Road to Release: BioShock Infinite

Unlike the dark and gloomy underwater world of Rapture, BioShock Infinite's city in the sky bursts with light and life. The world of Columbia is very much itself a character, as its densely packed streets are littered with personality. Massive blimps circle in the clouds above and various sections of the floating landmass are connected by a winding railway system. It's enchanting, beautiful, and yet equally disturbing.



Don't let the game's vibrant exterior fool you, as there's plenty of evil that lurks around every corner. Booker is on a mission to rescue Elizabeth, and by doing so, he puts himself in an extreme amount of danger. While Columbia is loaded with life, it holds an equal amount of death and destruction.
 
This harrowing alternate history takes place in the early 1900s when a man named Comstock decided to create a cult of sorts built around the worship of the founding fathers. The following "Truth from Legend" video tells the story in compelling artistic fashion.



And the horrors don't end there: Irrational's second faux documentary details the fear-inducing Songbird and the mysteries behind this monstrous creature. I'd say Booker is in way over his head on this one. 

And what would a BioShock game be with out its fair share of insane twists and turns? Elizabeth possesses the unique ability to create tears in time, allowing for a whole host of possibilities. We've seen her open a gateway to Paris and even the future release of Revenge of the Jedi. As such, the game's artistic beauty is bound to expand far beyond the corners of Columbia.



If there's one thing players should know before diving into any creative work by Ken Levine and his team, it's to expect the unexpected. What you see on the surface isn't always what it immediately appears to be. The studio's careful attention to detail and facade conveys a game world that wants to tell you so much, yet holds back a multitude of secrets at the same time.

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