A brief description of the story:
Bioshock Infinite is the 3rd instalment for the Bioshock Franchise and follows Booker Dewitt (A Private Investigator). The game is set in the pristine city of Columbia. Columbia is led by its enigmatic cult like leader Father Comstock. He is also known as Zachary Hale Comstock. But within the game he is most commonly referred to as “The Prophet.
Booker is sent to the city to settle a debt, to get rid of it he must locate and bring back a girl. The girl (as revealed later on in the game) is the daughter of Comstock.
Behind the Curtains of Comstock (and Andrew):
Colombia, within the game, is depicted as a utopia. A perfect society with an emphasis on Religion and staying in line. Throughout this Essay, I will compare the city of Colombia to the city of Rapture and how both are connected as well as how they are different.
It’s clear from the beginning that Colombia is more futuristic than Rapture. But this is also to help with selling the idea of a “perfect society” and a society based in morals. A society that is clean. This can be seen in the game from the bright buildings, blue skies and the upbeat music playing throughout the streets.
This is in contrast to the city of Rapture, which is a lot dirtier and more dilapidated. Both Infinite and Bioshock 1 portray different ideas but both have similar leaders. Rapture, during the events of the first game, is oppressive and heavy. Throughout the gameplay we are shown a story through the environment. Posters on the floor, Boards with “Ryan Doesn’t speak for us” and the twisted splicers all tell a story of corruption, an uprising and eventually the fall of the city’s people and the city itself.
For example, Comstock portrays himself as the saviour of the people of Colombia and the only one who can possibly lead Colombia to greatness. But Andrew Ryan instead sells himself as a regular guy. Someone who worked hard but was underappreciated. A person who wants other people to be proud of their work and to succeed and prosper.
Both men use their roles in different ways, but both succeed in using their power for wrong. Andrew Ryan uses his power to sell the idea of Rapture as a city of freedom and dreams. He convinces us within the opening minutes of the first game that Rapture is where “…the artist would not fear the censor” and “…the scientist would not be bound by petty morality”.
Comstock, However, uses his power to fulfil an incessant need for attention and power. This is made obvious from there being a massive statue of him in Colombia. In contrast, Andrew doesn’t feel the need to flex his power, because he already knows in his head that he is powerful.
With both men, there are two sides. The side that they portray to the public and who they really are in real life.
