On February 10, 2017, indie developer Kindly Animal released the first chapter of a puzzle horror game called Bendy and the Ink Machine . Although information technology featured fewer visceral scares than some horror indie games, Bendy and the Ink Machine'southward cel-shaded art mode and eerie concept caught a lot of attending. The game made a huge splash among fans of horror games even earlier the rest of the episodes had come out. Episodes two and iii appeared to take the tension and thick temper to even greater heights, but episodes four and five ended up bringing the franchise crashing back downwards to earth. Nevertheless, despite the lackluster ending, Bendy and the Ink Machine is still a modern classic of indie horror deserving of celebration.

Like many indie horror games, Bendy and the Ink Machine starts with a uncomplicated concept. In this case, that concept is the idea of a malicious living cartoon character seeking revenge on its creators. The titular Bendy is drawn in the simple, rounded style of a 1930s cartoon graphic symbol. His combination of stark blacks and faded yellows evokes the feeling of an era now past in a way that is at in one case cornball and uncanny. The rest of the game follows suit, leading to 1 of the near unique and iconic worlds in recent horror gaming.

A Brief History of Bendy

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Although Bendy is easily the breakout character, Bendy and the Ink Machine focuses on the misadventures of Henry Stein, a former traditional animator who has returned to his old workplace. A mysterious invitation from his one-time friend Joey Drew has lured Henry dorsum to Joey Drew Studios. In the note, Joey states that he has something to show Henry in that location—a sentence that becomes far more than sinister one time Henry enters the old studio building. Chapter ane is spent edifice tension as Henry wanders through the run-downwards halls and stumbles across Joey's secret: the titular Ink Auto, a device that tin can bring cartoon characters to life. What could exist a whimsical concept takes a turn for the worse equally a nightmarish version of Bendy is built-in into the real world.

The story takes many twists and turns from there, some of which are only revealed in the Bendy and the Ink Machine books. However, the catastrophe of Chapter one when Henry must flee from the intimidating Ink Bendy is easily the most memorable part of the whole game. With the appearance of the game's very first hostile presence, Bendy and the Ink Machine went from a fun stylized outing to a surreal nightmare in 1 brutal dive. The afterward appearances of characters like Boris the Wolf and Alice Affections capitalized on Bendy's introduction to shock the player. This scene gave the game an incredibly strong get-go, even if the finale didn't quite stick the landing.

The Max Fleischer Connection

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While some have compared Bendy and the Ink Automobile'south big-eyed cartoon characters to the Disney animated canon, a better comparing would be to the work of Max Fleischer. The American animator was well-known for bringing characters like Popeye, Betty Boop, and Superman to the big screen. His piece of work had notorious energy to it and often focused on bizarre things happening to characters who may or may not have deserved information technology.

Alice Angel is conspicuously inspired past Betty Boop, but fifty-fifty characters similar Bendy and Boris have more than in common with Fleischer's loftier-contrast, movement-filled artwork than the pastel wonderlands Disney was creating. Other modern cartoon-inspired games similar Cuphead also drew on Fleischer's work, for amend or worse. Bendy and the Ink Motorcar may accept made a expert decision with its atmospheric approach to gameplay, small on-screen cast, and man characters whose faces were ofttimes deliberately obscured. More than than that, nonetheless, this game deliberately fix out to set on the nostalgia surrounding 1920 and 30s-style animation. Bendy and the Ink Motorcar is, at its best, a journey into the depravity and desperation for success that lies underneath the Dancing Demon's facade.

A Game Worth Celebrating

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Of course, no game is always at its all-time, and Bendy and the Ink Car is no exception. As the chapters continued to roll out, it became increasingly clear that Kindly Beast was writing by the seat of its pants. Only although the game features some questionable design choices, a disruptive and underwhelming catastrophe, and rather stripped-down characters, its fantabulous art design and thick and oppressive atmosphere are however very memorable. Its particular brand of meta horror has stuck in the minds of players long later on the game's disappointing ending.

This may not exist a surprise--the concept of malicious living cartoon characters haunting the abandoned studio that brought them to life is 1 that lingers. Beyond that, the earth of Bendy and the Ink Machine is just fascinating overall. From the slick, stylish graphics to the slowly-building atmosphere to some spectacularly memorable inky messes, there's a lot to appreciate nigh this title. It gave fans some iconic sights such equally the grisly dissected corpse of Boris, the twisted and menacing Projectionist, and the half-melted corrupted Alice Angel. Regardless of its flaws, Bendy and the Ink Machine is more than worth celebrating. The twisted story of Joey Drew Studios, its mistreated employees, and its tormented creations went downward in gaming history for good reason. This creepy indie game paved the route for later, as stylized titles like Inscryption that build on meridian of its concepts of untrustworthy creators and menacing creations.

Beyond that, Bendy and the Ink Machine notwithstanding has a lot going for it. Although the story ended up being confusing and full of holes, particularly around the ending, the experience is nonetheless worthwhile. Joey Drew Studios is filled with a thick, threatening temper, and Bendy, Boris, and Alice Angel's designs are all expressive, playful, and full of potential. If fans of the franchise are lucky, that potential will continue to exist explored in expanded universe materials and subsequent games. With the sequel Bendy and the Nighttime Revival now in production, it'southward a good time to gloat the nightmarish globe that Bendy and the Ink Machine created.

Bendy and the Ink Machine is bachelor now on Mobile, PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.

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Nicola Jean Kapron (781 Articles Published)

A late arrival to the gaming field who grew upward in a household devoid of consoles. Her life changed afterwards she found an erstwhile Gameboy Color and a copy of Pokémon Crystal at a garage auction. While she specializes in narrative-driven games, JRPGs, indie games, games with cute monsters, and horror games, Nicola appreciates all kinds of games. She hopes to utilize her experience as a author to give her work at GameRant a unique flavour.

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