The era of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One has brought many games from older generations up to the current day with snazzy visuals and complete packages of DLC bundled onto the disc. While some of last generation’s greatest games have seen this treatment, there seems to be one glaring omission that looked like it was going to be put right a few months back when a rumor surfaced.
A few months have passed since the listing for a Bioshock Collection had fans rejoicing that some of the most iconic gaming worlds of the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 era were coming to current gen consoles, and we’re still none the wiser. 2K Games have remained silent on the website listing and we’re left wondering if we’ll ever see a Big Daddy on the PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. Without further ado, here are five reasons that the Bioshock trilogy deserves the remaster treatment.
Incredible Storytelling
When the original Bioshock first released back in 2007 fans and critics alike praised the genius storytelling that Ken Levine had managed to weave in one of the most beautiful and enjoyable experiences to release on consoles and PC. Bioshock 2 may not have had an impact comparative to the original, but it was still an enjoyable addition to the series, taking us back to Rapture once again as we searched for our very own Little Sister, and placing us inside one of the most powerful suits we’ve ever hopped into in a game.
When Bioshock Infinite rounded out the series back in 2013, its ending and subsequent DLC rounded off the story and brought the series full circle with itself, answering some questions that had lingered on the minds of fans for years.
For anyone who has already played through Bioshock, these are games that are difficult to get bored of and even more difficult to dispute their prowess in storytelling. Exploring Rapture and Columbia and discovering their rich and deep histories fails to get tiring, especially when you can tie all the loose ends together and truly appreciate the little hints and tidbits left by the developers through each game.
For those who haven’t already played the Bioshock trilogy, it’s something you owe to yourself to play. If 2K Games was to bring the entire series to the latest console, the collection would serve as the perfect way to bring more people into the series, before 2K Games perhaps announce the next game of the series.
Atmospheric Worlds
Bioshock’s two cities were so perfectly realized that as we wandered through the streets of Infinite’s Columbia or sneaked around a corner to see a Big Daddy towering over a Little Sister in Rapture, we were genuinely amazed by what was in front of our eyes. Levine’s team didn’t skimp out on the details in each of these worlds either. Audio diaries litter each world, allowing us to find out more and more of the daily activities of citizens, the downfall of Rapture, and the insanity that both cities had slipped into.
Each game has an atmosphere that is difficult to shrug off. The ruined city of Rapture oozes creepy and the seemingly thriving sky city of Columbia has an unnerving feeling of calm and decree that contrasts excellently with the trail of chaos that Booker DeWitt leaves in his wake.
And that’s before we get onto the cast of quite literally crazy characters that inhabit both Rapture and Columbia. There’s never a moment of calm in Bioshock, and that’s what makes the series stand out against other games of its ilk.
Generation Defining
For many gamers who owned an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, Bioshock was a generation-defining series. And while it’s unlikely that anyone interested would have missed out on the series with it eventually being available on Xbox 360, PC, and PlayStation 3, other constraints such as time, money, or simply getting into gaming after the first game’s release may have prevented players from experiencing the adventure to be had in this trilogy.
While there have certainly been some questionable choices of games being remastered or receiving a ‘definitive edition’ such as Devil May Cry and Saints Row IV, it seems even more baffling that one of the greatest trilogies of the last generation hasn’t received the same love.
If 2K Games is hinting at working on a new entry into the franchise onto PlayStation 4 and Xbox One it would make sense to bring the past entries onto consoles so any new fans can go back and experience what came before it. Here’s hoping that we’ll get to replay the series on current-gen consoles soon.
Stunning Visuals
The steampunk aesthetics of the Bioshock series did something that many other games struggle to truly achieve. Despite the original’s age, it still succeeds in looking nothing short of stunning. Even back on the older consoles these games managed to look beautiful and that’s all down to the art design. Bringing these games to the current generation of consoles would only help to make these worlds feel even more real.
Imagine walking through the underwater tunnels of Rapture and seeing the beautiful depths of the ocean with modern-day graphics. Or perhaps looking out over Columbia’s bustling streets during the early stages of the game, high up in the clouds.
If 2K Games seriously does consider Bioshock to be a long-standing franchise then it would make sense to get to grips with the current consoles and how to utilize the tech in order to deliver another visually stunning entry into the series. Not to mention the benefits of giving anyone who missed the trilogy first time around another chance of playing them as an entire package.
Tons of Content
We’ve already mentioned the fact that the trilogy has an overarching story that brings everything full circle at the end. However, with the release of the original on Bioshock on PlayStation 3 bringing exclusive challenge rooms, a host of extra content for Bioshock 2, and the season pass for Bioshock Infinite, there is plenty of content that players may have missed.
Some of this does not need to be played in order to gain the full story-driven experience, such as puzzles chambers and combat challenges which can instead provide an enjoyable distraction and a method of testing your skills. On the other hand, the two story pieces of DLC, Burial at Sea Episodes One and Two for Bioshock Infinite definitely go a long way in explaining some unanswered questions.
If 2K was to release the Bioshock Collection as one complete package, it’d give longtime fans and newcomers the chance to experience every piece of Bioshock content currently out there, before experiencing whatever 2K has up its sleeve next for the series.
While nothing has been confirmed yet, the rumor a couple of months ago definitely gives hope that the Bioshock trilogy could make the jump to Xbox One and PlayStation 4. But for now, it looks like we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed and wait it out.
Do you think we’ll see the Bioshock Collection come to Xbox One and PlayStation 4? Do you think it deserves the remaster treatment? Let us know in the comments below.
Published: Dec 22, 2015 11:48 am