Ken Levine is preparing to overturn the rules of video game storytelling again in a long journey from BioShock to Judas.
Judas is the new title Levine is working on. Ken Levine made waves back in 2007 with the release of BioShock. An immersive sim FPS that has inspired many subsequent titles like Skyrim and the more recent Atomic Heart. The game’s iconic combat system and interaction based on the use of powers (plasmids) and firearm management on the other hand remain memorable. This allowed for dynamic combat as players could utilize both simultaneously and modify them in real-time.
A significant leap forward was made with environmental storytelling. Through various recordings and meticulously crafted environments, players were immersed in powerful sensations and information, all consistent with the context of the ongoing mission. And then there were the characters: always intriguing, from the most secondary to the main ones, culminating with Andrew Ryan.
After years away, Levine returned with his new development studio, Ghost Story Games, offering an extremely interesting experience. Can he once again surpass expectations and elevate the current gaming landscape?
The Story of Judas
Judas is the protagonist of Ken Levine‘s new production. “Resurrected” because previously deceased after an incident in the Mayflower space station. The protagonist’s task will be to rectify her mistake by making several important choices. Carefully choosing which side to align with among the three main characters will heavily influence the gaming experience and alter your relationship with them.
The three parties at play are:
Tom: the head of security. His goal is to complete the mission, ensuring humanity’s survival.
Nefertiti: a Nobel Prize-winning doctor who aims to eliminate human flaws through science, creating a new civilization of robots.
Hope: a girl who will seek your help to achieve oblivion. Her strong existential crisis has led her to believe that erasure is the only way to eliminate her suffering.
The complicating factor is that the three parties involved are a family. This will create various frictions and unpredictable situations during gameplay, ensuring that no run is similar to the previous one.
Narrative LEGO: The New Innovative System Created by Levine
Ken Levine has developed an innovative technique called Narrative LEGO. This system allows for real-time modification of the entire narrative structure, including the world and the story. With every single player choice, no matter how small, thus ensuring a highly varied experience and avoiding the feeling of repetitiveness.
During Judas’ gameplay, if a player prefers stealth in certain areas, the game will adjust by introducing a more aggressive situation in one of the subsequent areas to prevent boredom.
The same system is applied to the three parties at play. Depending on whom the player supports, can help or hinder the player in various ways.
The title is still in full development, and the system will be further enhanced. Considering Levine’s perfectionist nature, there are high expectations for optimizing this system to its fullest potential.
What Can We Expect from Judas
Judas has all the makings of an excellent title. Levine is one of those creatives who can elevate the gaming experience, currently anchored to outdated standards that lead to significant stagnation in the industry. With Judas, Levine has the potential to send a remarkable message to the entire industry. Thanks to the new Narrative LEGO system, which could set a new standard of quality regarding generative AI in writing and development.
Ghost Story Games bears a significant responsibility with this production, as it is under close scrutiny and naturally laden with very high expectations.
Judas is set to release in 2025 for PC, Xbox Series X, and PS5.
