The Bioshock setting has proved to be an interesting place for many gamers. Few would say they wanted to live there, especially in Rapture, the underwater setting of the first Bioshock game, as behind the shiny surface of the sci-fi world there are some unsettling and terrifying things hidden. This is what made the original Bioshock a great horror game. And while the following entries in the franchise may have lost some of the original's scares, there are still some spooky moments to be had.
The mix of horror and unique setting made Bioshock attractive to many gamers, leading the series to receive both critical and public acclaim. There's even a Netflix film in development set around the underwater city of Rapture. For fans waiting for the Netflix adaptation of Bioshock to be released, another work based on the setting has recently revealed itself. Created by California's John Burroughs High School, the Bioshock musical has managed to sweep the Hart Encore 2022 show choir competition.
While not set specifically around Bioshock's main narrative, the musical featured some of the game's most famous characters. Bioshock's original villain Andrew Ryan makes an appearance, alongside some other characters like Brigid Tenenbaum and Sander Cohen. Some of the songs featured even have a Bioshock twist, such as Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary," which had the lyrics changed from "rolling on the river" to "rolling underwater." While high school musicals and Bioshock may not seem like an obvious crossover, the show's awards prove that the video game has plenty to offer in terms of adaptations.
As stated, the Bioshock musical won multiple trophies at the Hart Encore competition. The show picked up the competition's awards for Musicianship, Showmanship, and Best Soloist. Despite the musical not offering much of the game's original narrative, it still had plenty of costumes and sets that would send any gamer back to their first time delving into the depths of Rapture. But, as a high school musical performance, there are none of the game's combat elements or more terrifying creatures like the Big Daddies.
By using the setting of Bioshock, the John Burroughs High School has shown musical fans that a video game adaptation is a viable path to success. With the fourth Bioshock game likely some time away as well, this makes for a unique and interesting dive into the world of Rapture while fans await a possible return to the underwater city. However, only rumors have been circulating about the new Bioshock title so far, and it is possible that the musical could offer fans their last version of Rapture.
BioShock 4 is currently in development.