The sequel may have given us parallel dimensions, and Half-life may have laid the foundations for FPS storytelling, but in the end it's this dark, mesmerising ocean-floor adventure that wins the top accolade. BioShock took its narrative blueprints not from films or other games, but straight out of philosophy books. The fallen deep-sea utopia of Rapture is an embodiment of the objectivist, individualistic philosophies of Ayn Rand and a commentary on what they lead to - warning us that relentless pursuit of self-interests and individual 'greatness' is the road to hell. As you pick up audio logs around Rapture, the story of how the city came to collapse slowly comes together. This method of storytelling, which lets you dig as little or as much as you like, works fantastically with the player just wandering around the stunning, Deco-inspired architecture of the Rapture. It's a type of immersive storytelling that only a game can do. Beyond the lofty philosophical themes, BioShock's plot cleverly explores the idea of choice in video games. The game toys with your own sense of control over events, but concludes with one of two alternate endings, which poignantly show that ultimately show that your decisions do matter. BioShock contains not only the best FPS plot in video games, but quite possibly the best of any game every created. It came out at a time when gaming hardware was powerful enough to give developers free rein when it came to visual storytelling, making it a timeless masterpiece that's yet to be supplanted. What's your favourite first-person shooter with a killer story? Let us know in the comments!
Gamer, Researcher of strange things.
I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.
