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Columbias tragic monsters
The illusion of free will: "Would you kindly?"
Few can forget the moment of discovery when Andrew Ryan revealed the truth about Jacks history and purpose. He explained that Jack, now a grown adult with memories of a life of his own, was actually a genetic experiment controllable by a simple phrase: Would you kindly? The revelation of this information served not only as a massive twist for BioShocks plot, it functioned as a deconstruction of the illusion (and lack) of free will that results from being a character in a video game.
The illusion of free will: Infinite parallel worlds
BioShock: Infinite offers a similar twist that again speaks to the illusion of choice, as the events of the game are but one iteration of a million million parallel universes, yet every time the result is the same. A perfect example of this is given in the opening scene of the game. As Booker is delivered to the Columbia lighthouse by the Lutece twins, the pair discuss how it is pointless to ask him to help row the boat as, in every permutation of every single parallel world, he does not row. Some choices can be made, but certain events are set in motion and cannot ever be changed.
A life, a family
As Jack finally defeats Atlas and escapes Rapture, assuming he saved the Little Sisters rather than heartlessly harvesting them for additional ADAM, the final image of the game is Jack on his deathbed, surrounded by his daughters.
The difference between a baptism and a drowning
Infinite has a similar ending. Once Booker realizes that he is the prophet Zachary Hale Comstock, he resigns himself to be smothered in the crib so that Columbia, with all of its atrocities, is never created. Aside from the very brief post-credits scene, the final image of Infinite is, surrounded by many versions of his daughter, Bookers death.
The last lighthouse?
If youre like us and cant fathom the idea of leaving a movie before the credits are over, you were treated with a brief scene at the very end of Infinite. Booker is back in his office--alive, seemingly--with his daughter Anna still in her crib.
Did Booker survive? What were some of your favorite parallels between BioShock and Infinite? Let us know in the comments below!
And if youre hungry for more BioShock: Infinite, check out our explanation of the ending and this hidden message we discovered in the game.
