Summary
Though rumors and reports are plentiful, little is known aboutBioShock 4past its mere existence.BioShock’s development under new studio Cloud Chamberis supposedly not going smoothly, but the name alone gives fans hope that it will be worth playing, as past games in the series have been nothing short of excellent. The series began 16 years ago, and over three full releases and a handful of expansions, it has worked its way to the top of the industry, but a decade has passed since a new game launched.
However, while the series has been dormant, it’s far from dead, asBioShock 4has been confirmed to be in development. With Irrational Games gone, questions arose about if the project can live up to the lofty name, but the history of the franchise alongside the current climate of similar games means the currently untitled game is in a freeing scenario. It can realistically take any avenue it pleases with its story, setting, and presentation.
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BioShock’s Settings are Two Extremes
BioShockreleased in 2007 and effortlessly skirted the line between a fascinating and intelligent world, and near-flawless survival horror, weaving moments of tension and excitement into a tale that is deeply rooted in social commentary and current themes. Its most impressive feature, however,is the underwater city Rapture itself, as it does so well to facilitate the story, tone, and character development. Being built in the image of an ambitious, objectivist leader, it’s fascinating to meander through its damp, decaying halls and theorize what it would have been like in its heyday. That answer would come withBurial at Sea, but at the time of the first and second games, there was a real beauty in its flaws.
In 2013, a change of pace was in order, asBioShock 2arguably wrung Rapture dry of ideas. Irrational Games went in the opposite direction, catapulting Booker Dewitt into the sky in a quest to saveElizabeth inBioShock Infinite’s floating city of Columbia. At first, it can feel utopian, and the people seemingly couldn’t be happier, but after the angelic opening it quickly descends into chaos. The pair of settings are fundamentally different in style, meaning that there is a lot of room forBioShock 4to maneuver, and thus it can get truly creative.
The Pressure Could Be Dampened with BioShock 4
Wielding a name that carries a lot of weight,BioShock 4will naturally have expectations tied to it, but if it times its release right it could float somewhat easily under the radar.Other games likeJudasandClockwork Revolutionthat imitate theBioShockgameplay model could allow Cloud Chamber to take substantial risks out of a desire to compete. In the former’s case, much of the talent that worked on previousBioShockgames are on the Ghost Story Games project, so that product may be seen by fans as the true spiritual successor.
Its new beginning meansBioShock 4is a complete blank slate that has the freedom to do things differently. Taking players to somewhere unexpected, implementing bold new gameplay mechanics, or tackling another topical political issue to elevate its story are all viable means to make it stand out, andBioShock 4can utilize each to help it compete in an ever-growing market. If it goes well,BioShockcould reestablish its status as the very best in first-person survival horror, a genre growing in popularity. Even if it fails, new ideas inBioShock 4could be the foundation of a new generation of games in the series, so creativity from Cloud Chamber is strongly encouraged. Time will tell what it has in store.
