Five Nights at Freddy's 2 Review

Our Review by Lee Hamlet on December 1st, 2014

Rating:

:: NERVE-WRACKING

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Five Nights at Freddy's is back with a sequel that will once again make players wonder what they ever liked about animatronic animals.

Developer: Scott Cawthon
Price: $2.99
Version Reviewed: 1.0
App Reviewed on: iPad mini Retina

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Hello? Hel-hello??:
Hey, so, if you're reading this, congratulations! There's a good chance you're doomed! If you're having trouble dealing the the animatronics wandering around at night, as they tend to do, you might need a little assistance. You should probably take a look at our Five Nights at Freddy's 2 survival guide.

For those who missed the first one, Five Nights at Freddy's 2 is a horror game that puts less emphasis on gameplay mechanics and more on the sheer unbridled terror that its minimalistic interface makes possible.

The game puts players in the shoes of a newly-hired security guard (the last security guard is now working the day shift - alarm bells anyone?) as he watches over a children's restaurant during the night. Just as he starts his new shift, his boss helpfully mentions that the cutesy animatronic robots sometimes wake up during the night and converge on the first sign of human life that they can 'entertain'. Great. Those who have played the previous game will be happy to find more entertaining story segments and easter eggs included with this one, adding some weight to the backstory.

Through a selection of security cameras, a battery-powered torch, and an empty animatronic bear head for confusing the critters, players must use a variety of techniques to keep their new friends at bay long enough to make it through the night, and subsequently through as many nights as possible.

Although the game warns players about jump scares, they shouldn't expect the experience to amount to nothing but a cheap scare. It creates an atmosphere that's much more than that, thanks to some excellent sound effects. The first round or two might perplex or aggravate players due to its apparently chaotic nature, and this is justified, because essentially the game does boil down to rotating between the music box, mask, and flashlight - which can admittedly feel futile in the face of inevitable defeat. Rather, it's the instant panic that comes from a warning signal or noticing that the 5 foot freaky-ass rabbit is suddenly missing is what really sets the game apart.

Upon first glance, Five Nights at Freddy's 2 visuals could put off a lot of players who might justifiably regard them as a bit dated, but I'd encourage them to give it a chance - especially if they're horror fans. However, it's the random manner in which the animatronic characters move around and eventually move in for the kill is what makes Five Nights at Freddy's 2 almost endlessly playable. If you're brave enough, that is.