What did we learn about the Big Sisters in game? Who was the girl on the beach?

[Kyburz]

I know there were some reviewers who felt like the Big Sisters were never explained. The esteemed Mr. Thomas assured that this was not so. Moreover, it has been said that the girl from the beach is still in the game but "her soul is a mystery".

Did anyone come across any audio diaries explaining who the Big Sisters were and how they came to be? Why these particular former Little Sisters became messed up in the head? Who was the mysterious girl on the beach in the first trailer? I don't think it could be Eleanor because she never went to the surface, at least from what I could gather.

I never got the audio diary achievement on my first playthrough so I know there are some that I missed. Let's consider this a community effort to unravel the mystery of the Big Sisters.

One thing I will say, I did notice that certain dialogue from Tenenbaum in the Hunting the Big Sister video regarding her had been excised.

[SamR]

Big sisters were little sisters that grew up - they become angrier and harder to manage, so they were created to be lone warriors. Thats what I got from ADs

[Pairbond]

I thought the teaser didn't have much relevance, sometimes they just don't, but simply for the announcement, unless someone from 2K has directly said it has a connection.

Perhaps we'll learn more about the Big Sisters in the third game.

[Naldun]

There was an Audio Diary from Alexander in Siren Alley. He said that as the little sisters were growing older the became angry and aggressive. He said that they would be able to gather Adam on there own and then began making Big Sister suits.

That was the only explanation I found. Also did anyone find anything on the Rumbler's?

[2k_jthomas]

I know there were some reviewers who felt like the Big Sisters were never explained. The esteemed Mr. Thomas assured that this was not so. Moreover, it has been said that the girl from the beach is still in the game but "her soul is a mystery".

Did anyone come across any audio diaries explaining who the Big Sisters were and how they came to be? Why these particular former Little Sisters became messed up in the head? Who was the mysterious girl on the beach in the first trailer? I don't think it could be Eleanor because she never went to the surface, at least from what I could gather.

I never got the audio diary achievement on my first playthrough so I know there are some that I missed. Let's consider this a community effort to unravel the mystery of the Big Sisters.

One thing I will say, I did notice that certain dialogue from Tenenbaum in the Hunting the Big Sister video regarding her had been excised.

Okay, so:

The intent behind the Big Sister was very much Eleanor's story as you just played. In previous versions of the story, you shifted her allegiance away from Lamb, but had no real connection to her along the way.

That girl on the beach is her, remembering Delta. It's deliberately dream-like rather than super literal, as if it could take place before OR after the story, it's kind of up to you.

For a lot of reasons (confusion about her role, a repeat of the Fontaine-like dual identity model feeling cliche), we changed the way she was presented, as more of an ally that gave your life meaning. There was an early reveal that she was the Big Sister the whole time, but it was very easy to work out - I think you forum guys had that one sussed months ago.

And it lacked a meaningful change in her in the way the final story has (her putting on the suit to step into Daddy's shoes and finally taking some control of her life.) Eleanor's dementia became more of a human struggle, a less goth-anime Father obsession than the classical Psychic Ophelia.

At the same time as those narrative issues were coming to light, we realized people were craving a legitimate defeat of the Big Sisters, who became plural, but unstable, as Lamb simply didn't care about fixing them as she did Eleanor, and the Family needed a sort of FBI like force to hunt down lost ADAM that the beat cops (Big Daddies) were unable to protect.

So, I know some people felt disappointed that there wasn't just One Big Sister anymore, but in all versions of the story, a special Big Sister exits Rapture, shaped entirely by the choices of the only Father she's ever known. That was sort of our narrative heart. And we know better now than to reveal too much early on!

[mr.solodolo]

There was an Audio Diary from Alexander in Siren Alley. He said that as the little sisters were growing older the became angry and aggressive. He said that they would be able to gather Adam on there own and then began making Big Sister suits.

That was the only explanation I found. Also did anyone find anything on the Rumbler's?

I don't think there was anything special about the Rumblers. Just a new type of BD because the Splicers figured out strategies against Rosies and Bouncers.

[Kyburz]

There was an Audio Diary from Alexander in Siren Alley. He said that as the little sisters were growing older the became angry and aggressive. He said that they would be able to gather Adam on there own and then began making Big Sister suits.

That was the only explanation I found. Also did anyone find anything on the Rumbler's?

Woah, thanks. I must have missed that one. That's a good one. We do know that some of the Little Sisters don't end up being dysfunctional from the Bioshock 1 ending. I guess maybe the Big Sisters are Little Sisters that never had the "rescue" plasmid used on them?

That is a good start. Did anyone find any diaries about the original Big Sister/girl on the beach?

[gbpackers25]

Okay, so:

The intent behind the Big Sister was very much Eleanor's story as you just played. In previous versions of the story, you shifted her allegiance away from Lamb, but had no real connection to her along the way.

That girl on the beach is her, remembering Delta. It's deliberately dream-like rather than super literal, as if it could take place before OR after the story, it's kind of up to you.

For a lot of reasons (confusion about her role, a repeat of the Fontaine-like dual identity model feeling cliche), we changed the way she was presented, as more of an ally that gave your life meaning. There was an early reveal that she was the Big Sister the whole time, but it was very easy to work out - I think you forum guys had that one sussed months ago.

And it lacked a meaningful change in her in the way the final story has (her putting on the suit to step into Daddy's shoes and finally taking some control of her life.) Eleanor's dementia became more of a human struggle, a less goth-anime Father obsession than the classical Psychic Ophelia.

At the same time as those narrative issues were coming to light, we realized people were craving a legitimate defeat of the Big Sisters, who became plural, but unstable, as Lamb simply didn't care about fixing them as she did Eleanor, and the Family needed a sort of FBI like force to hunt down lost ADAM that the beat cops (Big Daddies) were unable to protect.

So, I know some people felt disappointed that there wasn't just One Big Sister anymore, but in all versions of the story, a special Big Sister exits Rapture, shaped entirely by the choices of the only Father she's ever known. That was sort of our narrative heart. And we know better now than to reveal too much early on!

wow thank you so much for that info. I was always wondering how different the story was before the delay. thank you for answering this jordan i was very curious on this subject

[gbpackers25]

Woah, thanks. I must have missed that one. That's a good one. We do know that some of the Little Sisters don't end up being dysfunctional from the Bioshock 1 ending. I guess maybe the Big Sisters are Little Sisters that never had the "rescue" plasmid used on them?

That is a good start. Did anyone find any diaries about the original Big Sister/girl on the beach?

there wasnt any every thing about the girl on the beach was just explained by jordan haha

[Kyburz]

Wow, thanks Jordan! That makes a lot more sense now. It is incredible for a creative director to interact with the community in such a meaningful way. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

And thank you for Bioshock 2, I am beginning my second playthrough, and loving it. You and the 2k Marin crew have created a beautiful thing.

[gbpackers25]

jordan quick question who wrote "53,000 zombies died in the making of this game" during the credits i couldnt stop laughing at that

[vrap]

I'm late to the party here, but I'd like to thank you guys and especially Jordan for clarifying those points about the Big Sisters. I loved them in the game and it's great to know the subtle details. Moreover, I am fascinated by things that change during the development process and the Big Sister change is even something that journalists have been asking in interviews but no clear answer is given. Really nice to have the story set straight.

[morphor]

I'm late to the party here, but I'd like to thank you guys and especially Jordan for clarifying those points about the Big Sisters. I loved them in the game and it's great to know the subtle details. Moreover, I am fascinated by things that change during the development process and the Big Sister change is even something that journalists have been asking in interviews but no clear answer is given. Really nice to have the story set straight.

I know this is a bit of a 'spam' but QFT (Quote For Truth) I completely agree.

jordan quick question who wrote "53,000 zombies died in the making of this game" during the credits i couldnt stop laughing at that

I'd like to know who wrote that as well.

[PrivateJoker]

It's likely that its one of hte big sisters that grew up from Bioshock 1. Or its an epilogue clip if Eleanor standing on the beach remembering her "daddy".

[KurtC]

It's likely that its one of hte big sisters that grew up from Bioshock 1. Or its an epilogue clip if Eleanor standing on the beach remembering her "daddy".

actually it got answered already ,

when i started playing i always thought it was Eleanor but then after hearing the diaries and progressing i started to doubt, and thinking about a dream or something but definitly it got to be her...
thanks for answering to our doubts 2K

[Docmeff]

Honestly, you know where I learned about the big sisters role in Rapture? It was in the part where you get the little icon that says "what's this" when you look at a certain object. Anyway, I looked at a defeated big sister and clicked on the "what's this" icon (the opposite of the start button) and it said that the big sisters were a police force essentially that tracked down adam stealers.

I can't remember if I got any of this out of the audio diaries. Started a second play through, so I may now that I'm looking for it.