Jack

Lore & Background

Jack's existence is defined by mind control and the phrase 'Would you kindly,' used by Atlas to issue commands he could not refuse. The story reveals that Andrew Ryan, the founder of Rapture, created Jack as a genetic clone specifically designed to be immune to standard mind control but susceptible to this trigger phrase. Ryan established this mechanism to ensure his own death if necessary, stating, 'A man chooses, a slave obeys,' before allowing Jack to kill him. This revelation exposes that Jack's entire journey was manipulated by Atlas (the former gangster Frank Fontaine) to reach Ryan. The narrative also introduces the moral dilemma of interacting with Little Sisters, young girls used to harvest ADAM. Jack must decide whether to save them for a small reward or harvest their ADAM for immediate power, a choice that influences his path through the city's corrupting environment.

In Their Own Story

Set in 1960 within the decaying art deco grandeur of Rapture, Jack's story begins with him surviving a plane crash and entering the city. He is guided by Atlas to navigate the hostile streets filled with splicers and security measures like turrets and cameras which he can hack. As he progresses, he utilizes Plasmids supplied by EVE hypos to defeat foes, such as electrocuting enemies standing in water. The narrative climax occurs when Jack confronts Ryan. Ryan reveals that Jack has been under mind control throughout his arrival, following every instruction led off by 'Would you kindly.' By using this trigger phrase to command Jack to kill him, Ryan demonstrates that he still possesses free will despite his own death. Following this event, the story leaves Jack's ultimate fate regarding the Little Sisters and the city open based on the player's choices.

Reader's Guide

Players control Jack as a silent protagonist in a first-person shooter with role-playing elements. Survival requires managing supplies and ammunition while utilizing a combination of weapons and Plasmids to defeat enemies. A core mechanic involves hacking enemy security cameras, machine gun turrets, and robots. The gameplay retains elements from System Shock 2, where audio tape recordings fulfill the storytelling role previously held by email logs. Jack must navigate the underwater city, dealing with environmental hazards and mutated inhabitants. His abilities are enhanced through ADAM harvested from Little Sisters or gathered from corpses. The experience is designed to give players freedom in how they approach combat situations, whether through stealth, direct confrontation, or creative use of elemental combinations.

Did You Know?

• The phrase 'Would you kindly' was used by Atlas to issue commands Jack could not refuse until the truth of his mind control was revealed.
• Andrew Ryan created Jack as a genetic clone specifically designed to be killed by him using the trigger phrase 'Would you kindly'.
• Jack must decide whether to save Little Sisters for a small reward or harvest their ADAM for immediate power.
• The game was released on August 21, 2007, for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360, with a PlayStation 3 port following in 2008.
• Rapture was built in the late 1940s by Andrew Ryan as a laissez-faire social environment.