Summary
The gaming community is still waiting with bated breath for any information about Cloud Chamber’sBioShock 4, the series' first entry in over a decade. Since its announcement, audiences have had nothing but vague rumors and theoccasional allegedBioShock 4leakto subsist on, and things like its narrative, structure, or changes to the series formula are all matters of speculation.
One interesting point to consider is the implementation ofBioShock 4’s protagonist. Following series tradition, the game will most likely introduce a new main character, and Cloud Chamber has two broad-stroke routes to take with them: the character could be an enigmatic, silent force akin to Jack or Subject Delta from the first two games, or a more fully realized, defined character likeBioShock Infinite’s Booker DeWitt.Infiniteis generally considered to be the weak link of the original trilogy, so it’s easy to assume that Cloud Chamber will stick to the formula established by the first two entries, but it really depends on what sort of game the studio wantsBioShock 4to be.
The Pros and Cons of BioShock 4 Having a Voiced Protagonist
A Voiced Protagonist Could Make BioShock 4 Less Atmospheric and Impactful
BioShock’s unique settingsoften garner more attention than its central characters. This is especially true for Rapture, and a big reason for this, aside from the city’s awe-inspiring design and detailed lore, is the fact that the player is seeing the game world ‘through their own eyes,’ without the chattering of a talkative hero or charismatic companion to distract them. The protagonists of the firstBioShockgames aren’t exactly blank canvases, but their subdued presence makes it easy for one to immerse themselves in Rapture, as they aren’t influenced by a clear-cut personality.
This is especially effective in relation tothemany moral dilemmas of theBioShockseries. When confronted with a difficult choice inBioShock 1or2, the player is more likely to feel like they, themselves, are being tasked with making the call; they aren’t being oppressed by dialog from the main character.BioShock Infinite’s tough decisions are less impactful, as a player may feel like they’re making the choice Booker would make, not the one they want to make.
Plus, a voice actor will, inevitably, inject a certain personality into a character. For a main character, this will more often than not be an intentionally likable personality, which most would agree is the case forDeWitt inBioShock Infinite. Since players are more likely to feel a natural, human connection to DeWitt thanks to Troy Baker’s performance, they can be predisposed to making the most humane or morally upstanding decisions, as doing otherwise seems unnatural.
BioShock 4’s Story Could Be More Intimate with a Voiced Protagonist
All of the above concerns only hold true if Cloud Chamber is looking to make a faithful, almost emulative,BioShockgame.BioShock 4could very well be a wildly different sort of experience, and in that case, could actually benefit from a more emotionally resonant and relatable narrative, buttressed by a voiced protagonist.Booker DeWitt is more interesting than the protagonists of the first twoBioShockgames in some ways, and it’s clear that Troy Baker’s emotive performance plays a major hand in this.
WhetherBioShock Infinitehas the beststory in theBioShockseries is highly debatable, but its narrative is certainly the most engaging and well-paced. Story in the first two games was delivered almost exclusively through exposition, often in the form of audio logs. This is an unfortunate byproduct of the voiceless protagonist, who cannot communicate with any characters and therefore has a tendency to be passive during most story beats. IfBioShock 4is aiming for a more emotionally evocative, fast-paced, and immersive linear narrative experience, then a voiced protagonist could be the better option.
