No, you do not play as the same character in BioShock 1 and BioShock 2
As a passionate gamer and BioShock enthusiast, this is a common question I‘ve seen debated amongst fans. So let‘s settle it once and for all – you do NOT control the same protagonist across the original BioShock and its sequel. Here‘s a detailed breakdown:
BioShock 1‘s Silent Protagonist – Jack
In the critically acclaimed first BioShock game, you take on the role of Jack – a mysterious man who becomes trapped in the underwater city of Rapture after his plane crashes in the ocean in 1960. As Jack, you uncover the bloody history of Rapture‘s civil war as you fight against the villainous Frank Fontaine and his splicer army to escape the ruined metropolis.
Jack is a silent protagonist without much backstory, but this gripping game puts you directly in his shoes. As you explore the crumbling remains of Rapture, this narrative approach allows players to slowly piece together Jack‘s true purpose in Rapture through audio diaries while letting you project onto his blank slate.
Jack‘s Hidden Backstory
In one of BioShock‘s most shocking twists, it‘s revealed late in the game that Jack was actually born in Rapture. You learn that Frank Fontaine engineered him to be a secret sleeper agent from birth and sent him to the surface as a backup plan if anything ever happened to him.
This mind-blowing story beat completely flips the script on everything you thought you knew! It also explains why Atlas, later revealed to be Fontaine, can control Jack using the key phrase "Would you kindly?".
By The Numbers
| Name | Jack |
| Age | 24 years old (in 1960) |
| Born | Rapture |
| Occupation | Fontaine‘s brainwashed sleeper agent |
So in BioShock 1, Jack serves mainly as an avatar for the player to experience Rapture‘s fall rather than a deeply developed character. HisHidden backstory allows the iconic "Would you kindly" twist that made BioShock‘s storytelling so impactful.
BioShock 2 Puts You in a Big Daddy‘s Shoes
BioShock 2, released in 2010, turns the tables by having you step into the massive diving suit of a prototype Big Daddy known as Subject Delta. The game is set 8 years after the events of the first, and Rapture remains as chaotic and dangerous as ever under the dictatorship of new antagonist Sofia Lamb.
As a Big Daddy bonded to a Little Sister named Eleanor, your driving motivation is to find her after being separated for 10 years. This kicks off a fresh tragic saga as you contend with Rapture‘s warring factions, new Plasmids, and Sofia Lamb‘s extremist followers.
Former Human Turned Protector
The Big Daddies are iconic BioShock enemies turned allies in this sequel. As Subject Delta, you get an inside perspective on what it‘s like to be turned from a human into one of these lumbering monsters programmed for a single purpose – protecting Little Sisters at all costs.
It’s a complete transformation, as Delta’s organs and skin were grafted into an enormous diving suit, connecting him to the iconic image of hulking metal behemoths wandering Rapture with little girls. This shift in perspective was a bold storytelling move that worked excellently.
By The Numbers
| Name | Subject Delta |
| Age | Unknown, appears middle aged |
| Born | The surface (former human) |
| Occupation | First successful Big Daddy protector bond with Eleanor |
Rather than a blank slate, Delta has a clearly defined backstory and emotional core motivations related to his bond with Eleanor. This grounds the story and connects you deeply with his hulking Big Daddy perspective.
Comparing Rapture‘s One-Two Punch
Examining the protagonists side by side highlights just how different BioShock 1 and 2 truly are:
The Core Difference
The biggest contrast comes down to the protagonists themselves – Jack is a mostly blank slate while Delta is a former human turned Big Daddy with strong bonds and motivations. This shifts the narrative style significantly:
- Jack facilitates an atmospheric mystery as you uncover Rapture’s past
- Delta focuses on emotional relationships and protecting Eleanor above all else
Connecting Themes
Despite the radical shift in perspective, the two games are unified by Rapture itself and core themes that explore morality, free will, extremism, and transhumanism.
Key Connective Tissue Includes:
- Overlapping supporting characters like Brigid Tenenbaum
- References to Jack‘s actions in the first game
- Plasmids and Little Sisters
- The shared tragic downfall of Rapture
So while the protagonists differ greatly, the two games combine to tell a larger interwoven story about Rapture‘s twisted history.
My Take As a Passionate Fan
As someone who has played these games many times, I believe BioShock 1 has the better overall story due to its flawless pacing and twist-laden plot. But exploring Rapture as a Big Daddy in the sequel offered an incredible new perspective on this iconic setting.
Getting to use my giant drill to tear through splicers was a sinister delight – combining darkly funny overpowered attacks with a twisted sympathetic emotional journey to save my Little Sister.
The two games have very different flavors, but unite to create one of gaming‘s all-time great dystopian duologies. Rapture is a perfectly realized yet deeply disturbing world brimming with secrets, and I hope the recently announced BioShock 4 project built within Unreal Engine 5 can continue this beloved series!
In conclusion, Jack and Subject Delta offer completely different vehicles for players to traverse Rapture‘s leaky halls. So if you‘re new to the franchise, rest assured that you can freely grab either BioShock game since they contain fully standalone stories. Just be prepared to confront challenging philosophical questions amidst the chaotic first-person action!
