Pros: Graphics, sound, atmosphere.
Cons: No online play.
The bottom line: Buy this game, its a winner.
They are very few games that take my breath away.

Add to the fact that I normally do not like first person shooters with the exception of Halo, and this game really takes the cake.

What really takes BioShock over the edge of first person shooters is the atmosphere. First person shooters usually contain the same basic controls; going through level after level, etc....what sets the special ones apart is the fun value and the intangibles.

Well atmosphere is the intangible. Creepy lighting, left behind tape diaries, ocean graphics, blood everywhere, BioShock is the real deal.

The only downside that some people may have a problem with (I do not) is the lack of online play. But this turns into a positive as the story line seems to go on forever! And along with that, BioShock is one of those special games that you will play through so you can get the whole story.

As far as your character goes, the controls are very intuitive, with the left bumpers controlling your "adaptations" and your right bumpers controlling your weapons, including a wrench, machine gun, and oh yeah chemical burners. You can upgrade these weapons and adaptations (such as faster reload, larger capacity) which further engrosses you in the surrounding story.

Enemies seem to be on the creep scale of Resident Evil. They follow no patter when attacking, and indeed at several points I have been simply overwhelmed.

The surround sound is incredible, the water graphics superb. This game takes the time to envelop you.

Wow what a game.