# Bioshock 2, Feb 9. **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [February 8, 2010, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184 "2010-02-08T20:03:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/61 "2010-02-19T05:09:27Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > I have a hard time using the drill at all. Can’t seem to point it in the right direction so I always have drill fuel. I do more damage just whacking with with the drill arm.:smack: Drill dash seems rather forgiving in terms of aiming. It’s also very powerful. As for running out of fuel, that’s what hacking and money are for. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/62 "2010-02-19T05:31:15Z")
:smack: When I said bodies I meant containers. I think the only bodies that had fuel were Daddies. ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/63 "2010-02-19T06:20:26Z")
> [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](#): > > :smack: When I said bodies I meant containers. I think the only bodies that had fuel were Daddies. Not a problem. I’m always confusing bodies for containers at work; my co-workers have decided for some reason that I’m not allowed to do shipping any more. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/64 "2010-02-19T16:14:44Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > Help!!! I cannot beat the big sister … One thing I’ve found is that Big Sisters don’t seem to handle vertical pathing very well. Using the patented Tomb Raider tactic of getting up on some sort of block obstacle (diner counter, toll booth roof, etc) the Big Sisters often just leap around frustrated letting themselves get shot. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/65 "2010-02-19T18:37:01Z")
> [@GargoyleWB](#): > > One thing I’ve found is that Big Sisters don’t seem to handle vertical pathing very well. Using the patented Tomb Raider tactic of getting up on some sort of block obstacle (diner counter, toll booth roof, etc) the Big Sisters often just leap around frustrated letting themselves get shot. Thanks for all the good hints everyone. I’m really enjoying this game so far, even though I’m going thru it really slow. Hope it’s got a good ending. Don’t spoil me! ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/66 "2010-02-19T21:29:31Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > Thanks for all the good hints everyone. I’m really enjoying this game so far, even though I’m going thru it really slow. Hope it’s got a good ending. Don’t spoil me! I’ve been told it has six endings. I probably got the nice ending with my first run, but then I’m a rescuer and not a harvester. Maybe on my third playthrough I’ll go dark side. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/67 "2010-02-19T22:21:01Z")
I have a few questions, and I apologise if it’s already been asked and answered. When your health bar is full does eating things waste them? I seem to remember the first game had a gene-tonic that could automatically use health packs when your current health bar dropped to nil. Does this game have one? ---
**Author:** ![TimeWinder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bcef8e/32.png) [@TimeWinder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TimeWinder)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/68 "2010-02-19T22:52:27Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > When your health bar is full does eating things waste them? Yes. > [@](#): > > I seem to remember the first game had a gene-tonic that could automatically use health packs when your current health bar dropped to nil. Does this game have one? I’m not sure. I didn’t get one, but there are a bunch of tonics that are only given out as research rewards. You can see them in your “Info” (map) panels once you get the camera, if you don’t mind the pre-spoiling of what you’re going to get. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/69 "2010-02-20T00:38:37Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I seem to remember the first game had a gene-tonic that could automatically use health packs when your current health bar dropped to nil. Does this game have one? I don’t think so. I got all the gene tonics in 1 and would have loved this one. I always forgot to hit the health button and it’s worse now in Bioshock 2 since it’s a different button, bastards. Don’t know about Bio 2 since I’m only on the 3rd level. Eve is automatically stabbied into you in both games if you run out. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/70 "2010-02-20T17:09:23Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > I don’t think so. I got all the gene tonics in 1 and would have loved this one. I always forgot to hit the health button and it’s worse now in Bioshock 2 since it’s a different button, bastards. Don’t know about Bio 2 since I’m only on the 3rd level. Eve is automatically stabbied into you in both games if you run out. You can remap all the buttons in the PC version. I’d be surprised if you couldn’t on the console. Unfortunately I’ve used up all the nearest buttons on more commonly needed actions. I’ve got numpad 1 as my health button. It’s annoying how even the lowliest splicers can knock huge chunks off your health bar with one or two shots on later levels. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/71 "2010-02-20T19:36:43Z")
> [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](#): > > :smack: When I said bodies I meant containers. I think the only bodies that had fuel were Daddies. I’m playing on medium, and I’ve definitely found fuel on dead splicers and random corpses. > [@Lobsang](#): > > I seem to remember the first game had a gene-tonic that could automatically use health packs when your current health bar dropped to nil. Does this game have one? I don’t remember that one from the first game, and I played it just a few weeks ago. the Bioshock wiki doesn’t have such a tonic listed either. It would be very handy though. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/72 "2010-02-20T19:52:34Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I don’t remember that one from the first game, and I played it just a few weeks ago. the Bioshock wiki doesn’t have such a tonic listed either. It would be very handy though. I’m probably thinking of the wrong game. A little anecdotal story about health… I usually ‘prepare’ up to the hilt before harvesting a corpse, but on one level (in a theatre) I decided to just lazily place a few proximity mines and let the splicers come. I dropped the little sister, walked up to the balcony seats so I could shoot the splicers from up high. I managed to hold off the splicers with surprising unexpected ease. I jumped down to pick up the LS. And as I did I saw the stage curtains closing, thought “Oh, maybe there’s some goodies behind that curtain!” So I pressed ‘L’ for load last save. At this point the splicers decided to be MUCH MUCH harder to beat, and I kept dying no matter how many and careful my traps were. Eventually I discovered that when I pressed ‘1’ on the number pad I wasn’t actually using health packs. My damn num-lock was on. Eventually I did manage to hold off the splicers, having discovered that there is just a wall behind the curtain. Lesson: If you want to “Do a bit again, but better” Don’t expect things to go as easilly as they did before you stupidly didn’t save. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/73 "2010-02-20T20:16:09Z")
I found this game available on Ebay brand new for $15! I eagerly snapped it up without thinking, and after I’d purchased it, I discovered that it was a version of the game intended for the Eastern European market and that the game is in Russian (although the seller claims that the game can also be installed in English…and the seller has a 100% reputation). It also doesn’t come with a manual or a DVD key for online support, so…I think I just bought a pirated copy. Goddammit. I’ll report back and revive this thread once (and if) I receive the game in three motherfucking weeks. Sometimes I’m just too damn impulsive when it comes to trying to save a buck! ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/74 "2010-02-20T21:14:20Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > I’m probably thinking of the wrong game. FWIW, Super Paper Mario for the Wii has a life mushroom that does exactly what you describe. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/75 "2010-02-21T00:15:08Z")
Dang, just got winter blast. Is this way more powerful in B2 than in B1? I never really used it in the first game. I just took out a Big Daddy with it and didn’t even use a single med pack. Oh and Drill baby Drill. (Og forgive me for saying that) ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/76 "2010-02-21T16:25:56Z")
> [@sinjin](#): > > Dang, just got winter blast. Is this way more powerful in B2 than in B1? I never really used it in the first game. I just took out a Big Daddy with it and didn’t even use a single med pack. Oh and Drill baby Drill. (Og forgive me for saying that) I’ve been avoiding the winter blast (the time it takes to cycle to the right weapon is bad enough, I don’t want too many plasmids to avoid the same situation) I can usually take out a big daddy on one med pack. I use the drill and electricity. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2010, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/77 "2010-02-22T06:14:08Z")
I picked up a (legitimate) copy in Singapore last week and just finished playing it today. I know we’re on page 2 but I’ll try and avoid obvious open spoilers and begin with some general thoughts Firstly, the graphics haven’t improved much over Bioshock. That’s a good thing, IMHO- nothing wrong with them then or now and it means people don’t have to rush out and buy a new rig to play it. Secondly, this game isn’t for people who have not played Bioshock. There’s very little overall expository backstory given in the game as to what’s going on for things to be in the state they are and it appears to be generally assumed you played the first game. Again, that’s not a criticism, just an observation. I’m still not a fan of the “Player-As-A-Big Daddy” storyline. I actually think playing as Mark Meltzer looking for his lost daughter would have been better, provided you didn’t get turned into a Big Daddy Rapture still looks great and was a lot of fun to explore. Andrew Ryan makes a return in voice-recorder form, but when you find out how your character got revived, it does rather open a window for him to return in person in Bioshock 3 or something. I would have liked to be able to dual wield guns or dual wield plasmids at the same time (ie two guns or two plasmids), and I would have liked to have been able to pick up the handguns and tommyguns the splicers were carrying. And if I recall correctly, Dr. Tennenbaum is still in Rapture waiting for someone to come and rescue her/ It was also nice to interact with people who weren’t trying to kill you (unlike Bioshock, where there is- IIRC- one NPC who doesn’t immediately try and kill you). Overall, I really enjoyed it and look forward to playing it again to explore more of the new areas of Rapture. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/78 "2010-02-23T05:39:02Z")
Just finished it and very much enjoyed it. Some concerns about the storyline and I would highly encourage new players to play Bioshock first. Increases the enjoyment tenfold imho. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2010, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/79 "2010-02-23T05:45:58Z")
> [@Lochdale](#): > > Just finished it and very much enjoyed it. Some concerns about the storyline and I would highly encourage new players to play Bioshock first. Increases the enjoyment tenfold imho. Definitely. My wife asked what _Bioshock 2_ was about and I just couldn’t explain it to her beyond “You’re exploring a ruined underwater city that’s all gone horribly wrong” because she had no idea what _Bioshock_ was about. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184/80 "2010-02-24T20:17:08Z")
Not sure if tips are considered spoilers but I won the game on medium difficulty without ever dying. I’m not a particularly good FPS player but I managed it fairly easily using the following: 1. Serach everything. I mean everything. Also, veer off the path often because there is so much loot to find. I never once ran out of ammo or oil for the drill. 2. The drill. Upgrade it to the max and use it on everything. It will level any bad guy including the Big Sisters. Near the end they were just an easy source of Adam and cash for me. 3. Hack, hack and hack some more. It’s easy and rewarding. Once you figure out the Big Sister spawn then the cameras can do wonders for you. 4. When defending the little sister, just use cyclone traps and a few rivets and maybe a trap bolt or two. Surround the corpse with the cyclone traps and step out of harms way. Once they are set off use the drill or the shotgun to clean up. Stay behind cover and let the splicers ruin themselves on your traps then go in and finish them off. 5. Use the research camera. The upgrades really help. 6. Shotgun was my favourite weapon. Upgrade it fully, eltro bolt then a shot to the head kills or almost kills all splicers other than Brutes. 7. For Brutes, use the shotgun slug. Shoots them well across the room and stuns them. Follow with another electo bolt and a drill charge and you’re good to go. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bioshock-2-feb-9/528184.md?page=5)