PS3 BioShock's 'survivor mode' finally explained

by Alexander Sliwinski { Aug 6th 2008 at 8:00AM }

After revealing special Trophies a couple days ago for the "survivor mode" in the PS3 port of BioShock, developer 2K Marin finally saw fit yesterday to explain what the new setting is all about. The wait was definitely not worth it as the PS3 "exclusive" mode isn't much more than a very hard difficulty level for the game.

2K's BioShock site, The Cult of Rapture, explains that in survivor mode there are no extra enemies, but the citizens of Rapture are tougher and deal more damage. Vita-Chambers will also provide less EVE back when dying, so there is some penalty. Players are also expected to take their time in the new mode and learn to utilize some of the "hardly-ever-bothered-with-'em" plasmids like Target Dummy and Enrage. All this secrecy over an extra difficulty mode was just so contrived. 2K, would you kindly never do that again?

Tags: 2k-marin, bioshock

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

xGeneral DEATHx @ Aug 6th 2008 8:08AM

2K...must...obey...

A slave...obeys...a man...chooses...

Chase @ Aug 6th 2008 8:13AM

Yeah, I think I'll just stick with my 360 copy.

Pfft, "survivor mode." They should have just come right out and said it was an "extra hard difficulty mode."

WhoMe @ Aug 6th 2008 9:56AM

Wasn't this just hyped up by certain blogs etc. Could be wrong but I don't think they meant for this to be a big reveal.

Probably more like they didn't care to explain it from the start/some info got out early and then it snowballed.

dark_inchworm @ Aug 6th 2008 8:27AM

Gabe Newell anti-PS3 spin in 3... 2... 1...

baby sea tuna @ Aug 6th 2008 9:02AM

Oh, is Valve working on this now?

dark_inchworm @ Aug 6th 2008 9:08AM

It was a joke about certain developers shafting the PS3. I know my stuff well enough to know Valve has nothing to do with this.

baby sea tuna @ Aug 6th 2008 10:30AM

Oh, I got it. I know my stuff well enough to know when someone is just being a dick for the sake of being a dick.

dark_inchworm @ Aug 6th 2008 1:08PM

So you've come to terms with yourself then? I never said anything negative about the PS3. If anything, while I greatly prefer the other two systems, I feel bad for the ol' PS3. You know, between being cheated out of RA3, getting a less-than-stellar port of Orange Box, and waiting a year for an additional difficulty level in Bioshock... it's about time the rig got a few more show-stopping releases.

Tom90deg @ Aug 6th 2008 8:35AM

But the Vita-chambers still work. So you can still kill everyone with the wrench. I'd think for survivor, they'd turn off the chambers, or make them cost money, a'la System Shock 2

Vcize @ Aug 6th 2008 10:26AM

Well actually, if you put together the tonics and plasmids to level up and support your wrench, you were actually more likely to avoid the vita-chambers than using anything else. That wrench became hell-powerful towards the halfway point of the game.

The_Punisher @ Aug 6th 2008 8:56AM

Trophy for Survivor Mode w/ no Vita Chambers = me

baby sea tuna @ Aug 6th 2008 9:01AM

Huh...I used Target Dummy and Enrage all the time.

ApolloIV @ Aug 6th 2008 9:37AM

So did I. The last boss is a breeze with those two plasmids now I think back on it.

dirty @ Aug 6th 2008 10:11AM

Same here target dummy was one of my most used plasmids. That and hypnotize big daddy. Two best ones in the game imho.

Vcize @ Aug 6th 2008 10:24AM

Yeah I was gonna say, people didn't use Targetting Dummy? That thing was a life-saver.

JonFitt @ Aug 6th 2008 10:36AM

Enrage was a bit hit-or-miss, often they'd spot you first and decide they were super-pissed at you, not the splicer next to them.
Still used it a lot though.

Vidikron (FU) @ Aug 6th 2008 10:40AM

Hmmm... I didn't use either one a single time.

Jimiisama @ Aug 6th 2008 11:01AM

Hypnotize Big Daddy was good until it started costing a whole meter.

Mr.ESC @ Aug 6th 2008 9:40PM

o-O? Enrage and Dummy, Why? You are perfectly able to beat the game in Hard with Telekinesis and Freeze with maybe the additional Incinerate or Electro ray to help you with obstacles such as ice or electric doors.

I admit some plasmids are fun to use but totally useless. I would rent the Ps3 version for this mode, if you ask me the only thing that makes the game a cake walk is the research camera since it gives you plenty of damage and health bonuses.