If you’re like me, you’ve been waiting desperately for information on the mega-sequel that is BioShock 2. We got a peek at the interesting teaser trailer (Read: ‘BioShock 2’ Teaser Trailer!), but that was simply a wink. What we really wanted, was some details, and now we have just that.

The cover story for the April 2009 issue of Game Informer magazine tackles BioShock 2 full force, and the information coming through, is, well… interesting indeed!

The game will take place almost a decade after the events that we experienced in the first game. Rapture is in worse shape than ever; splicers are on a new level of psychotic; and the Big Sister is running the show. The Big Sister (it sounds as if there is only one, but who knows) is a faster, more dangerous version of the Big Daddy who travels to coastal towns and cities and kidnaps little girls to bring back to Rapture as Little Sisters. Click the image above to see the full-size magazine cover and a look at the Big Sister!

The big reveal about the game is that we won’t just be some dude, but as one of the infamous Big Daddies; and not only as one of the Big Daddies, but as the first ever Big Daddy, which allows you to do things the others never could. As the giant in the deep sea diver suit, you’ll again be seeking out Little Sisters, and you will again be faced with the choice of harvesting her for Adam, or having her ride along with you to harvest Adam from any bodies you find along the way.

Combat-wise, you’ll have use of the big-ass drill we’re all familiar with, as well as that fast shoulder attack. Being large, you’ll also be able to pick up and use large weapons, like turrets. Because you’re a prototype, you also will have the ability to use the plasmids, which none of the others are able to use, likely because it was decidedly too dangerous to give them. This time around, it sounds like the plasmid system will be more complex, with better upgrades and a system for creating your own juice. It sounds like you may even be able to incorporate plasmids into your weapons.

One big concern everyone (including myself) has, is that if the Big Daddy you play as is anything like the Daddy you take the part of in the first game, the game’s flow would become painfully slow-paced. No word on how this will be handled, but I imagine that since you were basically a concept model, maybe you were a smaller and more mobile version. I highly doubt that they would have you slowly walking from place to place with every single step ringing out through half the city.

Back to the Big Sister. The story claims that she was formerly a Little Sister, and one that we’ve encountered before. I imagine this means she’s either the Sister from the first teaser video we saw for BioShock, or maybe the one that walks by you after you first inject yourself with plasmids? Very interesting. It sounds like you will do battle with this female version many times throughout the game as she grows more and more angry at your attempts to throw off the balance of Rapture. She’ll also be equipped with a giant needle, which is attached to her arm and used for getting Adam and killing you (Robocop?).

The voice acting in BioShock was quite possibly the best I’ve ever heard in a game, and it would obviously be challenging to have some of them return, but word is there will still be plenty of references to the first game and plenty of voice recordings laying around to enjoy, so here’s hoping for a cameo or two! Apparently Tenenbaum — the lady trying to convince you to help the Little Sisters in the first game — is in BioShock 2 and has been living there the whole time.

New places that you’ll be able to visit are Fontaine Futuristics and the Little Sister Processing Facility, as well as out in the ocean at some point because you have the diver suit, which is awesome.

The game right now seems to be hinging on gameplay. If you can’t move quickly enough as a Big Daddy, all could be very much ruined. There’s also the chance that a level or two has you playing as others, which still has me crossing all of my digits that there’s at least one level where you can walk around Rapture when it was in its prime and just check out the sights. I’m starting to think that’s probably just my own sad pipe dream, though.

BioShock 2 is expected this fall.

[Source: via Primotech]