BioShock comes out this Tuesday, and having pretty much completed the game to 1000 - Currently playing it on HARD, the final achievement I need - I figured I would give you guys some pointers and things to keep in mind as you're exploring the first time through the glorious world of Rapture.
It's recommended that you just enjoy the game at your own pace the first time through, but if you'd like to know some things that could help you out beforehand so you dont get stuck, that's what this is for. This will also help you understand how to get certain achievements, and I will spoil them accordingly.
* HARVESTING or SAVING Little Sisters - the pros and consHarvesting a Little Sister yields the following:
- More ADAM compared to saving them
- BAD ending
- No bonus gift packages
Saving a Little Sister yields the following:
- Less ADAM than Harvesting
- Bonus gift packages (ADAM, Plasmid/Tonic, Ammo/Invention) after a certain number are rescued; this happens multiple times if you keep rescuing
- GOOD ending for rescuing them all
- 100 point achievement upon completion of game pending you save them ALL
* The Research Camera: More useful than you know- When you eventually come across the Research Camera, you are taught how to do it. HOWEVER, when you take a photo of one, KEEP taking photos! You get points, but not as much. Keep snapping until the game says "SCORE TOO LOW" -- you can tell how much you have left by the Camera Crosshair, the wider it gets, the less points you will get.
- Research allows you to inflict more damage on enemy types, which is ESPECIALLY useful against the Big Daddies.
- Even though the achievements tell you to photograph the Splicers and Big Daddies and Little Sisters, you can also photograph the Machinery! This includes the Turrets, the Security Cameras, and Security Bots. Don't forget!
- When the screen says "Research Subject Completed" you do not need to take any more photos. Do NOT stop after the first Research Bonus.
* Secret Achievements- ALL but TWO of the secret achievements are story related! What are the last two? Well, this is where I spoiler it. I will give you one hint to when you can look:
Fort FrolicHere are the other two secret achievements, and how you can get them at the same time:
spoiler (click to show/hide)
When you complete Cohen's masterpiece, DO NOT KILL HIM!!! Just ignore him, and move on with the game. Make sure you go back upstairs in the theater and enter his previously blocked room though. Later on in the game, you will come across Cohen again. Enter Cohen's secret room (achievement #1) and kill him. THEN, simply photograph his dead body (achievement #2), and voila!
- Hacking is boring and irritating, get used to it. Just try and get a hold of Automatic Hack Tools instead, or buy out.
* Inventing: Useful, well, sort of.- Inventing is pretty limited, but you'll find that you can make some very precious ammo -- focus mostly on Auto-Personnel Ammo, as this is what the Splicers are weak against. Also, make Automatic Hack Tools.
* Upgrading Weapons: Priorities!- UPGRADE THE GOD DAMN SHOTGUN, it's uber strong and seriously needs to be nerfed. From there, work on the Pistol, then the Grenade Launcher. The rest you'll probably never use, so whatever.
* Plasmids: Sort the good from the bad- I'm gonna say this straight up - majority of them are useless. At best, you'll only find yourself using Electro Bolt, Telekinesis, and Incinerate (the only three you get in the game for free). Only buy others if you're really curious. Save your ADAM at Gatherer's Gardens for Tonics and EVE/Health upgrades, or Tonic Slots.
* Wrench: Probably the best weapon in the game- In the demo, Atlas tells you the 1-2 combo. This is probably the most common and USEFUL thing in the game. Later on, you'll find Tonics that increase Wrench strength - equip them straight away! Later on, you'll find a Tonic that causes your Wrench to freeze enemies, probably THE best Tonic in the game. Equip STRAIGHT AWAY.
* Telekinesis: Weapon in a snap!- Telekinesis lets you throw basically anything at an enemy and damage them, use it to hit from afar. For bonus humor, feel free to pick up and toss the dead cats lying around Rapture.
* Incinerate: Melting Ice- In the Medical Area, after you get Incinerate, you might be stumped like I was the first time through. Well, just know that fire melts ice. You'll know what I mean.
* Telekinesis: Unlocking the Door- In the Medical Area, where you get the Shotgun, there is a place called Chompers Dental that is locked. Look where the doctor is hanging out the window, and you'll find the key. How do you get it? I think you can figure it out from here.
- Also, nearby there is a turret shooting at you. To get in this room, hop on the boxes and crawl through the window.
* Audio Diaries: For Achievement Whores Only- Every audio diary is accessible in the game, EXCEPT the ones in the beginning (there are TWO here), and later in the game in Haephestus, so LOOK CAREFULLY, cause you won't get a second chance unless you start over.
