The Wasted Potential of Bioshock Infinite

When I think "wasted potential", Bioshock Infinite is one of the first games to pop to mind. Thanks again to Dustandmarbles for providing the video intro! Would you kindly check out her excellent Bioshock 2 Animated Music Video? • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1n8MMb_7zeE&t Support the channel to its (not wasted) potential: • https://www.patreon.com/boulderpunch Get featured in the credits, get access to videos early, and receive updates of what I'm working on. Get Bioshock Infinite on GOG (Affiliate): https://bit.ly/boulderpunchbioshockinfinite Related Videos & Playlists: • Bioshock Playlist: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9iyzUyf92M_AEx3Ijo40tQcQZctzO1PK • Bioshock Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ellhHta2yDo • Bioshock 2 Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xqk9SGdDYZI&t • Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea Review: https://youtu.be/N8w1nE_DoMg • Minerva's Den DLC Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5B60ABZBf9Y • The Lost (Irrational's Cancelled Game): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCzanRX_SRY&t • System Shock Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDNVeM_3hpY&list=PL9iyzUyf92M_rS2DXIezvHE820dM5Mpi0 Bioshock Infinite is a jumbled mess of ideas from a game that had a long development cycle that promised so much more than what was released. While that is common, the sheer difference in what was shown prior to launch is staggering. Bioshock Infinite has a fascinating setting with incredible art direction and atmosphere. It has great worldbuilding and makes use of a unique timeframe not often seen in games. And yet, the ho-hum shooter gameplay of Bioshock Infinite is a few steps back from the first Bioshock, and a major step back from what Bioshock 2 did with its gameplay. Bioshock Infinite has some interesting subject matter, but it doesn't know what to say about it. It lacks the focus that Bioshock did with its subject matter. Toss in the concept of multiverses and you end up with a plot that's a jumbled mess. The more you think about it, the more Bioshock Infinite starts to fall apart. The promise that Columbia shows gets swept away in the second half to focus on this idea of multiverses. This Bioshock Infinite review/analysis/retrospective/critique will look at the making of Bioshock Infinite, the themes, combat, Elizabeth, the plot, the ending, what Bioshock 2 did better, and what happened during the development. Timestamps: 00:00 - Prelude 04:49 - Intro of Bioshock Infinite 06:35 - Columbia 08:05 - The Fair & Walking Simulator 11:19 - The Red Flags Emerge 13:03 - Combat in Bioshock Infinite 17:05 - Elizabeth 21:38 - What Bioshock Infinite could have been 23:43 - Booker, Slate, Hall of Heroes 26:17 - Vox Populi, Tears, & Plot Collapse 31:22 - Downtown Emporia & Lady Comstock 33:50 - Songbird 34:32 - Our Lady Elizabeth 36:27 - The Final Stretch 38:25 - The Ending 44:02 - Bioshock 2 Did It Better 47:45 - What Happened During Development on Bioshock Infinite? 53:50 - In Conclusion • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-03/bioshock-creator-s-next-game-and-its-narrative-legos-in-turmoil • https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-12-17-bioshock-infinites-elizabeth-ken-levine-on-creating-the-best-ai-companion-since-half-life-2s-alyx-vance • https://kotaku.com/the-real-stories-behind-e3-s-glossy-game-demos-1710169104 • https://www.polygon.com/2021/5/10/22424321/a-look-inside-bioshock-infinites-troubled-development • https://www.polygon.com/2013/2/18/3994648/bioshock-infinite-had-enough-cut-from-it-to-make-five-or-six-full • https://www.polygon.com/2014/3/6/5474722/why-did-irrational-close-bioshock-infinite • https://www.vg247.com/2013/11/12/clouds-and-strife-the-writing-of-bioshock-infinite-part-two/ • https://web.archive.org/web/20100815202804/http://www.shacknews.com/featuredarticle.x?id=1375 • https://web.archive.org/web/20170719100714/http://www.rollingstone.com:80/culture/news/we-were-all-miserable-inside-bioshock-video-game-franchise-w439921 Additional Footage:: • Behind The Scenes of Bioshock Infinite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lk_T8MpzmM • Bioshock Infinite 2010 Footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_DSfjAdhlU • Bioshock Infinite Cut Content: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0qXgl_cwJ0 • Bioshock Infinite E3 2011 Footage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WUt5dEMt_Y • BioShock: Infinite: The People Behind Booker and Elizabeth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vt74l4lbjQ • Creepy Watson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13YlEPwOfmk • Day's Gone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE2410TAC0Q • Evolution of Bioshock Infinite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcAIzNM2NTQ • Fallout: New Vegas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVXYXAoejJE • Resident Evil 4 2003 E3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxuvvvnHSQg • Spore: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofA6YWVTURU • System Shock 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_j71V8hhLI • Watch Dogs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JcujYbctPk #bioshock #bioshockinfinite #boulderpunch