Little Sister Rescue vs. Harvest Guide
In BioShock 2, a sificant moral and strategic choice awaits you with every Little Sister you encounter. After defeating a Big Daddy and freeing a Little Sister, you are presented with two distinct paths: to rescue her or to harvest her. This decision has profound implications for your gameplay, your character's development, and ultimately, the game's ending.
Harvesting a Little Sister yields a larger immediate reward of ADAM. ADAM is the vital resource used to purchase new Plasmids, Tonics, and upgrade your existing ones. Harvesting provides a quick influx of ADAM, allowing for more rapid character progression and access to powerful abilities earlier in the game. However, this path is considered the "evil" route and will lead to a darker conclusion to your story.
Rescuing a Little Sister provides a smaller amount of ADAM upfront, but it is the "good" path. After a rescue, the Little Sister will often express gratitude and may offer a small gift of ADAM and ammunition as a token of her appreciation. More importantly, rescuing Little Sisters contributes to a more positive outcome for the game's narrative. The cumulative effect of your choices regarding the Little Sisters will determine the fate of Eleanor Lamb and the other orphans.
When deciding whether to rescue or harvest, consider your playstyle and your desired ending. If you prioritize immediate power and are unconcerned with the moral implications, harvesting offers a tactical advantage. However, if you aim for a more heroic conclusion and wish to see a more hopeful ending, rescuing is the only option. Remember that even after rescuing, you may still need to strategically gather ADAM from corpses to keep your plasmids and upgrades competitive.
Before initiating a gathering or rescue, it's crucial to scout the immediate area. Look for advantageous positions, hackable security systems like turrets and cameras, and potential choke points to funnel approaching enemies. This preparation will sificantly increase your chances of successfully protecting the Little Sister, regardless of whether you choose to harvest or rescue.