BioShock 4 Should Build On a Great but Simple Change in Burial at Sea

BioShock 4 Should Build On a Great but Simple Change in Burial at Sea

As a longtime fan of the BioShock series, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation as we wait for the next installment, BioShock 4. After the captivating journey through Rapture with Elizabeth in Burial at Sea, it’s high time the franchise took a bold step forward and featured a female lead once more.


Having spent five years in development since its announcement in 2019, BioShock 4 has still not revealed much about what the fourth installment of the lauded series will look like. Studio Cloud Chamber has continued to work on BioShock 4, but as official information has been scarce, various rumors and leaks have begun to inform impressions about BioShock 4‘s potential design and other elements. As none have been confirmed, exactly how the next entry will shake up the formula has thus been the source of much speculation.

In the second part of its DLC, BioShock: Infinite‘s Burial at Sea put players into Elizabeth’s shoes instead of Booker’s for the first time in the franchise. This marked a significant shift as Elizabeth became the lead character. With BioShock 4, it might be interesting to delve deeper into this dynamic and further develop female-centric content, along with other changes planned for the next iteration of the game.

BioShock 4 Featuring a Female Lead Like Burial at Sea Would Be a Welcome Change of Pace

Burial at Sea Broke the Ice for BioShock 4 to Have a Female Protagonist

While BioShock predominantly features male protagonists such as Jack, Booker DeWitt, Andrew Ryan, and Zachary Comstock, it also boasts a number of powerful female characters throughout its series. Notable women who significantly contributed to the storyline in each game include:

  • Dr. Brigid Tenenbaum
  • Dr. Sofia Lamb
  • Eleanor Lamb
  • Grace Holloway
  • Daisy Fitzroy
  • Rosalind Lutece
  • Annabelle Comstock

Instead, let’s rephrase it in this way: Elizabeth from “BioShock: Infinite” was the standout character who gained significant attention. Known for her well-crafted portrayal, she served as the emotional core of the game. In Burial at Sea Episode 2, players got to control Elizabeth, wrapping up storylines in an alternate world following the end of “Infinite”. Although it was a shorter, stealth-oriented experience, the second Burial at Sea episode paves the way for “BioShock” to shift its focus and place a female character front and center in both narrative and gameplay.

After Burial at Sea, BioShock 4 Should Go the Extra Mile by Having a Female Lead

According to certain leaks, it’s speculated that the location for BioShock 4 may shift to Antarctica, featuring a colossal city with two levels called Aurora and Borealis. This city could be divided based on class or societal norms. There are whispers that the game might be open-world, which could offer an engaging platform to delve into a variety of perspectives and philosophies. Additionally, it’s suggested that the main character this time around will be female. However, these details have not been officially confirmed yet.

In a possible scenario for BioShock 4, the developers may choose to reboot the series, giving them creative liberty to deviate from traditional franchise and gaming industry norms regarding male protagonists. This new direction might even introduce multiple playable characters, one of whom could bear some resemblance to Elizabeth, or it could be an entirely original character. However, this change would still allow for connections to the previous games, similar to how Burial at Sea revived Rapture and expanded upon the first game’s storyline.

As a gamer, I can’t help but imagine how thrilling it would be if the protagonist of BioShock 4 were inspired by Elizabeth from Burial at Sea. This choice wouldn’t just add an intriguing narrative twist, but it could also expand the gameplay significantly. The mix of stealth and combat in Burial at Sea could be further explored with a character like Elizabeth, offering more diverse strategies and mechanics.

Read More

2024-08-16 01:34