Feature: BioShock vs. Halo 3 (Page 3 of 7)
Graphics
BioShock: BioShock has some of the most impressive graphics ever seen in a video game. More impressive, they don't merely shine on a technological level because BioShock's art direction is sublime.
Mmm, modified Unreal 3
Water is the running graphical theme in BioShock, and its digital presentation is nothing short of spectacular. Whether it's seeping in through the cracked walls or hosting your reflection in a fire-lit basement, the water serves as a dark reminder of decay, desolation, and doom. The 1920's Art Deco style further reinforces this theme, with the lavish marble and polished wood under assault from the elements. It symbolizes the rot underneath Rapture's glossy exterior, and the effect is deeply unsettling - just the mood the developers were aiming for.
There's no denying the superior tech in BioShock. Just incinerate and watch the gorgeous flames catch a Splicer and spread to the water on the ground. Each Plasmid hosts such a unique look and presentation, and the creepiness of the Little Sisters and Big Daddies provide a consistent spook.
Halo 3: What continues to impress in the Halo games is the size and scope of the outdoor environments. Since the release of Halo 3's multiplayer beta this past spring, critics slammed the graphics for looking like "Halo 2.5." This isn't entirely inaccurate: Halo 3's multiplayer matches are clean and crisp, but not a vast leap over Halo 2's. Thankfully, Halo 3's single-player game has processor power to spare and can turn on more special effects, such as dazzling sunlight and thick jungle foliage.
That HDR lighting really, um, shines.
Where Halo shines is, well, in its shine. Bungie's use of HDR (High Dynamic Range) lighting gives the game a bright, almost blinding, sheen. In fact, the lighting effects are arguably the most striking graphical feature in Halo 3. But the visual effects came at a cost; Due to the technical demands of HDR lighting, Bungie had to drop native 720p support to a slightly lower resolution of 640p. This sacrifice is a minor one, but owners of big-screen HDTVs may notice a more pixel-y look. Luckily, the game runs smooth and steady, and you'll learn to look past the slightly gritty 640p resolution in time.
WINNER: BioShock, but not by a landslide. BioShock dazzles with its elaborate indoor environments; meanwhile, Halo 3 excels at huge, sprawling outdoor terrain. Both games specialize in different locales...but we're giving the nod to BioShock, partly due to its mesmerizing art direction, and partly because it packs a slightly bigger visual punch.
Sound
BioShock: Drip-drip-drip-drip: the steady, almost maddening drip of seawater is a constant companion. Be it the room-shaking footsteps of a Big Daddy or the shrilling screams of a rampaging Splicer, much of BioShock's black ambience is woven through its splendidly complex audio track.
"Welcome to the Circus of Values!"
Composer Garry Schyman orchestrates a suspenseful yet minimalistic soundtrack that helps to emphasize the game's time period and setting; period pop music floats through the waterlogged hallways, and gaudy carnival music spews out of Circus of Values vending machines. It's a feast for the ears, but it's never excessive or out-of-place.
Halo 3: Halo already hosts one of the most popular video-game title tracks of all time ("buh-buh-buh-buuuuh..."). But for the third game in the series, Halo 3 composer Marty O'Donnell waited to score some of the most significant moments in the game until very late in the development process. The result: a more grounded, tightly knit feeling to the music. Like its predecessors, Halo 3 uses its soundtrack to highlight the emotions of the cinematic scenes. In this way, Halo 3 is truly the Star Wars of video games, as much of the emotional heavy lifting is done through the orchestral soundtrack and less through the acting and script.
Music to Master Chief's ears
The nuts and bolts are also impressive. With crisp 5.1 spatial effects and distinctive positional audio on weapons fire, Halo 3's sound effects tilt towards the pragmatic. They're not fancy or elaborate, but they're instantly recognizable. In essence, they work.
WINNER: BioShock, but it was ever-so-close to a tie. Think of it as comparing a beer to a wine: Halo 3's theme song and sound effects are timeless, but BioShock's multi-layered sounds are marvelously complex and linger far after the game is over. We give BioShock the edge.
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