The pressure onBioShock 4is huge. Development reportedly hasn’t been smooth, and the announcement ofJudasby series creator Ken Levinehas only served to highlightBioShock’s absence. It’s the fourth mainline entry to a series that put out three exceptional games in quick succession during a single generation of consoles, and the eleven years (so far) sinceBioShock Infinitehas only escalated the excitement, which has slowly turned into concern.
Making games is hard, and a new studio getting to grips with a universally beloved franchise enough to deliver a satisfying new entry is a massive trial by fire. However, one of the key things that it may have that can help it succeed is the series' use of both futuristic and historical themes.Judasseems to have gone in a different direction, andBioShock 4could capitalize on this.
BioShock’s Retrofuturism is one of its Biggest Strengths
BioShockhas always had a loose relationship with style and tone. On one hand, they lean into elements of futuristic tech like floating cities, skyhooks, and parallel universes, all things that wouldn’t be out of place in any number of sci-fi or futuristic properties. On the other hand, the franchise also drapes itself in tradition or historical talking points, like mid-20th century libertarian ideals, as well as a high emphasis on racism, prejudice, and civil rights in2013’sBioShock Infinite. The Irrational Games-developed series is unapologetic in its use of such themes, and in doing so, it can be a polarizing product when each new title hits shelves.
This may seem like an awkward pairing, but in practice, fusing the futuristic and the historical is one ofBioShocks best qualities. The outlandish nature ofBioShock’s Rapture or Columbiafacilitates a wide range of visual cues and political influences, and in doing so it distances itself from any other property because its abstract nature is so hard to replicate or imitate, though games likeWe Happy FewandAtomic Hearthave tried. It’s something that will be a vital tool forBioShock 4, especially sinceJudasis looking more and more like the true successor toBioShockwith every new piece of information put out.
Judas has to Forge its Own Legacy, Which is Good for BioShock
Judastakes place on a constantly moving spaceship called Mayflower, and though there is limited information about the story, the setting and characters seem to show thatJudasis taking a more futuristic approach to storytelling thanBioShockhas before. It’s something that is surely a conscious decision by Ken Levine and Ghost Story Games, as it needs to find a way to harness its own sense of identity while using mechanics thatBioShockfans have become accustomed to.
The core spirit ofBioShockwill be contended byJudasandBioShock 4, and the quality of each title will determine which is ultimately considered the greatest successor to the series.Judashas had to make some changes to the formula in order to feel like it’s doing something new, whereasBioShock 4has the freedom to lean into what made the rest of the series so good. One of those elements is its retrofuturistic aesthetic, and seeing asJudaslooks to have dropped that somewhat, it could be what Cloud Chamber needs to make the official fourth game as memorable as possible.
