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Big Daddies take a bite out of Apple as a portable and premium-priced Rapture splash lands on iOS
BioShock resurfaces on iOS, plus there’s sites for the indecisive… or are there?
App of the month
Watching Ken Levine’s underwater shooter powered up on a tablet, Big Daddy running amok, is both exhilarating and hopelessly nostalgic. Such an iconic game on such a small form factor sure plucks at the tech heartstrings, yet ultimately you’re rebuying a seven-yearold game. Rapture makes a great holiday spot, one man’s quest for identity amid a dystopian ruin, but should you visit again?
Well, publisher 2K has only ported the acclaimed shooter to Apple’s most powerful mobile platforms to guarantee necessary grunt power. That said, the iOS version is a noticeable downgrade on the Xbox 360 one, with lighting and atmosphere neutered. It still looks slick, mind, and the touchcontrolled virtual stick is well implemented in the main to get round Rapture (we wish there was a “Just Visiting” option to explore).
As with most games made for “physical” controls, BioShock is hobbled as difficulty ramps up. The Eve/Adam upgrade tabs are tricky, while aligning aim and fire together on the screen’s right is awkward. Invest in a good Bluetooth joypad, though, and this is a wet and wild trip down Memory Lane. $18.99, 2k.com, out now on iOS (iPAd 4/iphone 5+)