BradyGames, has launched the BioShock 2 Signature Series Guide Written by Doug Walsh and Phillip Marcus, in direct collaboration with 2K Games for the Xbox 360, PlayStation3 and PC, the official BioShock 2
Signature Series guide claims to provide a vital toolset for gamers to survive the horrors that await within the crumbling walls of Rapture.
The book contains 256 pages providing a comprehensive walkthrough of the entire single-player campaign; extensive area maps including the location of every secret, safe and enhancement; in-depth listings of all items, weapons and Plasmids; expert multiplayer maps and tactics so that gamers can dominate online; full Achievements and Trophies listed; and with the hardcover Limited Edition Guide also offering one of two sets of 8×10 lithographs of stunning BioShock 2-themed art bundled with each hardcover guide.
First appearances are good – really what we’ve come to expect of the BradyGames guides. The book is approximately the height and width of an A4 sheet of paper and the front cover depicts a little sister piggybacking a big daddy and a barnacle encrusted game logo. The game logo has been given a gloss finish while the main picture has matt finish with a gloss beginning at the bottom and tapering out further up the cover. This gives the book a wet effect almost as if the water of Rapture had seeped up through the book. Nice. The back cover shows an image of a little sister on the back of a big sister overlayed with a brief summary of contents. Gloss effect has again been used for headings and page examples.
On opening, the first page contains the menu superimposed on a image of a drowned rapture. The menu or table of contents has 9 different sections beginning with a one page prologue. This is a brief of what has happened in Rapture in the last ten years since Bioshock 1 and will introduce you to the game’s story.
The second menu item covers the residents of Rapture. Here you can familiarise yourself with all the different characters and their backgrounds. Subject Delta, Andrew Ryan, Brigid Tenenbaum, Sofia Lamb, Eleanor Lamb, Augustus Sinclair, Grace Holloway, Stanley Poole, Gil Alexander, splicers, little sister, big daddies, Alpha series, big sisters, – they are all here with a full page description and image of the characters. Also within this category there is a double page dedicated to Rapture security where you can read up about the security cameras, security bots and turrets.
Into the dive suit’s chapter contains all of the information you will need in order to navigate Rapture as a big daddy. While the controls and gameplay mechanics have remained similar to the original Bioshock, there have been new features and improvements. The chapter begins with a table showing control pad functions for the three platforms ( Xbox360, PS3, PC). There then follows a page explaining the benefits of the different difficulty levels. Then for the fun ! we now have 10 pages detailing the exploration of Rapture. There are brownish panels containing a wealth of tips for exploring, tips for weapon use, and tips for plasmid wielders. Moving on beyond the basics we learn all about Adam, hacking, and research. All the useful information is detailed in easy to access table form. The mechanical machines that can be found throughout Rapture are then explained – vending machines, power to the people, vita chambers etc.
Use all this information to your advantage !
The next chapter is Big Daddies weaponry. This is a comprehensive description of Big Daddies arsenal and how best to utilise. All beautifully presented showcasing each weapon individually with their upgrades and ammo capacity.
Evolve today chapter contains all you need to know about the gene altering effects of plasmids and tonics. A full page table details the gatherer’s garden vending machine locations and all the items you can purchase. The rest of this chapter then focuses on the individual plasmids and gene tonics detailing their locations and effects in lovely art deco style panels and post notes (!)
We then come to the main section of the book – the walkthrough. We have extensive coverage of each location within the environment. Some locations consist of up to dedicated 20 pages. Each of the pages information is broken up into different colour coded panels interspersed between the main walkthrough eg. Audio diaries are in yellowish/ brown panels, and useful tips in purple. The first page of each location will also prepare you for your first encounter,provide story goals,new discoveries and weaponry. Large overview maps are also contained within this chapter as are notifications of achievements.
Focus is now shifted to multiplayer in the battle for Rapture section/ chapter. Multiplayer is a new addition to Bioshock and takes place before the events in the original Bioshock game. There are now characters to
select from and these are shown along with the masks and melee weapons you can use to customise your character with. After a 2 page brief on some basics there is another table showing the default multiplayer controls for the three formats. This is followed by pages demonstrating the ranks and loadouts followed by weaponry available, plasmid information, tonic details, and game types.
Sticking with multplayer there is now a section displaying the multiplayer maps and combo and general tips provided by 2K. The maps pinpoint locations of vending machines, little sister, sister vent, rocket turrets
etc. everything you need to navigate your way around.
Last, but not least is a comprehensive achievement and trophy guide .
BradyGames have equipped gamers with yet another essential toolset with the release of BioShock 2 Signature Series Guide. Presentation is once again of the highest standard as is the quality of information. Borrowing the art nouveau style from the game, the illustrations are just so beautifully crafted and the data is easily accessible thanks to the thoughtful layout and use of different colour panes to highlight information. What I do like about these types of guides is that during gameplay when battles become frantic or when you’re rushing, the gamer can overlook details. With BioShock 2 Signature Series Guide by your side this is no longer an issue
