The hacking system has undergone a substantial makeover in BioShock 2. For starters, the hacking mini-game no longer takes you out of the action—hacking is done in real-time, and enemies aren’t going to stop attacking just so you can get a good deal on extra ammunition! Secondly, it’s now possible to hack from a distance using the Hack Tool. Fire a dart at the device you plan to hack, then focus on stopping the needle in the blue or green zones that appear. Unlocking these three Achievements/Trophies requires you to make frequent use of the Hack Tool and generally avoid hacking things up close and personally. Stock up on Remote Hack Darts and keep the Hack Tool on the ready. Note that many of the hacks later in the game get much tougher—particularly on safes. But keep in mind that it’s possible to perform a hack “buyout” with a tap of the Reload button, and it still counts towards your total number of hacks for these bonuses.
| Icon | Title | Points | Trophy | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Distance Hacker | 5 | Bronze | Used the Hack Tool to hack an object a distance. Pick up the Hack Tool in the Tool Storage Room at Atlantic Express Depot and fire it through the crack in the window at the door control. Stop the needle in one of the green zones twice to complete the hack and unlock the door. There are countless opportunities throughout the game to perform a hack from distance, but this one is unavoidable and required to progress the story. |
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Prolific Hacker | 20 | Bronze | Hacked one of each kind of machine. There are a number of different devices that must be hacked (not necessarily with the Hack Tool) in order to unlock this bonus. If you’ve been hacking everything you could as you progress through the game, then hacking the Turret in the Ride Cart Garage at Ryan Amusements should unlock this bonus. If you haven’t, you’ll earn the title of Prolific Hacker as soon as you successfully hack a door control panel, Security Camera, Security Bot, vending machine, Health Station, safe, and Turret. Security Bots can be a bit tricky to hack since they tend to fly in an erratic pattern. If you’re having trouble, locate a Bot Shutdown Panel, allow yourself to be seen by a Security Camera, then run to the panel and pull the lever once the Security Bots get close. The Security Bots then fall helplessly to the floor, becoming entirely susceptible to hacking. |
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Master Hacker | 20 | Bronze | Hacked 30 machines at a distance with the Hack Tool. Unlocking this bonus takes a bit of dedication on your part, along with a whole lot of Remote Hack Darts and Auto-Hack Darts for the Hack Tool. Resist the urge to run up to vending machines and Health Stations and hack them manually—instead, stand back and use the Hack Tool from afar. It’s possible to unlock this bonus strictly by hacking vending machines so long as you remember to use the Hack Tool. And always remember to buy another Remote Hack Dart to replace the one you use. |