Every year since indie horror became a mainstream powerhouse in the gaming and Let's Play communities, gamers have spent countless hours sifting through the mediocre, glitchy, and just plain weird horror games with the bright-eyed hope that we'd find 'the one'. (Now don't get me wrong, all indie games deserve the chance to be played and I have mad respect for what they do but not all of them really captivate us like we hope). We rummage through the not-so-scary passion projects on Itch.io, Steam, and the like to find something that truly captures the imagination and scares us half to death. It's games that really have heart, attention to detail, and a memorable bad-guy you love to hate that fills the need we've grown so accustom to. There is of course the icon that is Five Nights at Freddy's. Reflect Studios gave us Welcome to the Game and it's upcoming in-direct sequel Rides with Strangers which are fun surprises. Last year we were graced with a wonderful gem called Lethe from KouKouStudios that was reminiscent of Amnesia in all the right ways (blog post for that in the archives if you want to know more about that horror masterpiece). Even Emily Wants to Play and Hello Neighbor caught people off guard and kept players coming back for more. Then along came Bendy, and 2017 was given a standard that will be hard to surpass. I'm a big advocate for the darling of the gaming industry - indie games are a passion of mine and I try to always support one big up-and-coming game a year. Kind of like a long-term investment for a welcome heart-attack. That being said, I go big when I find something that intrigues me, but I have get the vibe that it will be worth it. It has to have atmosphere, it has to make me feel uncomfortable, and it has to have a memorable presence lingering in the shadows that leaves a lasting impression long after you exit the game. theMeatly has done just that with their new episodic project Bendy and the Ink Machine, and it's one of the coolest little games I've seen in a long while. Bendy and the Ink Machine is an episodic, puzzle-based horror game that will make you nostalgic for classic hand-drawn animation of days gone by. I love that games like this and DoubleFine's "Cuphead" are capitalizing on a much loved and memorable art-style that's reminiscent of Felix the Cat and Steamboat Willie like cartoons. It's just a fun, iconic style that really has some flair and looks good polished up with 21st century graphics. It gives players a feeling of comfort and happiness to look at, which is why utilizing it for psychological horror is just a brilliant move. The first chapter/demo of this seemingly innocent little puzzle game finds the players stepping into the shoes of Henry as he heads back to (what we can only assume to be) his home-town after a thirty year absence. He receives a letter from his"best pal" by the name of Joey Drew (I see what you did there), who requests he come back to the old workshop where they used to work on cartoons together for a surprise. The workshop is run down, ink stains run down the walls and onto the floors from large, unnerving pipes lining the ceiling. Everything is in ruins; tables are busted, doors are boarded up, and the lingering presence of Bendy in life-size cardboard form lingers around the corner with a haunting grin. Henry finds himself in the presence of a mad man's psychotic invention in the form of the titular ink machine, and all the repercussions that come alongside it. Someone is bringing the cartoons to life. They know they've been lied to and they're out for vengeance - all with an unending grin plastered across their melting faces. You have to survive the monstrosities, escape the workshop, and above all... 'fear the machine'. The demo hits that sweet spot of familiar yet uncomfortable. With perfectly cued audio tracks, beautifully original level designs, and just enough of a glimpse at the twisted face of Bendy behind boarded up doorways I was hooked within minutes. I was a bit bummed that it was so short, but I have to give props to Meatly for creating everything from scratch so it's understandable that the teaser chapter isn't very long. The game has a lot of potential. There are hints that Bendy is just one of a unique set characters, especially once you run across the mutilated form of one Boris the Wolf and the very prominently phrased "Us" written in ink splatters across the wall near the end. There are telling signs that the halls of the workshop may be infested with a slew of terrifying creatures of ink and paper - which is awesome. The sepia tones, old-timey music, and audio recordings create an unsettling atmosphere along the lines of Bioshock and the innocence of the art style lures you into a false sense of security before springing perfectly times scares. I have a lot of hope for this game and was very excited to pledge my support on Patreon (because I'm very impatiently waiting for chapter two, and I just really wanted the title of Meat Lord) - and you should do the same. The demo is available on Game Jolt and Itch.io, or you can watch the increasingly large number of Let's Plays on Youtube if you don't feel like playing for yourself. Then head over to the Patreon page to support the next chapter (all those links below). It's a fun, unique thrill-ride you'll definitely want to be a part of. Written by Alycia D. (MaybeMockingbird ) All pictures are copyright TheMeatly. Chapter one of Bendy and the Ink Machine can be downloaded on Itch.io and Game Jolt. Support the Patreon.
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AuthorJust your average geek chic gamer chick into all things ghostly and geeky (and vice versa) Archives
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