February 9, 2010 is an epic day for gaming. It’s the day we finally get the chance to unload our bolt gun on strung out splicers inhabiting Rapture’s crumbling metropolis in Bioshock 2. While a return to Rapture is exciting , it’s not the only February 9th release worth mentioning. Camping alongside you at thousands of midnight launch parities will be hordes of hell bound gamers eagerly awaiting the release of Dante’s Inferno. Most likely you already have your mind made up, but before you commit your hard earned $60 check out our Pros and Cons for this weeks Tuesday Showdown!

Round 1 - Sequel vs. New IP

Re-entering a world you have already visited in previous installments can be a great trip down memory lane. Chances are if you enjoyed uncovering Rapture’s mysteries in the original Bioshock then you’re going to feel the same the second go around.

Learning new controls and gameplay mechanics can be a bit daunting when first starting out a game. I always find comfort in knowing that I’m already familiar with the control scheme and mechanics of a game when playing its sequel. I already know which weapons work best against which type of enemy and that I’m going to want to spend some time capturing photographs for my research if I want to make it through the game with much less frustration.

Bioshock 2 being a sequel guarantees that I’m in for fresh entertainment. In a sequel every element of the past game is going to get criticized if it’s found too similar to the previous installment. To solve this problem developers look to one up everything the first game did well. This means more complex weaponry, more indepth narrative, and adding anything and everything that the original lacked. In Bioshock’s case this translates to wielding plasmids and firearms simultaneously, incorporating a lengthier story mode, and the inclusion of online multiplayer.

On the other hand, diving into a brand new world filled with unfamiliar challenges and newfangled narratives can be equally tempting. It is often assumed that Dante’s Inferno is a tale known to most of the world, but that isn’t necessarily the case. It is considered advanced literature so in most high school curriculum across America it only gets taught in Honors classrooms. With that said, it is undeniable that even if you haven’t read Dante’s Inferno you’ve at least heard the basics of the story. Dante traverses hell’s 9 levels to regain the souls of his lost lover Beatrice. With the majority of the public knowing that much about the plot already spoils some of the pleasure one would get from exploring a totally new scenario.

Winner - Bioshock 2

Round 2 - Irrational Games (Bioshock 2) vs. Visceral Games (Dante’s Inferno)

Sometimes when making a tough decision you have to check the developers track record with previous games. What makes this decision impossible is that both development studios have equally impressive releases under their belts.

Irrational Games has worked on 3 standout releases: System Shock 2, Tribes: Vengeance, and Bioshock. All three games were received well from gamers across the world. Bioshock frequently gets credited as the spiritual successor of System Shock 2.

Visceral Games is a newb when compared to other development teams. Its conception only dates back to 2006, giving Irrational Games a 10 year head start as a developer. Still, Visceral Games has been giving its all with the releases of The Godfather: The Game, Godfather II, and Dead Space. Dead Space being the clear identifier of Visceral Games being a legit moneymaking studio. They showed us that an original survival horror IP could be successful during a period where sequels crowded GameStop shelves and survival horror had all but disappeared. They’ve gained our trust with handling new IPs, giving us hope that Dante’s Inferno will deliver.

Winner - Tie

Round 3 - The Hype Factor
Hype surrounding a game doesn’t always mean that it will deliver, but it is a clear indicator that masses of people are really excited about a release. With that amount of pressure you better believe that the developers are working their hardest to meet the standards of their rabid fanbase. When the pressures on great things can happen.

Another important factor to take into consideration is how much you are going to regret not making this purchase. What I mean is, if a game is released that has the entire internet abuzz to the point where even your mother knows the title of the game you’re going to be disappointed if you’re not included in all the discussion after its released. Imagine being the only kid who doesn’t own Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. Yeah it would suck wouldn’t it.

Based on the hype factor alone Bioshock 2 definitely has the upper leg on its competition. It’s the sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed video games of all time. The original is right up there with Final Fantasy VII and the Halo series.

EA is putting a great deal of effort in supporting the release of Dante’s Inferno, with its bold almost-banned Super Bowl commercial and the release Dante’s Inferno: The Animated Epic. Even with their valiant attempts to persuade Bioshock 2 fans to jump the shark there’s little that can be done to stop a Big Daddy.

Winner - Bioshock 2

Final Verdict
While Dante’s Inferno looks like it could give Bioshock 2 a run for its money, most likely it won’t. I would even speculate that Bioshock 2 will drastically impair Dante’s Inferno chances at capturing even moderate sales figures. On the contrary, I feel as if Dante’s Inferno deserves our attention and will in fact be a great game. I just don’t see any gamer choosing Dante’s Inferno over Bioshock 2.

Victory Awarded To - Bioshock 2