre conventions such as aim down sights or sprinting gave them a decidedly "old school" feel that took time to get acclimated to. [31] More critically, Insider Gamer's Derek Taal said that the gameplay of the early games had aged poorly, and occasionally proved frustrating. [34] Dornbush and others lamented that most of the improvements were for the first BioShock and the subsequent titles received less attention. [30] [29] [33] [35] Other criticisms included inconsistent controls between games [37] and audiovisual glitches. [34] [35]

The game was the first best-selling retail video game in the United Kingdom in its week of release in competition with seven other new releases. [38] Sales dropped by 50% in its second week, but it maintained its top position on the charts. [39] It dropped to fourth place the following week, and out of the top 10 games the next. [40] [41] In the United States, the collection was the fifth best-selling title of September according to NPD Group, before dropping out of the top ten the following month. [42] [43]

Related Research Articles

<i>BioShock</i> 2007 video game

BioShock is a 2007 first-person shooter game developed by 2K Boston and 2K Australia, and published by 2K. The first game in the BioShock series, it was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 platforms in August 2007; a PlayStation 3 port by Irrational, 2K Marin, 2K Australia and Digital Extremes was released in October 2008. The game follows player character Jack, who discovers the underwater city of Rapture, built by business magnate Andrew Ryan to be an isolated utopia. The discovery of ADAM, a genetic material which grants superhuman powers, initiated the city's turbulent decline. Jack attempts to escape Rapture, fighting its mutated and mechanical denizens, while engaging with the few sane survivors left and learning of the city's past. The player can defeat foes in several ways by using weapons, utilizing plasmids that give unique powers, and by turning Rapture's defenses against them.

<i>Lumines: Puzzle Fusion</i> 2004 puzzle video game

Lumines: Puzzle Fusion is a 2004 puzzle game developed by Q Entertainment for the PlayStation Portable (PSP). During the game, players must strategically arrange falling 2×2 blocks comprising two colors to form single-color 2×2 squares. A vertical "time line" sweeps across the field, erases completed squares, and awards points. Each stage features a unique skin that influences the background, block colors, accompanying music, and the time line's speed.

<i>BioShock 2</i> 2010 video game

BioShock 2 is a first-person shooter video game developed by 2K Marin and published by 2K Games. It was released worldwide for PlayStation 3, Windows, and Xbox 360 on February 9, 2010; Feral Interactive released an OS X version on March 30, 2012. The game takes place in the dystopian underwater city of Rapture, eight years after the events of BioShock. In the single-player campaign, players control the armored protagonist Subject Delta as he fights through Splicers—the psychotic human population of the city—using weapons and an array of genetic modifications. The game includes a story-driven multiplayer mode that takes place before the events of BioShock, during Rapture's civil war.

<i>BioShock</i> (series) First-person shooter game franchise

BioShock is a retrofuturistic video game series created by Ken Levine, published by 2K and developed by several studios, including Irrational Games and 2K Marin. The BioShock games combine first-person shooter and role-playing elements, giving the player freedom for how to approach combat and other situations, and are considered part of the immersive sim genre. Additionally, the series is notable for exploring philosophical and moral concepts with a strong in-game narrative influenced by concepts such as Objectivism, total utilitarianism, and American exceptionalism.

<i>BioShock Infinite</i> 2013 video game

BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter video game in the BioShock series, developed by Irrational Games and published by 2K. Infinite was released worldwide for the PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360, and OS X platforms in 2013. The game is set in the year 1912 and follows its protagonist, Booker DeWitt, who is sent to the airborne city Columbia to retrieve Elizabeth, a young woman held captive there. Booker and Elizabeth become involved in a class war between the nativist Founders that rule Columbia and the rebel Vox Populi, representing the city's underclass. Elizabeth possesses the ability to manipulate "Tears" in the space-time continuum, and Booker and Elizabeth discover she is central to Columbia's dark secrets. The player controls Booker DeWitt throughout the game, fighting enemies and scavenging supplies, while the computer-controlled Elizabeth provides assistance.

2017 saw the release of numerous video games as well as other developments in the video game industry. The Nintendo Switch console was released in 2017, which sold more than 14 million units by the end of the year, exceeding the under-performing Wii U lifetime sales. This has helped to revitalize Nintendo, with the "retro" Super NES Classic Edition console, the refreshed New Nintendo 2DS XL handheld and a strategy for mobile gaming. Microsoft also released the higher-powered Xbox One X targeted for 4K resolutions and virtual reality support.

<i>BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea</i> Episodic expansion to the first-person shooter video game "BioShock Infinite"

BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea is a two-part single-player expansion to the first-person shooter video game BioShock Infinite. It was developed by Irrational Games and published by 2K Games for PlayStation 3, OS X, Windows, Xbox 360, and Linux platforms. Episode One was released digitally on November 12, 2013, followed by Episode Two on March 25, 2014. A retail version was released as part of BioShock Infinite: The Complete Edition, and later included in BioShock: The Collection for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

<i>Borderlands: The Handsome Collection</i> 2015 video game

Borderlands: The Handsome Collection is a compilation of first-person shooter video games developed by Gearbox Software and published by 2K. The Handsome Collection consists of both Borderlands 2 (2012) and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel (2014) for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, along with all of their accompanying downloadable content, enhanced local multiplayer, and the ability to transfer save data from their respective PlayStation 3 /Vita/PSVR and Xbox 360 versions. A port to the Nintendo Switch entitled Borderlands Legendary Collection was released in North America on May 29, 2020 along with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions, which additionally includes the first Borderlands. For The Handsome Collection, Borderlands 2 was ported by Iron Galaxy Studios and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel by Armature Studio. The Legendary Collection port was handled by Turn Me Up Games and Behaviour Interactive.

<i>Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered</i> 2016 first-person shooter video game

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered is a 2016 first-person shooter game developed by Raven Software and published by Activision. It is a remastered version of the 2007 game Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, and was initially released as part of the special edition bundles of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare in November 2016 for the PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. A standalone version was released for these platforms in mid-2017. The game's story follows the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and the Special Air Service (SAS), who take on missions to fight against a separatist group in the Middle East and an ultranationalist group in Russia.

In the video game industry during 2019, both Sony and Microsoft announced their intent to reveal their next-generation consoles in 2020, while Nintendo introduced a smaller Nintendo Switch Lite, and Google announced its streaming game platform Stadia. The controversy over loot boxes as a potential gambling route continued into 2019, with some governments like Belgium and the Netherlands banning games with them under their gambling laws, while the United Kingdom acknowledging their current laws prevent enforcing these as if they were games of chance. The first video cards to support real-time ray tracing were put onto the consumer market, including the first set of games that would take advantage of the new technology. The Epic Games Store continued its growth in challenging the largest digital PC game distribution service Steam, leading to concern and debate about Epic Games' methods to seek games for its service. Dota Auto Chess, a community-created mod for Dota 2, introduced a new subgenre of strategy games called auto battlers, which saw several games in the genre released throughout the year. Blizzard Entertainment faced criticism due to their involvement in the Blitzchung controversy, which began after they had banned a Hearthstone player for making comments during a tournament regarding the 2019–20 Hong Kong protests.

In the video game industry, 2020 saw the launch of the next generation of video game consoles, with both Microsoft and Sony Interactive Entertainment having released the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 consoles, respectively, in November 2020. The industry was heavily affected by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which had begun in March and was characterized by COVID-19 lockdowns and remote work. While this caused numerous delays in software and hardware releases and the cancellation of live conferences and events in favor of virtual shows, it also created a boom for the industry as people turned to gaming as a means to pass the time. The industry also reacted to various political/cultural events.

<i>NBA 2K Playgrounds 2</i> 2018 video game

NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is a sports video game developed by Saber Interactive and published by 2K, and is a spin-off title of the NBA 2K series and a part of the Playground Sports series. The game was released for Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One on October 16, 2018. It is the sequel to the 2017 video game NBA Playgrounds. Like its predecessor, NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 is an arcade-style basketball game. The game featured improved AI over its predecessor. Originally scheduled to release on May 22, 2018, the game was delayed to October 16 due to Saber finalizing a publishing deal with 2K.

In the video game industry, 2021 saw the release of many new titles. The numerous delays in software and hardware releases due to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacted development schedules, leading to several games being delayed into 2022 or even postponed indefinitely. Additionally, computer and console hardware were impacted by the combined effects of a semiconductor shortage and a rising growth of bitcoin mining that strained the supply of critical components.

<i>Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1 + 2</i> 2020 video game

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a 2020 skateboarding video game developed by Vicarious Visions and published by Activision. It was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on September 4, 2020, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on March 26, 2021, and Nintendo Switch on June 25 of the same year. It is a remake of the first two games in the Tony Hawk's series: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (1999) and Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (2000), which were originally developed by Neversoft. It is the first major console game in the series since Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 (2015) and is Vicarious Visions' final work as a subsidiary of Activision before it was merged into Blizzard Entertainment on January 22, 2021.

The Coma: Cutting Class is a 2015 horror video game published by Devespresso Games. It was originally released in 2015, and a remastered edition titled The Coma: Recut was released on PC and consoles in 2017.

References

  1. ↑ BioShock was developed by 2K Boston and 2K Australia, BioShock 2 by 2K Marin, and BioShock Infinite by Irrational Games.
  1. 1 2 3 Alexander, Julia (June 30, 2016). "BioShock: The Collection officially announced". Polygon . Vox Media. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  2. ↑ Gerstmann, Jeff (August 22, 2007). "BioShock Review". GameSpot . Red Ventures. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  3. ↑ Sterling, Jim (February 8, 2010). "Review: BioShock 2". Destructoid . Enthusiast Gaming. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  4. ↑ Westgarth, Michael (February 12, 2014). "Science inches closer to real BioShock-style plasmids". Ars Technica . Condé Nast. Archived from the original on January 9, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  5. ↑ Barratt, Charlie (August 17, 2007). "BioShock Plasmid Guide". GamesRadar+ . Future Publishing. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved January 3, 2020.
  6. ↑ Conditt, Jessica (June 30, 2016). "'BioShock: The Collection' hits PS4, Xbox One and PC in September". Engadget . Verizon Media. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  7. ↑ McKlusky, Kevin (August 29, 2016). "The new BioShock collection features developer commentary". Destructoid . Enthusiast Gaming. Archived from the original on September 24, 2016. Retrieved August 29, 2016.
  8. ↑ Gurwin, Gabe (August 29, 2016). "'BioShock: The Collection' gives you even more to collect". Digital Trends . Designtechnica. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  9. 1 2 Goldfarb, Andrew (June 30, 2016). "BioShock: The Collection Officially Confirmed, Release Date and Trailer Revealed". IGN . Ziff Davis. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  10. ↑ Pagat, Mat (June 30, 2016). "BioShock Remastered Collection Confirmed for PS4, Xbox One, and PC". GameSpot . Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  11. ↑ Schreier, Jason (June 30, 2016). "BioShock Collection Leaks (Yet Again) [UPDATE: Official]". Kotaku . Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  12. ↑ Frank, Allegra (September 12, 2016). "BioShock: The Collection to keep PC players waiting just a little longer". Polygon . Vox Media. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  13. ↑ Nunneley, Stephany (June 30, 2016). "Those who own BioShock or BioShock 2 on Steam get remaster upgrade free". VG247 . videogaming247 Ltd. Retrieved June 30, 2016.
  14. ↑ Broussard, Michael (August 22, 2017). "'BioShock Remastered' Launches for macOS Computers on Steam, Mac App Store Coming Soon". MacRumors . Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  15. ↑ Goldfarb, Andrew (September 14, 2016). "Unboxing BioShock: The Collection's Ultra Limited Edition". IGN . Ziff Davis. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  16. ↑ Sarkar, Samit (August 17, 2016). "BioShock: The Collection seems like a worthwhile return to Rapture". Polygon . Vox Media. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
  17. ↑ Meer, Alec (September 16, 2016). "Atlas Sighs: BioShock Remastered PC Is A Bit Of A Mess". Rock Paper Shotgun . Gamer Network. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  18. ↑ Paget, Mat (September 16, 2016). "BioShock PC Remasters Having Issues; Only Slightly Better, Steam Reviews Say". GameSpot . Red Ventures. Retrieved September 16, 2016.
  19. ↑ Te, Zorine (September 20, 2016). "BioShock PC Remaster Issues Being Addressed, Says 2K". GameSpot . Red Ventures. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  20. ↑ Phillips, Tom (October 7, 2016). "BioShock Collection PC patch takes aim at mouse, graphical issues". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  21. ↑ Paget, Mat (October 7, 2016). "New BioShock PC Remasters Patch Fixes Multiple Issues". GameSpot . Red Ventures. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
  22. ↑ Battaglia, Alex (June 4, 2020). "BioShock: The Collection gets upgraded for PS4 Pro and Xbox One X - and the results disappoint". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  23. ↑ Morgan, Thomas (June 6, 2020). "BioShock: The Collection for Switch - classic games get a solid remaster". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  24. ↑ Carpenter, Nicole (March 26, 2020). "BioShock, Borderlands games coming to Nintendo Switch in May". Polygon . Vox Media. Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  25. 1 2 "BioShock: The Collection for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . Red Ventures. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  26. 1 2 "BioShock: The Collection for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic . Red Ventures. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  27. 1 2 "BioShock: The Collection for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Red Ventures. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  28. 1 2 "BioShock: The Collection for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . Red Ventures. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Paras, Peter (September 21, 2016). "Bioshock: The Collection Review". Game Revolution . CraveOnline. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  30. 1 2 3 4 Dornbush, Jonathon (September 13, 2016). "BioShock: The Collection Review". IGN . Ziff Davis. Retrieved September 13, 2016.
  31. 1 2 Vogel, Mitch (June 8, 2020). "BioShock: The Collection Review (Switch)". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  32. ↑ Bell, Alice (September 15, 2016). "BioShock: The Collection Review". VideoGamer. Resero Network. Retrieved September 15, 2016.
  33. 1 2 3 Andrews, Stuart (September 16, 2016). "BioShock: The Collection review – The best way to play". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  34. 1 2 3 4 5 Taal, Derek (September 24, 2016). "BioShock Collection Review: Atlas Shrugs". InsideGamer.nl (in Dutch). Reshift Digital. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  35. 1 2 3 Brown, Matt (September 30, 2016). "BioShock Collection Review". Windows Central. Future plc. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  36. ↑ White, Sam (September 21, 2016). "BioShock: The Collection Review—A Wonder to Revisit Rapture". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  37. ↑ Pillon, Thomas (June 30, 2020). "BioShock The Collection (Switch)". Gameblog.fr (in French). E-Borealis. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
  38. ↑ Hussain, Tamoor (September 19, 2016). "Top 10 UK Sales Chart: BioShock The Collection Debuts at No.1". GameSpot . Red Ventures. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
  39. ↑ Staff (September 26, 2016). "BioShock: The Collection claims second UK No.1". MCV . Biz Media. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  40. ↑ Hebblethwaite, Luke (October 10, 2016). "'FIFA 17' holds on to No.1 ahead of 2K's 'Mafia III'". UKIE.org. The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on January 2, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  41. ↑ Hebblethwaite, Luke (October 17, 2016). "EA's 'FIFA 17' tops the chart for a third consecutive week". UKIE.org. The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment. Archived from the original on October 23, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  42. ↑ Grubb, Jeff (October 20, 2016). "September 2016 NPD: NBA, NFL, FIFA, and NHL top the sales chart". VentureBeat . Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  43. ↑ Hillier, Brenna (November 21, 2016). "Battlefield 1 was the best-selling game in a month with a 36% year-on-year software spike – October NPD". VG247 . videogaming247 Ltd. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.