I was really looking forward to this game. I think 2k marin did a great job with bioshock 2 and I am excited to see what they can do with this XCOM game. People should be more open to it being an fps.
@rockstarfury82 @gungrave45 Not at all, he was redeemed at the end, not reborn. If anything rebirth is a theme in the sense that you need to earn being 'reborn', (opposed to Comstock getting a second chance from unconditional forgiveness) and DeWitt earns his redemption by the end of the game. In the scenario where he is ana's father again he never died. The ending had much more to do with redeeming his character then rebirth. Rebirth is a big theme in the game, but redemption is closely tied to it, and the game is making a statement on HOW your reborn or redeemed. In DeWitts story he earns his rebirth, and in Comstocks he abuses his rebirth. I would say that is the bets way to sum it up, my previous sentence.
Although I completely disagree with this articles conclusions on the meanings of baptism in the game, as well as some other aspects, it is fairly well written and should be applauded. I wish gamespot would also put up an article that goes in depth about the criticisms that game has about Christianity (unconditional forgiveness), but that may be too controversial.
I think it is great that this game can create so much discussion, different personal meanings, and so many different opinions. It is a sign of a truly great and amazing game.
@rockstarfury82 @gungrave45 Additionally I would say the game is more about redemption more then a critique of religion. But its critique of religion is closely intertwined with bookers redemptive arch. It is specifically dealing with the unconditional forgiveness aspect of religion, and criticizing the dangerous path that some people could possibly go down from accepting this false solution.
But the game isn't JUST about that, I never said that. My other favourite theme in the game was all about capitalism and marxism.
@rockstarfury82 @gungrave45 You are clearly confused. The gambling and the debt are not the things that booker sought redemption for in regards to the baptism, those were a result of the aftermath of his guilt from giving Ana away. The wounded knee massacre was the guilt that drove him to consider the baptism.
Comstock was the focus of what i said, not the preacher. Levine wanted to make it clear about why it would be so attractive for booker to use god to forgive his sins, when ultimately doing so led to a far worse path. The baptism did not make him a bad person. He was already guilt ridden from the massacre at wounded knee, and when he felt god forgave him for his sins unconditionally he started to justify his evil actions because gods unconditional forgiveness was so powerful to him. Booker DeWitts arch takes the harder better path, he has to live with his guilt. That is the message the game shows, that the only people that can forgive you are the people here on earth, and his relationship with Elizabeth and his sacrifice and struggle to save her is his true redemption. And I would argue that he is redeemed in the end if you watch the last post credits sequence.
@rockstarfury82 @gungrave45 I also doubt he changed the entire intention and meaning of parts of the game based of feedback, that would take years of work. Anyway I am not saying that the whole game is an anti religious rant, I am claiming that is is specifically criticizing one aspect of one religion, and that is the unconditional forgiveness christianity offers and how it can dangerously lead to people justifying immoral actions (as comstock did). This was central to the end of the game and I do believe that in the end there was a rejection of the notion of unconditional forgiveness when (SPOILERS) Elizabeth and Booker stop all possibilities of Booker going through with a baptism. It is absurd to think Bioshock Infinite does not criticize Christianity in anyway IMO, which is what you claimed.
Also if the game offended a christian would ken levine then retrofit the game to include zero criticisms of the religion that was offended? He went on record saying that he did the opposite. He changed the game to make people understand why the notion of unconditional forgiveness is so appealing.
@Taegre @gungrave45 May be a little small, but it would defiantly get to novella size. Not understanding a games themes are one thing, but what i see in these comments as well as this article is just wilful ignorance.
@rockstarfury82 @gungrave45 Just like bio 1 was not a criticism of lassez fair capitalism right? The game criticizes religion is so many ways i could literally write a whole book about it.
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