Irrational Games Announces 1999 Mode for Bioshock Infinite

Are games a bit namby-pamby easy for you these days? Fancy playing something that challenges you rather than just rolling over when you stroke its belly? Then Irrational might have just the thing for you.

Irrational Games has announced 1999 mode for Bioshock Infinite. It's "designed to challenge players in a variety of ways – each requiring substantial commitment and skill development." A throwback to a time when games demanded more of the player, 1999 Mode will include tweaks and features that you won't experience in a standard play-through of BioShock Infinite, regardless of difficulty level.

Ken Levine, Creative Director of Irrational Games, says of the mode. "We want to give our oldest and most committed fans an option to go back to our roots. 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 specialisations, and focus on them.

"I'm an old school gamer. 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."

In addition to all of this 1999 Mode will task you with managing your weapons, power and health in a "challenging" fashion. Sounds a bit like you'll have less of all three to play with.

Presumably in response to the fact that the original Bioshock barely punished death, 1999 mode will also be a little more hardcore. Rather than just respawning you at the nearest checkpoint, you'll be sent to a Game Over screen if you lack "the resources to be brought back to life."

"It's not for the faint of heart," concludes the statement.

Bioshock Infinite, which is going to be the best game ever created by humans, is out this year.