Burial at Sea, the downloadable content for BioShock Infinite, has sparked debate among fans due to its complex narrative and potential plot holes. This expansion takes players back to the underwater city of Rapture, connecting the worlds of BioShock and BioShock Infinite through the character of Elizabeth. While Burial at Sea offers an intriguing continuation of the BioShock story, it introduces several inconsistencies that challenge the established canon.
The narrative weaves together elements from both Rapture and Columbia, attempting to tie up loose ends and provide closure to Elizabeth’s story. However, this ambitious storytelling approach has led to questions about the continuity and logic within the BioShock universe. Some fans argue that Burial at Sea’s plot contradicts events from previous games, particularly regarding the timeline of Rapture and the origins of certain characters.
These perceived plot holes have divided the BioShock community, with some viewing them as minor inconsistencies and others seeing them as significant flaws in the overall narrative. The debate surrounding Burial at Sea’s story highlights the challenges of crafting a cohesive multiverse within a complex franchise like BioShock.
Overview of ‘Burial at Sea’
‘Burial at Sea’ is a two-part downloadable content expansion for the video game BioShock Infinite. It takes place in the underwater city of Rapture, the setting of the original BioShock game.
The story follows Booker DeWitt and Elizabeth as they navigate the dystopian world of Rapture. Set on New Year’s Eve 1958, just before the fall of Rapture, the expansion provides insight into the city’s final days.
Episode 1 focuses on Booker and Elizabeth’s investigation of a missing girl. Episode 2 puts players in control of Elizabeth as she seeks to complete her mission in Rapture.
The expansion connects the narratives of BioShock and BioShock Infinite, offering new perspectives on familiar characters and events. It explores themes of parallel universes and the consequences of choices.
‘Burial at Sea’ features gameplay elements from both BioShock and BioShock Infinite, blending plasmid-based combat with sky-hook traversal. The expansion’s art style combines Rapture’s art deco aesthetics with Infinite’s visual flair.
Narrative Complexities
Burial at Sea presents intricate narrative elements that intertwine the worlds of Rapture and Columbia. The story explores Elizabeth’s journey, complex timelines, and the iconic underwater city’s role in the broader BioShock universe.
The City of Rapture and Its Role
Rapture serves as more than just a backdrop in Burial at Sea. The underwater metropolis becomes a character in its own right, shaping the events and motivations of key figures. Its decay and fall from grace mirror the moral decline of its inhabitants.
The city’s unique atmosphere and architectural marvels provide a stark contrast to Columbia’s floating utopia. Rapture’s art deco style and claustrophobic corridors create a sense of isolation and paranoia that permeates the narrative.
Plasmids and gene manipulation play crucial roles in the story, linking Rapture’s scientific advancements to the plot’s central conflicts.
Elizabeth’s Character Development
Elizabeth undergoes significant changes throughout Burial at Sea. Her transformation from the innocent girl in Columbia to a hardened, multiversal traveler is a central focus of the narrative.
Her powers and understanding of alternate realities drive much of the plot forward. Elizabeth’s motivations become increasingly complex as she grapples with her role in shaping events across different timelines.
The relationship between Elizabeth and Booker DeWitt takes on new dimensions in this story. Their interactions reveal deeper layers of Elizabeth’s character and her struggle with identity and purpose.
Interweaving Timelines
Burial at Sea’s narrative weaves together multiple timelines and alternate realities. This complex structure connects events from BioShock Infinite to the original BioShock game.
The story explores how choices made in one reality can have far-reaching consequences across the multiverse. Characters from different timelines intersect in unexpected ways, creating intricate plot threads.
Time travel and alternate dimensions play key roles in the narrative. These elements introduce both fascinating story possibilities and potential inconsistencies that players must navigate.
The convergence of Rapture and Columbia’s storylines creates a rich tapestry of interconnected events and characters, challenging players to piece together the overarching narrative.
Character-Driven Plot Points
The complex relationships and alternate realities of key characters drive much of the plot in Burial at Sea. These interconnections create intriguing storylines but also lead to some contradictions.
Elizabeth and Booker’s Relationship
Elizabeth and Booker’s dynamic shifts dramatically in Burial at Sea. Their father-daughter bond from the main game is replaced by a more antagonistic relationship. Elizabeth manipulates a version of Booker who is actually Comstock in disguise.
This change raises questions about Elizabeth’s motivations and character development. Her willingness to use and ultimately sacrifice this Booker/Comstock seems at odds with her previous attachment to Booker.
The plot also struggles to explain how Elizabeth can interact with a Comstock that should have been erased by the events of BioShock Infinite’s ending.
The Lutece Twins’ Involvement
Robert and Rosalind Lutece play a smaller but still significant role in Burial at Sea. Their intermittent appearances provide cryptic guidance to Elizabeth.
The twins’ ability to traverse realities remains consistent with the main game. However, their exact motivations for assisting Elizabeth are less clear in this context.
Their involvement also highlights the inconsistencies in how alternate realities function between BioShock Infinite and Burial at Sea. The twins seem able to access timelines that should no longer exist.
Comstock’s Alternate Realities
Burial at Sea introduces a version of Comstock who escaped to Rapture after accidentally killing Anna/Elizabeth. This plot point creates several inconsistencies with the main game’s ending.
The existence of this Comstock contradicts Elizabeth’s efforts to erase all versions of Comstock across realities. It’s unclear how this particular Comstock avoided that fate.
Additionally, this Comstock’s backstory and personality differ significantly from the character established in BioShock Infinite. These changes, while interesting, strain the internal logic of the multiverse concept established earlier in the series.
Significant Artifacts and Mechanics
The Burial at Sea storyline introduced several key artifacts and gameplay mechanics that shaped the narrative and player experience. These elements expanded on Bioshock’s core concepts while raising new questions about the nature of interdimensional travel and genetic modification.
Suchong’s Tear Machine
Dr. Yi Suchong developed a device capable of opening tears between realities. This machine allowed travel between different versions of Rapture and Columbia. It functioned by amplifying the natural tear-creating abilities of individuals like Elizabeth.
The tear machine’s capabilities seemed to expand over time. Initially used for observation, it later enabled physical transportation of people and objects. This raised questions about potential paradoxes and unintended consequences of interfering with alternate realities.
Suchong’s invention played a crucial role in the plot, facilitating key story moments and character interactions. However, its full potential and limitations were never fully explained, leaving some aspects of its operation open to interpretation.
Importance of Plasmids
Plasmids remained a central element in Burial at Sea, continuing their significance from the original Bioshock games. These genetic modifications granted users superhuman abilities, but at a steep cost to their sanity and humanity.
New plasmids introduced in the DLC expanded the gameplay options:
- Old Man Winter: Allowed freezing enemies and creating ice bridges
- Ironsides: Turned incoming bullets into usable ammunition
- Peeping Tom: Provided temporary invisibility and X-ray vision
The storyline delved deeper into plasmid research and development. It explored the ethical implications of human experimentation and the societal impact of widespread genetic modification in Rapture.
Tear Powers and Their Consequences
Elizabeth’s ability to create tears between realities was a focal point of Burial at Sea. This power allowed her to manipulate the environment, solve puzzles, and access alternate versions of locations and characters.
Key aspects of tear powers included:
- Summoning objects and allies from other realities
- Observing past and future events
- Traveling between different versions of Rapture
The use of tear powers had significant consequences. It blurred the lines between different timelines and raised questions about causality and free will. Elizabeth’s actions across realities ultimately tied into the larger Bioshock narrative, connecting events in Rapture to those in Columbia.
The full extent and limitations of tear powers remained somewhat ambiguous. This left room for player interpretation and speculation about the nature of reality in the Bioshock universe.
Connections to the Original BioShock
Burial at Sea weaves intricate connections to the first BioShock game, expanding on its themes and lore. These links provide context for Jack’s story and deepen our understanding of Rapture’s history.
Recurring Themes and Easter Eggs
Burial at Sea revisits iconic locations from BioShock 1, including the Medical Pavilion and Fontaine’s Department Store. Players encounter familiar characters like Sander Cohen and Dr. Yi Suchong.
The game features Little Sisters and Big Daddies, central to the original’s narrative. Plasmids and Gene Tonics return, along with Rapture’s distinctive Art Deco aesthetics.
Audio diaries scattered throughout Burial at Sea offer insights into events leading up to BioShock 1. These recordings flesh out the backstories of key figures like Andrew Ryan and Frank Fontaine.
Role of Jack and the First Game’s Impact
Burial at Sea reveals crucial details about Jack’s origins and his connection to Rapture. Players learn about his creation and conditioning through Dr. Suchong’s experiments.
The DLC explains how Jack acquired his unique genetic code and plasmid abilities. It also sheds light on the development of the “Would You Kindly” trigger phrase.
Elizabeth’s actions in Burial at Sea directly influence Jack’s arrival in Rapture. Her choices set in motion the events that lead to the first game’s opening sequence.
Long-term Effects of ‘Would You Kindly’
Burial at Sea explores the origins and implications of the “Would You Kindly” phrase. It reveals how Atlas obtained this powerful tool of control over Jack.
The DLC demonstrates the phrase’s effectiveness on Rapture’s citizens before Jack’s arrival. It shows how Fontaine and his followers used it to manipulate others.
Players witness the devastating consequences of this mind control technique. The game illustrates how it shaped Rapture’s downfall and set the stage for BioShock 1’s events.
Burial at Sea also hints at the lasting psychological impact on those exposed to the phrase, foreshadowing Jack’s struggle in the original game.
Pivotal Moments
Burial at Sea introduces several key plot elements that significantly impact the Bioshock universe. These moments shape the narrative and connect different parts of the series in unexpected ways.
‘Ace in the Hole’ Significance
The ‘Ace in the Hole’ refers to Jack, the protagonist of the original Bioshock. Elizabeth retrieves the command phrase “Would you kindly” and gives it to Atlas. This revelation ties Burial at Sea directly to the events of the first game.
The phrase serves as a psychological trigger for Jack, allowing Atlas (Fontaine) to control him. Its discovery in Burial at Sea explains how Atlas gained this powerful tool.
Some fans question why Atlas didn’t use this command earlier in Bioshock, given its importance. This potential inconsistency has led to debates among players about the timeline and logic of events.
Big Daddy and Little Sister Dynamics
Burial at Sea provides new insights into the relationship between Big Daddies and Little Sisters. The DLC explores the origins of these iconic characters and their roles in Rapture’s ecosystem.
Players witness the bonding process between Big Daddies and Little Sisters, adding depth to their symbiotic relationship. This backstory enhances the emotional impact of encounters with these pairs in the main games.
The DLC also touches on the ethical implications of creating Little Sisters, showcasing the moral decay of Rapture’s society. These revelations add layers to the existing narrative and provide context for the rescue/harvest mechanic in Bioshock.
Atlas and The Power Struggle
Atlas’s rise to power takes center stage in Burial at Sea. The DLC portrays his manipulation of Elizabeth and his ruthless pursuit of control over Rapture.
Players see Atlas’s transformation from a charismatic leader to the antagonist of the original Bioshock. His interactions with Elizabeth reveal his true nature and foreshadow his future actions.
The power struggle between Atlas and Ryan becomes more pronounced, setting the stage for the civil war that engulfs Rapture. This conflict provides context for the state of the city in the first Bioshock game.
Atlas’s acquisition of the ‘Ace in the Hole’ marks a turning point in his plans, connecting Burial at Sea directly to the events of Bioshock 1.
Criticism and Analysis
Burial at Sea faced scrutiny for its narrative choices and plot elements. Critics and fans alike dissected the DLC’s storyline, examining its consistency with the broader BioShock universe.
Plot Discrepancies and Inconsistencies
The DLC introduced timeline contradictions that troubled some players. Elizabeth’s presence in Rapture before the events of the original BioShock raised questions about continuity. The retconning of certain established facts, such as Suchong’s death date, created confusion.
Irrational Games’ decision to alter previously settled lore sparked debate among the fanbase. Some argued these changes weakened the overall narrative cohesion of the BioShock series.
The multiverse concept, while central to Infinite’s plot, became a point of contention in Burial at Sea. Critics argued it allowed for too many convenient plot developments, potentially undermining the story’s integrity.
Character Motivations and Rationality
Elizabeth’s quest for revenge in Burial at Sea drew mixed reactions. Her decision to sacrifice herself to save Sally seemed at odds with her near-omniscient abilities shown in Infinite.
Some players found her motivations unclear or inconsistent with her character development. The drastic shift from her god-like status to a vulnerable human in Rapture puzzled many fans.
Booker/Comstock’s presence in Rapture also raised eyebrows. His redemption arc felt rushed to some, while others appreciated the exploration of guilt and atonement.
Exploration of Factual Errors
The DLC’s treatment of established BioShock lore came under fire for perceived inaccuracies. The origin of the “Would You Kindly” phrase, a crucial plot element, was rewritten in Burial at Sea.
This change conflicted with the original game’s revelation about Fontaine’s long-term manipulation of Jack. Some fans felt this alteration diminished the impact of BioShock’s iconic twist.
Technical inconsistencies, such as the functionality of Plasmids and Vigors in Rapture, were also noted. These discrepancies challenged the internal logic of the BioShock universe, affecting player immersion.
Implications for the BioShock Series
The plot holes in Burial at Sea have significant ramifications for the BioShock franchise. They raise questions about narrative consistency and impact how fans view the series as a whole.
Potential for Future Expansions or DLC
Burial at Sea’s plot inconsistencies open doors for potential DLC or expansions. Developers could create content to address and resolve these discrepancies. New storylines might explore alternate timelines or provide explanations for conflicting events.
This approach could reignite interest in the BioShock universe. It may also offer opportunities to tie up loose ends and satisfy fans’ curiosity about unresolved plot points.
DLC focusing on specific characters or locations mentioned in Burial at Sea could provide context for seemingly contradictory elements. This strategy could turn narrative weaknesses into strengths, expanding the series’ lore.
Lasting Impact on Series Lore
The plot holes in Burial at Sea have a lasting effect on BioShock’s established lore. They challenge players’ understanding of key events and character motivations.
Some inconsistencies may be viewed as enriching the series’ complexity. Others might be seen as detrimental to the overall narrative coherence.
These discrepancies could lead to debates among fans about which version of events is “canon”. This uncertainty might affect how future BioShock titles approach storytelling and world-building.
The altered timeline of certain events, such as Suchong’s death, creates ripple effects throughout the series’ chronology. This may require careful consideration in future installments.
Audience Expectations and Reactions
Fan reactions to Burial at Sea’s plot holes vary widely. Some players appreciate the added layers of complexity and mystery. Others express frustration with perceived inconsistencies.
These mixed reactions influence expectations for future BioShock releases. Fans may scrutinize new entries more closely for narrative cohesion and attention to established lore.
The debate surrounding Burial at Sea’s plot elements has fostered a more critical approach to storytelling within the gaming community. This heightened awareness may push developers to prioritize narrative consistency in future projects.
Player discussions about these inconsistencies have kept the BioShock series relevant years after release. This engagement demonstrates the franchise’s enduring appeal despite narrative challenges.