The eagerly awaited BioShock 4 has reportedly gone through many development changes in the five years since its announcement. Rumors suggest that the sequel will be set in Antarctica and will be divided into two locations: Aurora (lower level) and Borealis (surface level). In the meantime, BioShock 4The protagonist of The Last Man and his role in the franchise's overarching story are still shrouded in mystery.
BioShock redefined narrative games as it uses environmental storytelling to paint a picture of Rapture's downfall and Columbia's dark underbelly. The franchise is also known for its unique protagonists, all of whom BioShock's multiverse, but their paths never cross. It is likely that BioShock 4 could go in the same direction, but Cloud Chamber could also take a different approach to differentiate itself from the rest of the franchise.
The protagonist of BioShock 4 could get unexpected company
What makes every BioShock What makes the game special is its ability to tell strong stories without relying heavily on previous titles. The protagonists Jack, Delta and Booker DeWitt did well and added depth to their respective games. With BioShock 4developer Cloud Chamber has a lot of freedom to create an original story that deviates from the storylines of Rapture and Columbia. But since it has been over a decade since the last game, BioShock Infinitecame out, BioShock 4 could benefit from flashbacks to previous games, which could include the return of the first three protagonists.
It is rare that the BioShock franchise to use the same characters in all games, especially the protagonists. Perhaps a protagonist only comes back when Jack appears in Elizabeth's vision in BioShock Infinite's Burial At Sea DLC, but it's just meant to show how he ended up in Rapture in the first place.
Assuming that BioShock 4 Cloud Chamber still exists in the same multiverse as the first three games, but could bring back previous tracks to create some sort of connection. The developer could easily play around with time travel and dimensional rifts to bring Jack, Delta and/or Booker (or alternate versions of them) to the Antarctic region and potentially help the current protagonist. Other video game franchises such as Like a dragon And Metal Gear Solid succeeded in bringing together old and new generations of protagonists and thus telling a coherent story.
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BioShock |
Jack |
|---|---|
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BioShock 2 |
Subject Delta (Big Daddy) |
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BioShock Infinite |
Booker DeWitt |
It would be interesting to see how BioShock 4The protagonist of would interact with the three main characters and how they could help each other navigate the Aurora and Borealis. While this would deviate from the successful formula that Ken Levine's Irrational Games has already established, it's also a great way to stand out from the rest and take full advantage of the multiverse aspect of the franchise, especially since it hasn't been used since. BioShock Infinite and the Burial At Sea DLC. It would be a waste if the next game ignored the interesting time travel and dimension hopping aspects of the franchise.
BioShock 4 shouldn't rely too much on the past
A reservation when reviving the past BioShock protagonists for the fourth installment, there is a risk of not respecting the spirit of the franchise. While it would be wise to use the protagonists and other well-known characters such as Big Daddies and Little Sisters for marketing hype, BioShock 4still focuses on original storytelling and world building. As mentioned, the last three games can easily stand on their own and are not too dependent on the events of the previous games to progress. In fact, BioShock 4 has the chance to open a brand new universe beyond Rapture and Columbia.
With Irrational Games taking over the helm of Cloud Chamber, the studio now has the freedom to develop its own style. BioShock. This means creating original characters, worlds, and experiences that don't rely heavily on the glory of past games. BioShock 4 definitely has the potential to revitalize the franchise if done well.
