Free Will – BioShock. 11 video games with a powerful message
Table of Contents
Players are strange creatures. On the one hand, they enjoy games that have a particular and unique goal – they expect to receive specific tasks that have to be performed. On the other hand, they hate being led by the hand because there is nothing left to interpret or discover. The creators of the first installment of BioShock were well aware of this and they combined both these issues in the form of a tricky text – "Would you kindly".
Throughout the game, we feel like we're just pushing the story forward, just like in any other similar game. However, at the end it turns out that we were blindly following someone's orders all the time, completely like a slave. If Atlas was giving us harsh orders, then most players would probably try to search for a way around and find some other solutions. However, adding the extremely polite expression of "Would you kindly" was enough to overshadow the real intentions of our guide.
The only decision we can make in the game concerns the fate of Little Sisters – we can slowly release them for a small reward or do the opposite. BioShock not only cunningly exposes that freedom of choice in other games is just an illusion, but also addresses to this issue in our reality. When are we actually doing something of our own free will? Have your ever wondered how easily you can get manipulated by others, for example, when buying new products? The lack of significance of our own choices was highlighted even more in the third part of the series – Bioshock Infinite, in which the concept of countless parallel worlds was presented, that emerge with every possible alternative option we encounter.
It is worth noting that Bioshock is a game imbued with symbolical and thought-provoking themes. As you play and explore this unique world, it's worthwhile to stop for a moment and indulge in reflection (about the meaning of life, for example). You can also delve into the forums and read how other gamers interpret this masterpiece.
