There’s no denying how far the Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNAF) franchise has come since Scott Cawthon released the first title back in the summer of 2014 – giving birth to one of the most successful video game series in the world. Over the last couple of years, the original creator and sole owner of the IP, stopped developing new games. This allowed him to focus on dealing with the ins and outs of managing such a big IP. Thanks to this, the Fazbear Fanverse Initiative was introduced. Through this initiative, talented developers could pitch their own ideas for a FNAF game directly to Scott, and Scott could provide resources and insight.
The first mainline games released, not developed by Scott Cawthon, would be Five Nights at Freddy’s: Help Wanted, a VR game developed by Steel Wool Studios, with elements from previous entries and new content, like unlockable secrets and mini-games. The second title, again developed by Steel Wool Studios, is the game we’re reviewing today: Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach, a free-roaming game with exploration and survival elements. Security Breach sheds new light on some beloved characters, like Freddy, and introduces some new ones. It could be argued that the game is not connected with the original games. Acting as a sort of reboot.
Keep an eye on the cameras, wind up the music box, and beware of the jump scares! Here’s our review of Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach on Stadia.
Ready for Freddy
Some may say that Security Breach acts as a sort of soft-reboot that pushes the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise forward, providing a modern spin on both visuals and gameplay. The original titles were famous for its simple yet engaging gameplay. Its dark yet charismatic atmosphere played a huge role in its popularity. But, of course, Steel Wool Studios was itching to modernize the formula and make it more akin to modern horror titles. Long gone are the days of point and click gameplay, sitting in an office and checking the cameras and whatnot. In Security Breach, we have full control of our main character, Gregory, who lets us see the world from his small point of view. We are free to roam around and interact with a set of objects.
Enter the Mega Pizzaplex
The area of the game and its world can then be vastly expanded, since it’s not tied to a limited engine specialized in 2D assets. The main stage of Security Breach is the Mega Pizzaplex, a grand entertainment facility meant to host all sorts of parties – especially ones for kids. The Mega Pizzaplex is a huge and complex area, with all kinds of rooms, hallways and secret passages. You can tell how many kids have had fun in there, even before the actual game starts, considering the state it is in. There are a lot of areas to explore. Some are required to visit due to the story and missions, and others are totally optional and provide extra secrets for those that want to take their time. There are a lot of common areas, and even some attractions.
The design of the Mega Pizzaplex is consistent with the overall style of the game. It has a futuristic and even kid-friendly design for most of the time. However, considering that it is closed during the events of the game, aside from the main entrance, most of the areas will barely have any light. It’s quite charming seeing all kinds of posters, merchandise and design being lit by only neon lights. Off-limit areas also feel like they belong in older games, like the insides of Sister Location. There’s a great contrast between the common zones and the Staff Only areas. Most of the Mega Pizzaplex is guarded by S.T.A.F.F. Bots, employee robots that will alert the animatronics if we get too close.
The new and improved Freddy Fazbear
The plot of the game differs vastly from previous entries. Security Breach gives us control of Gregory, a child that has been trapped inside the Mega Pizzaplex. After meeting Freddy, who has been in lockdown due to maintenance, he agrees to help us exit the building and return home. Of course, the security guard, Vanessa, is looking for us. However, Gregory doesn’t trust her enough, and we try to escape following Freddy’s advice. Moments before reaching the exit, the exits are closed, making our escape impossible. The new plan? Survive until the doors are unlocked and exit the Mega Pizzaplex.
During our adventures in the Mega Pizzaplex, we’ll have Freddy on our side, providing protection when needed. We can enter his endoskeleton and control him directly. This way, the other animatronics, who will be looking for us, won’t recognize us. Sometimes, Freddy will not be available due to battery limitations or simply because his size doesn’t allow him to follow us. On these occasions, Freddy will guide us through our FazWatch, a special watch he gives us at the start of the game. In this way, we can check out the map, cameras, messages and more. As we progress in the story, we’ll unlock new objects to help us during our missions, like a flashlight, and even upgrades for Freddy to make him more powerful.
Robotic foes ahead
We’ll need more than guts in order to survive the other animatronics, who are being commanded by Vanessa to search for us. Glamrock Chica, Roxanne Wolf and Montgomery Gator are the new faces of the Freddy Fazbear universe. Alongside them, is a vast cast of characters who will give us the spooks when they have the occasion. Most animatronics will be roaming around the Mega Pizzaplex, making traversal complicated and the gameplay a bit like that of stealth games. There’s even a nice number of set pieces to add to the terror: for example being chased down a hallway, or controlling cameras and locking doors, just like the original games. If we get caught, a jump scare will play. In most cases, we’ll have to retry our current mission and load our previous save file. It is recommended to save constantly, so progress and secrets are not lost.
Like in most of the recent horror titles, there are different endings to unlock. Some depending on the final choices we take at the end. Other endings are more complex, requiring finding secrets across the Mega Piazzaplex.
The Joy of Creation
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach is a nice looking game. The graphics might not look spectacular, but the atmosphere is top-notch. Everything comes together very well. From the designs of the furniture and decorations of the Mega Pizzaplex, to esspecially the designs of the characters. Being reminiscent of the old games, Security Breach adds its unique twist. Lightning and reflections add a lot of value, especially considering that for most of the game we’ll be playing with a flashlight and Freddy’s lights.
The audio design is also very well put together. For most of the game, the music will be only played by the arcades and other machines spread across the Mega Pizzaplex. Almost every sound is tied to something in our surroundings, adding significantly to the immersion. Monitors, lights flickering, arcades, doors opening, metallic footsteps… all sound effects are well done and the lack of music makes them stand out even more. The voice acting is also pretty good, especially for the protagonists. The other animatronics are also fully voiced, and we’ll hear them loud and clear when they are near.
Some technical difficulties
The game looks great, and the sound design is stellar. This provides an excellent atmosphere that’s on par with the classics. Roaming around, however, might be annoying for some people. The game has a Quality or Performance toggle in the settings. This allows players to play in 60 frames per second at the cost of a lower resolution. Or, on the other hand, you can play at a lower frame rate but with better visual fidelity. That’s a great addition to most games on Stadia and other platforms. While writing this review, I’ve been playing Security Breach with the Performance mode enabled.
Still, the game has some slowdown issues when loading the game, and traveling to new areas. Saving also slows down the game, but it doesn’t affect gameplay that much. One issue that has caught the attention of players is that the messages in the FazWatch don’t fully appear. This prevents players from reading most of the secret dialogues that add to the story, ruining something sometimes crucial. Keep in mind though, that overall, the gameplay is fine. When the areas are fully loaded, the game runs as expected. Let’s hope that Steel Wool Studios keeps improving the port and irons out those issues.
The Show Must Go On
To top it off, Steel Wool Studios has announced that Security Breach will receive Ruin, in 2023, a free add-on that will add more content and presumably, expand the story. We’re looking forward to writing a review of said DLC and see what it brings to the overall story of Security Breach.
Conclusion
Overall, Steel Wool Studio’s approach to Five Nights at Freddy’s adds a lot to Scott Cawthon’s creation. Changing up the point and click formula for a free-roam experience with constant fear of being spotted fits well the original view of the franchise. Exploring an atmospheric location like the Mega Pizzaplex with Freddy is a joy. Despite some performance issues and minor glitches, the game manages to immerse the player and be entertaining.
Let us know what you thought of this FNAF: Security Breach review in the comments. Will you give this game a try?
Five Nights at Freddy’s: Security Breach
Summary
Security Breach gives a broader appeal to the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise. Modern gameplay and visuals adds value and gameplay depth to one of the biggest indie franchises ever. It’s a great Stadia port that will surely bring thrills and frights to the young ones and adults alike. Perfect fit for Stadia Pro.
Fantastic review. I’ve been avoiding streams of the game trying to find time to play it for myself.