Bioshock Infinite - Just how impossible is 1999 mode?

not hard at all... if, and only if, you know the game mechanics.
/if you havae no idea about the vigors in the game and weapons, you will have a bad time... You do not have a ton of cash to buy upgrades and so on.
If you run out of money, you go back to menu, but you can restart from the last chapter, not from the beginning.

Bioshock Infinite is a really really easy game but the 1999-mode does put up quite a bit of challenge for non-seasoned fps players (forget running to the vending machines all the time, and you must be "virtuous with the vigors" to survive. However if you use common sense, plan your steps and are careful in combat then you should be fine.

As hard as original Bioshock 1 on normal. I' d recommend to play in this mode from the very beginning, at least it gives some challenge.

I played it on 1999 out of the gate and didn't have any problems.

Basically it changes the game in three ways: You have to search everything to have enough cash for stuff you need. Even if you do that you won't be able to get all upgrades, so choose the ones you actually want with care. And finally, headshots become a lot more important in combat. Unless you get headshots enemies take forever to kill.

I wouldn't even call it all that more difficult though, it's just that it does change the pace of the game a bit. You have to play quite a lot slower and more methodically to get by. If that sounds appealing then go for 1999 imo.

I got 100% on the base game (didn't buy DLCs), and I dont remember it being that hard at all. Been over a year but from what I remember, my first playthrough was harder because I wasn't really experimenting with all the vigors.

I died a lot during the first 15 mins or so where you're fighting policemen and turrets with a pistol and melee which pissed me off quite a lot and I was stuck on that for a while. I took a hiatus and came back and finally managed to get past it and the first fireman. Almost everything after that is hard but in a good way. The combat really starts to shine in 1999 mode and I found myself choosing my Gear carefully, frantically swapping guns often and using Vigours strategically.

I never used Dollar Bills during my first playthrough so not being able to use them didnt change my playstyle at all, but yeah, great experience for those who've already completed the game on Easy or Normal. Clash in the Clouds is also great and it's more fun that you'd expect.

^YES. AGREED. SO ANNOYING. But basically only the first 15-20 minutes are frustrating, and then the rest plays like Normal/Hard mode with fewer upgrades available and more enemy health. If you die, just restart checkpoint and save your scarce Eagles. If you're really cheap/worried, you could go with infinite lockpicks/gear exploit (but what fun is that?)

If you can deal with BaS I and II on 1999, the main game is a cakewalk.

for me it's just a bitch if you don't know how to exploit the game. There's exploits for all the "main" events I believe which is all the handyman fights and the stupid core defense at the end. Other than that, 1999 mode is peaches and gravy imo.

I found it extremely easy. Hahaha

Lady Comstock :'(

Surprisingly doable, since I'm not that much an FPS veteran and tend to get my ass kicked hard on virtually every Counter Strike match. I think the essence to 1999 mode is more tactical than to being a skillful combatant.

not hard at all, play the witcher 2 in insane difficulty and you will see what's impossible ;)

Bioshock Infinite super easy finished 1999 mode one first playthrough(cheated to get 1999 mode) only thing I missed in achievement hunting was not to use a vendor machine and I only used it ONCE in entire playthrough near end so need to reply it all :(.

I would have tried it, but Lady Comstock and the Core Defense at the end were too annoying (not too hard, just annoying) to want to play them again on a harder mode. Besides, I have too many games to play to bother to replay Infinite of all things :)