So Im about half way through Bioshock Infinite now and I have to say no location in a game since the first time I entered the beautiful world of Skyrim has a game setting left me so mesmerized as Columbia did when I first entered it.

I litteraly took about an hour to go through what should have been a 15 minute game play section just staring at how beautiful and fully developed of an environment Columbia is.

That being said it doesnt have the dark and destroyed creepiness and sadness Rapture did.  You felt so isolated and alone down at the bottom of the ocean in the original Bioshock.

So which city is more immersive, amazing, and beautiful?   Is it the sky city of Columbia or Rapture,  the city at the depths of the sea?

NO SPOILERS ALLOWED!!!!

Columbia is certainly more visually impressive, more alive and more varied. But then it's important to note that BioShock took place after the fall of Rapture, whereas Infinite opens during Columbia's golden age.

Both are great, and both do their job in showing the personality of the people. 

Rapture is more dark and creepy, and it reflects the craziness of the people living in there. Isolation under the sea to create an Utopian city. 

Columbia is more colorful with more life, reflecting a society that tries to find redemption. Isolation in the sky to be closer to God.

I personally found Columbia to be better, it's more beautiful to look at. Given that Columbia has more colors and life that Rapture it makes me like it more. 

Edit: btw be prepared to have your mind blown. The reviews were not exaggerating. 

For me Rapture is a lot better. Bioshock Infinite tries to replicate Bioshock 1 in the sky. But it does not have the same OMG! feeling of Rapture. It is a nice concept, but I did not feel amazed while playing the game.

That is VERY relative and subjective really, and varies from person to person.    I really think you were caught in the hype of the reviews ;)  

I was not mind blown in any way.  It is a good game, I wont deny that, but not worthy of 9s or 10s.  I was really expecting a lot more.    But as I said opinions are quite relative and subjective. 

I am trying right now to beat the game in the 1999 mode .  After that,  I will hunt some other trophies and get the plat hopefully.  Then I will play Army of two with my brother, and then I will continue to play the MP in Ascension till Soul Sacrifice comes :)

If you weren't blown away by the ending I have no idea what can impress you lol.

METAL GEAR SOLID V

hell yeah! :D

As much as I'm loving Columbia thus far, I think I slightly prefer the darker and more claustrophobic Rapture.

who is the woman on your pic?? :3

Both are very good games. Both cities are very impressive in their own way. Rapture is supposed to be ultra free market and anarchic, and Columbia is the exact opposite, Facist ultra nationalism. Rapture is scary because you keep thinking, "what the Hell happened here?" Columbia is far more subtle. On the surface it looks like a Utopia, but then once you look around a little bit, you notice that it is almost as screwed as Rapture. They seem to be the exact opposites of each other. I can't say which is better though. I am glad that they went to a new city though. Imagine another game in Rapture. It would just feel like you are doing the same thing again because a horror game gets old when you do the same exact scares for 3 games straight. That's why bioshock 1 is scarier than 2, the city would have felt old and boring if they did a third one.