Everything about the whole sequence was brilliant. Unlike most "twists" you really don't see it coming.
Why was the Bioshock plot twist such a big deal?
- Thread starter -Drifter-
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*Spoilers* First, by the way, can anyone tell me how one makes that expanding spoilers box thingy? I've been a member of this forum for months and I've seen no explanation of that feature anywhere.
Anyway. I think that it also kind of helps that the character of Atlas is so utterly believable. After the bit where he claims his family where killed he sounds genuinely upset. Add to that the fact that an Irish accent accent is inherintly friendly sounding. Though god, make sure it's a republic of Ireland accent not a Northern Ireland accent, the big difference being that one makes everything potatoes and sunshine and the other makes absolutely everything sound like a threat.
Anyway. I think that it also kind of helps that the character of Atlas is so utterly believable. After the bit where he claims his family where killed he sounds genuinely upset. Add to that the fact that an Irish accent accent is inherintly friendly sounding. Though god, make sure it's a republic of Ireland accent not a Northern Ireland accent, the big difference being that one makes everything potatoes and sunshine and the other makes absolutely everything sound like a threat.
To be honest, I was one of those who saw the twist coming. There were little hints and just the whole linear structure of the game felt very like a mouse in a maze. I'm familiar with sci-fi cliches and it is a bit of one to suddenly discover you're a robot or otherwise lack free will, so I found it predictable.
Still, it was a well executed twist and it was an interesting development of the deeper themes behind the game's plot. The way the phrase "would you kindly" was slipped in so discreetly made it much more memorable when you see that plastered all over the wall before it's revealed what was done to you.
So I believe that from the perspective of good design it is worthy of praise as twists go.
Still, it was a well executed twist and it was an interesting development of the deeper themes behind the game's plot. The way the phrase "would you kindly" was slipped in so discreetly made it much more memorable when you see that plastered all over the wall before it's revealed what was done to you.
So I believe that from the perspective of good design it is worthy of praise as twists go.
Pretty much this.Chapper said:
I never expected that to happen at the end.The plot twist made me want to go through the game faster and get my revenge.
+++I assume that anyone reading this has already played Bioshock all the way through. So if you don't want anything to be spoiled, stop reading.+++
Because it isn't just some random twist. It literally takes everything about what you thought of the world of Bioshock and turns it on its head. You're some poor random man who happens to stumble upon Rapture? Nope, you're an assassin, or rather a weapon, who's aimed at the creator of Rapture. Atlas is a friendly ally who's trying to help you and his family out of this hellhole? Nope, he's really what will become your greatest enemy and he's been playing you all along. Andrew Ryan is some evil capitalist who's gone too far? Nope, he's just a misunderstood man who was unable to control the forces in Rapture. You've been trying to escape Rapture this whole time? Nope, you've been mind controlled to pave the way of your enemy's victory. "Would you kindly" is simply a friendly phrase used by Atlas alot? Nope, it's your trigger word. From then on out you see everything about Rapture in a different light.
Now would you kindly go back to the internet?
Because it isn't just some random twist. It literally takes everything about what you thought of the world of Bioshock and turns it on its head. You're some poor random man who happens to stumble upon Rapture? Nope, you're an assassin, or rather a weapon, who's aimed at the creator of Rapture. Atlas is a friendly ally who's trying to help you and his family out of this hellhole? Nope, he's really what will become your greatest enemy and he's been playing you all along. Andrew Ryan is some evil capitalist who's gone too far? Nope, he's just a misunderstood man who was unable to control the forces in Rapture. You've been trying to escape Rapture this whole time? Nope, you've been mind controlled to pave the way of your enemy's victory. "Would you kindly" is simply a friendly phrase used by Atlas alot? Nope, it's your trigger word. From then on out you see everything about Rapture in a different light.
Now would you kindly go back to the internet?
If you quote somebody who's using a spoiler, you can see how to do it. Alternatively click the spoiler.Hoopybees said:
Simply write [spioler]spelling it correctly o' course[/spioler]
Now if you want your spioler to not simply show 'spioler' on the box then you write it this way: [spioler=yadda yadda]Again, correct spelling works.[/spioler]
Now if you want your spioler to not simply show 'spioler' on the box then you write it this way: [spioler=yadda yadda]Again, correct spelling works.[/spioler]
As others have said it wasn't just that it was a brilliant twist (it was) it was that it turned one of the central tenants of game design and turned it on it's head.
Most gamers are used to firing up a game and taking orders from whoever is giving them to us. It's an element of game design that goes back as far as there's been narrative in games, to the point where we no longer think about it any more. We expect it and we don't question it. Bioshock made us stop and realize just what it is were doing. Here we are blindly following the orders of someone we don't know and have never met all because they say they can help us. But can they? No, and more than that they've been controlling us the entire time. To take something that gamers are so used to (guy gives you orders, follow them) and shove it in our face like that made more a truly memorable experience.
Most gamers are used to firing up a game and taking orders from whoever is giving them to us. It's an element of game design that goes back as far as there's been narrative in games, to the point where we no longer think about it any more. We expect it and we don't question it. Bioshock made us stop and realize just what it is were doing. Here we are blindly following the orders of someone we don't know and have never met all because they say they can help us. But can they? No, and more than that they've been controlling us the entire time. To take something that gamers are so used to (guy gives you orders, follow them) and shove it in our face like that made more a truly memorable experience.
I don't think subtlety means what you think it means. Or, maybe I don't know what it means... When bullets are flying through the air and explosions are going off, that's and example of activity such as adrenaline neccessary to survive. Where as if you experience adrenaline in expectation of what's coming even though you have no idea what it is and then it happens in a completely different way or doesn't happen at all is subtlety, to me anyway.HT_Black said:
Never at any point did that game feel "In your face" Call of Duty is in your face. Bioshock is not. HalfLife has way more grand moments then bioshock. You never shoot down helicopters in bioshock,you never take on 80 foot tall walkers, you never experience explosions at the top of towers... No offense I think you might be a little bias based on fandom.
OT: Despite popular belief, the average crowd can predict a good guy turned villian betrayal twist from a mile a way. So going through about 6 to 8 hours of the game never suspecting once that this guy maynot be all that he's claiming to be is a pretty good set-up.
Yes they did, yes I have and yes I have. Perhaps you haven't played all the way through Half-Life or Half-Life 2, so I'll sum it up for you:Stoic raptor said:
At the end of Half-Life (the first) the G-Man approaches you after you kill Nihilanth, revealing that you were used in order to weaken Xen and allow the Combine to take control of it, as well as Earth, even stating that "You can be a useful pawn, for those who can control you." Basically, he set the whole experiment up, knowing it would fail, so that this outcome would come about. In Half-Life 2, again near the end, Breen reveals that it was he who bought your contract, and used you to inadvertently weaken the resistance by revealing the location of Eli-Vance. You do wind up killing Breen, but after that th G-Man once again shows up, saying you've performed admirably and that he's received numerous offers for your contract.
-Drifter- said:
Actually,Supernovajake said:
I ruined the game for myself cause I remember reading an old sci-fi book (or it was a show) where 'Would you kindly' was actually their trigger phrase. I noticed Atlas said it every time he talked to me, by Chapter 3 I figured it out and pretty much when through the motions then on.
Meh. I didn't think it was a huge deal personally...and I don't know why everyone else thinks it is/was. I knew that Atlas wasn't really in this to help me out at all, so I didn't see it as a huge plot twist by any means when shit went down like it did.
Yes, that is true. But you really don't know G-man, or trust him. And he never used mind control to command you. At least, not what we know.-Drifter- said: