Video game fans are rejoicing as the release date for the much anticipated BioShock Infinite draws near. The game will debut tomorrow, March 26.

This is the first sequel to the original BioShock developed by Irrational Games that won over the hearts of countless gamers five years ago. Man in the community feared that any sequel to the game would not live up to the success of the original, but at least for now, it appears that those worries are unfounded.

Reviews for the game thus far have been overwhelmingly positive, and it appears that the final product will be well worth the long wait. That's not to say the release of BioShock did not come with its fair share of hiccups along the way, however.

Already the release date has been pushed back twice. On top of that, the development studio had to endure the loss of a significant amount of personnel and because of this, there were even some doubts as to the effectiveness of Irrational Games' creative director, Kevin Levine. After all, his studio had only managed to put out two titles in eight years and it took over five more years to release the third.

For now, however, it appears that all is well in the BioShock universe. BioShock Infinite once again stands poised to redefine the way that we view the video game medium in an exhilarating and awe-inspiring way. Perhaps more valuable than its stellar graphics and gameplay, however, are the important questions it raises about our own lives.

"It's easy to dismiss those people floating in the fractured mirror Americas that we disagree with. They're wrong; we're right. Who cares why they are the way they are? But BioShock Infinite asks us to consider that very question and gives an answer that mixes hope with bitterness, wonder with despair and allegory with history. The game doesn't offer any advice about how to make everyone get along better but it makes a powerful argument for owning- and owning up to-all of our collective past," ponders video game reviewer Evan Narcisse.

He's not the only one. If anything, it appears that the more intellectual aspects of the game are at the forefront of what is already endearing fans of the original to its sequel. As Destructoid's Jim Sterling notes in his review:

"As a game, BioShock Infinite has its successes and its falterings consistent with any suitably complex piece of interactive entertainment. As a story, as an exercise in drawing the player into a believable and relevant world, as proof of exactly what a videogame can mean to a person ...Well, I already said it. BioShock Infinite is damn near perfect."

The jury is still out as to how BioShock Infinite will appeal to the masses who will surely scoop it up en masse tomorrow, but the buzz it is already receiving is promising. For those willing to move past the shoot-em-up mentality and fully immerse themselves in the story and consequences of the world around them, this just might be the game of the year.