Xtra-vision previews the hotly anticipated, highly immersive, first-person shooter BioShock 2.

Step back into the unforgettable world of Rapture in BioShock 2, the next installment in the best-selling franchise that has won more than 50 Game of the Year Awards. Developed by 2K Marin, 2K Australia and Digital Extremes, BioShock 2 provides players with the perfect blend of explosive first-person shooter combat, compelling storytelling and intense multiplayer action. A Next Gen wonder, it’s available to buy, for your Xbox 360, PS3 or PC, from Xtra-vision.

"We were completely blown away by the response to the first BioShock," says executive producer Alyssa Finley. "It was a challenge to create a sequel that lived up to it, but honestly, we didn’t want it any other way."

"We always thought there was enough untold story to make a sequel," adds creative director Jordan Thomas. "We were pretty psyched about it. Rapture is a huge city and you only visit a few places in it in Bioshock. It seemed like fertile ground for more narrative."

Set approximately 10 years after the events of the original BioShock, the halls of Rapture once again echo with sins of the past. Along the Atlantic coastline, a monster has been snatching little girls and bringing them back to the undersea city of Rapture. You are the very first Big Daddy as you travel through the decrepit and beautiful fallen city, chasing an unseen foe in search of answers and your own survival.

"As a prototype, the Big Daddy you play in BioShock 2 is faster and more agile than the Big Daddies previously seen," explains Finley, "plus it has the ability to switch weapons and use plasmids. Another thing that is special about the prototype Big Daddy is that he has somehow regained his free will, which is a very important distinction."

One of the most captivating and terrifying fictional worlds ever created, Rapture, along with its denizens, make for an intense and epic game. "Rapture is full of interesting places and interesting stories," continues Finley. "The first game only touched on a few of them. When developing BioShock 2, we made sure to respect the same storytelling techniques, and use the same attention to detail when building spaces and populating them."

Innovative advances bring new depth and dimension to each encounter. New elements, such as the ability to dual-wield weapons and Plasmids, allow players to create exciting combinations of punishment. Essentially, if you’re looking for action, you’ve come to the right place.

Multiplayer in BioShock 2 provides a rich prequel experience that expands the award-winning BioShock gameplay. Set during the fall of Rapture, players assume the role of a Plasmid test subject in the underwater city that was first explored in the original. Players will need to use all the elements of the game’s toolset to survive as the full depth of the BioShock experience is refined and transformed into a unique multiplayer experience that can only be found in Rapture.

Players will step into the shoes of Rapture citizens and take direct part in the civil war that tore Rapture apart. Experience Rapture before it was reclaimed by the ocean and engage in combat over iconic environments in locations such as Kashmir Restaurant and Mercury Suites, all of which have been reworked from the ground up for multiplayer. Plus you can earn experience points during gameplay which you can then use to access new Weapons, Plasmids and Tonics that can be used in hundreds of different combinations, allowing players to develop unique characters that cater to their playing style.

A compelling game that not only rewards fans of the original but also welcomes newcomers, BioShock 2 is a visually arresting, cerebrally stimulating, adrenaline boosting, sci fi action adventure that you simply have to experience.