Bioshock Infinite's Hardcore Mode is Hardcore

So you think you're hardcore? Do you think kids these days have it too easy? Well then you're going to love BioShock Infinite. A new mode called 1999 mode, named after the year they released System Shock 2 in, is going to see you sweat. It’s like Call of Duty’s Veteran mode on steroids.

In 1999 mode, ammo will be scarce, health will be extremely rare and you only get to choose one specialization. There will be no hand holding if you require other specializations to get through an area, but possibly the greatest/worst part is that when you die, you die. Game over. Kapish. Finito.

 

Ken Levine, creative director and co-founder of Irrational Games warns that this game mode is not for the faint of heart, or for the regular gamer. "They're gonna hate this mode. That's okay — it's not for them."

The idea was sparked by a college student that complained to Ken after he spoke at his college. He complained that the decisions in BioShock didn't feel like they have any permanent effect in the world. Obviously games these days need to be more accessible so Irrational Games’ solution was to hide it in the menus so that your average player wouldn’t be able to find it.

Ken Levine's comment sums it up perfectly: "The average gamer stops playing when they fail. The hardcore gamer says 'That's it, I'm gonna show this game who's boss'"

So are you man or mouse? I'm looking forward to the most veteran of Veteran modes in recent game history. Well done Irrational Games.