Jump Scares: When DLC Outshines the Base Game...
FNAF: Security Breach's Ruin DLC is here -- and it's leagues better than the actual game
I mean, are we surprised?
Recently, the new DLC for FNAF: Security Breach came out. When Security Breach originally released in 2021, it was met with pretty heavy criticism. All for good reasons, considering the game was a buggy, unfinished mess that was so bad for some people it was practically unplayable.
Of course, this was later fixed with a patch update, a practice that seems to be getting more popular with AAA titles lately. Release an unfinished game, receive backlash, and then fix it with a patch update—whatever, man, we’ll tolerate it if we have to.
The patch didn’t exactly fix the story issues or other problems that were prevalent in the game, but hey, at least you could actually play it now.
One of the main issues that Security Breach still suffered from was the obvious lack of horror when it was so eager to call itself a “horror” game. The lack of suspense and the lazy overuse of the same jumpscares made it more boring than it did scary.
The DLC, however, tries to combat this.
A Franchise in Ruins (With Spoilers)
Here’s the rundown: You play as a girl named Cassie. You’re investigating the abandoned pizzaplex because Gregory told you that he was trapped there and needed your help. Being the good friend that you are, you try your best to locate him while also avoiding the roaming animatronics and strange new enemies.
The new enemies being, well, a little bit confusing.
See, in this DLC, you pick up a new gameplay item. The item in question is Vanny’s mask, which acts as AR glasses. When this mask is on, you can see the world digitally, meaning you can see things in AR that you may not see without it. With that comes a new bunny villain, being a glitchy character that stalks you.
To be fair, the design isn’t bad. He’s cool character design-wise. But the rabbit—which is apparently named “The Entity”—isn’t really that much of a threat. If you take the mask off, he’s immediately gone. Sure, he can attack you while the mask is on, but it’s pretty easy to avoid him.
He’s kind of just there, to be honest. While he’s not exactly a real threat, I do appreciate the illusion of danger. It does, in that aspect, add to the game’s suspense.
I also like that this DLC takes place in the pizzaplex after it’s been abandoned for a few months. It puts the player in a much-needed new atmosphere, with the building dark and falling apart. The animatronics still haunt the building, roaming the halls of what once was a giant playground. It feels more like where a horror game would take place than the original installment.
Speaking of, the animatronics themselves are upgraded in design. They actually fit the bill for “horror” characters this time, making the animatronics actually somewhat intimidating rather than cute and friendly.
There’s even a little bit of character development, as Roxy is revealed to have snapped out of her previously mean nature. She’s extremely kind toward Cassie and even remembers her birthday.
There’s also another new character introduced in this DLC, revealed to be the Mimic. Now, to any casual fans, this reveal would mean absolutely nothing. To big FNAF fans that keep up with all the lore, it was the introduction to a character that had only been seen in the books previously. Which, honestly, is really stupid in my opinion, as anyone who hasn’t read the books would have no knowledge of what the Mimic even is.
Regardless, the character is revealed to have been tricking Cassie the entire time. “Gregory” was actually just the Mimic luring her down there to release him, and when this is found out by the real Gregory, he explains to Cassie that he can’t risk letting the Mimic out into the world.
And, in the most asshole move possible, Gregory makes it impossible for Cassie to escape. The DLC ends on a cliffhanger with Roxy calling out to her.
Reception
Let’s just say that people have been giving this DLC better reviews than the base game.
For one, it establishes a better atmosphere and premise than the original. This one isn’t full of bright neons and generic 80s tracks. While the base game certainly had interesting visuals, it didn’t hold up as a horror game.
The DLC tries to take itself a little more seriously in that aspect, attempting to be at least somewhat creepy.
A lot of people are saying that this DLC outshines the original, and I would have to agree.
That’s not to say that this DLC fixed any of the base game’s problems, or that this DLC is even scary. In fact, it’s not scary at all, nor does it offer any real horror outside the lame jump scares and false suspense. Chase scenes will only do so much for getting someone’s heart racing, after all.
Plus, the gameplay isn’t exactly spectacular. It’s pretty much repetitive puzzles.
One super positive thing I have to say is about the Sun/Moon character. He’s still, as he was in the base game, the creepiest part of this DLC. The eerie smile on the model, the fantastic voice acting, the way he moves around—all good things that I wish had been seen more within the other animatronics of the game.
Regardless, it seems like the DLC managed to be better than the original that it stemmed from. Not that it was hard.