The weight of expectation can be hard to overcome, and there are plenty of examples of games that didn't live up to their hype after promotional footage set the standard too high. BioShock 4 is in the unique situation of having skyrocketing anticipation despite not yet receiving anything other than the confirmation of its existence at new studio, Cloud Chamber. It's the fourth entry in a beloved series, and since the third game released 10 years ago it has not been on the spotlight for some time. Add to this the recent reveal of Ken Levine and Ghost Story Games' Judas, and BioShock is firmly on the back foot.
Little is known about BioShock 4 past a few rumors, but whatever it becomes will undoubtedly be compared to what came before. BioShock Infinite dared to do something different, and with its sky-high setting came new enemies to confront. The aptly-named Songbird is one such example, proving to be a thoroughly terrifying adversary for Booker DeWitt to overcome in his bid to "bring us the girl and wipe away the debt." The fourth game has to find a way to match its epic scale and genuinely frightening presence, delivering something of equal quality.
Songbird's Place in BioShock Infinite
Everything in BioShock is connected, and though Columbia is far away from Rapture geographically, it's very similar in tone and substance. Songbird is the creation of Fink Manufacturing, and is based on designs lifted from Big Daddies that were discovered through a tear. Songbird is to Elizabeth what Big Daddies are to Little Sisters, acting as a guardian of sorts that can be incredibly vicious and volatile when antagonized.
Songbird is a fusion of human and machine parts, but the cloud-surrounded setting of BioShock Infinite means wings made more sense for it to get around. Songbird is intertwined with Elizabeth's existence in the city, and as Booker muscles his way into the story the pair have a few memorable encounters. Despite being a singularly-focused and irrational being, Songbird's end in the waters that surround Rapture is emotional. It adds to the depth of the story as a whole, and further clouds the narrative surrounding who's good or bad in the story.
BioShock 4 Has a Mountain as Tall as Columbia to Climb
Little is known about BioShock 4, but there are certain criteria it has to hit in order to feel like a true next entry in the long-standing and beloved series. An emphasis on environmental storytelling is a must, as is a menacing villain to make each move feel as though it's toward potential danger. Songbird is similar to the Big Daddies in that it is big, scary, and highly protective of its charges. That adversity is an essential source of tension in BioShock, with Songbird's beady, color-changing eyes and unbearable screeching making it very unpleasant for Booker to be around.
Even in moments like Elizabeth's introduction where Songbird isn't seen, his potential for destruction is evident, meaning escaping the tower a truly tense experience. It's a wonderful introduction, and reaffirms that BioShock doesn't have to show the full scale of a threat in order to make it feel justified. BioShock 4 has to keep up this trend, and while the Handymen more closely resemble the series' iconic Big Daddies, Songbird is a special addition to BioShock Infinite that sets a high bar for the fourth game to overcome.
BioShock 4 is in development.