Highlights
- BioShock's success hinges on nailing its setting - the dense atmosphere and unique backdrops have been instrumental in defining the series and must live up to fans' expectations.
- The iconic settings of Rapture and Columbia have set a high bar for world-building in video games, and BioShock 4 needs to offer something equally evocative and memorable for players.
- Whether Cloud Chamber chooses to revisit Rapture or Columbia, or create a completely new locale, the decision should be deliberate and intentional to ensure that BioShock 4 stands out as a fresh start for the series.
The BioShock series, dormant as it may be, has left a lasting impression on the gaming community. Indeed, the trilogy has been hugely influential since the first game released in 2007, paving the way for best-selling games like Dishonored and Prey. As the franchise moves forward with the upcoming BioShock 4, there are a few areas where it will have to succeed - with one arguably being weightier than the rest.
BioShock's dense atmosphere has always been a defining factor of the franchise. In many ways, the other staples of the series, from the environmental storytelling to the exploration and combat, stem from this chunky, dense atmosphere. The setting of each game lays the foundation for this atmosphere and tone, and the backdrops of each game have thus been instrumental in characterizing the series. Whether it's the sunken city of Rapture or the sun-drenched civilization of Columbia, BioShock lives or dies by its setting, something that is evidenced by BioShock-inspired games like Clockwork Revolution placing a premium on setting and world-building.
BioShock 4 Needs to Nail its Setting
Strong gunplay, a good powers system, and even a solid plot may not be enough to make BioShock 4 a runaway success. Fans of the franchise have come to expect an exceptional level of quality when it comes to BioShock's world-building and setting, and the next game has to live up to that legacy.
Rapture, despite being introduced to the world over a decade-and-a-half ago, is still considered one of the strongest settings in video game history, and while other games have tried to match or exceed its sense of eerie charm and aesthetic, none have been able to truly replicate it. Although BioShock Infinite has been criticized for its story, stark tonal shift from the previous two games, and emphasis on FPS action, even its staunchest detractors would have a hard time arguing that Columbia isn't memorable and evocative. These cities offer poignant sociological commentary, alongside great potential for gameplay, exploration, and environmental storytelling.
When it comes to BioShock 4, or whatever it is ultimately titled, developer Cloud Chamber has likely committed a great deal of time and resources to devising its setting. Among the question marks that swirl around the next BioShock game is the question of whether it will reprise Rapture or Columbia, or start afresh with an entirely new locale. Some have speculated that BioShock 4 could go open-world, which could allow for an interesting alternate exploration of one of these two cities. Alternatively, the next BioShock could show one of these settings at a different point in time or from a vastly different perspective, like how BioShock 2 showed Rapture from the POV of a Big Daddy.
On the other hand, some fans may be tired of these locations, and a replication of Rapture or Columbia could be seen as just that. It's worth noting that Cloud Chamber did not develop any of the original BioShock games, so there might be a desire within the studio to carve out a unique identity, ushering in a new era of BioShock games that is removed from the old one. After all, the next BioShock game is a fresh start for the series, so it would make sense to devise a brand-new setting and allow the atmosphere and lore of the new game to grow from there.
Whatever route Cloud Chamber takes, the decision should be an intentional one. The developers shouldn't attempt to recreate the lighting-in-a-bottle nature of Rapture or Columbia just to cater to old fans, just as they shouldn't arbitrarily craft a new world for the sole purpose of making it unique. As long as BioShock 4 understands why the settings of the other games were so important, it has a solid chance of being something special.
BioShock 4 is in development.