Quibbles about the level of violence in the game aside, it only took a couple of weeks, but finally the serious critiques of BioShock Infinite have begun to emerge…as have the not-quite-stellar reviews. Others, meanwhile, have argued that its combat mechanics are a regression for the genre, rather than anything innovative. Or the disconcerting way the game makes Elizabeth, your AI companion, feel significantly more human than the player character. Oh, and there were some complaints about the inaccurate science the game employed as well. Because gaming is a serious medium which demands scientific rigor…or something. As well, at least one player was quite put out by the “forced baptism” scene near the beginning of the game, enough that he demanded (and received) a refund from Steam. Naturally, this has kicked off a bit of a discussion about whether, and why, religious subjects are considered taboo in gaming. To which assertion any Ultima fan should necessarily ask: they are? Others, meanwhile, argue that the games themes ring truer to genuine Christian ideals than any game has before.

The art of BioShock Infinte was also a bit of a feature over the last few days; we got a look at some of the game’s concept art, as well as this review of the official art book that was released. The game also continues to inspire no small amount of cosplay.

Some of the game’s references and hidden features also hit the news this week, including its clever use of historical events in its plot, its amazing audio design, the way this proudly single-player game has triggered massive online engagement and discussion, as well as a whole mess of other features.

BioShock Infinite is, overall, a big success for Irrational Games. It’s still on top of the UK charts, at least, compares quite favourably with Dishonored, and is just generally a stand-out piece of gaming. Even if you can pass it in like six hours.

And finally, before we move on, this is an epic troll-slaying with a BioShock Infinite angle.

Path of Exile’s second season starts later this week. As well, don’t miss this interview with its developer.

Trent Oster has written a postmortem for Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition, looking at what went right and wrong with the re-release of the classic BioWare game. Mashable also has a story up looking at how Oster and Cameron Tofer of Overhaul Games actually went about bring Baldur’s Gate back to life.

Neverwinter will give players the ability to buy new skills based on feedback from beta testers, so…that’s another way the free-to-play MMO will be monetized, I guess. Cryptic also gave us another look at the Great Weapon Fighter class a few days ago, and screenshots from the Rothe Valley…evidently a location in the game.

Thief fans are — of course! — petitioning Eidos to re-hire the original voice actor for Garret, the titular character of the series.

Rhode Island is considering defaulting on 38 Studios’ outstanding debt.

Guido Henkel, one of the producers of Planescape: Torment, evidently has a new RPG in the works, which he is calling Deathfire.

And Penny Arcade has interviewed Logan Cunningham, the narrative voice of Supergiant Games’ Bastion and Transistor.