Completely enraptured by your story telling abilities. I was glued to my phone just waiting for the next detail. I really like this style where you have an overall kind of point that ties into the gaming narrative. Looking forward to your next one!
Thanks Skip! That's exactly what I'm going for, so that kind of compliment is very encouraging. I just wish I could pull that kind of information out of any game haha.
There is something that never gets mentioned; the main argument against the underlying philosophy. There is no choice. Play it again. Try something different. You can't. You can't even choose to kill yourself because the Vita chambers revive you. You must play the game the way the environment dictates. You don't have a choice at all. In a promotional cutscene, the voice of Andrew Ryan says that while you make your choices, it is your choices that make you. Everything that happens to people in the free society is fine because it is the consequence of their own actions. You have no choice. Your choice is driven by the environment of the game. Therefore, the environment is the responsible party for the characters in it. Society is the protagonist. If people are violent and cruel and cheat, it is because the environment makes them so. That was the main philosophical refutation of objectivism in the game, and it seems to be missed by everyone.
Well said, andrew is a good foil to the ‘man chooses and slave obeys’ theme since he thought himself as “choosing” but ultimately his decisions were always based on calculations of what would bring him the most material reward and least pain/accountability
This has not been overlooked, it is merely an over deterministic argument so it quickly fails apart. Choice is tightly bound with free will and can be tricky to define. Even so, we have choice in _how_ we act, even if the results stay the same. Imagine that a family member is dying, and even if you can't save them you can choose how you interact with them and colour their final days. Surely you can play through Bioshock in your own varied and personal way even if all the doors don't open. Also, you *can* influence the ending based on whether you save the little sisters (indicating where the ultimate choice lies). I think you may have been primed (would you kindly) by the maker of the video who seems fixated on Ryan being a "super villain" and a "narcissist". It seems in this day and age, labelling another as a narcissist can be worse than accusing them of being a racist. In any event, this view is overly simplistic as it hand waves away the ambitions of a man who wanted to instill true individualism into society. Ryan's final victory was the satisfaction of his debt through his self-sacrifice, and thus he liberated his son (Jack) from his bonds and freed Rapture from Fontaine. Note then that the process of being a slave and then being freed is transformative although the environment is not unlimited.
Your observation that the vast majority of Plasmid were created for combat is very interesting! I had a similar realization in D&D with the Wizards Spelllists. In universe, most non-player Wizards seem to choose the role of Magical Scholars rather than Adventurers or War Mages. And yet the vast majority of Wizards spells are combat oriented. Sure, Wizards have a lot of Utlity spells and I would love to have an 'unseen servant' to take care of my chores but most spells are only useful in a combat situation. You wouldn't light a smoke with the ironic Fireball spells after all.
Bioshock’s choice to provide depth to the concept of following instructions and it’s firm place in nearly every game is what allows it to hold its own with the strongest of stories in video game history. It’s something I had never seen before and was a massive change in pace compared to Fallout 3 which I had played directly prior. Going from a rpg where the story revolves around “go here then do this” to Bioshock was incredible
Excellent video. I hadn't ever considered your point about plasmids not actually seeming to have functional purposes outside of combat. I always kind of assumed that the tutorial videos we're shown are just for us, the player, to understand combat applications versus an actual video that residents would also see when purchasing. It's been a long time since I've played Bioshock so I don't remember if there's context clues in game about the videos. What were your general thoughts on Prey? I'm working on a video for that game myself and think that it surpasses Bioshock in most ways (unpopular opinion). You have a great channel - I bought Unmetal at your suggestion and also enjoyed your videos on Tunic and Dredge!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words! Yeah actually in one of the audio logs, someone mentions that when things started turning bad in Rapture, everybody was rushing to those vending machines to buy plasmids to defend themselves and that's when it kind of clicked that they were just available to anyone on the street. As for Prey (Spoilers for Prey for anyone reading): Firstly, I haven't quite finished it. I'm close to the ending but I got side tracked with Bioshock and making this video haha. I really do like Prey a lot in terms of gameplay and the atmosphere, but for me the narrative is a little lacking. For the combat and gameplay, it does really feel like you can approach situations with different strategies; whether that's setting up turrets or using the gloo gun to maybe find an alternate path, etc. I enjoy the narrative and I thought the twist in the beginning was cool, but I think they could have waited a little longer for the reveal. It's a reveal that happens within the first 30 minutes of the game. Twists are usually strongest when the reveal shifts your perspective on what you thought you knew. I had only been in the simulation for like 10-15 minutes before it was like "ITS ALL FAKE" and im like... no... not the hallway I trusted the hallway haha. This is me being a bit nit-picky though. I think Prey is a lot of fun. There's some definite pros and cons for me personally, but overall I have really enjoyed my time with it! And I hope you liked UnMetal! It really was a delightful surprise for me. Thank you!
11 หลายเดือนก่อน
A major part of Bioshock's horror is the knowledge you're trapped under the sea with no way out. Bioshock Infinite had the same concept, but up in the clouds. Both equally terrifying IMO.
I could never finish this game for some reason but i knew it was special from the beginning. You will ultimately get less plasmid if you save the girls, even with the teddy bear gifts. It makes the choice more meaningful if you get less items, because the choice to save the girl was to demonstrate lack of attachment to material reward and an emphasis on “doing the right thing”. If you make a choice based on material reward, its not “free”. This is shown best with the rapture itself, if material reward comes at any cost, the terrors we see represent the extreme implications of this mentality. Andrew was obsessed with materialist freedom but he couldnt be free if all his decisions are based on calculations of reward and avoiding danger. His death was a final attempt to assert agency too. Except its futile, his outcome is decided and he considers himself to be “choosing” when its not really a choice he made, its him following the set conditions and slightly altering it. A choice in bioshock, the only real ones offered is when you pick the sisters or not, since its not about the set conditions, its about pure moral judgement (when initially presented as a choice between more plasmid or less)
Wow this is really weird. I used to always see these comments and it was hard for me to imagine it happening to people. But I genuinely thought that this video was made by a creator with tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of subs. Really cool script writing as also noted by other commenters. Keep on doing what u love
I like how they dont tell you about the Teddy bears. It's like in real life: you do good you'll get good back, so players who dont let them live will never know. (Unless they watch youtube 😂)
I think in regards to only combat plasmids being avaliable from the vending machines, there's the obvious gameplay reason, but a more story based reason is simply that Rapture when the game starts has been at civil war for a year meaning given the ultra capitalist thinking there would be to sell what is in demand the most and don't bother with anything else.
Hey thank you so much! Yeah I unlisted a lot of my older stuff since I'm trying to move in a bit of a different direction from my older content. I'm glad you liked the Wuppo review! That was my first ever review! There is a part of me that wants to review all those games I covered in my new style one day!
I love how game designers like to prattle on about freedom when the very concept of their game design requires rigid adherence to a very narrow set of rules.
13:53 There is no negotiating with the covenant sir. 15:12 Not at all it is all there in the phrase that he says to you "A man chooses a slave obeys" Ryan is not a tyrannical despot, sure when push came to shove thats what he became. But fundamentally he is a man who values free choice and the right not not bend to another's will. That and Jack being Ryans son. Ryan probably wanted to see if he he could break the programming. Not for a happier ever after but to prove the point. Ryan would be "happy" to be killed if it was Jacks choice but if he dies to the slave so be it he can accept that rapture failed. 17:55 Oh don't treat burial at sea as cannon its an awful mess and contradicts to much lore. You arn't even in the Bioshock one Rapture you in some other alt universe one.
Completely enraptured by your story telling abilities. I was glued to my phone just waiting for the next detail. I really like this style where you have an overall kind of point that ties into the gaming narrative. Looking forward to your next one!
Thanks Skip! That's exactly what I'm going for, so that kind of compliment is very encouraging. I just wish I could pull that kind of information out of any game haha.
There is something that never gets mentioned; the main argument against the underlying philosophy. There is no choice. Play it again. Try something different. You can't. You can't even choose to kill yourself because the Vita chambers revive you. You must play the game the way the environment dictates. You don't have a choice at all. In a promotional cutscene, the voice of Andrew Ryan says that while you make your choices, it is your choices that make you. Everything that happens to people in the free society is fine because it is the consequence of their own actions. You have no choice. Your choice is driven by the environment of the game. Therefore, the environment is the responsible party for the characters in it. Society is the protagonist. If people are violent and cruel and cheat, it is because the environment makes them so. That was the main philosophical refutation of objectivism in the game, and it seems to be missed by everyone.
Well said, andrew is a good foil to the ‘man chooses and slave obeys’ theme since he thought himself as “choosing” but ultimately his decisions were always based on calculations of what would bring him the most material reward and least pain/accountability
This has not been overlooked, it is merely an over deterministic argument so it quickly fails apart.
Choice is tightly bound with free will and can be tricky to define. Even so, we have choice in _how_ we act, even if the results stay the same. Imagine that a family member is dying, and even if you can't save them you can choose how you interact with them and colour their final days. Surely you can play through Bioshock in your own varied and personal way even if all the doors don't open. Also, you *can* influence the ending based on whether you save the little sisters (indicating where the ultimate choice lies). I think you may have been primed (would you kindly) by the maker of the video who seems fixated on Ryan being a "super villain" and a "narcissist". It seems in this day and age, labelling another as a narcissist can be worse than accusing them of being a racist. In any event, this view is overly simplistic as it hand waves away the ambitions of a man who wanted to instill true individualism into society. Ryan's final victory was the satisfaction of his debt through his self-sacrifice, and thus he liberated his son (Jack) from his bonds and freed Rapture from Fontaine. Note then that the process of being a slave and then being freed is transformative although the environment is not unlimited.
Your observation that the vast majority of Plasmid were created for combat is very interesting!
I had a similar realization in D&D with the Wizards Spelllists. In universe, most non-player Wizards seem to choose the role of Magical Scholars rather than Adventurers or War Mages. And yet the vast majority of Wizards spells are combat oriented. Sure, Wizards have a lot of Utlity spells and I would love to have an 'unseen servant' to take care of my chores but most spells are only useful in a combat situation. You wouldn't light a smoke with the ironic Fireball spells after all.
You were in my recs, great vid. Keep up the good work. Good storytelling, music choice and sounds, and editing
I really appreciate that! I try to strike a good balance!
Awesome video, subscribed!
Carl, thank you for making your videos as long as you do, it make cardio so much easier when I listen to your silky smooth voice
Middy out here getting SHREDDED?! I'm glad that my voice can help distract you 😂
Bioshock’s choice to provide depth to the concept of following instructions and it’s firm place in nearly every game is what allows it to hold its own with the strongest of stories in video game history. It’s something I had never seen before and was a massive change in pace compared to Fallout 3 which I had played directly prior. Going from a rpg where the story revolves around “go here then do this” to Bioshock was incredible
Go for it! More Bioshock videos please
I never understood that Ryan was repeat the quote to prove he was right even in the end choosing to go out his own way. amazing game
Excellent video. I hadn't ever considered your point about plasmids not actually seeming to have functional purposes outside of combat. I always kind of assumed that the tutorial videos we're shown are just for us, the player, to understand combat applications versus an actual video that residents would also see when purchasing. It's been a long time since I've played Bioshock so I don't remember if there's context clues in game about the videos.
What were your general thoughts on Prey? I'm working on a video for that game myself and think that it surpasses Bioshock in most ways (unpopular opinion).
You have a great channel - I bought Unmetal at your suggestion and also enjoyed your videos on Tunic and Dredge!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate your kind words! Yeah actually in one of the audio logs, someone mentions that when things started turning bad in Rapture, everybody was rushing to those vending machines to buy plasmids to defend themselves and that's when it kind of clicked that they were just available to anyone on the street.
As for Prey (Spoilers for Prey for anyone reading):
Firstly, I haven't quite finished it. I'm close to the ending but I got side tracked with Bioshock and making this video haha. I really do like Prey a lot in terms of gameplay and the atmosphere, but for me the narrative is a little lacking. For the combat and gameplay, it does really feel like you can approach situations with different strategies; whether that's setting up turrets or using the gloo gun to maybe find an alternate path, etc.
I enjoy the narrative and I thought the twist in the beginning was cool, but I think they could have waited a little longer for the reveal. It's a reveal that happens within the first 30 minutes of the game. Twists are usually strongest when the reveal shifts your perspective on what you thought you knew. I had only been in the simulation for like 10-15 minutes before it was like "ITS ALL FAKE" and im like... no... not the hallway I trusted the hallway haha. This is me being a bit nit-picky though. I think Prey is a lot of fun. There's some definite pros and cons for me personally, but overall I have really enjoyed my time with it!
And I hope you liked UnMetal! It really was a delightful surprise for me. Thank you!
A major part of Bioshock's horror is the knowledge you're trapped under the sea with no way out.
Bioshock Infinite had the same concept, but up in the clouds. Both equally terrifying IMO.
When i think of building a free utopia ”bottom of the sea” & ”near greenland” doesnt come to mind
Nice video man ❤
I could never finish this game for some reason but i knew it was special from the beginning. You will ultimately get less plasmid if you save the girls, even with the teddy bear gifts. It makes the choice more meaningful if you get less items, because the choice to save the girl was to demonstrate lack of attachment to material reward and an emphasis on “doing the right thing”. If you make a choice based on material reward, its not “free”. This is shown best with the rapture itself, if material reward comes at any cost, the terrors we see represent the extreme implications of this mentality.
Andrew was obsessed with materialist freedom but he couldnt be free if all his decisions are based on calculations of reward and avoiding danger. His death was a final attempt to assert agency too. Except its futile, his outcome is decided and he considers himself to be “choosing” when its not really a choice he made, its him following the set conditions and slightly altering it. A choice in bioshock, the only real ones offered is when you pick the sisters or not, since its not about the set conditions, its about pure moral judgement (when initially presented as a choice between more plasmid or less)
Really enjoyed the video looking forward to one on Infinite
Wow this is really weird. I used to always see these comments and it was hard for me to imagine it happening to people. But I genuinely thought that this video was made by a creator with tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of subs. Really cool script writing as also noted by other commenters. Keep on doing what u love
Thank you! I really do appreciate that! I'm definitely going to keep at it. Thank you for the motivation!
I like how they dont tell you about the Teddy bears. It's like in real life: you do good you'll get good back, so players who dont let them live will never know. (Unless they watch youtube 😂)
I think in regards to only combat plasmids being avaliable from the vending machines, there's the obvious gameplay reason, but a more story based reason is simply that Rapture when the game starts has been at civil war for a year meaning given the ultra capitalist thinking there would be to sell what is in demand the most and don't bother with anything else.
I really enjoy your videos! Did you hide some from your channel? Loved the older Wuppo review as well!
Hey thank you so much! Yeah I unlisted a lot of my older stuff since I'm trying to move in a bit of a different direction from my older content. I'm glad you liked the Wuppo review! That was my first ever review! There is a part of me that wants to review all those games I covered in my new style one day!
i would kindly!
I love how game designers like to prattle on about freedom when the very concept of their game design requires rigid adherence to a very narrow set of rules.
Love the game. Commenting for the (Algorithm)
Eh. Most people don't understand freedom and when they do they don't like it very much.
Why?
Freedom gets in the way of power.
13:53 There is no negotiating with the covenant sir.
15:12 Not at all it is all there in the phrase that he says to you "A man chooses a slave obeys"
Ryan is not a tyrannical despot, sure when push came to shove thats what he became. But fundamentally he is a man who values free choice and the right not not bend to another's will.
That and Jack being Ryans son. Ryan probably wanted to see if he he could break the programming. Not for a happier ever after but to prove the point. Ryan would be "happy" to be killed if it was Jacks choice but if he dies to the slave so be it he can accept that rapture failed.
17:55 Oh don't treat burial at sea as cannon its an awful mess and contradicts to much lore. You arn't even in the Bioshock one Rapture you in some other alt universe one.
FIRST
first