Summary
Ken Levine’s upcoming first-person shooterJudasis already setting the bar high when it comes to video game narratives. Using what Levine has referred to as a “Narrative LEGO” approach,Judasambitiously allows players to shape each step of the story in the decisions they make, as each choice causes the game’s characters to treat them differently. This is a massive leap in a different direction from what fans of Levine’s past work — namelyBioShock— have become accustomed to, which has been far more linear in design. Unfortunately, this innovation putsBioShock 4’s narrative and world structure between a rock and a hard place.
BioShock 4, which has been announced but continues to be neglected as far as formal updates go, is largely expected to look, feel, and function like a classicBioShockgame, despite not being developed by Levine himself. However,Judas' success or lack thereof could end up determining a different route forBioShock 4, which could certainly help it but also might only harm it in the long run.
Judas' Innovative Narrative Approach Puts More Pressure on BioShock 4
BioShock 4 Can’t Break the Series' Linear Mold Too Much, or It Risks Being a Judas Clone
By and large, the originalBioShocktrilogy prioritizes linear storytelling above player agency. There are choices that players can make throughout each game — likeBioShock’s morally ambiguous choice of whether tosave or harvest Little Sisters— but they don’t impact the stories too drastically in the end. Furthermore, eachBioShockgame encourages players to backtrack for a bit of walled-in exploration, withBioShock Infiniteperhaps encouraging backtracking the most. However, backtracking in these games is simply due to their light Metroidvania elements, which require players to obtain certain abilities before they can access initially closed-off areas that are generally just small rooms with a few collectibles inside.
Up to this point,Judashas been accused of being nothing more thanBioShockwith a different skin, primarily on account of its dark themes and dystopian setting. To be fair, the comparisons are justified but also expected, consideringBioShock’s original creator is the one responsible forJudas. Ironically, ifJudas' open-ended narrativestructure is executed successfully, it could inspireBioShock 4to approach its narrative similarly, thus opening it up to criticism for being too much likeJudas. Additionally,Judas' implied larger world could inspireBioShock 4to open things up more than what the series has been known for, further subjecting it to imitation criticism.
BioShock 4 Going Back to the Series' Linear Structure May Not Be Enough for Modern Gamers
WhiletheBioShockfranchisehas been praised in spite of its linear structure, it may not be enough forBioShock 4to continue this tradition in today’s gaming climate. Modern gamers have been known to crave much more in their games than what strictly linear storytelling can provide. Player freedom is at the top of many players' wish lists for modern games, whichBioShock’s classic linear structure can’t accommodate. As such, ifBioShock 4were to go back to the series' linear storytelling and world-building approach, it may not be enough to satiate the appetites of those who are craving more from their experience.
WhetherJudasmakes good on its promise to allow players an unprecedented amount of freedom in its storytelling remains to be seen. Assuming it does, however, it could simultaneously spoil players enough that they would want a similar experience fromBioShock 4, especially since it won’t be released until afterJudas. The downside is that an approach like this would makeBioShock 4much different from its predecessors, exchanging the series' classic linear style for something more open-ended, and it could drive away its most loyal fans. Either way,BioShock 4has an important choice to makewith its story and world-building to appeal to both longtime fans and gaming’s modern audiences.
