
When players got their tape loaded, it reminds me of how i load games and when i am not playing my characters are probably on idle/pilot mode. If you load/start a game from the outside, you dont necessarily need to load a save. Although you can use a save/tape to load a previous save inside the gameplay.
ML was able to be conscious without needing the tape. The other characters only remember the past if their save is loaded. Bada doesnt need tapes to be conscious which reminds me of npcs who are just constantly doing as they are programmed. Which in a horror game, i would assume that they are program to have the same goal as with playable players. He doesnt even know he is an npc even after the game ended and have to repeat the cycle. What if Bada only became conscious after the game ended and the other characters repeat the same cycle because they no one is playing those characters, maybe that's why he cant stand being lonely.

What if bada isnt a player. He is an npc continuing the story even after game ended and the player(ml went out. ML doesnt want to reach the ending so he wont get ejected out the game. That's why bada doesnt remember his life outside the game. And also why ML just suddenly became conscious the way he is now after acting like an npc
How did ML not get cut when he held the MC's jaw???