Blog 7: Audio Analysis of Bioshock (final part)

For the final part of my audio analysis of Bioshock I will be talking about navigating the underwater environment of Bioshock and the sounds that it provides. A certain points in the game the player will have to leave the innards of the city of Rapture and navigate the ocean floor. While on the ocean floor every aspect of the sound changes.

The whole world becomes almost silent. All sounds are muffled and the loudest thing you can hear is the sound of yourself breathing through your diving suit.

While on the ocean floor you can hear the sound of the ocean current flowing past you. One of my favorite sounds on the ocean floor is the sound of the air bubbles constantly around you making sounds like a "bloop."
The most common sound effect that is used in the outside world of Rapture is the muffling effect on literally every sound that is made by the player, enemies and the environment. It really gives off the feel that the player is truly underwater.


 

Blog 6: Audio Analysis of Bioshock (part 4)

One of the main enemies in Bioshock is the Big Daddy. These enemies are genetically enhanced human beings with their skin an organs molded into a giant diving suit. The sound of the Big Daddy is that of a deep whale call with a long, low drone. It's a very eerie sound that gives me chills. You always know when a big Daddy is near because you hear the whale-like groan along with the sound of giant footsteps that make the ground shake.

The Big Daddy will not bother you until you provoke it and the calmness of it's nature changes along with the sounds that it makes. If you leave the Big Daddy alone and let it pass it will continue to make the calm whale-like noises, but if you provoke it the sound changes drastically. The Big Daddy's whale-like groans turn into more aggressive roar and it erupts into a blind rage. After you provoke the Big Daddy you will get a change to hear the sound of his giant drill that is attached to his right arm.

Another form of the Big Daddy is the Big Sister. By contrast the Big Sister is much thinner and faster and her sound is much higher pitched than the Big Daddy. The Big Sister sounds more like a dolphin or a modified screech of a dolphin.