Summary
The categorization of Ken Levine’sJudasas aBioShockclone is currently largely based on assumptions, as its art style and apparent themes are really the only things justifying the label. Apart from that, nothing Levine has revealed so far is evidence thatJudasis likeBioShockat its core, especially given its new Narrative LEGO system and emphasis on player agency — which is nothing like whatBioShock’s linear structure allowed. Nevertheless, while the muscles that mobilizeJudasmight be distinct, its skin and bones undeniably bear a nigh-uncanny resemblance toBioShock, suggesting a new subgenre might be in order.
It’s not uncommon in modern gaming for new titles to evolve standard game genres into more complex versions of themselves.FromSoftware’sSoulsformula, for instance, had such a massive impact on the action RPG genre that it inadvertently created the Soulslike subgenre as more and more games adopted the model. Metroidvania, on the other hand, is a hybrid subgenre consisting ofMetroidandCastlevania-inspired elements where players gain new abilities to unlock previously inaccessible areas in a world of interconnected environments. Despite the success of these two subgenres, however, it might be time for them to step aside and make way for a new subgenre, asJudaslooks primed to start a trend withBioShock-likes.
Judas Could Spark a Trendy New Subgenre
Judas Is Ken Levine’s First BioShock-like Since BioShock Itself
Despite Ken Levine being known forBioShock,Judasis the firstBioShock-like he has developed sinceBioShockitself. Its art style and dystopian themes are so strikingly similar toBioShockthat it has been accused of being little more than aBioShockclone. Despite these accusations,Judashas some unique features going for it, including its Narrative LEGO system and light roguelike elements, both of which Levine never incorporated into the firstBioShockgame. Nevertheless, asLevine is the creator ofBioShockand nowJudas, the two are bound to be similar to one another, especially in light ofBioShock’s influence on the gaming industry.
Judas Isn’t the First BioShock-like, But It Could Be the First of a New Subgenre
If all it takes for a game to be categorized as aBioShock-like is a similar art style, combat, and themes, thenJudasis far from the firstBioShock-like.Atomic Heart, for instance, is asBioShockas they come, with a dystopian setting and retro-futuristic aesthetics to boot. It’s also played in first-person, and players are given telekinetic and elemental skills that are highly reminiscent ofBioShock’s Plasmids. Other games likeWe Happy FewandImmortals of Aveumadopt the dystopian feel ofBioShockand certain elements of its combat.
In short,Judasisn’t the first game likeBioShock, but it may be the first to make “BioShock-like” an official subgenre.
What might makeJudasthe game to finally make “BioShock-like” an official subgenre is the fact that it would be Ken Levine doubling down on the formula he established with the firstBioShockin 2007 — a pattern that has been known to create subgenres in the past.Demon’s Souls, for example, may have beenthe first Soulslike gameever made, but it really wasn’t until the release ofDark Soulsthat the Soulslike formula was recognized as a subgenre instead. In the same way, sinceJudasis one of Ken Levine’s own creations, it could be the game that cements theBioShock-like formula as an official subgenre.
Only time will tell what level of impactJudashas on the gaming industry and whether it’s enough to influence future potentialBioShock-likes. There have already been a fewBioShock-like gamesintermittently scattered here and there, but it would be nice to see something other than Soulslikes and Metroidvanias dominating the subgenre space for a while, andBioShock’s signature formula might be a refreshing change of pace for that.
