The overhauled visuals ofGears of War: Reloadedtake a classic 2006 Xbox 360 game and transform it, creating a classic title with modern graphics for new systems. Although the gameplay hasn’t changed from the original, the reworked visuals significantly upgrade the title in almost every regard, providing a fresh experience. This remaster approach could benefit many titles from the same era, including one I would love to see return.
After theGears of War: ReloadedOpen Betafor its multiplayer, fans have noted how the remaster has several problems regarding online functionality. This is a common problem with remastering older titles, as other games likeStar Wars: Battlefront Classic Collectionhad similar performancedrops when it was released. Sinceremastering past games with strong multiplayer elements can be tricky, it may be better to upgrade former single-player experiences.
BioShock Deserves A Full Visual Remaster
Return To The Underwater City Of Rapture With New Graphic Upgrades
Both the originalGears of WarandBioShockwere released in the same year of 2007, with the former only coming out a few months after the latter.BioShockwas almost the complete opposite ofGears of War, featuring a tight, single-player experience with first-person action over third-person shooting.WhileGears of Waris remembered for its robust multiplayer,BioShockhas one of the most impactful video game storiesfrom the era it was released.
Now,BioShockdid receive a Remaster edition in 2016, but the release of new consoles in the past nine years has seen very few changes to the classic game. With the launch of the Xbox Series X|S and the PlayStation 5,BioShockhas only been playable through the now rapidly aging Remaster version. Since the firstGears of Waralso had a former remaster in 2015 withGears of War: Ultimate Edition, there’s no reason not tobringBioShockback to modern systems.
BioShock: Remasteredin 2016 included higher resolution, better textures, improved character models, and better environmental graphics for a variety of visual improvements. However, these visual leaps were meant for the Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and even the Xbox 360 where it was originally released.New ceilings for visual upgrades have long been raised in the last decade, whichGears of War: Reloadedtook full advantage of.
The graphic upgrades toBioShock: Remasteredwere very basic even for a"remaster"title back in 2016. While this version of the game included director’s commentary and a concept art gallery, it was basically just a port of the game to modern consoles.
Gears of War: Reloadedsees 4k resolution, up to 120 FPS support, new progression systems across platforms, and fully modernized multiplayer to create a definitive way to experience the original third-person action title.BioShockcould benefit from an edition that upgrades the visuals, gameplay, and overall experience of the titleto give new players a way to discover one of gaming’s most influential worlds.
The Single-Player Story, Gameplay, & World Of BioShock Is Timeless
Would You Kindly Play The Game Again?
Rapture is one of the most fully realized Steampunk worlds of any medium, with so much in-game lore that makesBioShocka near-timeless classic. The underwater city of"No Gods, No Kings, Only Man"has unforgettable environments that have captivated players since the moment it was released. Many other titles have tried to replicateBioShock’s simple yet deep world, but few have managed to reach the same level of wonder.
From the moment I saw Rapture for the first time, I had to know everything about how it came to be the anarchic, crumbling metropolis I found myself. Thefirst-person shooting ofBioShockis combined with a unique power systemthat directly conflicts with your morals, changing the outcome of the game’s ending depending on your choices. This makes you feel like you have a real impact on Rapture, either succumbing to its darkness or saving the small glimmers of hope within it.
Even if thegameplay ofBioShockis considered dated, it has one of the easiest combat systems to get into. This allows players to focus more on exploring the world, crafting items from what they find and learning about what happened to Rapture and those who lived there.
What most players, including myself, remember the most aboutBioShockis not just the world, but the story. To this day,BioShockhas one of the best twists in any game, changing everything about how you view your character and the choices you’ve made. This moment has defined the series, as even other games that came after the originalBioShockcouldn’t match the twist despite solid narratives.
UnlikeGears of War: Reloaded,BioShock’s action is directly compatible with the world, with more than just areas to take cover, shaping its environment. The world of Rapture is alive, creating obstacles and advantages through its level design that ensures that the same combat encounter has multiple solutions. This gives the world a dynamic feel that persists until the credits roll.
Overhauled Visuals Could Make Rapture More Hauntingly Beautiful Than Ever
Improve The Environment For Modern Systems For A Fresh Experience
If a remaster ofBioShockreceived the same treatment asGears of War: Reloaded, I’m confident it would gain a huge new following from players who’ve never experienced the original. There’s so much you could do withBioShock’s graphics, but improving them to modern standards would make Rapture stand out even more than usual.Changes to character models, water textures, or Plasmid aesthetics could capture interestfrom a brand-new audience.
One of the biggest examples of a past game getting a visual overhaul isThe Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered. WhileOblivion Remastered’s gameplay remains the same, the new visuals made iconic locations look so great that players of the original title returned just to see them again. With Rapture’s depth in almost every level, a high-fidelity remaster would make one of gaming’s best worlds look even better.
Improvements to the visuals ofBioShock’s world would make some levels much easier to play compared to the original or 2016 remaster. Rapture has been known to have poor lighting in some locations, so a new remaster could fix some visual problems that have plagued the game for decades.
Enhancing the look ofBioShockcould create an even more dystopian atmospherefor Rapture, highlighting the beauty of human innovation in contrast to its destruction born from greed. While a remaster could add new weapons or Plasmids to deepen the gameplay compared to the original, giving Rapture a fresh coat of paint might entice new and returning players even more.
While I am happy thatGears of War: Reloadedbrings back a classic Xbox 360 title, I think others from that era of gaming deserve to be brought back too. WithoutBioShock, some of my favorite gaming worlds wouldn’t exist, so I hope that Rapture makes a return, alongside maybe a new entry to the series with a successful modern remaster.
