BioShock 4 is one of the most anticipated upcoming video game releases. The title is in development with a new team called Cloud Chamber, and there is no release date confirmed for it yet. BioShock 4 is said to be adopting RPG mechanics and using Unreal Engine 5, but few concrete details are known about the game right now. Still, while little is clear as to the overall direction BioShock 4 is taking, Dead Space could be a worthwhile influence on the project.
The upcoming remake of Dead Space by EA Motive has been in the spotlight as of late. Gamers have been shown a very early look at the game, as well as some new information regarding the remake's enhancements and changes over the original. While the BioShock and Dead Space franchises are quite different, the former could benefit by learning from EA's survival horror series. The exact setting and tone of BioShock 4 is a big unknown at the moment, but regardless, Cloud Chamber should look to Dead Space for inspiration in some key areas.
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Dead Space's Powerful Atmosphere
BioShock Infinite was a big departure for the series, which saw the horror influence of the first two games stripped away. Infinite replaced the dark, dingy corridors of the original with brighter environments and blue skies. While this stylistic change proved to be divisive, BioShock Infinite earned widespread critical acclaim. If Cloud Chamber is planning to return BioShock to its horror-influenced roots, looking to the Dead Space series could be a great source of inspiration. The original games, Dead Space and Dead Space 2 in particular, excelled in creating a suspenseful sense of dread via their tighter environments.
The Columbia setting of BioShock Infinite was visually impressive, but it lacked some of the atmosphere that made the original games often unsettling experiences. It would make sense for Cloud Chamber to move forward with a new setting in BioShock 4 while also reintroducing the ambiance that made the first two games so well received. Looking to Dead Space as an example could help BioShock 4 further enhance its unnerving atmosphere. Part of Dead Space's memorable atmosphere can be attributed to its audio design. The games use silence well and startle the player with sudden sounds of clanking and movement to enhance the player's anxiety. If BioShock 4 even partially makes use of dark, closed environments with monstrous enemies, a focus on sound design akin to Dead Space could really amp up the tension.
A lot more information about the Dead Space remake has come to light in recent days, and its updated combat could be a good fit for the new BioShock game as well. The Dead Space remake will expand on the original's limb-cutting focus, and a similar system in BioShock 4 could work, especially for larger enemies. Battles with the likes of Big Daddies and Handymen could require players to destroy parts of the enemy, and strategically take them down. If implemented well, this could add a foreboding element to the enemies that must be whittled down rather than acting as bullet sponges.
The setting of BioShock 4 is currently unknown, but regardless of where and when it's set, it could be beneficial to echo the original two games with some horror elements. While it could be regressive to emulate the style of BioShock and BioShock 2 completely, the new game could bring a new edge to its horror influence. Looking to Dead Space, in particular, there could be some fantastic sound, visual, and combat design ideas that could be adapted for the BioShock mold. Though a full return to the style of the pre-BioShock Infinite games might not be advisable for Cloud Chamber, drawing influence from those games through the lens of Dead Space could turn out well.
BioShock 4 is currently in development.
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