My only real complaint proved to be fleeting – there’s an initial element of “sameness” that quickly wears away as you dive into the deep gather/protector mechanic and embrace the differences of playing as a big daddy. The improved mechanics (better hacking, dual-wielding weapons, more variety in enemy types) and better implementation of moral choice make for a tighter, more comprehensive experience.

Completely new to the franchise is BioShock 2’s multiplayer mode, – which, in keeping with the series approach – is decidedly heavy on story and atmosphere. This aspect of the game is a prequel to the first game – it takes place during the civil war in Rapture and the battle arenas are all familiar areas from the first title, like the Kashmir Restaurant. Combat is fun – with as much mixing and matching between plasmid powers and blazing guns as the single player mode – and the leveling system adds satisfying progression to the mix.

What makes BioShock 2 truly special, however, has little to do with the individual elements I’ve praised here. What elevates it above the sum of its parts is the genuinely impactful narrative, something that parents, in particular, will appreciate. Both the first and second title offer scathing indictments of political extremism (capitalism/individualism in the first, communism/collectivism in the second), and the first game ultimately comments on the lack of free will. Here, you are given something more precious to shape – and the free will to do what you would with it. If BioShock 1 is ultimately about what it is to be a slave, the sequel shows – with a sophistication rarely seen in gaming – what it is to be a parent, with the power to love or to harm.

It’s genuinely powerful stuff – and fascinating territory to explore within the context of a dystopian setting.