BioShock Infinite parties like it's 1999 with an alternate difficulty setting

1999 Mode: an alternate difficulty setting aimed at appeasing gamers "who long for the days of games that demanded more of the player."

See this poor guy in the screen above? He was probably partying too hard in BioShock Infinite's just-announced "1999 Mode:" an alternate difficulty setting aimed at appeasing gamers "who long for the days of games that demanded more of the player."

This mode will include tweaks and features that players won't experience during a standard play-through of BioShock Infinite, according to a 2K Games press release. The mode will force gamers to make permanent decisions for their characters, and then live with the gameplay consequences. It'll also force players to be a better manager of their weapons, powers and health.

"I’m an old school gamer," said Ken Levine, creative director of Irrational Games, the game's developer. "We wanted to make sure we were taking into account the play styles of gamers like me. So we went straight to the horse’s mouth by asking them, on our website, a series of questions about how they play our games. 94.6 percent of respondents indicated that upgrade choices enhanced their BioShock gameplay experience; however, 56.8 percent indicated that being required to make permanent decisions about their character would have made the game even better.”

While I don't think 1999 was gaming's most difficult year, it's nice to see Mr. Levine and Irrational Games cater to the hardest-core of the hardcore.

“We want to give our oldest and most committed fans an option to go back to our roots," he said. “In 1999 Mode, gamers face more of the permanent consequences of their gameplay decisions. In BioShock Infinite, gamers will have to sweat out the results of their actions. In addition, 1999 Mode will demand that players pick specializations, and focus on them."

So prepare yourself. It sounds like 1999 Mode is going make itself your Big Daddy.

Staff article by Jonathan Davila (January 19, 2012) A bio for this contributor is currently unavailable, but check back soon to see if that changes. If you are the author of this news article, you can update your bio from the Settings page.