Players have long been speculating when they can finally get their hands on a new entry in the classicBioShockseries. The currently announced game, tentatively calledBioShock 4by most, has had a few seeming leaks while in production, withCloud Chamber job listingssuggesting that the game will take place in an entirely new setting. And while it seems intriguing thatBioShock 4likely won’t return to Rapture or Columbia, there is still so little known about this new game.
Perhaps the biggest questions players have is what sort of tone the game will be going for. While the originalBioShockhad sinister horror-like elements to its themes, the third game in the franchise,BioShock Infinite, seemed to be aiming for the action genre. And while there may not be one “correct” answer for how Cloud Chamber should address the tone ofBioShock 4,there is one franchise that it could look to for inspiration if it wishes to split the difference between these two genres.
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BioShock and Resident Evil Atmosphere
Over the past few years, fans of theResident Evilfranchise have been treated to a cavalcade of games from Capcom that have been seen as major critical successes. Even with the recent remake ofResident Evil 3having not been as well receivedas the previous year’s game of the year contender,Resident Evil 2 Remake, it seems that players have begun to put their faith back into how Capcom is handling the franchise in the wake ofResident Evil 6’s controversy.
It’s no secret that Capcom has seemingly struggled with the tone of theResident Evilgames in the past. While the first fewResident Eviltitles were steeped in the survival horror genre, the thematic elements shifted slightly withthe release ofResident Evil 4, which leaned more towards a happy medium of horror and action. Unfortunately, Capcom began straying farther from that compromise withResident Evil 5and6, leading some players to feel like the games had lost touch with what they originally were meant to be.
However, withthe remakes ofResident Evil 2andResident Evil 3, Capcom seems to have rediscovered this balance, and this is where Cloud Chamber can take notes forBioShock 4. It doesn’t need to be a game where players feel the sense of existential dread as they round every corner; nor does it need to feel so packed to the gills with epic set pieces that players never fear for their character’s safety. Rather by subtly blending these two genres together,BioShock 4could be set up for major success in this next generation.
There are a few things thatBioShock 4could do to accomplish this goal. One addition in particular would be the inclusion of a Big Daddy-esque enemy withthe tendencies of a constant foe like Mr. X. For many players, while he is an unkillable foe inResident Evil 2, Mr. X as an entity isn’t what causes some players to fear him. The way he stalks either Claire or Leon throughout the Raccoon City Police Department with footsteps echoing in its haunted halls as a constant reminder that he’s following is what becomes terrifying. Then players are able to finally finish off Mr. X entirely in an epic set piece at the end of the game, in a moment full of explosives and bullets. This could giveBioShock 4the feeling of straddling the line between horror and action.
Creating this blood-pumping, haunting atmosphere won’t be easy for Cloud Chamber, and the team will likely need to pull out all the stops in order topushBioShock 4to its limits. However, by studying the examples provided in both theResident Evil 2andResident Evil 3remakes, the developer will likely have a much easier time crafting a sensational sequel in one of gaming’s most celebrated series.
