In 2007, the originalBioShock wasreleased and immediately took the world by storm. Its genre-bending style and mind-blowing concept were unlike anything else on the market at the time. The franchise was among the top of the gaming pack in its heyday, with a sequel in 2010 and thenBioShock Infinitein 2013 before the series went into dormancy for several years. In 2019, however,BioShock 4was confirmed to be in active development to the glee of many fans eager for a new adventure either set in the deep sea city of Rapture or the sky-high steampunk-inspired paradise of Columbia.
However, as iconic and enjoyable as both of these locations were in past installments, it would be wise forBioShock 4to offer something different to help shake things up for fans. In fact, the next game should drift away from its high-stakes first-person shooter roots and lean further into the horror genre for its next outing. These games have always had horror elements, so now would be the time to go all in and embrace that fully for the franchise.
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BioShock Was Always Rooted in Horror Themes
Although not traditionally as scary as other franchises likeResident EvilorSilent Hill,BioShockstill had the essence of a horror game on paper. The many elements that made up the experience are actually quite terrifying, from the narrative to the setting. The original game takes place in a dark, treacherous dystopian underwater city swarmed with mutated humans. EvenBioShock Infinite, despite being the more colorful Columbia, featured a town rife with corruption and violence that drew inspiration fromclassic films likeThe ShiningandBlue Velvet.
Even though the franchise has emphasized action, exploration, and puzzle-solving up to this point, it wouldn’t be difficult to transition into full-on horror. After all, the infamousplot twist in the originalBioShockreveals that the player’s character was under a form of mind control, completely unaware that every time the phrase “would you kindly” was spoken, it would brainwash the player into performing various tasks. This clever spin is a horrifying prospect and is similar to ideas seen in psychological horror likeLayers of Fear.
The Benefits of Modern Gaming Technology
Anotherbenefit to the nextBioShockgamegoing full horror would be the advantages present in current gaming technology. While the originalBioShockgames are still highly enjoyable, they have clearly aged, and the hardware at the time probably couldn’t fully deliver the spooky atmosphere the development team really had in mind. Now, that has all changed as studios are able to create haunting environments with life-like characters, as seen with what Capcom pulls off with its RE Engine in its manyResident Eviltitles.
Even more important are the advancements in audio design, with the3D audio present in modern consolesa huge boost for immersion. Searching the creepy corridors and empty rooms ofBioShockwould be eerier, as the sound of a bottle falling over or a creak in the wall’s woodwork can be heard with stunning detail. Recent titles likeThe Callisto Protocoland theResident Evil 4remake, for instance, made excellent use of sound to help create a more chilling environment for the player.
Not much is known regarding the nextBioShockgame at this point, other than confirmation it exists. Whether it’s a return toRapture, Columbia, or a new locationentirely will be interesting to see. Hopefully it isn’t too much longer before fans receive some new information regarding the project, and it would be great to see whether the franchise will steer closer towards horror in this future installment.
