There has been much speculation about what the upcomingBioShock 4will be like once it finally releases. While there’s still a lot of time before that happens as there isn’t even an official title or trailer for the game yet, some details regarding its structure have leaked in the form of job listings for Cloud Chamber, the studio behind the upcoming game’s development. If the listing is to be believed,the next entry in theBioShockseries is going to be set in an open world, which has fans excited about the prospect of aBioShockgame with an even bigger scope than before.
Not everyone shares that same excitement, however, as the series has traditionally been linear narrative experiences that are carefully crafted in scripted sequences, a style that simply could not be done in the randomness of a player-choice-driven open world. It may benefitBioShock 4, however, to take a page out of the highly anticipatedElden Ring’s book of open-world structure.
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While both titles have very little in common on the surface, the traditional From Software games are similar linear experiences to the likes ofBioShockin that each moment is finely crafted to deliver the intended experience. From Soft’s shift to an open-world structure seems like a big change for fans of their previous work, but the details ofElden Ring’s open-worldnature are putting many fears to rest andBioShock 4could do well to learn from them.
Elden Ring’s Open World
The idea of an open-world Soulsborne game might not instill tons of confidence in hardcore fans of the series.Elden Ring’s approach to its open world, however, might actually end up being more similar to traditionalSoulsgames likeDemon’s Soulsand the originalDark Soulsthan one might think.Elden Ringdirector Hidetaka Miyazakispoke on this saying that the open-world aspect of the game is more one area of the map that connects the six linear dungeons together than something found in games likeSkyrimorCyberpunk 2077. This open-designed map allows for players to explore however they see fit and tackle each area in whatever order they please, similar toDemon’s Souls.
The six different dungeon areas that are connected by the open world are going to be more traditional Soulsborne maps with the thoughtful level design that fans of the series have grown accustomed to. This type of world design is similar to the traditionalMega Mantitles which allowed players to start at whatever area they wanted to. Similar toMega ManandDemon’s Souls, however,Elden Ringdoes have a recommended order to complete its areas.
What BioShock 4 Can Learn from Elden Ring
This open-world with linear levels design thatElden Ringis adopting sounds perfect for a game likeBioShock 4. There were somebig promises about Columbia’s world changing based on the actions of the playerbefore the release ofBioShock Infinitethat never came to fruition, but this structure seems like the perfect way to do that inBioShock 4. If the player leaves the hub world and goes into one of several linear levels making choices along the way, when they return, the world could be drastically different than they left it based on their actions inside each level.
BioShock Infiniteseemed like it wanted to dip its toes into anElden Ring-style design, but wasn’t able to make it work properly. There are plenty of levels in that game that start with Booker and Elizabeth exploring the more peaceful parts of Columbia before swash-buckling action ensues, but it always seemed like those more open-ended sections would have existed better in one big area that the pair could return to for a breather. Hopefully,Cloud Chamber can make such a design work better forBioShock 4to really make its world feel like a believable, lived-in place.
