By Jesus Gomez
Horror game Five Nights at Freddy’s was released in 2014 as an app and computer game. The game was created by Scott Cawthon. Since then, two sequels have followed. According to Apple’s App Store, the game’s rating is 12+ (12 years and up) for frequent cartoon or fantasy violence, so ask your parents’ permission before downloading.
The game begins in a tiny office where you are sitting still and looking at a camera. You are working at a family restaurant called Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. In the restaurant, employees say that there was an incident in which the previous security guard murdered children and stuffed them in animatronics suits; that is why they move around at night. Your character in the game is a security guard working the night shift, and your goal is to pass each level by surviving from 12 a.m. to 6 a.m. without the haunted animatronics finding you. To prevent from getting killed, you have a camera system to see where the animatronics are. You have two sliding doors to prevent the animatronics from getting to you. When you run out of power, you hear creepy music. When you do get jump scared, you get sent to the game title screen and have to restart.
People think the game may have been inspired by a 1993 Chuck E. Cheese killing where a former employee who had been fired killed four kids after a birthday party. Something else you should know is that the creator had nightmares after playing the game himself.
When I started to play the game it seemed boring, but once I got deeper into the level, it got more interesting. You notice that as the game progresses, it becomes more difficult. There are some extra levels after you pass the game. On these you can pick the difficulty, as well as two different endings you can get in the third game.
SVMS seventh grader Gerardo Villalobos said he plays the game for fun. “It’s going to give you a great scare,” he commented.
Something irritating about the game is that it takes a long time to load the first time you play it. It is also only a one-player game.
SVMS student Kevin Flores said, “Follow us in the journey through the 1980s when the game takes place and try not to lose.”