FNAF: No Hype, No Hope

The Five Nights at Freddy's franchise has been an emotional rollercoaster since its first game in 2014.
As many of you know, the early titles of the series created a unique atmosphere that, while terrifying and disturbing, had something that kept you on the edge of your seat.

However, in recent years, something seems to have been lost, and the upcoming release, *Five Nights at Freddy's: Secret of the Mimic*, doesn't give me high hopes. And yes, I’m aware that’s kind of sad, but the truth is, the franchise seems to have lost its essence.

The First Movie: Total Disappointment

While the FNAF movie didn't surprise anyone with its quality (we all knew it wasn’t going to be a masterpiece), it still managed to disappoint me despite being prepared for the worst. The potential was there, with the story based on the lore of the series, but the final result was a mix that left more questions than answers. Somehow, the movie adaptation seems to have lost the magic that made the games so memorable.

The Game: The Expansion of the FNAF Universe

With the new game on the horizon, the only thing that truly gives me some hope is the expansion of the *FNAF* universe. I like that they continue exploring new angles and creating new characters, but I can't help but feel that the franchise has lost some of that initial spark. The first titles, like Five Nights at Freddy's and FNaF 2, immersed us in the story of Freddy Fazbear and his creepy restaurant, while facing possessed animatronics that seemed to come straight out of a nightmare.

Even Sister Location, which was a more experimental entry, managed to capture the essence of the series by offering an intriguing narrative and new mechanical horrors. The story of William Afton and his relationship with the creation of the animatronics remains one of the fundamental pillars of FNAF lore, and *Sister Location* was an interesting step in the franchise's evolution. However, something feels different with the latest releases.

The Books and the Lore

It’s curious how, after everything that's happened with the games, the books remain one of the best ways to delve into the lore. The Silver Eyes, the first book in the series, managed to capture what made the games special, exploring the mystery behind Freddy Fazbear and its dark secrets in a way that the more recent titles have failed to do. Characters like Charlie and John feel much more real on the page, and their stories provide a background that often gets lost amidst the action in the games. The idea of reading the other books excites me more than the prospect of playing the new game.

A Disappointing Trailer

Finally, the trailer for Secret of the Mimic left me with more doubts than excitement. Something in the atmosphere didn’t feel “FNAF” at all, and the feeling it gave me was more similar to an episode of Poppy Playtime than the franchise we once knew. The lack of constant tension, the mysteries beyond the animatronics, and the claustrophobic atmosphere that defined the early games makes me question if this is the right direction for the franchise.

In the end, as a fan of the series since its beginnings, it pains me to see how FNAF seems to have diluted over time. Nostalgia is definitely what still keeps me (not entirely) in its community