Swimming In Rapture

Where the hell can I find some parking?!

If I sat down and seriously tried compiling my personal top 10 list for games (and I wouldn't because that would be brutally difficult), I can say Bioshock would definitely be somewhere in the mix. The shooting was solid and the plasmids and tonics added a nice RPGish element to the mix. But the real quality that knocked it out of the park was definitely the atmosphere. Rapture stands as, undeniably, one of the most atmospheric and well done settings in video games EVER that had me engrossed with the story and on the edge of my seat every second I played. While Bioshock 2 didn't have the uniqueness factor (being a sequel) it refined the combat and really cemented my love for the universe Ken Levine and his team at Irrational Games had created.

And like every big video game franchise, it's natural to want to keep developing that universe with other mediums, so ventures of course being more successful than others. It boggles my mind why it's so hard to make a decent video game movie adaptation, but time and time again, directors keep mucking it up (except with Silent Hill, which had an awesome movie!) Books are the other outlet video games have ventured into quite often but, although I'm an avid reader, I've never really had the desire to check any out. Sure God of War is awesome, but reading about Kratos ripping a guy's face off just doesn't have the same effect in text. But when Levine worked with John Shirley on a prequel to Bioshock, titled Bioshock:Rapture, I knew it was time to give reading a video game novel a stab. If there was a story that could translate to a novel, it was this one, and with about 50 pages left, I can say that I am extremely impressed with what they've done and am rethinking my decision to shun similarly game inspired works.

Bioshock:Rapture sets the foundation for the world Jack stumbles upon (or so you think dun-dun-dun) when his plane crashes in the first game. Following a few of the main characters in the series, as well as some random ones, Shirley shows how Rapture became a reality, from its birth conceptually, to its building, and finally to its downfall. Almost all of the characters and events that occur in both games are introduced and developed and I find myself Wikipedia-ing things I forgotten to make sure I have and can savor the whole picture, which is such an interesting and entertaining one.

We're gonna need a bigger gun...

One of the things I love about the story of Rapture (besides clunking dudes in diving suits) is how applicable its messages and themes are today. In our American political climate, where it feels politicians are stuck in  this ideological war where the main goal is screw the other guy rather than do what's best, Bioshock:Rapture discusses the dangers of extremisms of any kind and what can happen when man is robbed of balance. While Rapture is scary and exciting and a great setting, it's a symbol of what we must make sure we don't turn our world into. And the fact that a connection can be made today, or any kind, it a testament to the quality of the work.

It also has made me realize the power  video games have over other mediums in terms of making connections personally. As I read about Dr. Steinmen's twisted experiments and Tenembaum and Suchong's plasmids research and Fontaine's identity thefts, I kept recalling my experiences playing the game and it just made me feel more engrossed with the world. Unlike watching a movie and then reading further about the story, I feel more connected to it because I used the products that created the slicers, setting traps for them when I needed to protect one of the little sisters. I ran around Fort Frolic and saw Sander Cohen's twisted experiments. I unloaded shell after shell into Fontaine after he went plasmid crazy and tried to tear me limb from limb.

In the end, I'm a gamer because the experience interacting with a story rather than just viewing it really makes a difference with how it's internalized and processed. Games have the power to really leave an indelible mark on the player because of their active role in the narrative. Bioshock:Rapture really brought that to light and, going forward, I really don't think I'm going to hesitate reading a novel inspired by a series I love.  There''s just too much to potentially gain in turning a series I appreciate to a series I will never forget.

And holy shiz, Bioshock:Infinite is coming out next year....

So close