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Bioshock Infinite + No Online Pass = EPIC WIN

This version of Online Pass Watch has to be one of the hardest write ups I’ve had to do on any game from my E3 List. Not because the information was hard to come by but because as much as I wanted to do a write up on this game, I didn’t want to spoil myself with the games story in general. Allow me to elaborate, I frakin LOVE the Bioshock series. Not only did I buy the Xbox 360 version of Bioshock and beat it, I ended up giving that copy to my brother and bought the PS3 version just to enjoy the offed DLC with that system. I even put down a reserve on Bioshock 2 for the PS3 and actually ENJOYED playing that game. I know many didn’t much like the sequel but for me it was everything I wanted in a sequel. It gave me more of Rapture to run around in. It had revamped enemy types, new locations to explore, different overpowered baddies to face off with and I actually enjoyed the defense stages where you had to guard a “Little Sister” from splicers during harvesting. A task I didn’t really care to do in the first game.

I even bought the DLC for Bioshock 2 when it came on sale as a bundle pack though I’m still having a hard time trying to justify the game’s multiplayer modes, and having a harder time trying to find players who own the updated map packs. The Protector trials were okay and I loved Minerva’s Den that further broadening the world of Bioshock. So when word came out that there was a new Bioshock game in the works, I was doing my all to read up on every tidbit that the gaming websites had to offer on the game. I found that task to be the hardest to do because I didn’t want to completely spoil myself on the games plot and gameplay types. It didn’t bother me that this new Bioshock was to take place in the clouds for I could see why some would prefer to leave the watery depths of Rapture. What did bother me though was that there was an alpha build shown of a possible multiplayer mode for Bioshock Infinite. And during the heyday of Online Pass being put in many games it wasn’t too much of a stretch that it was possible that Online Pass could find its way into Bioshock Infinite.

From there I found it hard trying to find info about this game in how it was to be released without ruining the game for me in regards to story, plot and gameplay. So far I’ve been able to keep this game at arm’s length to avoid spoiler territory. But after doing slow, surgical and careful research about this game, I’m happy to say that not only does Bioshock Infinite not have a multiplayer mode but it is ONLINE PASS FREE!

Though this game did dabble with the “Season Pass” concept, it’s a better alternative than having to deal with an Online Pass ruining this game like it has with so many others before it. It looks like the publisher of Bioshock got the message that Bioshock 2 didn’t need a multiplayer and they were able to hold off in adding an Online Pass system to boot! To 2K games I thank them for going with that decision, more so when they could’ve used the delay time to force  Irrational Games to releasing a multiplayer mode locked behind an Online Pass paywall. It would’ve been even worse if they tried to do what Bioshock 2 did in trying to make the multiplayer relevant to the storyline of the series.  It would’ve been such a shame to lose access to that possible content due to the greediness of Online Pass. I’m glad the multiplayer mode considered for this game never made it past the initial concept build.

But now I got an even bigger worry about this game. With word of the new “Burial at Sea” DLC being offered for the game I’m not sure I can hold out much longer for a “Game of the Year” Edition. The chance to travel back to Rapture and see the city before the fall is such a tempting offer. I might just give in and buy the game and later buy the DLC Bundle at a cheaper price like I did with Bioshock 2. But I’d rather have this kind of dilemma than an Online Pass dilemma where I’d have to actually consider cutting myself off from the series that I’ve come to love. Place your bets on whether I wait for the “GOTY” Edition or punk out and buy right now!

Ta-ta

"N"

Online Pass Watch Games Checklist:

Games w/out Online Pass: 9

New Super Mario Bros. 2
Resident Evil 6
Doom 3: BFG Edition
Halo 4
Hitman: Absolution
Tomb Raider
New Super Mario Bros. U
Gears of War:Judgment
Bioshock Infinite

Games w/Online Pass: 1

Dead or Alive 5