Talking protagonists in first person shooters used to be a laughable idea. Very few characters were able to pull off strong, silent protagonists, with Doom’s leading marine and Gordon Freeman of Half-Life immediately coming to mind.
However, in more recent titles, talking protagonists have started appearing and in BioShock: Infinite, the bar may be set even higher with Booker DeWitt.
The emotional connection between the hero and his charge can be very powerful. The Sony titles, Ico and Shadow of the Colossus are great examples of that strong bond. In BioShock: Infinite, the bond between Booker and Elizabeth will be a driving force for the narrative and also serve as emotional motivator to save the girl. Irrational Games creative director, Ken Levine, Troy Baker (Booker DeWitt), and Courtnee Draper (Elizabeth) discuss the process of playing the characters and what their motivation is in part 1 of 2 in a series of videos focusing on the voice actors.
While the focus of the trailers has been on the gameplay, especially with the latest one from TGS 2011, there hasn’t been much hinted at regarding the relationship between Booker and Elizabeth, up until now. Although, the importance of Elizabeth has not been something to be understated, as she will serve as both Booker’s companion, charge, and motivation throughout the campaign.
Watch the video below to get some insight regarding both characters straight from the actors playing them.
