1. INTRODUCTION [c01]

Welcome to Rapture! This guide covers the basics of BioShock, from its unique FPS gameplay to the city's dark history. Prepare for spoilers as we dive into this underwater utopia gone wrong.

Hey there! So, you've decided to dive into BioShock, huh? Awesome choice! This guide is gonna walk you through everything, and it's based on the Xbox 360 version, but it should be pretty much the same for PC players too. Just a heads-up, since we're doing a full walkthrough, there are definitely spoilers ahead. If you're trying to go in totally blind, this might not be the place for you, so consider this your official warning!

First off, what even IS BioShock? It's this super cool hybrid FPS game from 2K Boston/2K Australia (they used to be Irrational Games). It dropped back in August 2007 for PC and Xbox 360 and pretty much blew everyone away. Seriously, it was the best-reviewed Xbox 360 game ever at the time, scoring a near-perfect 97/100 on Metacritic. The whole game is set in Rapture, this secret city built way down under the ocean by a guy named Andrew Ryan. His big idea was to create a utopia for the world's elite, a place free from the usual rules of morality, government, or religion. You start the game after a plane crash, being the only survivor. You'll take a sub down to Rapture looking for help, but as soon as you arrive, you'll quickly realize that this underwater paradise has gone seriously, horribly wrong.

This guide is broken down into eight parts. You're reading the intro right now (Section 1). Section 2 will cover the essential game mechanics you'll need to know to survive the madness of Rapture. Then, Section 3 is the main event – a full walkthrough from start to finish, detailing exactly what you need to do in every single level. Section 4 is for all those random tips and tricks that don't quite fit anywhere else. Got questions? Section 5 is a FAQ that tackles the most common ones. Need to know about the gear? Section 6 is a reference section with all the deets on weapons, powers, and items. And if you're on Xbox 360 and aiming for those achievements, Section 7 has you covered. Finally, Section 8 wraps things up.