Title: Bioshock Infinite: Burial At Sea Episode 1
Format: PS3(reviewed), Xbox 360, PC
Release Date: November 12, 2013
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Irrational Games
Price: $14.99
ESRB Rating: M
The first DLC for Bioshock Infinite takes you back to Rapture, in this all new tale featuring Elizabeth and Booker, but does it possess the same magic that made Bioshock Infinite one of the best games this year?
Story, Presentation, and Core Gameplay:
The first episode of the Burial at Sea DLC stars Elizabeth and Booker Dewitt, the original stars from the standalone game, but the Elizabeth in Burial At Sea isn't the same character this time around. She's not the innocent protagonist that's learning who she is and where she's heading. This Elizabeth is a much stronger character, her strong demeanor is very reminiscent of the ending of Bioshock Infinite. The day is December 31, 1958, and it's the date where Elizabeth wanders into Booker's office, where she pulls out a picture of a young girl. Elizabeth wants Booker to find this mysterious girl, and thats where your adventure begins, sounds familiar doesn't it? When you walk out of the, you get to experience Rapture before the big fallout, and you get a better sense of the city's culture. The first Bioshock came out in 2007, so the visual upgrades to Rapture are pretty drastic. Just like in Infinite, the game manages to pull you into the atmosphere with striking visuals and audio. Rapture is brimming with personality, even more so than Columbia. In Bioshock, Rapture was decimated and crime-ridden. But in Burial at Sea, the city is alive and kicking. You'll hear residents of Rapture discussing the city's strong ideologies and beliefs, which makes you feel like you're visiting a city in reality. Voice acting is just as strong as before, with even stronger personalities to encounter. Elizabeth and Booker's chemistry once again is center stage, and they provide yet another strong performance.
When it comes down to the gameplay, it's pretty much exactly the same as Infinite. I've never been particularly fond of the action elements in any Bioshock game, and Burial at Sea does nothing to convince me otherwise. Plasmids make a return, and they once again provide a seperate way to get rid of deranged splicers. You'll quickly obtain gear that allows you to melee splicers from afar, which can make combat pretty easy. The Skyhook and skylines make a return to Rapture, but they take up a new name. It's not as enjoyable since you're not riding through the open airs of the Columbia. Rapture is a lot more confined than Columbia, and it makes me wonder why they even implemented it in the DLC in the first place. Elizabeth still has the ability to create tears during battles, but she never really goes into depth into how she's able to do so. Booker never seems to shocked by it either, which seems a bit odd. It seems like the devs tried to cram elements from Columbia into Rapture, but they don't really translate well. Other than that, the gameplay is what we've all come to expect from a Bioshock game. 
Final Thoughts:The Burial at Sea DLC will only take you 90 minutes to finish, and for $15 bucks, that can be a bit pricey for some. Burial at Sea is brimming with personality, but it never captures the same brilliance of Infinite. If you're a fan of these games, I would easily recommend you playing it, even with the high buy in.
S&S Rating: 7/10 @whatsPlay
