If you're anything like me, you may have been left wanting
for challenge if you played BioShock Infinite on the default difficulty
setting. Death may have cost a few bucks and your enemies may have regained a
wee bit of health, but that hardly seemed like penalty enough to warrant a
change in tactics. Further to that, every man and his dog seemed to be packing
enough fruit (and other health recovery items) to open a greengrocer. Every
secret of Columbia can be accessed without encountering a lick of trouble, but
to get any real sense of satisfaction from the myriad of combat situations
you'll encounter over the course of the game, I recommend a second playthrough
with 1999 Mode.
1999 Mode is unlocked by completing the game using any
difficulty or, according to IGN, by entering the Konami code while in the main
menu. It's the highest difficulty level and it offers reduced spawn points,
enemies that deal greater damage, a more fragile Booker DeWitt, and if you don't
have enough money to cover the cost of a respawn, it's game over (don't worry
though, you'll be able to reload your last save if you're bankrupted). It's not
for the faint of heart, but it's far from insurmountable.
While I'll mainly be detailing general strategies, know
that some battles are addressed specifically. In other words, spoilers ahead!
Money matters
Coming in a few bucks short at the register might mean that
you need to wait a little while longer to experiment with gun and Vigor
upgrades on lower difficulties. In 1999 Mode, budgeting can mean the difference
between success and losing big chunks of progress. With this in mind, the
following strategies should guide your approach to play:
·
Pick
and stick with two Vigors: I know it's hard to show restraint with the breadth
of visually spectacular abilities available, but there are going to be times
where money is tight. Vigors are key to success in combat, but bottom line,
you're going to have trouble beating most anything without lead in the equation.
For my run, I chose Shock Jockey and Possession and upgraded them completely. Possession was the bedrock of my combat plans as, if
nothing else, it leads to a guaranteed kill on standard infantry - including
deadly troopers equipped with rocket launchers, flak cannons and sniper rifles.
It also serves to slow down Motorised Patriots, Firemen and Zealots, so you can
move out of harm's way. Be sure to pick up the "Possession for less"
upgrade as soon as possible to make the most of your Salts. Perhaps most
importantly of all, Possession allows you to make a few quick bucks when used
on any vending machine; if you've got any means of refreshing your salts
nearby, you simply have to take the time to steal some Silver Eagles. Shock Jockey offers an effective means of crowd control,
particularly when fully upgraded. While it may not do much to slow down
Handymen, it can set up a "1-2 punch" against other heavy hitters if
you have a shotgun, hand cannon or crank gun at your disposal. It's also a cost
effective Vigor which offers a solid trap option for more open battles.
·
The
Lara Flynn Boyle Gun Rack: Pardon the Wayne's World reference, but the point is
don't go purchasing upgrades for every gun. Pick a few to switch between to
suit your situation, don't be a jack of all trades and a master of none. That
being said, you're best off picking guns which deal big damage and have a big
ammo count. A fully-upgraded carbine is the best pound-for-pound gun in the
game, but you'll be well served by the shotgun, the sniper rifle, the RPG, and
the hand cannon. I'd also recommend picking up a crank gun whenever you get the
chance - be it from a downed Patriot, or an opportunistic tear.
·
Manage
your gear: There are very few stretches of gameplay that require
micromanagement of gear, but be mindful of what you're wearing if you run into
trouble. For those of you who bought the Collector's Edition, make sure you
have Extra! Extra! equipped when you find a Voxophone; much like possessing
vending machines, you won't get much for your trouble, but it's in the bank all
the same. Urgent Care is easily the most indispensable piece of kit that you'll
find as it doubles the efficiency of your shield, but other pieces like Bullet
Boon and Overkill are also worth searching high and low for.
·
Nooks
and crannies: Keep an eye out for Vox Codes and lock picks so you have every
chance of collecting Infusions and pieces of gear. My strategy of maxing out
the shield before addressing Salts and then health worked extremely well. The
value of the shield can easily be underestimated until you encounter your first
sniper. Locked doors and secret rooms are also likely to house money as well as
health and salt recovery items, so take your time and leave no desk untouched.
·
I’m not supposed to go on sprees: Be sure to have enough coin
saved for at least three respawns at all times. It might be tempting to buy
those upgrades before you walk into a big battle, but odds are, you won’t be walking out of there alive if you do.
The heat of battle
Without
addressing any specific firefights, patience and cover are key to any
successful strategy. There's no shame in running back behind that wall if you
cop a few choice shots. Better still, very few times was I pursued if I
retreated through two or more doorways. Make sure that your shield is at full
charge before you emerge from your carefully-selected sanctuary as well: you'll
want as much between Booker and your enemies' bullets as you can afford.
Finally, check your ammo count before you wander into the next battle; swap to
another favoured firearm if you're running low on bullets for the guns you've
equipped.
In
retrospect, there were three situations where some advice wouldn't have gone
astray:
·
The
second encounter with the Siren: By far the hardest single fight in the game,
duelling with Lady Comstock in the bank withdrew hundreds from my savings
account. Rushing the Siren is not an option - her close range attacks do big
damage, and her entourage of revive-able cronies will be more than willing to
finish what she started. Worse still, there's plenty of places for the ethereal
enemy to hide and weave between. My winning run didn't involve any acts of
valour, rather I exploited the unwillingness of my foes to follow me through
the vault door. Crouched, with my sights creeping just above the threshold, I
unloaded an entire cache of sniper rifle rounds plus a few carbine shots to
emerge victorious. Keep in mind that if you fall, Lady Comstock will heal
completely from any unsuccessful assault.
·
The
final battle with Lady Comstock: Yes, it's her again. After charging to the
hidden corner of the forecourt that houses three vending machines, patience and
a sniper rifle are your best friends. If you're having trouble with this fight,
be sure to possess the vending machines to refill your wallet. Getting close to
the Siren and her posse is, once again, a recipe for certain death.
·
Any
fucking fight that involves a fucking Handyman: Sweet mother of Zeus, do I hate
Handymen. They're deceptively fast, they're able to cover huge distances with a
single bound and they can kill you in two hits - and that's with a
fully-upgraded shield! The only advice I can give is to create as much distance
between you and the big bastards as humanly possible. I know they say "Aim
for the heart," but this is 1999, man! Nobody's taking a fall. When
planning your escape from an onslaught, don't rely too heavily on Skylines
either, as Handymen can electrify them for a big hurt. I should also probably
mention that those of you who dabbled in the pre-order exclusive, Industrial
Revolution should have access to and as a result, equip Handyman Nemesis - a
piece of gear that will increase the damage you deal to these colossi by fifty
percent.
We shall scrimp and save
For
those looking for an even greater challenge, try going for the "Scavenger
Hunt" achievement (or trophy, depending on your preferred system) on your
1999 run, which forbids you from buying anything from a Dollar Bill machine.
Forbidding yourself from buying ammo and health does put you in some awkward
situations; as an example, my first unsuccessful tilt at the second Siren fight
had me exhausting all ammo for all available weapons. It is, however, entirely
doable. Please note that possessing Dollar Bill machines for extra cash does
not disqualify you from earning this achievement.
The
conditions may seem daunting, but be rest-assured that 1999 Mode can be
conquered with patience and sound strategy. Making the most of your money, guns
and gear, are simple matters of budgeting and sound administration. Beating
some of the more brutal opponents, however, requires a strong constitution and
an eye for detail. Are we playing shooters, or going for a job interview?
If
you have any hints that I've missed, please feel free to share them in the
comments below. If you want to see more of my adventures on higher difficulty levels, here's my account of Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance on Hard.
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