Better than the first game, but that's not really a difficult feat to pull off. Dark Revival looked promising at first I'll admit and then I played it only to find out that the developers still have no idea how to make an enjoyable horror game that's actually scary.
The horror in this game still relies on jumpscares that are cheaper than ever. There's nothing much to say past that regarding the horror because the game isn't scary at all.
It should be studied in schools why games (mostly horror games) love to focus on melee combat only to lack the ability to block. Once again in this game melee combat is dumbed down to hitting the enemy faster than it can hit you back and it hasn't improved at all since the last game. Condemned: Criminal Origins came out in 2005 and people still don't know how to make melee-oriented horror games not play like shit.

The stealth in this game is a joke. As long as your crouched and not directly in front of an enemy, congrats! You just activated your active camouflage! That doesn't mean the AI is stupid when it comes to stealth, sometimes I've been spotted through walls and the mere act of standing up from crouching alerts nearby enemies somehow.

Then we got the titular enemy, Bendy. I never thought I'd say something of praise to the first game but it handled Bendy better in there. When Bendy spawns in, you have a limited amount of time to find a hiding spot. Don't have a hiding spot nearby? Boom, you die instantly to him out of nowhere. At least in the first game Bendy has to make his way to you instead of just appearing out your ass for an instant kill.

Then we got tons of stupid exclusions settings-wise. We have the classic no FOV slider that so many PC games are afraid to add in but Bendy and the Dark Revival isn't like other PC games because for a 2022 release, it comes with a complete lack of keybindings! Don't like pressing C to crouch? Too bad you can't rebind it.

I can't believe at one point this had overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam. This game is mediocre at best and it's crazy that this series has released three games and not one of them is any good.

Introduction
When you play horror games, one of the things you look forward to is the ambiance that the title provides. Those murky walls, enemies hiding in plain sight, and big stalker monsters that jump over you dictate how good a horror game can be. Bendy and the Dark Revival aims to produce a terrifying environment without going over the top.

The game ends up being a "what if Bioshock was scary?" case that improves greatly over the series's first entry. Enemies have been added along with weapons, and bosses all feature different challenges to overcome. Adding that to the Ink Demon, we have a game that can please both newcomers and veterans of the genre alike.


Control and Map Design
The world that the machine keeps pumping out features areas that need to be backtracked to fulfill objectives. As you explore new zones, foes can respawn indefinitely, requiring strategy and timing to succeed in solving puzzles. An example of that can be moving in a corridor at the right moment to avoid a horde of ten monsters or planning your hiding spots for when the big bad decides to appear.

That makes you analyze all your options when entering areas. Where will you run when things go down? Or what is the best approach to accessing the next site determines your odds of succeeding. In addition, there are secret lairs to discover, gent gates to open for rewards, and you can even break barrels to make your hiding spots. It creates an enjoyable and terrific experience that demands always paying attention to your surroundings.

Strong Points
The strong point in Bendy and the Dark Revival is the graphics and how the world looks. The implantation of assets in the environment is fantastic! Docks that ooze with ink that can hurt you abandoned cities, and downright creepy studios full of darkness give a aesthetic that few horror games can accomplish. Despite having a cartoonish look for some enemies and moments, it can be scary when foes jump out of a locker you opened for health recovery items or when they hide in the shadows.

Art Design and Visuals
The game art design is top-notch; you can notice that with Bendy alone. The little guy can go from a charming, well-dressed devil to an abomination that will chase you while chatting about chewing up your bones. Characters such as Audrey or Alice look detailed while having an ink touch added to them to be integrated with the ink world better, while others, such as Wilson Arch, appear suspicious and creepy.

The game uses Unity as the engine, looking beautiful on screen and reinforcing that the game, in such a way, is a spiritual successor to Bioshock games. It attracts your view as you glance over objects and landscapes in the distance, making you curious about the world the ink machine created and how far it has developed.

Sound, Replayability and Performance
When it comes to sound, the title does a good job at terrific noises that can frighten you, particularly when the Ink Demon is coming to get you during the worst time (it is always the worst time when he comes by). Voice acting is solid for most characters while spectacular for others, such as the Ink Demon, hitting a perfect voice actor.

The Dark Revival only offers a little in terms of replayability if you aim for completion of it to 100%. A playthrough in hard mode and another in easy without dying while grabbing all collectibles will net you the total completion of the game.

Performance-wise, the game runs well, hitting 60 fps stable at max graphics. Regarding crashes or bugs, there aren't many. The enemy AI can be exploited using places where you can crouch to hide, but that only affects the normal enemies, not bosses or stalkers.


+Perfect entry point for those new to the horror genre, and will also please veterans.
+Impressive visuals that give birth to a world full of wonder and horrors.
+A Bioshock spiritual successor that could fill that hole for fans of the series.
+Immersive gameplay that dictates smart use of the environment to survive.


-Some foe's AI can be easily exploited with some clever use of hiding spots.
-Cannot load a game save during fights feels like a huge oversight.

Conclusion
Bendy and the Dark Revival is one of the best horror games out there regarding visuals and ambiance, rivaling those such as Layers of Fears while adding action with its gameplay. Thanks to its combat, it avoids the "walking simulator" troupe yet keeps the horror going with enemies such as the Ink Demon that force you to hide. A good entry to start for newbies to the genre, as the terror begins softly before becoming full hysteria, while veterans can be pulled in by its original look and premise.

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Big step up from the first game. The game looks even more horrifying and gruesome. The ink was really good used in this game. The protagonist is way more likeable than in the first game and the antagonist is also way better. This is what a sequel should be, only improve. Combat is way better, than in the first game and all of the chapters are more solid. The voiceacting is superior, but the voicemails could be better, way to quiet. I can't think of anything else to criticize about this game. The only problem I can think of is with the marketing about this game, but that has nothing to do with the game. Recommended playing atleast once.

This game is currently in the Humble Choice for May 2023, this is part of my coverage of the bundle. If you are interested in the game and it's before June 6th, 2022, consider picking up the game as part of the current monthly bundle.

Bioshock and horror which together creates a problem.

Bendy and the Dark Revival is the second in the series and the first we’ve seen in Humble Choice. It’s a survival horror game set in a Walt Disney-esque studio. At first, it has a decent number of jump scares, which is perhaps not great, but a form of horror. The level design is interesting, and while it would have been nice to use more color, it’s a stylistic decision to go black and white or rather brown and black. The story has some interesting thoughts but also a few stumbling blocks, like an evil character that isn't even hiding it.

The problem is after about thirty minutes, players grab a wrench. Horror games have this problem where they give weapons to the player, and suddenly players are in a power fantasy, that happens here. But worse, this uses Bioshocks rules, so players can infinitely revive if they die… as long as they don’t die to the Ink Demon, which will instantly kill the player. The problem though is the minute I learned both of these facts, I didn’t fear either the Ink Demon or the normal enemies and was able to melee the latter to death. It’s hard to be afraid of much in this game. Also, it feels like the story here has links to the first game, but without playing that or having it, I’m at a loss.

Pick this up if you’re already a Bendy fan. If you have the first game, this might be for you, but as a new fan, instead of being afraid or impressed, I was more angry. This game squanders two great ideas of a horror game or a game similar to Bioshock and instead feels like it’s unable to properly do either since it’s doing both. Even running and hiding lack purpose because players can just duck into a vent and get away from almost anything.

If you enjoyed this review or want to know what I think of other games in the bundle, check out the full review on or subscribe to my Youtube channel: https://youtu.be/JFv65vCu_dw

didnt expect to play this but there was Some Magnetism to the original that i kinda just Kept Thinking Ab even tho it was mostly a mid experience, so i had to sate my curiosity. the result is a game that is both Kinda Stunning (as an improvement and even on its own goals) and kinda conflicting for me in ways i dont quite know how to resolve...

to get the obvious out of the way, this is a Shining Blinding Testament to what an indie team can do when theyre cushioned by sufficient financial success to take their time and make a Done When It's Done passion project. in hindsight most of the problems i had with the original (esp narratively) were the result of the episodic release, and the annoying desire to subvert the expectations ppl gathered in the aftermath of each episode. the story they wrote by the seat of their pants moment to moment mostly feels v hollow, and while theres cool background stuff going on sometimes, its so transparently in service to Proving Matpat Wrong that it pales even in comparison to fnaf, which always kept a safe Vagueness and also seemed to want to actually reward ppl for figuring things out and thinking ab the story (and frankly even if they were messily organized, mr cawthon rly did land on a bunch of genuinely emotionally evocative beats). this also effects the gameplay 2 a lesser degree, i think it at least slightly informs the lack of Systems, the idea is that yr doing something different in every chapter ig but with no core mechanical thrusts the start-to-finish playing experience of the final game rly does just play like bioshock for actual babies

by contrast the dark revival is a well considered, clearly passionate, far more nourishing experience...built from the ground up to support itself from the beginning to the end. hell there's even a real Story this time, and it doesnt require thatttt much knowledge of the lore theory analysis bullshit from the original (tho it does require a little) to follow. the story of the game involves the things that are actually Currently Happening, informed by the past,,,much closer to actual bioshock ! speaking of which, we've at Least made the huge leap to Bioshock For First Graders, none of the systems in place are original but the stealth, puzzles, collectables, Combat U Want To Avoid Generally, its all perfectly functional even in a vacuum, and implemented with clear care and polish. sometimes yr scurrying around while crouched physically rustling thru various containers for health and upgrade parts, and then some enemy starts heading yr way and u ink jet out of their line of sight, and all of a sudden u have an Actual Identity for bendy as a game, derivative yes, but enjoyable and charming. man and a lot of the puzzles rly are just Good, they didnt have to do that !!!

narrative is where the games new construction benefits it the most, but its also where my conflict comes into play. in a vacuum, i think this is rly solid and sometimes even moving stuff. even tho im not invested in this franchise, i still smiled at some of the fanservice and was Gobsmacked at some of the Massive Twists (thankfully delivered with no Theorybait Vagueness this time, the impact is fully felt with every reveal), the second half is full of rly well-crafted narrative Bombs that manage to actually feel resonant with the whole piece (something u cant do if yr changing yr idea for the ending cuz matpat guessed it), and also somehow with the original??? that the original's bonkers ending (which i thought was interesting in concept but understimulating because it was so clearly a last-minute decision instead of one that made any real impact on the preceding game) is justified and made evocative as much as it is here is nothing short of a miracle...the psychological toll of the events on the characters, the embrace of the ink machine's world as a controlled fiction in monument to the failures of its creator, god idk man its just good !!! its just rly good stuff !!! at this point theres no excuse for there not to be a fnaf game or something that tries to wrangle that vague mess into something impactful in the moment of play, cuz they have waaaaay more to work with then bendy did and bendy somehow just pulled it off rly good!

my conflict (aside from my just general lack of Bendy Fandom, meaning some of the expected investment is a little lost on me) comes w/ my knowledge (v limited btw) that some stuff is up w/ the devs,,,i will not pretend to be informed on the situation and even with what i know its my understanding that the main problem has been Dealt With and theres not too too much of an ethical dilemma with buying the game or whatever. but it does make some of the redemptive elements of the game feel v distracting and uncomfortable for me, theres already kind of an uneasy irony at play with this franchise since its an Aspiring Media Empire ab the horrors of an Aspiring Media Empire, and stuff like Lets Consider The Psychology Of Horrible Capitalist Abuser Joey Drew rly rly makes that tension boil over in a way that took me out of what could have been v charming and moving moments. even the ending, which i think is v v sweet and v v azzycore in concept, is a lil deflated by this feeling for me

still tho idk. i do just kinda think this is a rly nice game and probably one i would have been obsessed with had i played it at a young age. fairly definitive proof that the creatives behind these games are v v talented and just needed to be given a better format and more wiggle room to fully shine. another W for autistic children with bad taste (me)

I really wanted this game to be a good but I was heavily disappointed. Dark Revival suffers from a narrative that isn't given the proper pacing, gameplay that never goes beyond lack luster, and unnecessary content that doesn't make sense for the genre (Mostly the side quests that feel more appropriate for a game like Bioshock. There's no point in reaping those rewards in a game that lasts 6 hours)

The first hour or so was pretty enjoyable, but it quickly fell off after that, and remained that way for my next 5 hours of gameplay.