Zachary Hale Comstock is a man. Apparently. You wouldn’t know it, however, given that your first encounter with the “man” is a giant marble statue of him. With flowing beard, arms outstretched, he seems more like a martyr than anything. It serves as a fitting entrance to the grand floating city of Columbia, and by proxy Bioshock Infinite.

It all feels vaguely familiar. The light house, the small window from which you get your first glimpse of Rapture/Columbia. But Comstock, for some reason, just isn’t as menacing as andrew Ryan. Just as nutty, perhaps, but hardly the same class of villian. He even goes away for long stretches of the story, though his presence is always felt. His malice comes by way of his plans, as you slowly discover them, and the lengths he’ll go to fulfill them. This is a man on his last legs, desperate to see his twisted version of  the world through, and it is through Elizabeth that he sees his prophecy fulfilled.

Elizabeth then, with her Disney princess twirls and child-like wonder, is the heart and soul of Bioshock infinite. Despite the dark future(a version of it, at least) that awaits her. You see her go from prisoner, to girl, to lady, and finally to dictator. The transition never feels forced.

When the game first throws you into the alternate future, you’re disoriented. Not knowing when you’ve end up, you search around frantically for signs of comfort and familiarity. The only thing you find close to it are the aforementioned voxophone recordings left behind by Elizabeth.

How much time has passed? You wonder. This Columbia is a very different from the one you experienced ten hours prior. A massive marble statue, this time of Elizabeth, greets your entrance, and above it reads “Our Lady Elizabeth,Godspeed thy judgement.” Chilling. Finally, Comstock’s sinister plan has come to fruition via an obedience device implanted into Elizabeth. You spend a fair amount of time in this version of Columbia, and near the end of this harrowing segment you’re reunited with Elizabeth. An older, more haggard version of her. With eyes that scream of sadness and regret, she hands you a way to avoid this version of the future. A way to stop old man Comstock. A way for Booker to redeem his perceived sins.

At the end that you find out that the only way to wipe Comstock away from existence, and to undo everything that he has done to Anna and Elizabeth is to “smother him in his crib”. Kill Comstock before he becomes Comstock. And because Booker DeWitt is really Comstock who rejected baptism, he allows the many versions of Elizabeth to drown him.

This is where the story ends. Everything undone. “Of your sins I shall wash thee”, says the poster in the light house. But what sins exactly?

The redemption of Booker DeWitt is a key component in Bioshock Infinite, though really, what he must redeem for seems not to be his guilt at Wounded Knee, the selling of Anna or the existence of Comstock, but rather his very own existence. 

It’s a sad end to an equally tragic journey. One that will stay with me, long after my 2nd, and maybe even third(!) playthrough.

Long Live the Infinite.

There are few things more irritating than false promises.

The GSC Malaysia website has a habit of listing upcoming films that I really want to see(sometimes more than once), then abruptly removing them from schedule. 

Without explanation, apology, or reason.

Alright, surely there’s a reason, but right now it’s about me, okay? Fuck off.

The latest two that got the ax were ‘Young Adult’ and ‘Hugo’.

Hugo I’ve dismissed until I heard it being heralded as the Saviour Of 3D. Lavish praises, impossible comments from impossible people, glowing reviews, blah blah blah.

I thought to myself: “A 3D film that’s not a documentary will surely, surely run here.’ Right? Well, goose poo to you too GSC.

‘Young Adult’ I was pleasantly surprised to see listed on the GSC website. Always been a fan of Diablo Cody. Smart, witty, and a way with words like no other.

Can’t wait. Like. Now.

Listed? Wow! Really?

Indie film directed by Jason Reitman, written by Diablo Cody, starring Charlize Theron(Heelllloooo) coming to a screen near me? Feb 16 you say? Really? Like?

*Mental Fist Pump*

Yeah well. Whatever.

The name of the game is restraint.