Playing Bioshock all over again remains an absolute pleasure.

The world of Rapture remains fresh and unique, its inhabitants intimidating and intriguing, and that twist. Oh my goodness, that twist still stings.

You probably didn’t come to this article wondering if the game still holds up. Because it does, no question. It’s still one of the finest examples of first person storytelling ever made.

And it should also come as no surprise to anyone that the Switch handles it marvellously. Actually, the world seems so much more sinister as you intimately play the game in handheld, headphones plunged in.

The piercing screams of Splicers send goosebumps up your arm, the chilling prose of Andrew Ryan as he spews forth his propaganda. And Atlas. Oh, Atlas…

Bioshock runs like a dream on Switch and is a perfect way to replay a game that many might not have played since the 360 days.

You can buy the game as a Collection – and we’ll be taking a look at each game individually – but the games can be purchased separately as well in case you have a particular favourite.

The original Bioshock paces its unique concepts gradually, never overwhelming the player with too at once, but also making sure they’re never bored as they venture deeper into the depths of this former underwater utopia.

Between its narrative twists, the introduction of its camera system, the use of plasmids, guns, enemy types, and double taps, this game is a journey that simply must be experienced.

The game was remastered a few years back and was a delight on other consoles, but there’s something about this Switch port that just clicks. It’s been lovingly made to fit on the smaller screen and it runs smooth as butter throughout.

It’s stable throughout, with no major noticeable dips in quality, and best of all it’s one of those ports where you will struggle to tell where the corners have been cut. Switch owners will also be delighted to know that the remastered assets are very alive and well in this port, looking as striking as they did elsewhere, and really helping the game stay fresh and current.

One of the other cool features of the remaster, apart from the obvious graphical and audio upgrades, is the inclusion of director’s cut video and commentary. Geoff Keighley hosts a series of video interviews with Ken Levine to chat about the origins of the game and they provide some fascinating anecdotes about development which must be seen.

Honestly, this was an absolute delight to replay. It’s been a good few years since I stepped into Rapture and it’s just as breathtaking and compelling as its ever been. It’s absolutely given me a bigger appetite for a new adventure in this extensive universe.

For Nintendo owners, the release of Bioshock is also something of a dream come true. It’s a game that never made it to the Wii or Wii U and was one of those third party games that seemed as if it would never make the jump across.

Like all the 2K <3 Nintendo games, this has been lovingly put together and is the furthest thing from a throwaway port you can find.

If this is the standard of quality I can expect from 2 and Infinite, this Collection is an absolute must-own, whether you’re new to Irrational’s world or a returning resident.

---

Bioshock 1 is now available on Switch individually or as part of The Bioshock Collection

Code provided by 2K

Tested on Switch