206: Bioshock (with Joseph Hooper - Crossplay Conversations)

Support my work on Patreon- https://patreon.com/realdavejackson Discord, Socials and more- https://linktr.ee/talesfromthebacklog Bioshock is a title that carries weight, nearly 20 years after its 2007 release by 2K Boston and 2K Australia, and it feels like one that every gaming podcast eventually talks about. And hey, it's our turn this time- Bioshock has long been a favorite of mine that I've revisited through the years. But when put under the Tales from the Backlog microscope, does it hold up under pressure or does it spring a leak? Listen in to find out. Guest info: Joseph Hooper (he/him) Check out Crossplay Conversations https://www.youtube.com/@crossplayconvos Check out Can't Pause on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@cantpause Check out Player Player https://playerplayerpod.com/ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 Title Card 0:26 Introductions 5:25 Our Histories with Bioshock 9:20 Top-Level Thoughts 14:25 Story Setup 21:30 Learning Backstory Via Audio Logs 26:40 Rapture and Ideology 35:18 Big Daddies, Little Sisters and Moral Choices 44:24 Combat Mechanics 54:00 Some Immersive Sim DNA 1:03:29 Combat Balance & Difficulty 1:13:26 Visual Design and Music/Sound 1:22:27 Who Do We Recommend Bioshock To? 1:24:38 Joseph's Podcasts and YouTube Channel 1:28:26 Spoiler Wall and Patron Thank-Yous 1:30:13 Spoilers- Would You Kindly? and Fontaine 1:44:48 Spoilers- Rapture's Downfall 2:01:37 Spoilers- Other Major Players 2:14:00 Spoilers- Big Daddy and Endings Music used in the episode is credited to Garry Schyman unless otherwise noted. Tracks used: Under the Sea (Bobby Darin), Welcome to Rapture, Mr. Bubbles - Little Sister, Dancers on a String (Reprise), Through the Docks, Cohen's Masterpiece, Leaving Rapture Gameplay footage used with permission from World of Longplays on YouTube, gameplay by Spazbo4. www.longplays.org Cover art by Jack Allen- find him at https://linktr.ee/JackAllenCaricatures