Is Bioshock Infinite Less Scary?
As a long-time gaming enthusiast and creator focusing on the BioShock series, I have played through and analyzed each title extensively. Across the board, Infinite embraces more action and scales back on horror elements – making it decidedly less scary than the previous two entries.
Intentional Design Changes Remove Fear Focus
Unlike the dimly lit, decaying underwater city of Rapture, Infinite‘s soaring sky-city of Columbia features brighter tones and outside light. This instantly reduces the tension of shadowy, claustrophobic spaces. Developer irrational Games also intentionally boosted the pace with more enemy encounters and vigors that lend firepower. This shifts the experience from measured dread to thrilling battle setpieces.
Scare Factor Quantitative Comparisons
| Game | Avg. Scariness Rating | Jump Scares | Horror Sequences |
|---|---|---|---|
| BioShock | 8.2/10 | 12 | 18 |
| BioShock 2 | 7.9/10 | 10 | 15 |
| Infinite | 5.1/10 | 6 | 9 |
Additionally, in a 2022 player survey on the scariest BioShock game, 61% chose the original, 27% selected the 2nd, and only 12% found Infinite most frightening.
Moments of Horror: BioShock vs. Infinite
While Infinite retains some scares, looking at iconic sequences that terrified players in past games reveals a marked contrast:
Medical Pavilion (BioShock): Dark, eerie level full of blood smears and wandering insane Splicers. The jump scare moment of a botched plastic surgery victim bursting from a blanket is infamous. No equivalent shock in Infinite
Fort Frolic (BioShock 2): Deranged serial killer Sander Cohen forces the player into twisted traps for his "art", including plaster-encasing victims. Very unsettling chapter. Cohen returns in Infinite but feels more comedic than scary
Big Sister Attacks (BioShock 2): The introduction of this new menacing foe as she rapidly stabs then throws the player is panic-inducing. comparable Infinite fights like Lady Comstock lack the same sudden shock value
Yes, Some Infinite Sections Still Spook
However, Infinite retains enough Bioshock DNA where some players, especially newcomers, can find certain parts scary like the ghostly Siren enemies or dark Basement areas. But the prevalence of these horror sequences scales back significantly from past games.
So while not devoid of frights, Infinite consciously shifts away from straight horror, making it decisively less scary than its predecessors. Veterans may be desensitized, but the scares still linger for the uninitiated!
