What do you get when you put the horror genre, traditional animation and a unique storyline into a blender? You get “Bendy and the Ink Machine!”
“Bendy and the Ink Machine” is an episodic survival horror game created by theMeatly Games. Players take on the role of Henry, a retired animator who has been invited back to his old workplace by his former boss after 30 years. Players must navigate through the studio, all the while solving interesting puzzles and avoiding the mysterious “Bendy,” a demonic entity made entirely of ink.
Originally released in February, “Bendy” will have five chapters total. Chapters 1 and 2 are already out, with Chapter 3 scheduled to be released sometime during the last week of September.
Despite its short time in the gaming community, Bendy has taken the internet by storm, spawning a cult following. Part of Bendy’s popularity comes from its unique premise, as players are thrown into the early years of animation when black and white cartoons were mainstream. Like “Five Nights at Freddy’s,” Bendy provides a fresh scenario for the horror genre.
“I’ve watched ‘Markiplier’ and ‘Jacksepticeye’ play it [on Youtube], and I like the overall design of the game,” said Joseph Maki, a freshman digital animation major. Maki said he would “recommend it to anyone who likes old cartoons, like “Mickey Mouse: Steamboat Willie.”
Even with the release of two chapters, a majority of the story is still shrouded in mystery, allowing for much speculation among gamers. In fact, various theories about the role of certain characters and new gameplay mechanics have surfaced.
“I am hoping to see more of Bendy and Boris,” said Kate Bushong, a junior media studies major. “I would recommend this game because it has a very interesting concept, and it does a great job of unsettling the player.”
For more information about “Bendy and the Ink Machine”, visit bendyandtheinkmachine.com and theMeatly’s Twitter and YouTube channel.
