Preview of PS3-exclusive BioShock DLC

Oh, BioShock. Is there really a way to fully enumerate how wonderful an experience you are? Maybe it’s the incredibly unique setting, the idea of genetic amplification, or simply the recurring nightmares I have about freaky little mutated girls drawing fluid from me with giant syringes that makes this game so memorable. Originally released only for Xbox 360 and Windows, the world of Rapture finally came to the PlayStation 3 last month, and Sony stalwarts are getting some bonuses for their patience: namely, PS3-exclusive downloadable content. Details on the DLC, due out November 20th, have recently been revealed.

The BioShock DLC does not continue the narrative of the game in any way. Instead, it has been designed as a series of Challenge Rooms, testing your mettle against various puzzles and, of course, the more nefarious denizens of Rapture. For example, the combat-oriented challenge, dubbed “World of Hurt,” starts players off with no weapons, money, or ADAM, Rapture’s genetic currency, and presents them with several scenario rooms they must overcome. Luckily, each room is below the player and has a glass ceiling, so you can survey your challenge before you dive into, say, the room with four Big Daddies in it. Every time a challenge is completed, a Little Sister appears to grant you some sort of reward, such as weapons or plasmids, to aid you in the rest of your challenges.

Another part of the DLC, entitled “A Shocking Turn of Events,” is more puzzle-oriented, a departure from the action-intensive “World of Hurt.” In this challenge, players arrive at the Rapture Carnival to find a Little Sister trapped at the top of a Ferris wheel. And, just like any other gaming amusement park, the controls have short-circuited. Now, all of you Rapture veterans know what to do when you come across a short-circuited control panel: blast it with electricity! But of course, it’s not that simple. In this challenge, players are not given Electrobolt, the electricity-shooting plasmid, and so the puzzle lies in finding other, more creative ways to get the Ferris wheel moving.

While the lack of any new narrative might be a bit disappointing to some, the new PS3 bonus content is shaping up to be a great addition for fans of the world of Rapture. And, if you needed any more incentive, the third part of the DLC is being kept under wraps, so you’ll just have to try it yourself to find out. The BioShock Challenge Rooms will be available exclusively on the PlayStation Network on November 20th for $9.99.