Cloud Chamber, a new studio under the 2K publishing banner, has been working on BioShock 4. While there is little known about the new title, there have been some job listings that have indicated certain mechanics and design elements. It seems as though players are in for a journey in a new world, with some additions to the series' formula established so far. BioShock 4 is highly anticipated by fans of the series, with many not knowing what to expect from the new entry. While there have been few official details publicly revealed, fans have been able to deduce that the new game might contain RPG elements.
The new BioShock game is likely years away from release, meaning that it could be some time before fans hear any further official news. Based on some job listings for the developer, Cloud Chamber, BioShock 4 might be adding RPG-like dialogue options. The series has dabbled in some role-playing elements, such as upgrade paths and some freedom to explore, but these mechanics were largely reduced when BioShock Infinite was released. The rumored new dialogue options have been compared to Fallout, but some fans might prefer if it resembled New Vegas rather than the most recent single-player release, Fallout 4.
The Disadvantages of a System Like Fallout 4
The Fallout 4 dialogue system hasn't been held in high regard by fans of the series. One of the main issues that some fans have noted is the absence of skills-based dialogue options and checks. Instead, Fallout 4 uses the Charisma attribute to influence a player character's persuasion level and ranks the difficulty of certain options accordingly. At all times, there are only four options for the player to use. This was widely regarded as a step back and gave players limited options. In an interview with the game director, Todd Howard, he candidly admits that this system didn't resonate with fans too well.
The actual options themselves are often not indicative of what the player character will say as well. Regularly, players are limited to options like "Sarcasm," without anything to suggest the lines the character is about to speak. BioShock 4 could be set to include more RPG elements, and a scaled-back system like this might not be the best option. Many fans consider Fallout 4's system to be limiting in how a character's morality can be expressed, with the available options allowing players to be good-natured and only somewhat geared towards the darker side of ethics.
Many consider this to be a step back from Fallout 3 and New Vegas. BioShock 4 could be introducing dialogue options in the series and doing so in a fashion that many consider being limiting might not be received too well.
The Advantages of a System Like Fallout: New Vegas
Some gamers are ambivalent towards BioShock 4's expected adoption of RPG mechanics. However, if the game is to introduce a dialogue system similar to a Fallout game, Cloud Chamber could look towards New Vegas. The dialogue system used in Fallout: New Vegas gives players a wide variety of options to choose from, not just four on any given occasion. The dialogue itself is considered by many to be far more diverse than Fallout 4 and empowers gamers to follow their chosen morality to a more extreme level. In addition to a wider variety of options, skills are important for dialogue and are frequently used to pass difficult checks and allow special responses.
Due to the wide range of possible responses and skills-based dialogue options, this could be a better system for Cloud Chamber to seek inspiration from. A system like the one seen in New Vegas would offer players more choice and has a greater focus on role-playing elements. While the dialogue system in Fallout 4 does have some facets that feed into a player character's skills, it's much more pared-down and arguably limited. BioShock 4 could be set to have further RPG mechanics, and reflecting choice in the dialogue system could be a more cohesive way to introduce the game's newly founded role-playing influence.
The new BioShock game could be a departure for the series. Based on job listings for Cloud Chamber, the developer is possibly introducing players to a new world and new RPG mechanics. To really hone in on the role-playing aspect, it might be in the best interest of Cloud Chamber to look at New Vegas when designing the dialogue mechanics. Fallout 4's system does involve choice, but many fans consider it to be too limiting for a role-playing experience. A system inspired by New Vegas could encourage widely different NPC interactions, and involve more choice based on skills the player character is proficient with.
BioShock 4Â is currently in development.