Irrational Games and 2K Games have released the first five minutes of their upcoming first-person shooter, BioShock: Infinite. The game is not a direct sequel to the first two entries in the series and takes place on the floating city of Columbia.
The US Government built Columbia in the late 1800s to serve as a floating world's fair. The government sent the floating city from continent to continent as showcase of American capability. But, Columbia was also a "death star," and was secretly carrying tons of weapons. There was some sort of political dissension and the floating city seceded from America. The city has long been lost and no one knows how to find it, according to Irrational Games.
The new video showcases some things that are very reminiscent of the first game, but then quickly reminds us that we are not returning to our favorite underwater utopian city, Rapture. The trailer ends with the protagonist be whisked away by some sort of rocket ship elevator. He has obviously found the way to get to the city of Columbia.
Gamers will play as former Pinkerton detective Booker DeWitt, who is forced to take one last job in order to payoff his mounting debt. The job is to safe a young woman from the missing city and to return her.
The video comes with the following warning: "*SPOILER ALERT!* If you still want to press on, you'll experience the first few minutes of BioShock Infinite. Assume the role of Booker DeWitt as he begins to unravel the mystery that lies behind the floating city of Columbia."
Here is the game's official synopsis from its webpage:
"BioShock Infinite is a first-person shooter like you've never seen. Just ask the judges from E3 2011, where the Irrational Games title won over 75 editorial awards, including the Game Critics Awards' Best of Show. Set in 1912, players assume the role of former Pinkerton agent Booker DeWitt, sent to the flying city of Columbia on a rescue mission. His target? Elizabeth, imprisoned since childhood.
During their daring escape, Booker and Elizabeth form a powerful bond -- one that lets Booker augment his own abilities with her world-altering control over the environment. Together, they fight from high-speed Sky-Lines, in the streets and houses of Columbia, on giant zeppelins, and in the clouds, all while learning to harness an expanding arsenal of weapons and abilities, and immersing players in a story that is not only steeped in profound thrills and surprises, but also invests its characters with what IGN called "Emotional ties (that) will continue to set the bar in gaming."
BioShock: Infinite releases on March 26, 2013 worldwide for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms.