My friend Jen of Bluejay Musing described the city of Columbia in Bioshock Infinite as akin to the world in Disney's Treasure Planet and I could not agree more. I knew there was something about Columbia that seemed familiar, but Jen really hit the nail on the head. It is that world that is old-fashioned yet steampunk in a way. Well, not steampunk since the world runs on vigors and salts, but it is that metallic old world that Treasure Planet does so well. The world of Columbia is one that enjoy so much more than the Rapture of the original Bioshock game. It is brighter and cleaner and I just really appreciate that I can actually see what is happening rather than running around in dark, dingy circles like in Rapture. I like interacting with the locals and that they are not all out to kill me, or at least, some of them aren’t. Although, that does bring up something that I do prefer about the world of Rapture over Columbia. I liked the fact that the reason everyone in the original Bioshock was out to get you was because the plasmids made them insane, bloodthirsty monsters. The citizens of Columbia are simply acting as religious zealots, martyrs for the cause of the prophet and founder Comstock. As alarming as it was that so many of Comstock’s followers would die for his cult, I just found the narrative Bioshock gave to its inhabitant’s motives more interesting than Infinite’s reasoning.
(The city of Columbia from Bioshock Infinite)
That being said, the cult and religious elements of Infinite are extremely effective. As a Christian, I find any kind of twisted religion, especially those modeled after my faith, to be both very interesting and very concerning. I reminds me of the novel and show The Handmaid’s Tale, which twists verse and beliefs from the Bible for dark purposes. Although the world in that story are influenced much more by Christianity, Infinite still has those same vibes. It makes the story more thought-provoking for me because it forces me to step back and look at my own faith. I am intrigued to see where else the religion of Bioshock Infinite takes me as a player and how it continues to affect myself as main character Booker.
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