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BioShock

BioShock

By ···10 min read·Multi-source verified
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Welcome to BioShock, a first-person shooter where you crash-land into the fallen underwater city of Rapture. You’ll start defenseless, navigating its art deco halls, mastering dangerous inhabitants, and uncovering the secrets behind its ambitious downfall. Expect to face off against splicers, perhaps enjoying their wines in a cellar, and strategize against iconic encounters like the Big Daddy.

This guide is here to help you through every step of your journey in Rapture. We’ll cover everything from basic controls and combat to advanced strategies for taking down tough enemies like Peach. Whether you're aiming to find every collectible, conquer challenging boss fights, or achieve the best ending, this walkthrough will be your essential companion.

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Andrew Ryan's iconic opening monologue in BioShock, detailing his vision for Rapture and rejecting societal norms.

Andrew Ryan, the founder of Rapture, begins BioShock with a powerful speech. He poses a question about a man's entitlement to the sweat of his own brow, rejecting the answers provided by those in Washington, the Vatican, and Moscow, who he claims believe it belongs to the poor, God, or everyone, respectively.

Ryan states he rejected these answers and chose something different: the impossible. He chose Rapture, envisioning it as a city where artists would be free from censors, scientists unburdened by petty morality, and the great unconstrained by the small. He concludes by saying that with the sweat of your brow, Rapture can become your city as well.

Tips
  • Pay close attention to the opening monologue; it sets the tone and philosophical underpinnings of BioShock.
  • The speech introduces the core themes of Objectivism and individualism that are central to the game's narrative.

i. TABLE OF CONTENTS [c00s01]

BioShock game guide and walkthrough. Navigate sections on game concepts, walkthroughs, tips, and references for audio diaries, plasmids, and more.

To quickly navigate this BioShock guide, use your browser's search function (Ctrl-F) and type the section code provided.

Sections:

  • Table of Contents (c00s01)
  • Version History (c00s02)
  • Copyright Information (c00s03)
  • Contact Information (c00s04)
  • Acknowledgements (c00s05)

Introduction (c01)

Basic Game Concepts (c02)

  • Game Controls (c02s01)
  • Status Menu (c02s02)
  • Death (c02s03)
  • Items (c02s04)
  • Money (c02s05)
  • ADAM/Little Sisters/Big Daddies (c02s06)
  • Machines (c02s07)
  • Audio Diaries (c02s08)
  • Denizens of Rapture (c02s09)
  • Weapons (c02s10)
  • Custom Ammo (c02s11)
  • Weapon Upgrading (c02s12)
  • Plasmids (c02s13)
  • Gene Tonics (c02s14)
  • Inventing (c02s15)
  • Researching Enemies (c02s16)
  • Security System (c02s17)
  • Hacking (c02s18)

Walkthrough (c03)

  • Plane Crash (c03s01)
  • Welcome to Rapture (c03s02)
  • Medical Plaza (c03s03)
  • Neptune's Bounty (c03s04)
  • Smuggler's Hideout (c03s05)
  • Arcadia (c03s06)
  • Farmer's Market (c03s07)
  • Arcadia Pt. 2 (c03s08)
  • Fort Frolic (c03s09)
  • Hephaestus (c03s10)
  • Rapture Control (c03s11)
  • Olympus Heights (c03s12)
  • Apollo Square (c03s13)
  • Point Prometheus (c03s14)
  • Proving Grounds (c03s15)
  • Endgame (c03s16)

Tips and Notes (c04)

Frequently Asked Questions (c05)

Reference (c06)

  • List of Audio-Diaries (c06s01)
  • List of Plasmids (c06s02)
  • List of Gene Tonics (c06s03)
  • Little Sister Locations (c06s04)
  • Weapon Upgrade Locations (c06s05)
  • Research Rewards (c06s06)
  • Inventable Items (c06s07)

Achievement Information (c07)

Conclusion (c08)

ii. VERSION HISTORY [c00s02]

Explore the evolution of the BioShock guide, from its initial release to the final, comprehensive version. Track updates and additions made by the author.

Hey there! So, you're diving into BioShock and want to know how this guide came together? It's pretty cool to see how it grew from a basic walkthrough to the super-detailed resource it is now. Let's break down the version history so you know what went into making this walkthrough just right for you.

Version 0.1 (August 24, 2007): This was the very first go! The author got the intro and basic game concepts down, plus the walkthrough all the way through the Medical Pavilion. Think of it as the skeleton – the main structure was there, but lots of details were still being fleshed out, marked by those handy curly braces {}.

Version 0.2 (August 25, 2007): Just a day later, a quick polish! Some errors were fixed, and the walkthrough was pushed further, covering Neptune's Bounty. This is also when the author started adding the really useful stuff: audio diaries, plasmids, gene tonics, and where to find those Little Sisters.

Version 0.3 (August 25, 2007): Another day, another big leap! The walkthrough now reached the end of Arcadia, and a ton of reference info was added. Plus, the author started tracking weapon upgrade spots and research rewards, and even began listing items you can invent.

Version 0.4 (August 26, 2007): Things are really shaping up! This update clarified info on Big Daddy and Little Sister encounters and finished the Arcadia Pt. 2 section. More reference material was piled in, and the guide's overall formatting got a facelift.

Version 0.5 (August 27, 2007): A bit of tidying up and a smart reorganization. The plasmid and gene tonic lists were changed to show how you get them, not just where. The research rewards and achievement sections were completed, and the walkthrough made it to the end of Fort Frolic.

Version 0.6 (August 27, 2007): Another busy day! The walkthrough was completed up to the Rapture Control level. Some great reader suggestions started rolling in, helping to clarify points and add content. Keep those ideas coming!

Version 0.7 (August 28, 2007): This version tackled common questions with a new FAQ section and added more reader tips. The Big Daddy/Little Sister system explanation got a rewrite, and the walkthrough advanced to the end of Olympus Heights.

Version 0.8 (August 29, 2007): A minor update, but important! The walkthrough was completed through Apollo Square, and a few extra bits were added. The author was aiming to wrap everything up by the weekend.

Version 0.9 (August 30, 2007): Almost there! More reader content was added, and the Xbox 360 achievement section was included. Crucially, all the reference sections were finished, and the walkthrough reached the end of Point Prometheus.

Version 0.10 (August 31, 2007): The grand finale! The walkthrough was officially completed. A few final touches and reader additions were made. The author planned one last playthrough to catch any lingering errors, ensuring this guide is as solid as possible.

iii. COPYRIGHT INFORMATION [c00s03]

Understand the copyright for this BioShock guide. Learn rules for reposting and usage under DMCA law.

This guide is copyright 2007 by Christopher Vig. No part of it may be copied, used, or incorporated into any other guide. If found used without permission, legal action may be taken under the DMCA law.

However, this guide may be freely reposted and transmitted under the following conditions: a) no money is charged for it, b) the file is unmodified, and c) the author's name (Christopher Vig) is still attached to it.

Note: The author has put significant time and energy into this guide without compensation and requests that these terms be respected.

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