Aside from the unique and exciting gameplay it provides, part of what makes the BioShock series so popular is its settings. BioShock and BioShock 2 take place in the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:underwater city of Rapture, and BioShock Infinite is set in Columbia, a city in the sky. These contrasting environments offer distinct storylines, enemies, gameplay, architecture, modes of transportation, and more. Their leaders' motivations are entirely separate, and their societies are easy to set apart.

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But which location is the better of the two, and how do you determine that? Here are the differences ൩between Rapture and Columbia that show which location reigns supreme.

10 Transportation: Bathyspheres Or Airships And The Sky Line 🧜

exterior view of rapture bathysphere and first person view of columbia sky line

In Rapture, you’re traveling mainly by bathysphere, a submariဣne-like form of transportation that moves through the ocean to other parts of the city. In Columbia,🧜 you’re mostly traveling by some form of an airship or by a rail system called the Sky-Line.

The bathyspheres show off more of the sea’s gorgeous environment, while the airships mostly move through the clouds without offering a view. Despite the scenery, the Sky-Line is a more exhilarating experience. The bathysphere is more convenient for public safety, but taking the Sܫky-Line is much more fun.

9 ꦜ Setting: Dark Sea Or Light Sky

rapture dark lighting and columbia light

Whether you prefer the sea or the sky is up to you, but this setting change drastically alters the gameplay. In Rapture, the environment is dark, which lends itself more to the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:game’s horror elements. The dark setting makes the overall ambiance creepier, and it makes it🦂 easier for enemies to sneak up on you.

Being that Columbia is in the sky, the environment is mostly bright. The lighter environment makes it easier to see, but it takes aဣway from the original eerie intent of the series.

8 Weap⛦on:𝓀 Limited Weapons Or More Options

bioshock 2 big daddy drill and bioshock infinite sniper

Different time periods call for different weapon types. In Rapture, you carry a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:wrench in BioShock and a 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Big Daddy drill in BioShock 2 for melee. Other weapons you can f🐟ind include machine guns, pistols, shotguns, and more of your run-of-the-mill gaming weapons.

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In Columbia, your melee weapon is the Sky Hook which deals more damage than the wrench. In addition to the Sky Hook, you have a wider selection of🐷 weapon types 🌳like RPGs, volley guns, crank guns, snipers, and other powerful options.

7 Architecture🀅: Modern And Destroyed Or Colonial And Mostly I🍃ntact

rapture's underwater, modern architecture and columbia's colonial architecture

Certainly, a city under the sea and a city in the sky are going to have some architectural differences. When you first arrive in Rapture or wake up there iꦍn BioShock 2, you’re immediately introduced to a city in ruin. However, externally, you can see the city’s beautiful, modern design.

Columbia is still in good condition and reflects a more Colonial design with other sections 🅘of the city floating in the sky. But, in terms of its external ambiance and b🌼eauty, Rapture will always be hard to compete with.

6 𒉰 Le🦂aders: Andrew Ryan Or Comstock

andrew ryan standing before jack in rapture and comstock preaching to booker

Rapture and Columbia’s leaders are vastly different.ꦜ Andrew Ryan, a capitalist, builds Rapture because of his aversion to communiꦗsm and altruism. Comstock founded Columbia to spread American nationalist ideologies, and eventually seceded from the Union claiming to be a prophet.

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Both characters have authoritative control oveꦦr their residents and seek to m⛄aintain their vision for society. As for which is better, you can decide if you’d rather be ruled by a selfish, rich man hellbent on capitalism, or a racist, nationalist cult leader.

5 Inventions: Big Daddy Or HandyMan 🅠

Big Daddy with little sister and scared handyman at fair

Both cities callously experiment on their citizens. In Rapture, Big Daddies, which are men forced and brainwashe🎃d into metal🃏 suits, are the most powerful enemies you can encounter if you provoke them. In contrast, Colum🔯bia’s HandyMen share a similar invention but will at🉐tack you without hesitation.

Despite their metal structure, brainw🤡ashing, and warped bodies, fighting these enemy types differs. In addition to attacks, the Big Daddy’s design and weaponry are much more iconic than anything the Handy Man has to offer.

4 ღ Social Views: Discrimination

racist segregation sign in columbia and little sisters being brainwashed in rapture

Each city has its own culture and social views. Rapture descends into the sea in the early 1950s, whereas Columbia is constructed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Need꧟less to say, both time periods favored straight white men over women, people of color, and anyone who identifies with any other gender identity or sexuality.

Both cities are as morally corrupt as they were before seceding. Rapture’s sexism extends to the kidnapping and brainwashing of little girls. However, Columbia’s racism is more pronoun𝐆ced with discriminatory exhibits, abuse, and segregation.

3 Enemy types: Splicers Or Followers ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ⁤⁤⁤⁤ᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ

splicer wearing mask standing over jack and columbia police officer ready to attack booker

One of the main enemies you encounter in Rapture are the splicers. These are vitamin D-deprive༺d, ADAM addicts whose bodies have been altered beyond repair. Their minds are completely deluded, and their designs are disturbing.

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In contrast, Comstock’s dedicated followers are the most common enemy you’ll see in Columbia. While these people still look normal, their extreme and unquestionable dedication ﷽to Comstock is similar to the splicers’ mental decline. Yes, the cultish enemies are creepy in their blind devotion, but splicers are objectively scarier.

2 Abilities: Plasmids vs Vigors 🥀

electro shock plasmid and possession vigor

In both cities, the residents have access to special abilities granted through plasmids and vigors. Rapture’s plasmids are meant to genetically modify and mutate the cells, 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:providing the host wit𓆉h exciting new powers.

In Columbia, you can purchase vigors, which are the drinkable equivalent of plasmids in terms of the abilities gained. The wide range of plasmids and vigors make theꦺ gameplay more diversified, and many of them mirror one another. However, Columbia’s vigors are more widely available than the plasmids in Rapture, and there’s a greater variety.

1 Insurgents: Fontain𒀰e vs Vox Populi ꦫ

frank fontaine standing over elizabeth and daisy fitzroy speaking to booker

In opposition to the cities’ leaders, insurgencies form to revolutionize. Conman, Frank Fontaine, manipulated Rapture’s working and lower-income citizens into starting a civil war and destroying the city. Fontaine’s mo🅰tives are selfishly m🍌otivated and based on greed and hatred towards Ryan.

In Columbia, Daiꦜsy Fitzroy leads the Vox Populi, a group of working🎃-class citizens, which is largely Black. Unlike Fontaine’s group, the Vox Populi exists to rebel against Comstock’s classism and racism. It’s much easier to side with Daisy and the Vox Populi because their mission actually makes sense.

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