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BioShock 2 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows)

common sense media says

Philosophical shooter brims with mature ideas -- and content


parents & educators say
  • 67% say language is an issue
  • 56% say violence is an issue

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that BioShock 2 is an extremely violent shooter with several adult elements, including profane language, suggestive sexuality, and excessive use of drugs, tobacco, and alcohol. The player’s character kills enemies in decidedly bloody ways (such as with a giant drill), visits desolate strip clubs with suggestive posters, and consumes copious quantities of alcohol, cigarettes, and mind and body enhancing genetic drugs known as “plasmids.” The game also features unfiltered online play, which opens the door to verbal attacks, even more profanity, and the sharing of personal information with strangers.

Educational value: Players who don’t already understand the political and philosophical ideas that define capitalism, individualism, and collectivism, probably will by the time they finish playing.
Positive messages: This game is chock full of adult themes, including violence, sexuality, and substance abuse. However, it also has interesting things to say about consumerism, a strong philosophical dialogue that will make players ponder extreme ideologies, and even offers a subtle commentary on women’s rights. Clearly, many of these ideas will likely be overlooked by younger players, who will naturally gravitate toward the action, but mature audiences will find a surprisingly cerebral web of ideas at play.
Positive role models: Our protagonist, a “Big Daddy,” is a bit of a mystery at first. A genetic experiment, it initially seems as though he’s little more than a mindless slave following orders to do violence, but he quickly proves his free will. He then embarks on a mission to reunite with one of the game’s Little Sisters, little girls that have been chemically conditioned to form a daughterly bond with Big Daddies. Players have the option of curing these girls, restoring them to their former adorable selves, or harvesting them for precious stem cells known as ADAM. Consequently, whether your Big Daddy is a hero or just another of the city’s villains is largely up to you.
Ease of play: Three levels of difficulty ensure that players of all skill levels will have an appropriately challenging experience. The controls are a bit more complex than your average shooter, but they’ve been well designed and implemented. It just takes a bit of patience.
Violence: Players use a variety of guns, a drill, and “plasmids” -- powers that let them shoot ice, fire, and electricity from their hands -- to kill their enemies. Blood gushes from wounds, especially when enemies are drilled, and can be seen splashed across the floor. Certain abilities allow players to kill enemies in more unusual ways, such as freezing and then shattering them. Most characters scream and writhe in pain when struck.
Sex: The act of sex isn’t shown, but players will hear suggestive dialogue between prospective mates and visit a strip club in ruins. Strip club posters on the city’s walls show women in slightly revealing clothes and advertise that time with women can be purchased.
Language: Strong spoken language is present throughout. Examples of words heard while playing include: “f--k,” “s--t,” and “c-nt,” among many others.
Consumerism: There are no recognizable brands, but the city is plastered with hundreds of ads for a wide variety of fictitious products. Astute players will realize that this is, in fact, a commentary on our consumer culture.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: The protagonist drinks alcoholic beverages and smokes cigarettes. These substances can affect his vision, but also offer rewards, such as increased health. Some “tonics” -- essentially character perks -- will augment the effect, including one called Booze Hound. Also note that the game’s “plasmids” are essentially mind and body altering drugs, and many of the enemies in the game have been driven mad by injecting themselves with too many.

More on BioShock 2

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about consumerism and how it has changed (or perhaps hasn’t) in the 50 years since the civilization in BioShock’s Rapture was at its peak. When you see the city’s walls covered in old-fashioned posters advertising better health, tighter skin, and animal magnetism via simple injections, do you laugh at the idea or does some part of you wish such products existed? Despite its fantastical setting, does this game say something about our culture?
  • Families can also discuss the ideologies presented in the game. Rapture was originally ruled by a man who was against socialism and government, but without laws and moral referees,ac his citizens went mad with greed and self-idolatry. Now it’s ruled by a woman who reveres a collective society, but she’s taken it too far as well, reducing people to little more than cogs in a machine. Is there a happy middle? Does our culture represent it? Do we lean one way or another?

What's the story?

What's the story?
Set ten years after events of the original, BIOSHOCK 2 sends players back to Rapture, an underwater metropolis that was founded based on principles of extreme capitalism and individualism. It’s now 1970, and the city has lain in chaotic ruins for the last decade. Its doped up denizens have come under the thumb of Sophia Lamb, a brilliant but insane psychologist who teaches her crazed, cult-like followers that extreme collectivism is the right way to go. Players journey through this underwater madhouse as a Big Daddy. A major facet of the original game, Big Daddies are genetically altered men who have been surgically grafted to the interiors of hulking dive suits. They bond with and zealously protect Little Sisters, tragic little girls that have been conditioned to search out and extract ADAM -- valuable stem cells -- from the city’s many corpses. The very first of his kind, our Big Daddy is on a mission to find the girl he bonded with years ago and reaffirm his free will, which leads to multiple moral dilemmas.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

Like its predecessor, BioShock 2 delivers a surprisingly brainy narrative. Its exploration of what happens when political ideologies are taken to extremes, commentary on consumerism (the citizens of Rapture literally drove themselves mad with greed), and simple yet surprisingly moving examination of a Big Daddy’s fatherly affection for a Little Sister -- is it real? Artificial? Does it really matter? -- are the sort of subjects traditionally better tackled in movies and books than games.

This brain food comes even as the game sates our animal sides. The visceral combat, which includes new and improved “plasmid” abilities, intense siege scenarios during which we protect adopted Little Sisters, and challenging boss battles against a fast-moving new enemy dubbed Big Sister, stands toe-to-toe with that of any other adult-oriented shooter. Extreme violence and intellectual thought may seem like strange bedfellows, but 2K has proven that the two can fit snugly and satisfyingly together.

Online interaction: This game features online multiplayer with open voice chat, which means players could be exposed to verbal attacks and profanity and share personal information. Common Sense Media does not recommend online play for pre-teens.

Game themes & details

Game Details
Available on: Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Windows
Available online
Genre: First Person Shooter
Developer: 2K Games
Released on: February 9, 2010
Price: 59.99
ESRB Rating: M for Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language
Screenshots

This review was written by Chad Sapieha
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13
Based on 18 parent & educator reviews:
  • 67% say language is an issue
  • 56% say violence is an issue
  • 28% say there's too much drinking, drugs, or smoking

Most useful reviews by all members

NicoDeJaVu
teen, 16 years old
 
Such a good game
I find when playing this game the act of "Fatherly Love" subject Delta has is very heart felt and saving little sisters is very refreshing. After saving them you feel good, like going through all the mess to get there (ex: killing splicers) was worth it just to free the poor baby girl. Though my stance may be like this because my little sister is the same age. This game offers a bit less fear than the first game, probably considering you are now a giant, powerful big daddy.

BucketHead811
teen, 15 years old
 
Ya ya ya, this reviewer is way to harsh on this game.. CommonSense under rates movies but WAY overrates video games.. I have no idea why.. Violence. Nothing different from the 1st game. Language.. About the same as the first one.. Is not over the top at all.. Sexual themes? wow.. Suggestive pics but no nudity.. Fine for anyone 14+.

 
Better for high school kids, not so much for children.
Although there is a wonderful story line, the violence in this game prevents me from putting this as an 'on'. Some parts can be a tad bit frightening thus I'd recommended it for teenagers and older.

Gameplay
kid, 11 years old
 
Not sure.
I stopped playing because it was too scary. I like scary games and I still play games I don't like... but this is far.

RaineKnight
teen, 17 years old
 

ssrex
teen, 15 years old
 
Little bit more gory than the original, but as far as everything else goes it's pretty tame. I have no idea what sexual content the esrb is referring to, but oh well. The last 3 hours of this game is awesome, but the first 7 or so fall a bit flat. Still, top notch, cant wait for infinite.

JamesVF
teen, 15 years old
 
A Great Game with Thought Provoking Messages
The game in itself is wonderful. However, the creators of this game obviously employed deep meaning to this series. The iconic 'Plasmids' are obvious allusions to drugs, as the people of Rapture become physically and physiologically bound to the use of the substance. And the ironic religious names to all of the chemicals and the city itself was chosen to invoke the religious opposition to the fake biological experiments as-well as the moral dilemma of genetically modifying man , further displayed by Raptures motto "No Kings, no Gods, only Man" However if you aren't yourself concerned with such matters then this game is great choice.

HeresWhatIThink
teen, 14 years old
 
Your kid, your call
This is a work of art. BioShock 2 is an outstanding game with an incredible storyline, great message, and intuitive gameplay. That being said, it is definitely NOT appropriate for younger children. The language can be an issue if you are against cursing. I found it terrifying to play near my parents as I was constantly afraid a curse would blare out of the speakers. They can be avoided by turning off the dialogue, but then you miss some of the deep storyline. The violence is also brutal, but to be expected in an FPS. As for whether or not it's appropriate for your child, that really is up to you. I find the reviewers here are far too conservative, and the "Not for Kids" rating this game received is much too harsh. The sexual content is almost non-existent, and the cursing mainly comes from the enemies that angrily barrel at you. This is not to say the language isn't all over, it's just not as bad as many think it to be. The game teaches moral values and the importance of family and love, and the player influences the ending in a big way, depending on his or her actions. Unfortunately, many children will not be able to experience this amazing title due to the massive amounts of violence and cursing. In the end, it all depends on your child's maturity level. Talk to them about it, and make your own decision. They are, after all, your kids. I feel you know them better than I do.

trustedreviewman
parent of 14 year old
 
NO KIDS? Why does i say that above?
This game is alot less worse than the first one. It says "blood gushes from wounds," the blood is so mild that the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) didn't even bother to put "and gore" on the rating. Language got you iffy, while in the game if you pause it go down to Voice Volume and set it to 0. Sexual themes shouldn't even be a descriptor, it's so mild that even the Legend of Zelda has some of these "Sexual Themes."

Glados_is_a_lier
teen, 13 years old
 
Bioshock 2 is quite an exquisite game that I recommend to mature 13 year olds and older. As for it being scary I didint really think it was that scary at all, sure their were times when you flinched or jumped a little at something but not as bad as some other games out their.

über_cool
teen, 14 years old
 
fantastic game but only for mature teens
I love this game. It is a fantastic game with lots of puzzles and story line. The story is very grim though as the under water city 'rapture' as gone into chaos because people have been abusing the drug 'adam' which gives them powers but if used to much makes you become insane and addicted to the drug. You play as a 'big daddy' who protect the 'little sisters' 10 year old girls who collect adam by draining blood from dead bodies. sometimes crazy adam abusers will come and try to kill the little sister to get a hold of the adam she has. This is a very well done game for mature teens only. Thats why I have made it 'iffy' 13+. There are also lots of decisions you make throughout the whole game like wether you save little sisters are kill them to take adam for yourself.

Redblood20
teen, 18 years old
 
The Rapture Dream is only for those who can handle it
Bioshock 2 expands on the undersea world of Rapture. Rapture actually became worse since Jack was there. A cult known as the "Family" has risen and started kidnapping little girls from the surface to turn them into "Little Sisters" You play the game as a "Big Daddy" known as Delta. Delta was, without spoiling anything, out of action for ten years. you wake up not knowing where little sister you were assigned to is, and something deep down inside your character is compelled to find her. You meet several characters along, ranging from a hustler who played a hand in turning you into a monster, to a southern business man who acts as your mentor throughout the game, to a crazed psychologist. (Ironic, huh?) All of the characters you meet along the way have crossed you at one time in the past and when you meet them again, you have the choice of killing them in revenge or letting them live. There are also appearances from Dr. Tenenbaum and the mad artist dude(his voice only).The moral choice of killing or saving the little sisters is back from the original. Combat is greatly improved, allowing the player to use both weapons and plasmids simultaneously. There is a great deal of violence in the game, but there is hardly any gore. (but there are dead cats). I would recommend this game for those who are mature enough to distinguish a game from real life and probably won't have nightmares over the game.

RockCycle
teen, 15 years old
 
Parent's Preferecne on Playing
The overall game was awesome, but all parents may not approve. The game has strong language, drug use, online multiplayer vioce chat, posters of women in revealing clothing, and blood. Though vioce chat can be disabled for your computor (just unplug your microphone) and other players muted, the other issues are unfixable. Basicly the choise is up to you, but this is NOT a game for the extremely young.

bobkitty1123
teen, 17 years old
 
Meaningful yet violent game - only for mature teens
A great game in my eyes. I thought the game at first was mindless violence but as I played I uncovered the true theme. The whorl or Rapture directly points a finger at the affects of consumerism, drug use and a lack of government on a society. Throughout the game, while you kill many of the splicers--human creatures corrupted by excessive drug use, you have a chance to redeem yourself by sparing humans whom may or may not have hurt you in the past and save the little sisters, restoring back to young children. You have the chance to decide who you want to be. In the end, it's up to you what legacy you want to leave. A violent game that is not for younger children but has a great philosophical message for older teens.

maniacalmayhem
teen, 16 years old
 
Good for older teens, but younger children may find it too dark and intense.
This game is great, really fun to play. Although it can be rather bloody (albeit mostly just the Drill weapon), it isn't the worst I've seen. There is a lot of swearing. Lots of drinking and some smoking, and you can become drunk from drinking too fast. Biggest thing for younger people is that it can be rather scary at times, and may give them nightmares, and seeing little girls drink blood from corpses can be rather disturbing. Not much in the way of sex besides dialogue and some posters in the brothel area. Surprisingly philosophical in its messages, especially with all the talk from the antagonist of coming together and ridding oneself of the individual.

Gamer5
teen, 18 years old
 
GREAT game
The game has good role models such as tenebaum who wants you to save the little sisters great game overall

huffmanclan
parent of 6 and 8 year old
 
Great game, but not for kids.
We have this game and as adults we love it, but we don't even play it until the children are asleep. Its a very dark game. If nothing else it would give them nightmares. Teens and up only for this game.

DOTTER
adult
 
GOOD
Awesome game BioShock2 Free tinyurl*/33jj55o

roxas411
kid, 13 years old
 
awesome for non scaredy cats
too scarey the first time ive played bio shock it gave me nightmares for 2 days

davidguitar15. ...
teen, 17 years old
 
I love this game...its the best....14+

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ON: Content is appropriate for kids this age.
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