Hey DArt, you're probably the best one to answer this:
Does Bioshock3 have the engrossing atmosphere of Bioshock1 (and to a little lesser extent, Bioshock2)? Don't really care about the shooter mechanics since I totally suck at shooters and will play on easy anyway. We've talked about it before, so you know what I'm looking for.
It certainly has a similar power in terms of atmosphere. But it's also a very, very different setting - and it kinda depends on what you enjoy.
Personally, I think Rapture was a more powerful place - but I'm also a very big fan of underwater environments. Rapture is oppressing and you feel extremely isolated when playing. Columbia is pretty much the opposite - and works through contrast instead, kinda like The Shining by Kubrick. It's bright and open - but deals with similarly serious/dark themes and concepts in terms of story.
Technically, especially on a good setup - Columbia is much more detailed and the vistas can be truly breathtaking. The scope of the levels is also a big step up.
Another way of putting it would be to say that Rapture is one of the main characters in Bioshock from start to finish - where Columbia is more of a supporting character after the first 2-3 hours of play. But that's not so much because Columbia is less interesting. It's because the two protagonists are that well written and engaging.
But, in the end, it comes down to personal preference - as always.
As for the quality of the story and the writing - I have to say Infinite is far superior. Not just because it deals with what I consider more interesting themes - but also because it follows through on its premise. Bioshock had a better premise and a more compelling antagonist - but it utterly failed to follow through on it - and the ending was weak.
Not so in Infinite, where the experience as a whole actually improves steadily as you progress and - certainly for me - peaks at the very end of the game. That almost never happens, and it's a big reason why I'd rate it so highly.
I find a satisfying ending with real closure is vital - and I have to wonder why they're so damn rare in computer games.
It's been 3 days or so since I completed it - and I've been unable to enjoy anything else since then. It still lingers and I'm still going from one game - back to Infinite - and then to another game. I can't settle, because there are no other games that will give me anything like Infinite right now.