Following a plane crash into the Atlantic sea, Jack arrives at a mysterious lighthouse that leads him down into an underwater city known as Rapture. A place once considered a utopia but now known as a dystopia,BioShock’s Rapture was meant to be a safe haven for lovers of the free market and liberty.
Unfortunately, through greed and civil war, the city was left in shambles, run over by ADAM-hungry splicers and some of its less crazed inhabitants still in hiding. Hailed as one of the most immersive dystopias in the history of video games, Rapture is filled with details even the most sharp-eyed fan might not realize. Today, we’re sharing 10 of those with you.
10Ayn Rand Everywhere
The main inspiration for Rapture and its ideology comes from the teachings of Ayn Rand, a believer of objectivism. Andrew Ryan, leader and founder of Rapture, is a proponent of her ideas and his name can even be used to spell out Ayn Rand’s. Much like Ayn Rand made Atlantis in her bookAtlas Shrugged, Andrew Ryan made Rapture.
Not just that, Atlas, the mystery man who guides Jack through Rapture, is named after Rand’s book. Doctor Tenenbaum, who later helps Jack as well, also gained inspiration from Rand, whose original last name was Rosenbaum.
9The Fountainhead
Another major detail inBioShockis its constant referencing to another work by Ayn Rand known asThe Fountainhead. This book not only inspired Frank Fontaine’s name, but it also appears in many other details and objects in the game. If you ever happen to take a look at the Arcadia Merlot found in-game, you might notice its name is actually “Fountainhead Cabernet Sauvignon”.
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There are also many references toThe Fountainhead’s character names, such as Wynand on Jack’s passport at the beginning and Roark in Eve’s Garden in a strip club poster.
8The Lazarus Vector
When Jack heads into Arcadia, the luxurious but not overgrown and partly dead gardens of Rapture, he’s tasked with deploying something called the Lazarus Vector. This machine is supposedly meant to bring the gardens back to life and provide oxygen for Rapture.
Interestingly enough, Jack needs 7 of each of the three items to make the vector work, which is a number that often comes up in the Bible. Not to mention, Lazarus is a character that is brought back to life from death in the Bible, as well.
7Famous Economists
Still in Arcadia, if you take a stroll around, you’ll notice there are a few tombstones around with engravings. One of them states it is the tomb of John Maynard Keynes and that he was the son of Adam Smith. Both of these characters are actually famous economists. However, they hailed from very different political sides.
Adam Smith was the first to introduce the concept of a free market guided by the invisible hand, while Keynes was in favor of introducing government regulations through intervention to stabilize the markets.
6Find A Wrench Or Something
The iconic wrench that we first pick up inBioShockis seen throughout the series, all the way inBioShock Infinite. However, you’ll be surprised to know that when Atlas first tells us to “pick up a wrench or something”, it’s actually a line that we’ve heard much earlier before inSystemShock 2.
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Since these two games are highly similar in storyline and atmosphere, aside from having very different settings, it’s no wonder the developers wanted to add such a fun and fitting easter egg right at the beginning of the game.
5Fahrenheit 451
In Medical Pavilion, there’s a door that’s covered in ice on its first floor which leads into the Twilight Hills funeral home. You’ll be able to access this area after you’ve picked up the Incinerate! plasmid. On one of the tables, you’ll find a code for a storage door, which is 0451.
This number is actually the degree in which books burn, as referenced in the bookFahrenheit 451. The reference is well-placed since we’ve just acquired the Incinerate! plasmid earlier, and, given that, inFahrenheit 451,the government doesn’t accept any ideologies or emotions from books, much like Rapture.
4Pacman
One of the few classic game references found inBioShockis actually a very obvious one found in Farmer’s Market in the winery area. You’ll notice a molding chunk of cheese, cut out like aPacmancharacter, looking like it’s about to eat the six bullet holes that have been shot into the floor planks.
This is a fun easter egg that’s fairly easy to find and one of the more glaring game references inBioShockthat has nothing to do withSystemShockor literature.
3The Shining
Everyone remembers the iconic horror movieThe Shiningwhere we’re introduced to the twin girls that haunt the hotel. It is said that the Little Sisters were actually inspired by these two girls from the movie, and it definitely shows if you look at the creepy, disheveled look the Little Sisters often seem to have—especially when under the influence of ADAM.
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Another reference toThe Shiningis its tip of the hat to Jack Torrance’s character by naming the Bathysphere station as Torrance Hall.
2Names For Splicers
You might not think much of the splicers who seem like mere cannon fodder in the game, but these were once human beings and a lot of thought went into designing these creepy crawlers. It’s believed that the Baby Jane splicers are a reference to the movieWhatever Happened To Baby Jane?.
Lady Smith, on the other hand, could be a reference to the women’s pistol Ladysmith, which was marketed by Smith & Wesson. Finally, Rosebud comes fromCitizen Kane, where it signifies a life where innocence was lost.
1Neverland
Fort Frolic is one of the most colorful areas inBioShock. This is where the artists of Rapture spent most of their days and nights performing and practicing, along with Sander Cohen. With artists and creators, however, politics and philosophy are bound to be discussed, as well, and Ryan didn’t much like that.
It’s why he references to Fort Frolic as Neverland, the place where only children can go at night time. This is evidently a reference toPeter Pan’s Neverland.
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