BioShock Infinite: The Siege of Columbia review

Plaid Hat Games | Area control | £69.99 | 2-4 players | 60 minutes | www.plaidhatgames.com 

If you’re a fan of Risk-type games that see you trying to gain control of areas on a map or you like the Bioshock series of videogames, then it’s likely this game will appeal to you. If you like both of those things, then it’s likely you’ve already got this game because it combines the two themes brilliantly.

Bioshock Infinite: The Siege of Columbia, to give it the rather long-winded full name, takes place within the steampunk-themed world of the 2013 videogame, where two factions (Comstock and Vox Populi) are trying to take control of the floating air city called Columbia. That floating city becomes very important because you’ve got to travel between districts using the Sky-Line. Successfully roll the dice and you’ll arrive safely, fail to make the required roll and your character will plummet groundwards.

This element of randomness is fun and frustrating in equal measure – fun if it happens to your opponent and frustrating if it happens to you. On the other hand though, it means you’ve got to plan accordingly and be ready to react on the fly to different situations, which makes for some challenging gameplay. As well as moving around the board, you’ll also be building structures to boost your controlled areas, buying or upgrading units and, of course, getting involved in some fisticuffs when the time’s right. Combat is arguably the trickiest part of the game because it also requires the use of special cards that can buff units and require you to keep track of upgrades using markers.

However, it’s really a minor grumble for a game that has such an evocative setting – even if you haven’t played the game – and some interesting play mechanics, like the Sky-Line, that ensure no game ever plays the same.

Buy your copy here.

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