![mario in animatronic horror the nightmare begins demo mario in animatronic horror the nightmare begins demo](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OI13tZhPO_Q/hqdefault.jpg)
The game's most terrifying moments are those when a machine can't be found on camera, signalling that it's either sitting in a blind spot and needs to be locked out immediately, or already in the watchman's office, waiting to strike as soon as the monitor is lowered. Don't check the cameras too often, though, or the power will run out, spelling almost certain death. That is, until the next time they're checked, at which point they've disappeared, and a frantic search across cameras begins. Unless they're in the process of murder, the machines never move while they're being watched, so the security cameras only ever show them glaring vacantly, motionless in the shadows. When the game is being played, the mere presence of an animatronic creature is enough to send an anxious player reaching for the Escape key. The title screen alone is more disturbing than some full-fledged horror games, thanks in equal part to Freddy's shadowy visage and the sombre drone in the background. Of course, the game excels at conventional horror, as well. There is another human character who offers something of an explanation, but it's an inadequate one, to say the least, and his credibility is deliberately called into question throughout the game, so it's not much of a consolation.
![mario in animatronic horror the nightmare begins demo mario in animatronic horror the nightmare begins demo](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/NKkTS3fI-9o/hqdefault.jpg)
Given such glaring ambiguities and macabre subject matter, the human mind will always fill in the blanks with the worst case scenario, creating all manner of sinister motives and paranormal origins for the entire situation. Why does the protagonist keep coming back, why are they given so few resources, and most importantly, why is any of this happening? These questions are so obvious that their lack of concrete answer must be deliberate. The absurdity of it all (especially the fact that the protagonist inexplicably continues to come into work beyond the first night) is often considered the biggest obstacle between the game and lasting horror, but at the same time, it may be part of the point.Ĭonventional horror is alright, but it's the lingering questions that remain maddening after the program has been closed.
![mario in animatronic horror the nightmare begins demo mario in animatronic horror the nightmare begins demo](https://img.youtube.com/vi/XMywnq1C-zQ/mqdefault.jpg)
The player is a completely impotent force in this scenario, though, so the only tools available for surviving the night are the restaurant's network of security cameras (which have a few blind spots), and a pair of powered doors, both of which drain the piddling amount of energy rationed for each night. The player controls the restaurant's night watchman, with the only goal being to survive the job for a whole week. Cheese's pastiche called Freddy Fazbear's Pizza where the animatronic characters roam the premises at night…and brutally murder anyone they come across.