Little Sisters

[Redraf]

Before I get slapped multiple times, allow me to confirm my faithful allegiance to the game. That Being said:

Why are the Little Sisters monstrous? They've got such dark, evil, sucked it eyes and wrinkles and they're just made to look like evil little girls. Now, in my opinion I could hit them with a wrench much easier because they're just not very little girl-ish. They're the same size, fashion, hair, personality (They really are the same personality wise, if you were brought up stabbing dead bodies you'd see nothing wrong with it), but they just look evil. I understand the plasmids and genetic modifications given to these girls are probably the cause of this but I find it something I don't like with the game. They should honestly just look like normal little girls, that way, I'd feel more of a moral decision if I was debating whether or not to kill them.

[^ilovebioshock!]

Before I get slapped multiple times, allow me to confirm my faithful allegiance to the game. That Being said:

Why are the Little Sisters monstrous? They've got such dark, evil, sucked it eyes and wrinkles and they're just made to look like evil little girls. Now, in my opinion I could hit them with a wrench much easier because they're just not very little girl-ish. They're the same size, fashion, hair, personality (They really are the same personality wise, if you were brought up stabbing dead bodies you'd see nothing wrong with it), but they just look evil. I understand the plasmids and genetic modifications given to these girls are probably the cause of this but I find it something I don't like with the game. They should honestly just look like normal little girls, that way, I'd feel more of a moral decision if I was debating whether or not to kill them.


well they probably look all nasty because they are drinking blood,it's like sniffen crack there are side effects

[Rapture_Tourist]

In my opinion they don't look monstrous. I think their appearence is perfectly balanced between looking ill or wasted and innocent.

The Little Sisters must have experienced and seen cruel things in Rapture and because of it they are changed.

[Hatesink]

I think the face might look a bit masculine, but apart from that I think they're okay.

Their faces aren't as cute as you might expect them to be from looking at the way they move and listening to the way they speak.

I'm not really sure what to think, I'm kind of ambivalent towards them. My first impression was that the faces weren't quite right, but now I'm used to them.

But to be honest I think I'd still love them even if they looked like the kids from Sanitarium (http://uk.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/sanitarium/review.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=gssummary&tag=summary;review).

[Redraf]

I'm used to them, I think they would look fine if I didn't know about the huge moral choice I had to make about them. I can't see me in my right mind killing a normal little girl, even in a video game. These thing may get the sense of morality nagging at me, but I'd be able to hit them with a wrench without thinking too much on it. Their faces are just dark in the way that reminds that they're not innocent little girls and that makes it less daunting of a decision.

I expected other people to disagree with me, but it's just that I feel like I wouldn't feel as bad after killing them, and I want that awful feeling. Video games the can actually make me think and make my emotions go into the game are some of the most involving.

I'm not sure if they added it in so less hardcore gamers who don't like the idea of emotional attachment to game characters and the like, but I just can't say I like the way the little sisters eyes look. Its just a bit scary, like from a horror movie, and I always want the evil little girls to die (The Ring for example). Anything that can remind you of the Sisters' evil persona will take away from the morality of the decision itself.

I also understand what could have caused the Little sisters to be this way. I'm not arguing that point, it within itself makes perfect sense. I understand that the cruelty of the world, the reliance on beauty and modifications that collapsed upon itself, the horrors the girls have witnessed, and the genetic modifications on themselves could make them like they are. It just seems out of place when thats not what their selling, a game where you choose to kill or save is what they're advertising. It simply put doesn't feel right to me that the sisters are like that.

Maybe I'm just digging in too far, I probably am but I tend to do that with games. Everything in BioShock has impressed me s far and I have no doubt that this is going into my game collection. I'm really just nitpicking at the little thing because the overall game looks awesome.

[Rapture_Tourist]

Maybe they could look more like Miette in City of the Lost children:

http://www.manovich.net/LNM_SITE_NEW/lnm/lnm6/lost_big.gif

But I like them in the way they are now, they are a part of Rapture and half freak half kid.

[nmrahde]

So who decided splicers were so bad?

Zombie flappers that strike from the ceiling are people too!

[the_bUg]

Before I get slapped multiple times, allow me to confirm my faithful allegiance to the game. That Being said:

Why are the Little Sisters monstrous? They've got such dark, evil, sucked it eyes and wrinkles and they're just made to look like evil little girls. Now, in my opinion I could hit them with a wrench much easier because they're just not very little girl-ish. They're the same size, fashion, hair, personality (They really are the same personality wise, if you were brought up stabbing dead bodies you'd see nothing wrong with it), but they just look evil. I understand the plasmids and genetic modifications given to these girls are probably the cause of this but I find it something I don't like with the game. They should honestly just look like normal little girls, that way, I'd feel more of a moral decision if I was debating whether or not to kill them.

I'm sorry, but their "evil" appearance is actually supposed to emote sympathy from the player. At least that is my take on it. Their age, size and vulnerability should exempt them from being responsible for what they have become and instead they should be viewed as a victim of the decisions of others and the world in which they live. Not as monsters.

I always thought this was straightforward...

[MultiVaC]

No matter what they look like, doesn't the singing, hopscotch playing, and cowering in the corner make it hard to hurt them? And I never though they looked evil, more like tragically transformed victims.

[Hatesink]

I think if you don't try and save them, you'll probably miss out on a huge part of the gameplay dynamic. But I guess that remains to seen.

[v.dog]

No matter what they look like, doesn't the singing, hopscotch playing, and cowering in the corner make it hard to hurt them? And I never though they looked evil, more like tragically transformed victims.My thoughts exactly. It's not fair to judge any character via pictures, only when you see them in situ can you decide if they're monstrous or pitiful.

Me, I would do my utmost to protect them. If I fail, re-load.

[Hatesink]

Me, I would do my utmost to protect them. If I fail, re-load.I'll do my best to protect them, but if I fail, I won't re-load— I'll just let my game evolve.

[Bartekk]

(...) They've got such dark, evil, sucked it eyes and wrinkles and they're just made to look like evil little girls. Now, in my opinion I could hit them with a wrench much easier because they're just not very little girl-ish. (...)

It kinda sounds like you would have less emotional struggle before hitting someone with a baseball bat just because that somebody is ugly. Also, I agree with what MultiVaC said.

On another note, I have to say that the whole moral choices thing will be missed by most BioShock users, no matter how hard IG tries to focus everyones attention on it. People just don't look that deep into games. Sad.

[jackinthebox]

i think the LS look nice this way... maybe i got used to it, but you probably can't make them any better^^ (i voted no...)

[Redraf]

I'm sorry, but their "evil" appearance is actually supposed to emote sympathy from the player. At least that is my take on it. Their age, size and vulnerability should exempt them from being responsible for what they have become and instead they should be viewed as a victim of the decisions of others and the world in which they live. Not as monsters.

I always thought this was straightforward...

I really like this answer. Made me think in a whole different way. Thinking about it this way I could now say I don't mind whether they're monstrous or normal.

[belialal]

she seems more sickly than demonic to me.

[nmrahde]

As a serious followup to my earlier comment...

I understand that in this particular case the LSs were designed to have the moral argument, but honestly why can't that apply to Splicers or possibly even Big Daddys if they're sentient?

If you're trying to play through with true altruistic motives shouldn't you want to try to save the rest of the denizens as well?

What would be great (in terms of storytelling) and horrible (in terms of having to decide) would be a situation where you're allowed to save anybody, but in which you can't save everybody.

[Hatesink]

I understand that in this particular case the LSs were designed to have the moral argument, but honestly why can't that apply to Splicers or possibly even Big Daddys if they're sentient?.

If you're trying to play through with true altruistic motives shouldn't you want to try to save the rest of the denizens as well?I think it might be more to do with which of them basically attack you on sight. If they just spontaneously attack you (although there might be ways around killing them) it's probably best to defend yourself as best you can, but they might not all be that aggressive. maybe there will be instances where you can avoid conflict.

What would be great (in terms of storytelling) and horrible (in terms of having to decide) would be a situation where you're allowed to save anybody, but in which you can't save everybody.That is a really good idea. I think there are factions in BioShock, so I guess it's possible to decide who you work with, although if I recall correctly there's only one ending (although I could be wrong).

[Jeff]

If you look at the little sisters completely on their own, void of environment then yes they do look a bit monstrous, but I feel when they're combined with the rapture environment and the rest of characters involved (such as big-daddy's, splicers, etc....) they look a lot more like innocent victims, caught up in a world where they have to do whatever they can in order to survive. Yes some of their appearance has to do with the harsh reality of their situation, but they still look child-like, so that being said the decision becomes more obvious in that "Do I try to save these children from the life they've been forced to lead? Do I kill them just to spare them further misery? Or do I take full advantage of their awful world and become a monster myself?"

I think it's done perfectly.

[Rapture_Tourist]

The only problem I have is that on some newer screenshots, the eyes of the Little Sisters look a bit too red or bloody...

[Hatesink]

When you see them in-game I think it'll be different. It's their personality that counts, and you really get a sense of that personality, from the way they speak and move and act and react.

[Renight]

I agree, it dosen't matter what they look like really. Has anyone seen that one movie where theres a island, and kids look for treasure or something? But the main antaginost sends a REALLY REALLY ugly guy at them, but in the end, they become friends.
And besides, anything that calls A big Daddy mister bubbles, they are defiently on my child protecting list. ;)

[nmrahde]

The fact that they cower from you *should* compel you if not to save them at least not to kill them.

...that being said has any body heard of any sort of delayed-reaction mine type device? While the Little Sister's away the mice will go scorched earth on them.

[v.dog]

When you see them in-game I think it'll be different. It's their personality that counts, and you really get a sense of that personality, from the way they speak and move and act and react.Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Fireman]

I dont know about them looking to creepy. It seems to be a trend that little creepy girls make a good game...I mean F.E.A.R. had one and that game is awesome!!!

Creepy Little Girls FTW!!!!

[takymen]

well...I like them just like we already saw...
:cool:

[Glottis]

They look prefect the way they do in the videos I have seen so far.I say leave em alone.

[Philosopher of Zelda]

To me at least the Little Sisters don’t look monstrous at all, but just victims trap in world beyond their control. The modifications the girls do make them look odd and I needed to take several looks at them to figure out what it was preciously. But as people have stated before on this forum, they look more sickly the horrific. And from the video clips we have seen they appear to have retained a human element. Being a moralist player I will probably go out of my way to rescue as many of the Little Sisters as possible.

As a serious followup to my earlier comment...

I understand that in this particular case the LSs were designed to have the moral argument, but honestly why can't that apply to Splicers or possibly even Big Daddys if they're sentient?

If you're trying to play through with true altruistic motives shouldn't you want to try to save the rest of the denizens as well?

What would be great (in terms of storytelling) and horrible (in terms of having to decide) would be a situation where you're allowed to save anybody, but in which you can't save everybody.

Maybe I am alone in this view but I look at the Big Daddy’s with a slightly sympathetic view. On the one hand, yes they are ruthless and nearly unstoppable in battle. But on the other hand watching them interact with the Little Sisters, let them crawl all over him, putting up with their games, and putting themselves at risk when their Little Sister is threaten, leaves you with a slight lump in your throat realizing that this is a parent child relationship. This makes the decision of taking a Big Daddy down slightly more difficult. At second glance Big Daddy’s seem more human, especially when compared to the cold and calculating Andrew Ryan and his cohorts. As for the Splicers, even they have sympathetic qualities as you stand over one and listen to her talk to herself, incoherent as it is, and you can tell she knows something is terribly wrong with her, but she is no longer capable of realizing what it is. Still the Splicers have become so raving mad on Adam, that taken them down is more of a necessity than a choice and I will not hesitate in pulling the trigger.

[nmrahde]

The more I think about it the more Big Daddys remind me of Lenny from Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men"...

[Redraf]

You mean you think of it more like the Little Sisters have the brains but they're small and the Big Daddies are big but aren't very smart? I'm not sure I agree. I think the little sisters aren't all that smart either, they're just trained to do what they do. I haven't decided what to think of the Big Daddies, whether they're smart, dumb, or if they just care a lot and have an average mind.

[nmrahde]

More in that they seem to be a bear personified. They don't remind me exactly of Lenny because then they'd make a poor protector for the Little Sisters.

It's just that they're large, have a gentle nature unless provoked, and can't communicate that well to you the player. (This last could be for any number of reasons)

Also Philosopher of Zelda reminded me that one of the vids did show a Splicer talking to themselves. Maybe if during their "conversation" they'd break down and cry would induce more of a moral dilemma in players?

(Killing a crazy person that has pointy things is somewhat easy morally speaking, killing a crazy person that has point things and bemoans their fate - not so much)

[Redraf]

Honestly, after having 100 splicers attack me, I think I'd have very little trouble shooting something in the face if it would attack me should it see me anyways. If I'm going to protect the little sister then I'll need to kill splicers who they've said will attack little sisters if they're not being protected by a Big Daddy, who they are apparently afraid of. I'm still on the edge over whether I'm gonna be evil or good in this game in terms of protecting the sisters though. I like pushing myself to break my morals in video games.

Splicers have a sick desperation to become perfect, and thats really all they are and all they'll ever amount to in my mind. Maybe in the actual game it will be played out differently, and the spilcer killing will be given moprality, but I doubt it, very few games give you the option of having absolutely no enemies.

[nmrahde]

Oh I'll probably be evil when I play through the game...

I just want as many people as possible to consider the moral implications of ONLY protecting the Little Sisters.

For example say somebody decides to pro-actively protect the Little Sisters by killing everything that could be a threat to them. While their original intent was good, the result (morally) would quite possibly be worse than if they played through selfishly and only for themselves.

Apart from actively being attacked how do you choose who to kill?

[Redraf]

Well, I assume each path will have it's enemies that I preselected. However, much of the killing of splicers and grenadiers is necessity. They have your bullets. They have you're Adam. They have your disco afro wig (those thieves). It says so in the trailer pretty much:

'So I ask you my friends, if your life [word that I can't understand for the life of me but I assume means on the lines in one form or another ;)], would you kill the innocent, would you sacrifice your humanity'

[Hatesink]

It sounds like 'prized' which could mean 'valued',

or which can also mean (according to the http://www.thefreedictionary.com/prize)...

1. Something seized by force or taken as booty, especially an enemy ship and its cargo captured at sea during wartime.
2. The act of seizing; capture.

'Prize' (in standard English 'prise') can also mean dislodge or dislocate something via the use of a separate item as lever, or...

• verb 1 use force in order to open or move apart. 2 (prise out of/from) obtain (something) from (someone) with effort or difficulty.

— ORIGIN from Old French prise ‘a grasp, taking hold’.

Not really any of those definitions of the word seem to make that much sense in the given context (I'm personally not familiar with it being used in such a way, but who knows).

I ran 'prized' through an on line rhyming dictionary, but it didn't yield any more likely terms.

Maybe it's supposed to mean "If your life was more important than that of others", although if it's being used in that sense it seems to me that it's kind of an incorrect usage. Peoples lives can be 'prized' for all sorts of reasons, regardless of who or what they are, and it doesn't necessarily mean they'd face a moral decision regarding their behavior, any more than those of us who's lives may not be prized (by whomsoever). Technically speaking your life could be prized by a dog.

Maybe it's "if your life was a prize" although, if it is I'd say it should be qualified so as to clarify the overall meaning.

Edit: Or maybe it's "apprised" or "was unprized", or "wasn't prized"

apprised: verb, increase the value of; gain in value

Although it still does sound a bit 'iffy'. Maybe when used in that sense "apprised" might an americanism, like 'behoove' or 'copacetic' or ('embiggen';)), or maybe I just need to stretch my vocabulary a little further.

Seems it might just be one of those 'Dr. Evil' moments.

...whatever (I'm going to go and try and get out of this stupid Twilight Princess dungeon.)

Edit http://dictionary.cambridge.org has apprised as (and only as): verb [T] FORMAL to inform:
The President has been apprised of the situation.

Although the official on line OED isn't searchable without a subscription, http://www.askoxford.com has apprised as: • verb inform; tell — ORIGIN French, from apprendre ‘learn, teach’, from Latin apprehendere ‘apprehend’

In the sense in which it's being used I'm not sure it's in the unabridged OED just yet, but hey, use it enough and they'll put it in there.

(And yes, I do have way too much time on my hands. :p;))

[BioShockWins]

Before I get slapped multiple times, allow me to confirm my faithful allegiance to the game. That Being said:

Why are the Little Sisters monstrous? They've got such dark, evil, sucked it eyes and wrinkles and they're just made to look like evil little girls. Now, in my opinion I could hit them with a wrench much easier because they're just not very little girl-ish. They're the same size, fashion, hair, personality (They really are the same personality wise, if you were brought up stabbing dead bodies you'd see nothing wrong with it), but they just look evil. I understand the plasmids and genetic modifications given to these girls are probably the cause of this but I find it something I don't like with the game. They should honestly just look like normal little girls, that way, I'd feel more of a moral decision if I was debating whether or not to kill them.

Being held as a slave in a underwater prison of mutants and mad men does ocationaly have its down sides... i mean if the neighbors over plasmidified dog keeps you up all night with moans of pain it could leave some serious bags under your eyes!