#eclectic analysis

@dragonpikachu helped me a lot with this, so give them some love too!

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Chapter Five debunks one of the most widely spread BATIM theories out there: that Joey Drew turned himself into Bendy.

But if Joey isn’t Bendy, what is?

First, there’s a tape from Joey in Administration that gets a key fact right off the bat:

The first cartoons were made without human sacrifices.

But they were complete and utter monsters. ‘That grinning thing’ is Bendy. Made without a soul, he’s a complete abomination. Knowing this, Joey wants it to be kept sealed away so no one knows about it. That didn’t turn out too good, as Henry sees.

However, a tape from Thomas Conner, who presumably help install the machine into the studio, provides another key detail.

Bendy was the first creation of the machine.

And apparently there was ‘something unworldly about him.’

Since Bendy was made first, he naturally would have been the most imperfect and malformed, especially since he was ‘soulless.’

So they tried again, but no more Bendys would come out if the machine.

Almost like the first Bendy is special in some way.

Since the first cartoons were made without a human soul, they must have somethung else driving them... some other force.

For Bendy, at least, that force is a demon.

A demon who has taken the form of Bendy as its own image, and allowed no other forms of Bendy to come to life.

After all, what is it that we see in the Archives?

*deep breathing*

Okay. The trailer starts with a voice clip of Alice humming. Then it cuts to this:

and Alice says “Did you lose something?” obviously referring to Boris. We can see that the elevator is broken (the model looks superb) and there is a gear panel on the left. This is almost certainly Level S, where Henry will start.

Then we hear a metal clank sound, and it cuts to this:

This seems to be a library of some sort, with a record player, a ton of books, and a camera in the foreground. Nothing really interesting here.

But then there’s this. The most important thing to note here is that there is a Little Miracle Station in the far left, which means the patrol mechanic will almost certainly return. Will we hide from Alice or Bendy?

Then there’s a hallway with more books. That tight space does not look too Ink-Demon friendly.

The only thing of interest here is the dessicated Striker corpse in the corner. Also, there appears to be a Bendy head on the shelf? What is that?

Is.. Is this an amusement park? It certainly looks like it, with the moving cart, the spoopy ghost, and the track. Perhaps the Ink Machine really wasn’t what Joey wanted to show Henry...

YES! THE VENTS ARE CONFIRMED! and the flashlight too. BUT VENTS! IM STOKED! I cant quite see what’s behind the wooden bars though...

As it cuts to this, Alice says “Henry... Why are you here...” Which is interesting, because Alice stated that she knew why Henry was here at the end of Chapter Three.

There isn’t much of interest in this hallway.

This place looks a lot like Level Nine. There are Butcher Gang members roaming around, and ink is pouring from the ceiling. They seem to be congregating around that torch thing in the background.

Then Alice says: “We’re all dying to find out.” Could this mean that Henry does have some sort of other agenda in the studio?

Then it cuts to Alice walking through a hallway (I almost fell out of my chair)

Nothing new really here. We’ve been getting that hashtag for months. But the music here is sweet.

Then Henry says “Hang in there, Boris. I’m coming.” I knew something like this was going to happen, what with all the #SaveBoris going around on the Bendy twitter.

Then it shows this. It’s a Bendy face, but it looks old and weathered, something we haven’t really seen before. But then... Then...

WOW. April. That’s... a really short time from now.

As this message appears, we hear more organ music. What is up with that organ, anyway?

As if.

AS IF!!!

So this is why it’s taken seven months.

Let’s get to it, my little sheeps.

“Chapter Two. Something New to Behold.” After this message, “The Searchers” music begins to play.

Then we see a picture of Utility Shaft Nine. Nothing looks all that different here.

Next we see the familiar shelf with all the soup. The pentagram looks a little different, and there appears to be an electricity symbol over where the switch is on the right wall, behind the soup. So far, nothing major.

Next we see Henry breaking down the boards to enter the Music Department, but we also get a glance at the ceiling, which looks much more interesting. It actually has some depth, with a curved border that goes up to... a second floor? I can’t quite tell.

The next line reads: “Upgraded visuals.” (I hope that includes Sammy)

Next we are treated to a view of the room with Sammy’s first tape, but the lighting effects look so much more deep. Even the candles look good.

The next shot shows that the Music Department sign has been significantly updated.. There is a music staff above the sign itself, a phonograph rests on the floor, and there are ink puddles everywhere.

The next line reads “Deeper secrets.”

Next we get a view of a room that I believe is the Infirmary, judging by what appears to be an eye chart in the left hand side.

Another thing to note here is the power switch on the right, which has a sign above that appears to read: “Utility Access”. Perhaps this is an optional objective to gain access into the inner workings of the Music Department and uncover some interesting new secrets.

Another thing to note here is the interactable ink valve on the far right. Presumably this is another valve we will need to use to gain access to Sammy Lawrence’s office.

Next we catch a glimpse of Henry opening a new door that has appeared by the Alice Angel poster. The fact that it is so close to the poster makes me think that whatever is behind the door may have something to do with Alice, possibly containing another tape by Susie Campbell, or perhaps even Alison Pendle.

We only get a split second to see behind the door, but what’s behind it looks to me like... a pool table? I’m not really sure.

The next line reads “All new areas.”

Next we see Henry walking through a hallway with a “Work Hard, Work Happy” sign on the wall, heading towards a set of stairs. Could this lead to a different level of the Music Department? Or is it just another way up to Norman’s booth? We will just have to wait and see.

. . . Is this a sewer? It certainly looks like it. Perhaps this is how the ink pump drains the Music Department, like Sammy said. We can see a few music sheets strewn about on the ground, and there is a small alcove with a desk on the right, which we will look at now.

The axe is blocking it at the moment, but there is a can of bacon soup on the desk. A can of ink is under it, and there is what looks like a new tape on top of it! Unless this is just an old tape moved to a new location, but I doubt it.

The next line reads: “Runs on more computers” (GOD BLESS)

Next it shows the inky hallway where we first see Sammy and OH MY GOD LOOK AT THAT INK! IT LOOKS SO GOOD! The lighting and drip effects have been improved overall as well. I really think that this new remaster is going to look better than ever.

Then it shows Sammy’s office. We can see the pump switch in there, and also the leaks that are blocking the door. Everything looks normal here.

The next line reads “Free Update”

Next it shows the Music Department sign from a different angle, and on the left side we can clearly see the “RECORDING” display on the wall leading to the recording studio, which proves that at least some of the layout will remain the same.

Now we have a look at Norman’s projector booth, which has a more enclosed feel to it, and it looks like it is higher up off the ground, too. (Hopefully this means they’ve fixed the exploit where you can get at the projector by standing on a chair in the recording studio.) The ceiling looks rather better as well, with arches and lights on it.

The next line reads “Coming this month.”

Next we can see the updated version of the switches from the beginning of the chapter, but they look more like light switches now, not buttons.

Now we get a glimpse of Henry leaving Sammy’s office. We can see Wally’s tape to one side, and what...

Oh.

Thanks for the label. That was really necessary.

The next line reads “With the release of Chapter Four” (A small note. While this part is going on you can hear Sammy’s faint hymn: “Sheep sheep sheep, it’s time for sleep. Rest your head. It’s time for bed.” Spooky...)

Next we get to see what is most certainly the infirmary. There is a sign that reads “Please wait” as if this is the waiting area. A sign above the doorway reads: “Not sick. Not paid.”

That’s... concerning....

(Next we get a look at a Searcher. It’s exactly the same as in the previous update.)

Next we get a larger (albeit blurrier) look at the recording studio, and, as a music man, I can say that it is much better in terms of acoustics. The ceiling is curved to carry sound better, and it’s larger for a bigger echo.

Okay, I’ll be honest, I have no idea what this is. Maybe it’s the ink pump that drains the studio? Or it could be a power generator. But what really interests me is this:

We can see that the writing reads “Sing.” But there is something underneath it, too. “Sing _ _ M E?” It could read “Sing to me.” It’s really obscured though.

Now we see the area where Bendy comes out to chase us. But what’s that on the door?

I know it’s super small, but there is a sign on that door. Maybe it’s “Exit?” Or it could be “Lift.”

P R A I S E

Our pleas have been answered! And although it’s super blurry on purpose, we can see that Sammy Lawrence’s model has indeed been updated, and from the looks of things, we can expect more animations from him, too!

Then it reads: “Hurry, Download Chapter Two now. To play the original one last time.”

Bendy and the Ink Machine

. . .

So, let me back up for a second, and look a a line that doesn’t really make much sense.

When you’re fighting Nightmare Boris, Alice says:

“And this time there’s no Ink Demon, no escape.”

This doesn’t make very much sense, because as far as we know, we’ve never seen Bendy show up when Alice does anything to kill Henry. He didn’t show up when Alice stole Boris, he didn’t show up when she smashed the glass near Heavenly Toys.

The only time he did show up, and allowed Henry to escape?

Yep. When he killed the Projectionist.

And also, last time we saw Norman, he was down in Level 14, with no visible way of escape.

So, what I can assume is that Alice used the elevator to bring the Projectionist out of Level 14 and stuck him in Maintenance in order to kill Henry. The only thing she didn’t plan on was the Ink Demon getting there first.

The new achievements for Bendy Chapter Four have just released on the Steam store page, and since I didn’t analyze the Chapter Three update trailer, I thought I’d take a look at these!

Slight spoiler warning for those who want no hint of what the game has in store for them, although most of my predictions are probly gonna be wrong anyway.

A Special Hat - The title of this achievement doesn’t give much clue as to how you obtain it, but it might be funny if the hat in question was Henry’s hat, and he finds it in this chapter after losing it in the studio thirty years ago.

A Haunting We Will Go - Judging by the icon for this achievement, which is exactly the same as the face on the ghost in the theme park ride seen in the trailer, we can guess that this is what we get for discovering the old ride.

Around and Around - The icon for this is very ambiguous. Judging by the title though, perhaps we can assume that there is a merry-go-round somewhere in the studio’s ride area, and we get this achievement for taking a ride on it.

Finger Waggin - This icon is definitely showing one of the many radios around the studio that showcase a song made by fans. This is almost certainly the achievement we get for listening to it.

Still Listening - The icon for this achievement is certainly picturing an audio cassette, and we get this for “Still Listening” to all of them.

Barbecued (uh oh, that’s a typo) - Both the icon and title make me think this has something to do with fire. The only fire we have seen in Chapter Four so far is the big torch-like structure the Butcher Gang gather around in the reveal trailer. Perhaps Henry receives this achievement for jumping into the fire and dying, or knocking an enemy into it and watching it burn.

Reunited - Obviously, the icon shows Boris, which makes me think that we get this achievement by rescuing him. Would this be a scripted story event, or a secret ending, though...

Just Like Mom Used To Make - Did Henry’s mom make him Briar Label Bacon Soup as a kid? That’s so cute! But, seriously speaking, this is obviously the achievement we get for devouring every single can of soup in this chapter, which, judging by its purported size, will be a massive undertaking.

Wasting Time - Now, this one is tricky. It looks like a sledgehammer, which could be a new weapon, but the line “Wasting Time” makes me think that you have to go on a very long or difficult series of events to obtain it.

Bulls Eye - . . . Could Henry get a bow? I mean, he’s had a gun before, and a bow would certainly be a step down, but both the title and the icon make me think of a bow. Unless you get this for winning some sort of skill-shot challenge with the Tommy Gun.

Call The Milk Man - Henry does need some calcium in his diet. I have no idea what this one could possibly mean.

A Little Souvenir (oh another typo) - This could perhaps be a secret achievement. Henry could maybe find an old picture inside a secret room that shows either him and Joey, him and Linda, or something else entirely.

Unlikely Victory - The question mark icon leads me to believe this will be the achievement for finding theMeatly’s room, but the title is confusing. “Unlikely Victory?” What will we be victorious against?

Going To Be Sick - Maybe all the new achievements won’t be Chapter Four exclusive. This one’s title makes me think of the infirmary, but we didn’t see any lights in the Chapter Two trailer. The only other place where we saw lights of this style was...

oh...

OHH

Based off of this ask someone sent @adobe-outdesign, I started thinking about Joey’s office. Grant Cohen’s tape did say that Joey was the ‘genius upstairs.’

He must have meant it in a metaphorical way because Grant is like seven floors down and we haven’t seen any of Joey’s office yet so-

Wait.

‘Upstairs.’ Grant meant it literally.

Joey’s office is on the top floor.

So, judging by how they draw attention to this in the gameplay, it is very likely that when we eventually reach this level again in Chapter Five or maybe late in Chapter Four, we will have to break these boards with the axe and explore Joey’s office, for...whatever story reason? But gameplay wise, this is likely to reveal a lot of stuff about Joey and his character.

Okay, so you know how after you gather all the items in Chapter One, you go to the projector room to start up the ink flow, right? Well, this has sort of bothered me for one simple reason - it doesn’t make sense from a game point of view. Why would theMeatlyGames make you walk through a section of the studio that you’ve likely already explored, to do something that has not real impact on gameplay?

To answer this, we need to take note of what happens when we go there. Not only does a Bendy cutout pop out from the corner, but when we reach the room itself, the projector turns itself on, a Bendy animation begins to play.

This is very interesting, because what have we just done right before this? We’ve gathered the materials to fix the machine. Logically, this means the next step in the inking (get it?) process would begin.

So, what does this have to do with the Bendy animation? Well, we already know that Bendy was either created or revived when we powered on the Ink Machine. And this is an animation featuring Bendy. I believe that the machine knew to create Bendy specifically because of this animation - one that’s playing in the ink flow room.

The fact that this animation is playing in a room very closely connected to the workings of the Ink Machine itself suggests to me that another component is required to make the machine work - an actual, working animation of the cartoon being created.

And, directly after this animation turns on and we turn on the ink flow, we hear some activity within the piping of the studio. This - and I’m just speculating here - may imply that the machine did not start working until we did these two things - that it needed something else for it to work properly.

TL;DR: Along with the six objects required to make the Ink Machine work, another component is required - a working animation of the cartoon in question.