PC REVIEW | Bendy: Lone Wolf

I am a big fan of the Bendy franchise and of the Meatly and Joey Drew Studios in general. In fact, if you play Bendy and the Dark Revival, you might even find my voice. So when I got the chance to review Bendy: Lone Wolf, I jumped at it, having played the original vision for the game, which some of you might remember as Boris and the Dark Survival.

I went into this game as I do with any I review, fanboy or not, and played as though I was coming from a clean slate. Let’s take a look at what Boris has to offer in this loop of the Ink Demons dark domain.

Things I liked!

• Graphics | Bendy: Lone Wolf looks amazing; it follows the simple rule of the Bendy universe that everything is part of this uncanny old cartoon world where nothing is as it should be. It works really well for this kind of top-down dungeon-style game, where you need this feeling of unease even when you are just slowly exploring each level. The character style has been faithfully recreated from the main games as well, with Boris himself looking just as heroic as you would like. The Ink Demon and his minions are also extremely well realised. Fun and freaky in equal measure is how I would describe Bendy: Lone Wolf graphically.

• Audio | The soundscape of Bendy: Lone Wolf is actually quite eerie; the sense of dread and foreboding as you hunt for the collectables you need to progress is realised well, and every thud of your weapon of choice at the moment is satisfying. The voice files from the original version of the game have made a comeback, but Boris is the strong, quiet type, so don’t expect him to be making any vocalisations even as he is hunted through the corridors. If you enjoy the music in the game, there is a record player in your home base where you can choose some tunes to play as you relax momentarily away from the chaos. All in all, Bendy: Lone Wolf gets it right when it comes to audio tension.
  
• Story | Finding out, or at least trying to find out, what is going on will always be an integral part of the Bendy franchise, with twists and turns and hidden lore to be found no matter how many times you play. Bendy: Lone Wolf keeps up with this tradition through audiotapes you can find throughout the levels, which reveal cryptic information that may or may not be useful in discovering just exactly what happened to create this inky world. The story of Bendy: Lone Wolf ties in well to the overall lore of the Bendy franchise while keeping it just obscure enough that you will find a lot of conflicting theories on what is going on, and that, to me, is just a more fun experience than revealing what is behind the magic.
  
• Gameplay | The gameplay of Bendy: Lone Wolf has improved a lot from the original Boris and the Dark Survival. The enemy AI is a lot less forgiving this time around, seemingly learning how you move around and discovering new ways to ambush you. The multiple levels, weapons and even the stealth elements all work together to make a game that will have you thinking, ‘One more try,’ as Boris is taken to an inky black oblivion yet again. The game isn’t the most difficult to play through, but you will find it challenging enough to keep coming back to without feeling too frustrated.

Mixed & disliked!

• Repetitiveness | One of my main issues with the game is that it can feel a little repetitive if you play for too long. You descend to a new level, collect the items, avoid the monsters and retreat or fight if you are able to, rinse and repeat. That’s not to say it isn’t enjoyable; it’s just I understand that it might not be everybody’s cup of tea. Playing it in small amounts to keep it fresh would be my advice.

CONCLUSION

Score:85 /100

Bendy: Lone Wolf is a perfect dive into the Ink Demon’s lair. With so much to discover and a lot of fun to be had for those of you who are fans of the franchise and a great wee stealth-type game for newcomers as well. I would heartily (some folk will get that) recommend Bendy: Lone Wolf as both a standalone title and as part of the franchise as a whole.