This is an inspiration that I’d oddly not heard before. I’m a fan of the BioShock games but I’m not sure I’d actually played the Infinite DLC. So it was with some surprise that I read that Lake was part of the inspiration for the plot and imagery.
Apparently the creative leads were struggling with a story to define the DLCs direction until they settled on Lake in This Gun for Hire.
These quotes from Irrational Games creative director Ken Levine highlight the reasoning:
"BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea" is a two-part episodic expansion to the critically acclaimed first-person shooter, "BioShock Infinite," developed by Irrational Games and published by 2K Games. The episodes were released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 platforms. Episode 1 was released in November 2013, followed by Episode 2 in March 2014.
"Burial at Sea" transports players back to the underwater city of Rapture, the setting of the original "BioShock" game, on the eve of its downfall. The expansion cleverly intertwines the narratives of "BioShock Infinite" and the original "BioShock," creating a bridge between the two stories. It features Booker DeWitt and Elizabeth, the protagonists of "BioShock Infinite," but in a new narrative context that explores their characters from a different perspective.
Episode 1 begins with private detective Booker DeWitt in Rapture, who is approached by Elizabeth to find a missing girl named Sally. The episode allows players to experience the dystopian utopia of Rapture before its catastrophic fall, presented in the detailed and atmospheric style characteristic of the series. Gameplay in this episode combines elements of "BioShock Infinite" with those of the original "BioShock," including weapon and plasmid (genetic modifications that grant superhuman abilities) mechanics.
Episode 2 offers a significant shift in gameplay and perspective, as players take on the role of Elizabeth, embarking on a more stealth-oriented experience. This episode delves deeper into the lore of both Rapture and Columbia (the floating city from "BioShock Infinite"), tying up loose ends and revealing the connections between the characters and events of both games. The narrative is rich and complex, providing a satisfying conclusion to the "BioShock Infinite" saga and linking back to the beginning of the original "BioShock."
"Burial at Sea" received praise for its storytelling, atmosphere, and the way it melded the distinct elements of both "BioShock" and "BioShock Infinite." Fans appreciated the return to Rapture, experiencing the city in its prime and its detailed, narrative-rich environment. The shift to a more stealth-based gameplay in Episode 2 was also well-received for adding depth and variety to the gameplay experience.
However, there were criticisms regarding the episodes’ length and pacing, with some players feeling that the content was too short for its price tag. Despite this, "Burial at Sea" was generally seen as a fitting and poignant conclusion to the "BioShock Infinite" story, praised for its narrative ambition and the way it successfully intertwined the complex lore of the BioShock universe.
