Ken Levine Wishes He Could “Take Back” Original BioShock Endings

BioShock is often cited as one of the greatest video games of recent years – but creator Ken Levine claims he has serious regrets over the way he concluded his dystopian saga.

[Concertoine]

(SPOILERS)
I know im in the minority here, but i wish he could take back Bioshock Infinite (or at least its connection to Bioshock). I think it neutered the combat and took away any rpg qualities from Bioshock, which itself took away from System shock 2. THEN i think it took away any of the impact from Bioshock's story by making it one of an infinite number of "possibilities". I know most people won't care, but they also pretty much made Bioshock 2 non-canon, or one of many possiblities of what happened after Bioshock. Me personally, i liked Bioshock 2 not for it's meh story or meh multiplayer, but because it was considerably different than B1, didnt feel the need for an epic story or big twist, just told a personal story within the city and improved the combat substantially. And worst of all, the game spawned this endless speculation and theories about EVERYTHING. Where people are literally saying ambient noise from the first Bioshock was proof of this or that, where literally any view or interpretation can go because in an alternate dimension it would've happened anyway! I think they should've made infinite what we thought it'd be, separate from rapture.

[cyphertech]

How did infinite make B2 non-canon?

[Concertoine]

Bioshock 2 takes place after Bioshock 1, which only exists as a parallel to Bioshock Infinite. Only the man, the city, the lighthouse and the other consistencies are definite. Bioshock 2 has none of that, it just takes place after 1, thus it's only one of an infinite number of events that happened after 1. So it can't be canon.

[aLucidMind]

@Concertoine.
Wouldn't that also make BioShock 1 non-canon since every moment in life can have a parallel?

[Concertoine]

@aLucidMind
You can look at it that way, but Bioshock has the consistencies specified in Infinite. Tyrannical leader: Andrew Ryan-Comstock, Lower-class rebel: Fitzroy-Atlas, Guardian: big daddy-songbird, character essential to the city's survival: Elizabeth-little sisters, both protagonists share a relation to the antagonists, both cities are secretive and entered similarly, etc. All that, in my eyes, makes it canon. But if you didn't consider it to be, that would create more distaste in my mind for infinite.
So while bioshock 1 is constantly referenced and is in a way constantly existing alongside infinte and the other alternate versions of itself, bioshock 2 along with minerva's den is essentially left to rot and its events and characters, though essential to the story of rapture, have never been referenced or even mentioned. Making it pretty much non-canon.

[DejectedJeff]

I actually agree with you on B2. Its definitely the black sheep, but i like the way it focuses on the human side of the city. Levine's all about the grand stories and big characters and epic themes, B2 is just about the struggles of the lower class and life in rapture. You visit the ghetto's and slums and political prisons. It really contributed a lot to the lore. Also the combat was fucking sublime, send your turret bound with proximity mines at a big daddy, use insect swarm and build hives in dead bodies of enemies then throw the bodies at people. awesome stuff.

[aPerson]

Bioshock 2 is underrated. I loved it as much as the original.

[kreate]

@above

Amen to that!

[Blacklash93]

I agree. Bioshock 2 has the best combat in the franchise to date as far as I'm concerned. It took what Bioshock 1 did and made some very nice and sensible advancements. There was just so much you could do with all the crazy powers and weapons you could dual-wield.

I felt that Infinite was a step backward in relevance to both, by comparison. Most of the potential for pre-planning and special tactics was removed due to the larger-scale and chaotic battles. Plus the AI and hit-detection just weren't nearly as suited for the experimentation Bioshock is known for to begin with. And your power reserves were much more limited.

My favorite Bioshock installment would be, oddly, the Minerva's Den DLC in Bioshock 2. Same great combat, great and detailed new setting, an interesting story arc, lots to explore, good length, ect.

[Grap]

good cause no one like bioshock 2.

[Blacklash93]

I don't think a single line removes Bioshock 2 from canon, honestly.

[_FantasmA_]

Agreed 100%. Bioshock Infinite is the weak link. I wanted to like it. I really did. The original is probably my 3rd or 4th favorite game of all time so I am biased towards Bioshock. But even with that bias, I couldn't give a good score to Infinite.
Even Bioshock 2 was better. It had better combat, plasmids ,tonics, and guns made the gameplay and big daddy killing so much funner, but I wash Sofia would have been the boss at the end because the game builds up to her being evil and then... nothing.

Infinite was such a disappointment. Its a game I've already forgotten about and will never replay again, while I've played through the first one 3 times and just started another playthrough. Everytime I play, I search every corner, drawer and table like it was my first time exploring.

[XXCCKK89]

This is old, but 2 is still canon (same universe) since BaS has plotholes with all three games and references 2.

[XXCCKK89]

Plus parallels don't decanonize something since 1 is already very different than Infinite, plus 2 has many parallels with Infinite too.

[XXCCKK89]

Also, 1 doesn't only exist as a parallel, it's its own universe. Some similarities to Infinite but not all. 2 is still canon as it is a continuation of a separate universe from Columbia and again has parallels. It follows it loosely, but not exactly. You can have parallels, but still be different, it doesn't have to match exactly. It's not just one of many possibilities, but still a continuation of 1. If anything, BaS is a separate Rapture. You can have headcanon, but officially it's canon status has not changed. Plus, that description (Man, Lighthouse, City, Etc) isn't all that they have follow exactly.

[XXCCKK89]

Constants and Variables, not just constants.

[GamingAngelGabriel]

I agree with Ken here. Infinite is a better game.

[bumnut]

Original is the best game imo, couldn't get into Infinite.

[Summons75]

Typical creative person, never happy with the work they create no matter how good it is lol. Seriously though I'm glad he is always looking back at his work to see what he felt could be different so he can apply that to his future projects. In any creative medium, the moment you stop trying to improve is the moment you should quit.

Hope we hear something new this year from you Ken =]

[KennersEd]

Didn't like Bioshock 2's endings (Loved the game btw)

but Bioshock Infinite's ending was brilliant, i actually had to sit and think hard on how it all worked together.

[Convas]

I literally just beat Bioshock Infinite. As in 10 minutes ago.

I'm still trying to figure out what I just watched in the closing scene.

[KennersEd]

It was the same with me xD

I was trying to piece together the puzzle.

[Relientk77]

Lol me too I was in shock, and confused, and went straight to Google to look for the endings explaination

[edgeofsins]

***SPOILER***
***SPOILER***

I love the ending other then when they drown him while baptizing him.

[AnotherProGamer]

It wasn't really brilliant, just watch this video the whole plot is just inconsistent

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[kneon]

BEWARE of SPOILAGE BELOW

By combining time travel with the many worlds interpretation of Quantum physics they made it impossible to have an ending that is logically consistent.

With the many worlds view of the universe every possible reality exists. There is no way to change that, going back in time to change things just results in yet more realities for every possible outcome. I've heard people argue that Elizabeth can work outside these rules but the fact that there are many Elizabeths shows that she is affected as well. Sure she can move between realities, but that just results in many more new realities.

So basically the ending is nonsense.

[AnotherProGamer]

@Kneon

ops forgot the spoiler tag but luckily the guy says it in the starting

[Codewow]

Ken, I just gotta say, from a personal viewpoint and somewhat biased opinion. I still think the BioShock games are some of the best if not #1 on my list of games I have ever played. I got Bioshock 1 when I got my first Xbox360 (Parents didn't even check the game ratings) and I know for a fact that these three games will NEVER be sold. They are now a part of my collection of personal favorites.

[KennersEd]

I agree completely the Bioshock games are absolutely brilliant, my personal favourite FPS though has to be the Timesplitters series.

[VsAssassin]

Personally, I thought Bioshock: Infinite was a good game; however, I prefer Bioshock 1 better. Infinite became too "shooter-centric" for me from the middle part of the game towards the end. The original Bioshock, however, had a very great atmosphere with the right balance of comabt and exploration.

If Ken makes another Bioshock game, I wish it's more Bioshock 1 than any of its successors. And oh, I loved the endings in Bioshock 1 than in Infinite.

[Letthewookiewin]

Bottom line I love this series. Can't wait to see what he dose for next gen.

[parentsbasement]

Those guys can do any damn thing they want as far as im concerned , NOBODY can capture an era like those people ALL their stuff is BRILLIANT imo , I don't care if Bioshock 4 takes place at a McDonalds I will be there....if what they do dosent "satisify" you, then YOU got a problem my friends...." I would do this or I wouldn't have done that"......bullcrap on your hindsight I say......( i really like those games if you cant tell)

[AndrewLB]

Sometimes I just don't understand people. This guy Ken creates three of the most highly regarded games ever made and he just can't accept it. Rather, he goes out and comments how he would like to have done a different ending, and essentially ruin an almost perfect game.

It's like our government who decides their social agenda is all that matters, so they pass a bill that destroys the entire healthcare system, even though the vast majority liked their health insurance. The old system had it's share of problems, but there will always be problems. It's like using C4 to get tree sap off your car because car washing soap didn't do the job.

[parentsbasement]

You used Bioshock to take a jab at Obamacare?

[cyphertech]

To people like that, everything is about Obamacare. Watch fox news for 2 hours straight and you'll understand.