Video gaming is now one of the largest sectors in the entertainment industry, a successful pastime is one that can be enjoyed by many people from many different backgrounds. There are many reasons why people enjoy video games but I would say that my strongest attraction to the medium is through storytelling.

Nothing gets me more interested in something than an amazing and involving story which actually keeps you attached and interested and your mind thinking.

Many would say that recently released masterpiece ‘Bioshock’ takes story telling in video games up a notch whereas I believe it actually brings it to the same standards as the film industry. If you take both forms of entertainment down to their very core, films and moving image were created and pioneered for their ability to convey emotions and to tell a story. Video games on the other hand were created to take peoples minds off of real life - a form of escapism if you will. 2k’s Bioshock takes what makes film such a powerful medium and converts it into an interactive form.

Following the life of an unnamed hero, we enter into his life a few seconds before a chance plane crash over an underwater metropolis and surprisingly - our hero survives and enters into the utopia. As always, a problem is at hand as we are introduced to a seemingly impossible haven for science and art and the inhabitants have all turned against each other ruled over by the evil creations they put so much effort into creating.

As we venture through the underwater city, you begin to feel like a resident of it yourself, taking a look at the almost forced renaissance and wondering how it could have all gone wrong?

My only complaint about Bioshock is that the whole ride is over incredibly quickly, just like a movie, it’s all done and dusted before we even get a chance to fully contemplate the madness of the situation. Perhaps this is all for the best though, the best movies leave most of the action to your powerful and imaginative brain.

If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend playing through Bioshock, sure, it takes a little more effort to play than your brain dead frag-fest match of Call of Duty 4 but if you enjoy putting a little bit of effort into a decent story, Bioshock is definitely for you.

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