Bioshock

Lore & Background

Rapture was built in 1946 by the visionary Andrew Ryan as a libertarian utopia where the greatest minds could work free from government and religious interference. The discovery of ADAM, a genetic material harvested from sea slugs, allowed for the creation of plasmids—substances that grant superhuman abilities. This led to a civil war between Ryan's followers and the collectivist Atlas, resulting in the city's decay into a dystopian nightmare populated by splicers (ADAM-addicted citizens) and little girls who harvest ADAM from corpses.

In Their Own Story

The ocean is black, cold, and infinite. A single light flickers from a bathysphere descending through the murk. Inside, a man named Jack stares at the city's neon glow—a shattered chandelier of art deco towers and broken promises. The radio crackles: 'Would you kindly...' The voice is Atlas, a man with a plan. Jack's fingers tighten on a wrench. Somewhere in the depths, a little girl laughs, and a Big Daddy's footsteps echo like a heartbeat.

Reader's Guide

The story of BioShock begins with Jack, the sole survivor of a plane crash in the Atlantic Ocean, who discovers a lighthouse leading to the underwater city of Rapture. Guided by Atlas, Jack fights through splicers and security systems to reach Andrew Ryan, the city's founder. The plot twist reveals that Jack has been conditioned through the phrase 'Would you kindly' to obey Atlas, who is actually Frank Fontaine, Ryan's rival. Jack kills Ryan and later confronts Fontaine in a final battle. Depending on the player's actions toward the Little Sisters, the ending varies: saving them leads to a peaceful life with a family, while harvesting them results in Jack taking control of Rapture. The story matters as a critique of objectivism and player agency, influencing game design and narrative in the medium.

Did You Know?

• The phrase 'Would you kindly' was a real trigger phrase used in the game's narrative to explore the illusion of choice.
• The design of Rapture was heavily influenced by art deco architecture and the writings of Ayn Rand.
• The Little Sisters' glowing eyes and voices were inspired by the film 'The Shining'.