Summary
It has been over four years sinceBioShock 4was announced, and since then, very little has been revealed about the title apart from rumors. Regardless, hopes are high that its developer, Cloud Chamber, has remained faithful to its word and is proceeding as planned, as no official confirmations have been given to indicate anything different despitereports ofBioShock 4going through development hell. It’s worth considering how Cloud Chamber could shake up the series inBioShock 4and offer a fresh yet faithful experience — specifically, how a shift to a third-person perspective might benefitBioShock 4, as opposed to the series' traditional first-person point of view.
It may initially seem unwise to some forBioShock 4to depart from the first-person perspective that has helped define the series over the years. However, there are more than enough reasons whyBioShock 4should consider a literal shift in perspective, some of which would arguably change the game for the better.
How a Shift to Third-Person Could Benefit BioShock 4
Third-Person Could Offer More Intimate Character Development
The most compelling reasonBioShock 4should consider adopting a third-person perspectivelies in what the shift in perspective would do for character development. TheBioShockseries is known for being driven by its unique atmosphere and unforgettable stories, especially the characters involved in those stories. While eachBioShockgame has allowed players to delve into the mind of its protagonist through firsthand experience, a third-person perspective inBioShock 4would provide an external view of the character and reveal more about their emotions, interactions, and the motives that drive them.
One of the benefits ofBioShock’s stories being told through a first-person lens is the amount of immersion the perspective adds to the experience. Rather than simply telling a story,BioShock’s first-person perspective has effectively placed players into the story, subjecting them to each game’s foreboding atmosphere and the unknown depths of the characters they encounter. However, all ofBioShock’s protagonistsare incredibly complex, and a first-person perspective has arguably inhibited that complexity from being fully explored.
A third-person perspective would thus allow the protagonist to be viewed as a character in the story, and this complexity could be explored further than the franchise has been able to in the past.
Third-Person Could Enhance BioShock’s Exploration and Combat
Apart from the positive impact a third-person perspective would have onBioShock 4’s narrative, it would help its gameplay as well. Third-person gameplay simultaneously brings with it a broader field of view that can allow more information to be present on the screen at one time. First-person perspectives limit players to only seeing what is in front of them and their immediate peripherals, but third-person perspectives enhance spatial awareness and can therefore result in a more strategic approach to combat and a greater ability to notice certain elements of the environment, including collectible items.
Cloud Chamber hasn’t disclosed much information aboutBioShock 4since its announcement, which means it’s still possible the next installment in the series has shifted things to a daring degree. While it would likely still be a worthwhile experience in first-person, perhapsBioShock 4is the perfect time to shake things up and offer an unprecedented view of aBioShockcharacterfrom a third-person perspective. Until more is revealed about the game, however, it may be best to keep expectations in check.
