Security Breach’s Plot Needs Work (Part 1)
Disclaimer: I do love this game. Even as it stands, it introduced many positive experiences in a short period of time, both through the story and in the immersive setting of the game. THAT BEING SAID, I made a premature judgement on the state of the game mechanics themselves- the game was released with enough bugs to need aid from pest control. This is DEFINITELY NOT OK. There need to be multiple fixes, and I can only hope that comes to fruition. The game also (very clearly) wasn’t playtested, as showcased here.
I’m well aware that FNAF has problems with its plot that root back as far as FNAF 4 and Sister Location. However, even if the plot never gets its kinks knocked out (which I don’t see happening any time in the near future), it’s still worth discussion, especially when it appears that Security Breach went through massive changes to get where it is today.
(Most of these points will come in the form of questions. Rather than say “ugh this game needs more A B and C,” I’d rather take the existing story and examine the details, and work my way out from there.)
So first, the worst offender. The endings.
WHY did we need all these endings?
Rooftop Ending
Summary: Glamrock Freddy burns down the mall. He escapes to the rooftop with Gregory. Vanny is outside already, and catches him. Glamrock Freddy exclaims that he can see Vanny now because of his new eyes (via Roxy), and fights her on the edge of the building. Both fall and (presumably) die. Gregory unmasks Vanny, who looks identical to Vanessa, and is utterly confused. Vanessa appears on the roof, (seeming either surprised or sad about the ordeal,) and the Pizzaplex fire is publicly blamed on the flammability of the stuffed toys.
Analysis: This ending is one of the bigger trainwrecks. Glamrock Freddy insists that the other robots are his friends during the entire game, even after they try and kill Gregory, and he reasons that there must be some kind of explanation for their attacks. So why the hell is he burning down the Pizzaplex with all of them still inside? Also, how did he fall off the roof? Seems like a silly question, but it’s not rocket science to see that he’s easily twice Vanny’s size and strength- she’d be the loser here. The “big reveal” was fine at face value, but then you start to realize how much it lacks impact. We knew there was a Vanny and Vanessa to begin with. Why does it matter that they look the same? Why are they identical twins? You could argue that this is meant to be a cliffhanger, but a cliffhanger...OF WHAT? We don’t have enough additional evidence to understand the situation itself. Why might they be identical twins? Why does it matter? They aren’t sisters based on what we know, and if they are, that’s doubly confusing and EVEN WORSE writing if you can believe it.
Good Ending
Summary: Gregory and Glamrock Freddy literally just leave. They get in a van and drive away. Glamrock Freddy runs out of power (as he stated would happen without a recharge station) and Gregory just...jumper cables him back to life. (And then we get a newspaper that Mr. Hippo took Freddy’s place on the main stage.)
Analysis: I get that this is supposed to be a joke ending, but when your joke ending so easily contradicts the entire reason Glamrock Freddy absolutely cannot leave in the first place...then what the hell!? As an added kick in the teeth, none of this makes sense when you hold it up against the Bad Ending. The point of the Bad Ending was that nothing gets better because the kids keep getting kidnapped. Gregory and Glamrock Freddy leave in the Good Ending. So...like...the kids are still getting kidnapped, but it isn’t your problem anymore? That just makes me hate these two if I’m being honest.
Disassemble Vanny Ending
Summary: Glamrock Freddy and Gregory meet Vanny at her hideout in Fazzer Blast to square up. Glamrock Freddy gets pushed off a ledge by rogue S.T.A.F.F. bots (that are under Vanny’s control via remote) and violently disassembled. Gameplay comes in, and Freddy states that he still has a signal, and tells Gregory to “turn them against Vanny.” When we cut back to the graphic novel-style ending, Vanny comes to attack Gregory, and, having no other choice, he presses orders the bots to disassemble her with the press of a button. Glamrock Freddy dies and the mall closes down due to health concerns.
Analysis: Strangely enough, this ending has the least logistical problems. My question though, is, why did we need this ending? Yes, there are multiple endings to the game, but since there is a “True Ending”, (AKA, the only one that actually ended up happening,) all the other endings need to have some form of information included that benefits our understanding as an audience. This ending just...ends the normal way for any Fazbear establishment, and doesn’t really supply us anything interesting. (Other than Vanny’s gruesome death, of course.)
Best Ending
Summary: Gregory beats all the Princess Quest games. This frees the Bots of the virus and frees Vanny herself. Gregory takes Glamrock Freddy’s head (literally what ?) and Vanessa meets him at the doors. All three are shown sitting on a hill together.
Analysis: Again, this one has few logistical problems and does showcase something interesting; that the way to beat the virus itself is through Princess Quest. (The Best Ending might actually be the best ending.)
True Ending
(This one is done entirely through gameplay and cutscenes.)
Summary: There’s a hole with an amalgamation in it. Gregory and Glamrock Freddy go down it. Why? Dunno.
First, Glamrock Freddy gives this somewhat ambiguous line: “I know what this is. I have been here before. She brought me here. I found myself for the first time when I cleared the path. I did not want to, but I had no choice. Now, I have a choice. I have changed. My friends are here. They are so angry...confused...but I can protect you. I AM NOT ME.”
Then William gets let out of cryosleep and 1 second later tries taking control of Glamrock Freddy. Gregory puts William in the oven and he gets killed by the amalgamation. Gregory and Glamrock Freddy run for their fucking lives and make it to a dramatic hill that they can sit on together.
Analysis: I’ll be honest, this ending is the most compelling, but at the same time it needs SO much work. Why is the line from Glamrock Freddy so ambiguous? Who is “she”? Did Vanny force Freddy to clear a path down to William? Why wouldn’t she just use Roxy (who can literally smash through walls?) Is the other implication that Glamrock Freddy is another dead child? That’s fair, but how did he come to learn about his identity? Everything is left so vague and, unfortunately, serves to perpetuate loose ends rather than tie them up.
Bad Ending
Summary: Gregory leaves and is later shown sleeping in an alley in a cardboard box. The newspaper he’s using as a blanket states that “Local Residents Continue to Disappear.” Vanny finds him sleeping in the alley, and we get an ominous cut to black.
Analysis: This ending establishes the fact that Gregory is homeless, and while technically you could write it off as just that, we don’t get much light shed on his backstory either. We’re kind of just dropped into the Pizzaplex at the beginning of the game as if he’s been hiding out there, and then shown that he’s homeless. How come he’s never interacted with Glamrock Freddy before? Has he only started hiding out at the Pizzaplex recently? Why? Like with Vanny, most of Gregory’s story is up for speculation. (Keep in mind, all of this is after HOURS of gameplay, given that your run went smoothly.)
TL; DR Two of the endings blatantly contradict the reason that Glamrock Freddy can’t leave the Pizzaplex, and most of them have issues that altogether ruin their impact and perpetuate loose ends. This is why the endings left me with a sense of dissatisfaction, and I imagine there are others in the fandom who felt the same way.
