#Do you agree or disagree? Share your thoughts! I'm eager to hear them!

[ahmedmootaz]

Bendy And The Dark Revival: Thoughts and Opinions.

Yup, exactly what the title says this is. I just finished the game (~<1 hour ago as of the time of writing), and I had a few opinions I wanted to share. Consider this a sort of mini-review.

And obviously, this post is going to be the absolute motherload of every single sort of possible and impossible spoiler that may have spoilered in the history of spoilering since The Greatest Spoilering Of All Time.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!

Firstly, let's talk about the good parts! That's always a good way to start these things off, eh?

-First of all, he graphics are GREAT, the improvements done by The Meatly here are impeccable; the shadows and the general graphical atmosphere really sucks you in, even when playing on the lowest graphical settings, and some areas can be a treat to observe and watch, like the city in Chapter 4 when you're watching it from the glass window where you first meet little Bendy. I cannot understate how good the graphics can look at some points, and this also extends to entities and enemies, as they have unique designs that sill feel as if they belong to the Bendy universe, alongside the classic ones like the Butcher Gang, of course.

-The movement of Audrey is a whole lot smoother than Henry's ever was. When I played the original Bendy And The Ink Machine, the movements were sluggish almost, and the mouse sensitivity was either non-existent or too speedy that I couldn't notice it. Overall, I'd definitely consider it a plus that moving isn't actively impeded by some development hiccups this time around. Sprinting and running around is also fun to do and can lead to some tense moments when you're escaping an enemy.

-The game rewards exploration of its areas with the various rewards it hands out, like Audrey's upgrades or Gent's various contraptions and bits and bobs that simply lay about in the Studio with how useful they can be for the Gent Pipe upgrades. The same goes for exploring and finding the coins necessary to be able to heal yourself and buy coffee/food.

-The game's areas can be very diverse and even beautiful at times. The world itself is very well-crafted, and the fact that it loops on itself with the metro system and the areas being interconnected was a delight to experience, especially the connection between Wilson's manor and its northern and southern wings. I was delighted to find out I had re-entered the mansion through the closed doors I couldn't open when I first entered. The level design was definitely a highlight at points.

-BATDR is absolutely magnificent with friends. For context, I played this game from start to finish with my siblings on hard mode, and it can be a hilarious, tense, and sometimes terrifying journey. Discussing theories together or trying to beat a difficult part or ranting about a boss or two was never more fun than with friends, and I don't know if this is just me, but I felt that I enjoyed playing BATDR with my siblings a bit more than BATIM, probably thanks to the better controls not frustrating them.

So, for me, those were the very, very solid and good parts that this game provided, alongside the notably fewer amount of bugs compared to BATIM, of course. Those really helped me enjoy my journey throughout it a lot more, although that doesn't mean I enjoyed everything, unfortunately. Despite that fact that the bad parts should've been overshadowed by the good ones, I felt they always stuck out like a sore thumb whenever they were there, and one of the MOST prominent ones to me was:

-The dialogue. I often don't like disparaging game dialogue, but the dialogue throughout much of the game was rather painful to listen to. While the audio-logs were as good as they had been in BATIM, the dialogue between characters was especially jarring. From the very first piece of dialogue between Audrey and Alison, I found that the way the dialogue flowed was rigid. The introductions were awkward, and they lacked crucial information from both sides, instead going for vague descriptions like "he likes to smile...and he kills everything that moves!", which...almost breaks the immersion that the game tries building so very hard.

My biggest issue is that this is not limited to a specific section; the dialogue's tone shifts wildly in the same scenes, the phrasing and the words themselves don't fit, and rarely is important information conveyed through the dialogue. I found myself involuntarily laughing at parts that were meant to be serious due to how they were phrased, and I cannot blame the voice actors, as their work was very well-done, especially the Joey and Wilson actors, and although their dialogue was some of the best in the game, it was still awkward at points, perhaps due to the fact that none of the characters, Audrey excluded, had too much screen-time, which meant that they needed to convey as much information as possible and also play a role in the game's plot in their limited time, hence needing compact dialogue that fit everything at once in a short period of time. Speaking of which...

-There were too many characters for the game's length. I have heard that BATDR had some development trouble, so I understand that they had to make-do with some of the parts they had already, but the focus on Gent Corp. was, while very interesting at points, ultimately harmful as there was no payoff save for the teaser after the ending, seeing how the game revolved around Wilson and he rarely mentioned them except in a few parts, and for the most part, they had no relation to Wilson; instead, most references to them mentioned how they worked with Joey during the last days of the studio, which, for a game focusing on Audrey and Wilson, doesn't really make them the focal point of the game, so I don't understand why they got so much attention.

But there were also so many characters in the audio-logs that appeared for a single time and then disappeared forever. I get that they were meant to worldbuild with Gent, but when Gent themselves didn't play a major role in Wilson's story, it only helped split the game's narrative focus, at least in my eyes, especially seeing how very few logs talked about Wilson, and those were mostly by Wilson himself.

I know this is also present in BATIM, however, I felt that a good portion of the characters in audio-logs were very much related to Joey and the Studio, and we also had recurring characters, which helped build their stories without seeing them, like with Norman, Sammy, etcetra... Something that's not really repeated in BATDR, with the notable exception of Wilson.

-Speaking of Wilson, his role was very...meh. Everyone and their mother predicted he would be the villain, but what really, really disappointed me was how they treated his double-turn as a surprise. I thought that they were going to subvert expectations and have an ending where we side with Wilson and another one where we don't, but the fact that they treated his face-heel 'reveal' to be a big surprise was a letdown because it was really foreseeable. They had so much potential with him, and yet we know so little about him since, unlike Joey in BATIM, Wilson rarely has anyone else talk about him, whether in audio-logs or notes.

His motives were also hilariously absurd, though not in an especially good way. I remember that my siblings and I burst into laughter when his motives to rule the ink-realm was that his father didn't support him, and you know what? Sure, that CAN be a valid motive with enough backstory, but the thing is that there's no buildup. There's no anticipation or hinting at Wilson's relationship with his father. It is daddy issues at the most basic of levels and it's revealed during his face-heel reveal, and it's also not exactly the sort of mistreatment that makes someone subjugate a realm and kill (ink)people. Overall, Wilson had a lot of potential...it's just a shame barely any of it was used.

-Speaking of issues with the narrative, the story felt all over the place at times. Alison appeared at the start of the story, disappeared, and then talked to us after the first boss, but then she went away again and appeared to kill Alice, which was a cool moment, don't get me wrong, I just wasn't attached enough to her to appreciate the parallels to her saving Henry BATIM, seeing how she virtually has no screen-time.

Speaking of whom, Alice?! What was she doing there? How did she appear all of a sudden? Why was she there? How did Wilson not notice or neutralise her? How did she get into Wilson's manor? Why was she free but everyone from Henry's loops in BATIM caged? Her appearance was so sudden, and although I did really enjoy her return since her voice-acting and fight were fun, I just didn't enjoy how, thematically, it didn't make a lot of sense to just include her for no reason at all when it also didn't carry as much emotion and meaning to it like it did with Henry in BATIM, seeing how we dealt with her over the course of multiple Chapters.

This is actually one of the things that irked me most with the narrative; the game didn't seem to know what to do with the old characters. At first, I thought that with Alison appearing so soon, that we were going to meet the original BATIM crew and try and team-up with them against Wilson, but when she disappeared, I thought we were going to focus on the new characters, but then we met Henry and the old crew in the Cycle Breakers room and I believed they would play an important role in the fifth Chapter, but again, we only spoke with Henry once and then saw him again at the end of the game, which, I must admit, was quite cool in the heat of the moment as Beast Bendy, it was just underwhelming to think "Wait, that's all?" after the credits started rolling.

This hits especially true with the example of Sammy, who was hinted at throughout the entire game and across multiple Chapters, only to be shot at the end and die in a scene where most would've missed him. I wasn't his biggest fan myself, but I know how much a lot of people like him, and so treating him like this was a bit unkind to his fans, I feel. He could've been entirely absent from the game and nothing would've changed.

-Speaking on one, final note about the narrative, it felt as if there were a lot of unneeded and unnecessary gameplay decisions that broke the cohesion and flow of the story and caused a lot of frustration...At least for me. This is most apparent in the parts where you needed to back-track to earlier areas, especially the one part where you needed to return to the very first area of the game to get the heart you needed to feed to big ink monster, though it wasn't the only part where you needed to backtrack. There were also side-stories with the Lost Ones that interrupted otherwise grandiose and important moments, like the entry to the Cycle Breakers room being interrupted by a Lost One. While her quest was very sweet, I didn't really feel a sense of satisfaction when I finally found her as much as I went 'Finally!'.

-On the gameplay front, I almost felt like there were too many Lost Ones. I lost track of how many times I died to them, regardless of how many I killed, or how many times I encountered Demon Bendy, which lowered the value of their jumpscares. It was also annoying, in fact, the constantly worry about Bendy's incursions and saving every five seconds to make sure I lost no progress, something I felt was unnecessary with how often he popped up...However, this could also be entirely due to the fact that I was playing on Hard mode, so I will not hold this point against the game.

-And lastly, somehow, I don't feel as if there were that many tracks that stood out to me in the OST...Although that in particular can be my rose-tinted glasses remembering BATIM's soundtrack more fondly that it actually was.

So those were my thoughts about Bendy And The Dark Revival! Admittedly, while it can seem as if I had a lot of negative things to say about the game, that's mostly because I care a lot about the story in games like these, and I felt it wasn't really as gripping as I had hoped, even though there were plenty of things that made it a good game, it's just that standing up from BATIM's shadow was never going to be easy, and there were a few missteps, in my opinion.

Still, the game was quite fun to play through, and I have to give it either a 6.5 or a solid 7 out of 10 for me. It's worth trying for sure, though I'd temper my expectations going in.

[the-lady-writes-what]

One Night, Seven Brothers, Pt 1

Seven Demon Brothers x FEM! MC

Content: spanking, riding crop, mild degradation, use of 'sir', use of 'good girl,' oral (fem receiving)/cunnilingus, exhibitionism, squirting (i think?), fingering, restraints (holding down Y/N's wrists with hands)

🔞NSFW Content Below! 18+ Only! Minors DNI!🔞

"MC, there's something we need to discuss. May I borrow you for a moment?" Asked Lucifer.

He caught you alone in the library. You set down the stack of books you'd been carrying down on a nearby table. You followed Lucifer into a little alcove out of sight. Just when you think it's about normal conversation, Lucifer corners you against the bookshelf. His arms cage you in, reducing your chances of running away easily.

"L-Lucifer? What's going on?"

"MC, are you aware of the duties bestowed upon you once you take a contract with a high-level demon in Devildom?" Asked Lucifer.

"No, but, um, I'm sure you're about to tell you me," you said.

"Then I won't mince words with you." Lucifer pulled back and folded his arms across his chest. "A contract between a mortal and a demon does not consist merely of subjugating the demon to oneself. It calls for a little tit-for-tat. A compensation for the demon's services. You've been fortunate until now that none of us have called on our payment."

"Payment?"

Lucifer reached out again. He cupped your chin in his gloved hand. The smell of leather filled your senses. You couldn't help but lick your lips. Nervous as you were, it didn't dampen that not-so-secret desire burning in your chest.

"Did you think you could have our contracts for free?" Said Lucifer. The disdainful look on his face made you shiver. "Has Solomon told you anything at all about demon contracts? We offer our services in exchange for...favors."

Your brows furrow in a knot. "What kind of favors?"

"That is for the demon to decide. My brothers and I have agreed upon one form of payment that we all may partake in equally. And it just so happens we also need a volunteer for the next witches' sabbath."

"And what does this form of payment look like before I agree to participating?" You ask.

Lucifer leans in and whispers in your ear. "If you really must know, MC, it means we each get to fuck you. Do you regret all those contracts now?"

You swallow hard. You breathe in Lucifer's cologne. You'd swear that he wore it on purpose to mess with you. Heat rose to your face, making your cheeks feel hot. Your teeth pinch down on your bottom lip. Lucifer's dark laugh sends shivers down your spine, and in a good way.

"It seems that you don't find the idea all that disagreeable, MC. Well, what is your answer? Be quick. I think I hear someone coming." Lucifer teased.

Your heart pounded inside your chest. Against your will, your thighs rubbed together, giving away your secret desires. Your skirt wasn't long enough to hide the fact that the idea of all seven brothers having their way with you turned you on so badly. Lucifer leaned back but remained close. His red eyes stare into yours as he waited for your answer. Distant footsteps drew closer. If you didn't act quickly, someone was going to catch you pinned beneath one of the most powerful demon lords in RAD, and you'd never be able to live it down.

"O-Okay. Yes, I'll do it!" You almost shout.

Lucifer hushed you. He pressed a finger to your lips.

"Your eagerness is noted, but please remember, this is a library. You'd better keep your voice down," said Lucifer.

He slipped away from you. Lucifer left you alone in the alcove with your insides swarmed with butterflies. The thought occurred to you as you walked back to the spot in the library. Your books were thankfully in the same place where you left them. It occurred to you that the brothers would be sharing you. You remembered the look in Lucifer's eyes and how they held a promise of desire. They were going to fuck you.

Sweet Jesus.

The night of the sabbath arrived sooner than you expected. The demon brothers had left you alone for a few days to avoiding quarrels amongst themselves. Though, you suspected their absence to be far less practical than that. You were given a pure white cloak to wear and nothing more. Lucifer was absolute on that. Still, that didn't stop him from you putting on a tiny slip against your bare skin. You wore nothing else. You knew what you were getting into, wearing underway on your way to be ritually fucked by seven demons seemed like a silly idea.

Lucifer and his brothers left ahead of you but left clear instructions where to meet. You passed through a teleportation circle left open in the foyer. You couldn't help but shiver with anticipation where it would lead you.

Witches and demons cavorted about in various states of undress. You walked in on an orgy. Thick black trees warded off anyone who would try to spoil the fun. Stars twinkled overhead and a crescent moon appeared cherry red like a bloody sickle. You passed untouched through the gathering. As you walked through the teeming masses, you glanced at several scenes mostly of witches being fucked by one or more demons. You drew nearer to a magic circle lit with candles and lanterns that sputtered black flames. The brothers waited in their demon forms, minus most of their clothing. Quite naturally, Asmo wore the least. First, they'd all had their back turned towards you. As if sensing your presence, they turned around.

"Ah. The guest of honor as finally arrived." Said Lucifer. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," you answered.

"Good. Strip." Lucifer barked out the order.

You unfastened the toggle at your throat that held the cloak together. You let it fall off your shoulders and reveal the thin, beige slip you wore beneath. Lucifer sneered at your disobedience.

"I thought my instructions were clear. Now I see you're just a glutton for punishment. Step into the circle. You're about to be the center of the show," said Lucifer.

Your hands trembled as you pulled up the silken slip over your head. The seven demon brothers standing before you stared as you ditched your clothes on the other side of the magic circle. No sooner had you crossed the threshold, Lucifer grabbed your wrist and half-dragged you towards a shiny black marble altar. He pushed your naked torso against the smooth surface. Lucifer kicked your legs apart and made your back arch. His gloved hands gathered your wrists in one hand and pinned them to the hard against the altar. Out of thin air, Lucifer produced a fine leather crop.

"Disobedience should be punished before you earn the privilege of taking a demon lord's cock. I think...fifteen lashes out to teach a lesson, don't you think so, Y/N?"

"Y-Yes!"

Without warning, Lucifer cracked the crop against your backside. His grip on your wrists tightened to a painful hold.

"Yes what? From this moment on until you're released from this circle, you'll call everyone 'sir' or 'master.' Is that understood?" Said Lucifer.

"Y-Yes...Yes, sir," you whined.

"See? You can be a good girl," said Lucifer. "Count for me."

Lucifer showed you no mercy with the crop. He swung it hard against your flesh. Each and every single lash against your buttocks sent electric shock waves of pain through your body. He teased the leather tip against the sore bruises forming on each cheek. Every time you forgot to count, he started over again. Lucifer didn't stop until you counted fifteen lashes. Only then did Lucifer let go of your wrists.

You clung to the altar for dear life. Violent tremors seized your legs and prevented them from being of any use to you.

"Oh! Look at you!" You heard Asmo coo.

You craned your neck to see him kneeling behind you. His hands were soft against your hot skin where the bruises stung the most. Despite trying to be delicate with you, Asmo's touch made you suck in your breath and hiss. The Avatar of Lust worked his way between your legs. With you still leaning against the altar for support, there was nothing you could do to stop Asmo from brushing the inside of your thighs.

"Your wet pussy is so cute! Don't tell me you got all wet just from Luci giving you a little discipline? Naughty, naughty girl!" Asmo chuckled. His tongue lapped at your slit from bottom to top. "I could just eat you up all night. As a matter of fact..."

Asmo grabbed your hips to pull you towards him. His lips and tongue were all over you, torturing your cunt. He sucked and licked and played your clit. Asmo drove his tongue in and out of your wet heat. Heat rose to your face. If it wasn't bad enough to let Lucifer take a riding crop to your ass over and over, Asmo knelt on the ground and lapped at your cunt until you were spilling over. The most you could do was take it and moan to your heart's content. The louder you were, the more eager Asmo played with your pussy. How many demons and witches were watching you getting eaten out by Asmodeus? A shudder ripped through you at the thought.

"You're so cute when you try to hold back, Y/N!" Asmo played with your clit, licking the remnants of you off his lips. "I wish I could see the face you make when you come!"

Asmo wasted no time in getting back to it. The obscene noises he made while eating you out drove you insane. Your knuckles ached as you curled your hands into fists. You braced yourself on the altar as Asmo's clever tongue and fingers wound you up like a toy. White hot heat surged down your spine. The sounds of the orgy around you heightened the sensations Asmo gave you. He drove his tongue in and out, deep inside of you. Perhaps it was a figment of your imagination or the Avatar of Lust had a much longer tongue, but Asmo reached deeper than a mere mortal tongue could go. His tongue lapped at your cunt's inner walls. You could feel yourself drool down there as he played with you.

Satan perched himself on the opposite side of the altar to watch you. His piercing green eyes bore down on you while he watched your face contort with pleasure.

"Look at you, little slut. Taking a demon's tongue like he owns you already. You should see the face you're making." Satan cupped your cheek. His thumb grazed your bottom lip before inserting it into your mouth. On instinct, you started to suck on it.

Satan cocked his brow upwards. "Dirty little slut. Just wait until I stick something more impressive down your throat. I look forward to seeing you choke on my cock."

You moaned around his thumb and continue to suck on it like your life depended on it. Asmo remained kneeling on the floor and eating you out. Satan patted your head and murmured all sorts of depravity. You bucked your hips into Asmo's face. The pleasure increasing. It burned you up alive from the inside out. Between Satan's words and his brother's tongue working over your pussy, it was only a matter of time. Asmo sucked on your clit while his fingers thrust fast and hard. Your juices flowed out like a fountain. It ran down your legs and all over Asmo's hand. Your eyes went wide as a tsunami wave of pleasure crashed into you. Satan released your mouth just in time for you to scream out Asmo's name as you climaxed harder than you ever had in your life.

Your knees buckled and caved out beneath you. Luckily, Asmo was there to break your fall. You found yourself straddling his waist as you panted for breath. Asmo's amber eyes gazed up at you like you were the most beautiful thing in the world. Your eyes began to droop. So much pleasure made you dizzy. A hand cupped your chin and turned your head up. Levi stood above you, face harsh and stern. His gold-colored eyes glared at you. His cold, clammy tail wrapped around your wrists and hauled you up to your feet.

"My turn," Levi sneered.

To be continued...