Though BioShock has been dormant since the franchise's third game, BioShock Infinite, anticipation is high as Cloud Chamber is working on a fourth. This isn't the only reason fans have to be excited, however, as Ken Levine's new studio Ghost Story has splintered off and is also working on something new. At the 2022 Game Awards, that game turned out to be Judas, a familiar but new take on the formula that fans know so well. A rundown setting, wrist tattoo, and creative powers are all things that were included in the Judas trailer, confirming the belief that Ghost Story wouldn't veer too far from the philosophy that the now-defunct Irrational Games perfected for all those years.
While all three games are superb, it is perhaps BioShock Infinite that Judas can learn from most. The 2007 original is a masterpiece, but the third game provides more factors that Judas can improve upon. That title was more overt in its drawbacks than the first, and also had a different character dynamic that elevated the story greatly. Learning often means understanding what something did wrong as well as right, and BioShock Infinite is a suitable basis for Ghost Story to build upon.
Judas' Combat Should Take a 'Less is More' Approach
Columbia was a 'utopian' wonderland in the sky, with heavenly imagery and seemingly perfect inhabitants. The peace is disrupted in BioShock Infinite's early stages, and while it's a fantastic tonal shift, the setting didn't provoke any real claustrophobic feelings as the space was so open and bright. As such, the combat wasn't as cramped, and players didn't have to be as resourceful with the way they dispatched enemies. It was far more of a shooter than a survival horror like the first game, which was fun to play but didn't capture anywhere near the same level of intrigue and storytelling potential.
BioShock Infinite's shooting galleries felt formulaic and predictable. Throwing a barrage of baddies on the screen to overcome was customary in the most obvious areas, meaning there was nothing that matched the same magic of stumbling across a Big Daddy for the first time amid the dense walls of Rapture. Judas' promotional material is dark, abstract, and clearly evokes a sense of unease, and despite BioShock Infinite being a fantastic game in its own right, Ken Levine's next game has to learn where it stumbled, with much of the game's shortcomings coming from a lack of unsettling atmosphere and a far too liberal approach to shooting sections.
BioShock Infinite's Companion Wields Fantastic Rewards
The setting, story, and conclusion of BioShock Infinite are often praised, but the heart of the game is Elizabeth. Initially introduced as a damsel in distress, her involvement in the story is more than initially meets the eye, having a closer relationship to Booker DeWitt than many would have expected. Elizabeth's presence affects more than just the story, though, as she helps with navigating the city, assists in combat, and provides an extra voice to make the journey feel like a collaborative effort. Her help didn't affect the feeling of being outnumbered, and so there was always sufficient tension and difficulty throughout.
Judas doesn't have to feature a companion through the whole story, but including missions or segments that have the player shepherded by an NPC could go a long way to elevating the story. The trailer showed some interesting characters that fans are eager to learn more about, and Judas could learn from BioShock Infinite's willingness to include a companion to make the journey less lonely, and have more opportunities for engaging dialogue. Perhaps even more than BioShock 4, Judas is the big title that fans of the Irrational Games IP can get excited about. It's clear that they have plenty of similarities, and lessons can surely be learned from BioShock's third outing.
Judas is in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
