Was Five Nights at Freddy's Ever Actually Good?

[@keynanmartinez]

Scott Cawthon showed us that one indie game can change the world and to never back down from negative reviews to create something so influential.

[@koolgamzstudio]

Wassn't FNaF world not continued because bad reviews?

[@keynanmartinez]

@@koolgamzstudio True but I didn't killed the franchise.

[@ghrtyeje]

In his interview with Dawko from 2018, he mentioned that the reviews played a PART in it, but went on to elaborate that he believed the game itself was misguided from the beginning because he wasn't thinking clearly at the time and simply wanted a break from horror to clear his mind. He believes this mindset doomed the project because he was trying to tie it to the main games instead of just making a troll game and saving the spinoff for later, since he didn't want to keep fans waiting too long for the next game while he was mentally recovering.

[@kauanjos3199]

​@@koolgamzstudio Yes and no, The game launched incomplete and with bugs, in the 1.0 version the made was just 2D sprites, even Scott didn't like how the game released, and said he would never release an unfinished game again (well until steel wool released security breach)

[@henryhunter9643]

Considering he wanted to make a cute Christian game that wasn't going so well, until someone told him 'the characters look like those animatronics that always creeped me out'. If they hadn't said that line, FNAF probably wouldn't exist. That person saying that changed Scott's life. And it was all luck. Luck that was said. Luck that big KZbinrs picked up on the game. In many alternate realities, the game sold maybe 100 copies max.

[@Fabriciod_Crv]

i was 13 at the time and i remember having some trouble sleeping thinking the animatronics were going to jump me at night lol

[@Inner_Phantom]

SO REAL, I WAS LIKE 10 AND I WAS SCARED THAT THE FREDDLES WERE GONNA EAT ME

[@Chineseisntalanguageapparently]

Good, it was supposed to be scary, not child friendly

[@midirams2205]

When fnaf 3 came out and I saw springtrap for the first time, I couldn't sleep properly for months istg 💀💀💀

[@Chawle-ol3fu]

@@Chineseisntalanguageapparently They are only scary if you are a child. No way anyone over the age of 10 found them scary

[@Chineseisntalanguageapparently]

@@Chawle-ol3fu you overestimate the imagination of a 10yo or you had limited imagination yourself and wanna project it on others

[@Dragular]

I still think FNAF 1 is the scariest game in the series. The atmosphere and dread before the jumpscares when you die is just unmatched in this one.

[@decepticonmecha]

I still remember an old episode of Game Theory, where MatPat theorized that the inspiration for the game was based on a real horrible situation that happened at a Chuck E Cheese. Let's just say that a former employee of that particular restaurant went psycho and wasted almost all the other employees there. The parallels Mat made between the animatronics and the real life victims were chilling.

[@RealHyperHedgehog]

I personally think 3 is the scariest, but 1 definitely comes close in my opinion.

[@just_the_g.o.a.t189]

nah, imo 4 is scariest just bc of nightmare chica. Chickens, I repeat, CHICKENS, should NOT HAVE TEETH!

[@decepticonmecha]

@@just_the_g.o.a.t189 Ducks, too. Ducks with teeth? Yeah, fuck that shit.

[@kauanjos3199]

@@Dragular For me it's pizzaria simulator the hearing mechanic is just anxiety inducing

[@michaelfryers1914]

Man. I was in Secondary school when this first game came out. I was 11. I remember when FMAF 2 came out. Literally everybody in the cafeteria would be playing it, trying to work out what each animatronic does and how to stop them. And obviously the lore

[@hgmd3284]

Finally, someone else who understands that fnaf is more than just jumpscares

[@scizopenguin]

after 3 nights it is basically just that.

[@hgmd3284]

@@scizopenguin fuck no, something tells me youre just bad at the game

[@gutoshelp2717]

i like how J's is actually talking about the horror of fnaf because, not only was it lost as the series went on, it also kinda was lost as the years went by and not that many people talk about how, yeah, fnaf 1 is scary and builds a perfect atmosphere. really enjoying the video, wouldn't think you actually liked fnaf, at least the first one anyways, and this is a pretty welcome surprise. can't wait to see what other out of field thing you talk about after the dmc videos :3

[@6ixman485]

i feel like 3 had a really good setting and villain for horror but it didn't have the presentation this game had that really made it terrifying

[@kolkagaming1234]

@@6ixman485At least Fnaf 3 was slightly easier, because 99% of the animatronics don’t kill you, but Springtrap does. So you could AFK Night 1 since Springtrap is not present until Night 2.

[@6ixman485]

@@kolkagaming1234 Fnaf 3's difficulty creep is insane tho. Game gets so much harder on night 3

[@prime7213]

What’s insane about this series is how generationally sweeping it is. I was 16 when the first game came out and my friends and I enjoyed playing them late at night the day they launched. Now a decade later I’m a social worker who interacts with young kids every day and they are still absolutely obsessed with the series. It’s actually a great way for me to bond with kids and help them feel comfortable in what can be a very uncomfortable place.

[@roachcuca3190]

Ok groomer

[@Garfeed_Awesome]

HOLY SHIT WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE

[@Gaia_BentosZX5]

FNAF was that game now that I think about it in the long run, I finally got the hint to "Play another game!" when things looked bleak for gaming, especially when Sonic was experincing the worst decade of the franchise's existence, the fact gaming's major B listers disappeared off the face of the earth mysteriously, and ESPECIALLY Mega Man was on a nosedive (and nobody wanted to believe it in the latter where by 2023 rolled around, people got sick of that after years of working with Freddy Fazbear. In an ironic twist of fate, Sonic the Hedgehog once again is saved by a robot this time in reality in the form of a haunted animatronic given that this phenomenon also produced GamesCage, literally the nicest guy you'll ever meet on the internet that was one of the many who helped rebuild the hedgehog's image in the public eye).

[@Numbuh_W.]

Seeing this notif pop up on my phone gave me whiplash. Out of all the franchises I’d never think I’d see you discuss FNAF

[@niksooxyz]

I can't believe this franchise is turning 10 years old. I was literally there to watch the first game theory in the 8th grade.

[@animatronikki]

If you'd like a moment of respite from looking back to 2014 and feeling your age: I was 28 when FNAF 1 came out. I'm so old I was having birthday parties at Showbiz Pizza until I was 10 years old! For me the FNAF nostalgia started the moment the first game came out, because it reminded me of my childhood watching the Rock-afire Explosion on stage. So don't worry guys, you've got plenty of time! Don't forget to smell those roses.

[@LooneyTuneLegendYT]

I was 10 when the OG Fnaf game came out and I'm gonna be 20 in November. Where does the time go?

[@kolkagaming1234]

Fnaf 1 is fun, but I feel like there’s a few parts that make me feel like it suffers from First Game syndrome

[@alexanderthegreat-mx5zu]

​@@kolkagaming1234The game can be 100% in like an hour, skill issue,bro.

[@kolkagaming1234]

⁠​⁠@@alexanderthegreat-mx5zuyeah, but this game suffers First game syndrome the least, like the Animatronics AI in the later nights can be literally pushovers. In night 4 Foxy Left the Pirate Cove at the beginning of the night. And it hasn’t even been 20 seconds yet. & Night 6’s Existence is wrong because it’s called 5 Nights not 6. The Luck Factors are okay in Fnaf. Unlike the bizarre RNG endings in Mega Man X5 as J mentioned.

[@infinity_phantomile]

We're getting too old, man...

[@JuanPablo-su6vw]

You are barely 20...maybe, i don’t know

[@KaiserMattTygore927]

Imagine being 21 when that game came out.

[@otaku_randz2393]

23, but it feels like I’m pushing 40.

[@micjimster4845]

I was 8 when it came out.... I'm now 80. Time really did go fast :(

[@Thunder_Bird0]

The only thing in this life that’s always constant, Time.

[@JasLamArr91]

You gotta love the security guard’s determination. He kept coming back in spite of the deadly animatronics trying to kill him to get that measly $120 ! 😂😂

[@ethejumper6568]

Now in 2024 we know who Mike Schmidt actually is

[@alexanderthegreat-mx5zu]

The security guards father is the murderer,he kept coming back to free them or some sh0t.

[@LDFrost117]

Funny thing is I feel most FNAF fans had that same experience of knowing the games very well from let's plays and such without having actually played them, hell I was literally the "fan of big franchise plays it for the first time" just last year when I got all FNAF games for cheap and marathon them... what was even more shocking is indeed how well the first game holds up, it's simplicity being one of it's greatest strengths

[@CaptainF123]

The J'sReviews FNAF retrospective is not something I expected to see but is something I AM SO HYPED for.

[@ghrtyeje]

I'm glad you enjoyed the first FNaF! The story of how it came to be is definitely one I always find interesting, and the fact Scott made it by turning his simplistic game design and modeling on its head is admirable!

[@UnderWeekend]

Even though I don’t like fnaf from a game perspective I respect it for paving the way for indie games.

[@joeslickback]

The game that skyrocketed MatPat and Markiplier (The King of Five Nights at Freddy's)

[@kingbash6466]

I was 15 when the first game came out, and I was immediately obsessed with it after seeing Markiplier's let's play of it because as someone who holds tons of childhood nostalgia towards Chuck E Cheese, seeing a horror game that gave that environment a dark edge really spoke to me during my adolescent years. Those first 4 games were on my mind for almost 2 years, and I still keep up with the franchise even if I don't always vibe with the direction it takes because I appreciate the work and passion Scott Cawthon put into a series that would have been a cult classic if the situation was different.

[@vincent207]

I can’t even count the number of times I’ve watched Markiplier play the initial 4 games.

[@raptortown]

"Hello my name is Markiplier and welcome to Five Nights at Freddy"

[@KaleBennett]

It's surreal to think this game is gonna be half as old as me soon

[@kolkagaming1234]

I never knew J would ever do a Retrospective on Fnaf.

[@TheEKdude]

Scott Cawthon is a good example of a person who never let criticism take over his mentality, and decided to keep doing what he enjoys most.

[@thisbox]

4:38 Not certain if it was something Scott was actively aware of during development or not, but you can prevent all but Foxy's Attack by not lifting up the camera - in a way playing dead. It could also just be a throwaway line, but it's a thought that came to mind relatively recently.

[@SwiftyStardust]

I can't believe FNAF is 10 years old now. I remember hearing about the game for the first time during summer break, just before my second year of college. Incredible to think that a small indie game like this would spawn such a massive global franchise.

[@MM-ij1jh]

I was 11 turning 12 at the time this game came out, FNaF 1 and 2 really got me obsessed with this series for well over 3 years. I remember the hype for FNaF 3 and later FNaF 4 and people making theories on the lore.

[@micjimster4845]

Its wild that fnaf is no longer a new franchise...

[@uzzielcyanman]

Wait? Come again?

[@MrTaikobo]

Wow, I was in college when this game was a thing and it popped off (yeah, I'm 30, I'm getting old lol). But, if you REALLY wanna go back in the days of old KZbin, Amnesia: The Dark Descent was the scariest game and I'd argue it still holds up. JoshStrifeHayes did an excellent video essay on the game and its influence on the LetsPlay community at the time. Definitely would like to see J talk about that game and his experiences with it. If he has previous experience or not, it doesn't matter. I'd love to hear it.

[@RealHyperHedgehog]

All these years later Fnaf 1 is still my favorite in the series (along with Fnaf 3).

[@timtanium7074]

The remarks a the end about all the kids at school on the bus talking about the lore because of the MatPat video is so real. I'm about the same age as you and experienced pretty much the same Fnaf-mania for quite some time. Crazy how popular it was lol. I think you should definitely give the second game a shot at least, I enjoyed its gameplay just a bit more.

[@humanbeing5351]

This games prime was literally the definition of “you had to be there”

[@shinyocelot04archive]

I discovered this series for the first time back in 2014 through The Diamond Minecart of all places. While my interest dipped after the 4th game, it was still interesting learning the mechanics of the first game. It's fascinating to me just how much this game changed the horror sphere simply by making you not able to run away from the impending threat.

[@phantom5757]

To say I’m surprised that you covered the first fnaf game is an understatement. I’m glad you enjoyed your time with it and I would love to see you do fnaf 2 and 3 to just wrap up the original trilogy but if you feel as though that’s too much for you then don’t do it. Great video J

[@real_endo_hd]

Yay a video about Fnaf. I wanna mention there are many fan games and maybe you could do videos of some like, JOY OF CREATION, DORMITABIS, POPGOES, FIVE NIGHTS AT CANDYS. Also cool video :)

[@hgmd3284]

Not dormitabis

[@real_endo_hd]

@@hgmd3284 I'm talking about the remaster

[@hgmd3284]

@@real_endo_hd ah

[@real_endo_hd]

@@hgmd3284 original is bad and atlrast the remaster fixes the story

[@thewised.a.c]

I was 16 when this game came out 😭 it immediately pulled me in with all the lore implications and I’m glad to see it’s still going strong! Also funnily enough it’s anniversary is my mom’s birthday 💀

[@airvoice131]

You should definitely make this an entire series going through every game

[@KirbyHee-ho]

Honestly, I wasn't expecting to get a FNaF video. I actually have very fond memories of this series back when it was brand new and the second game was on its way with all of those teasers. I personally think the first game was the perfect amount of simple and nailed the atmosphere. I do like most of the other games in the series and think some of them are still really good, but I feel like the original FNaF as well as that era in general and all of its hype was the peak of the franchise.

[@raikojanes5972]

i was 11 when this game out, now i'm 21, i graduated school, i moved out of my parent's place, i got a job, i got a gf (not in the order) while also looking out for anything related franchise, like officcal games, fan games, teasers, theories, all that stuff

[@Baileography]

Was surprised to see this so soon after you announced this video but I'm not complaining. It really is crazy that this game is a decade old now but that's just how life goes. I have mad respect for this game even if I don't love it like some people do. I'd be interested in seeing your thoughts on at least the next few games but I also fully understand just wanting to stop here.

[@solidoptimus0129]

What the flip? Never in the many years I've been subbed to you would I ever imagine you covering FNaF! But I'm not complaining, this gotta be good!

[@crimsongamer3137]

Never knew J was a FNAF fan, or at least respected the games, let's goooo

[@EmuleelArts]

I’d totally be down to see you cover the next couple of FNAF games. I wouldn’t worry too much about being overwhelmed as just like the first one, the games are pretty good at slowly feeding you what you need to know in order to win. And plus, none of the games ever get overly complicated gameplay wise. I’d also be down if you decided to cover some of the later games after that as well though of course it’s understandable if you’d rather not.

[@HowDoYouTurnThisOn_]

I really hate people who reduce the FNAF franchise to "a cheap jumpscare simulator" or "a childish cashgrab"

[@scizopenguin]

I mean thats what it became.

[@bengaffney7905]

I feel so old I’m about to say whipper snapper

[@JackieBucks]

Certainly was not expecting this one 😭. I would love to see more FNAF reviews personally lol

[@calvinmatthews1527]

As per usual, great video J. And you are so right, FNAF was all over KZbin back then, even my brothers watched a lot of their content. I also loved how you namedropped so many of these YT channels. Overall, FNAF as oversaturated as it was, really became an overnight success in large part because of KZbin.

[@Something_Maybe]

Man, I was only 8 when this game came out. Anyway I still think this game is amazing. It has genuinely great atmosphere and sound design

[@Cubeytheawesome]

Its just astounding how far this series has gone. From simple point and click to getting the biggest opening for a Blumhouse movie, it’s been a wild ride.

[@deaglehawkings2543]

True FNAF fans will remember that Markiplier was the one that gave this game the popularity it has today

[@Chillipeffer]

I think Mark and FNaF are practically inseparable in the KZbin consciousness

[@JRStorm71]

Never thought you would review this game J

[@CaseMonster]

I got so many grey hairs when I heard him say Halo 2 feels ancient

[@BlueJack222]

I would love to see a retrospective of FNAF 2

[@Unfunnyjestr]

Game theory:.j is the purple guy

[@Thrackerzod8]

I honestly miss how Fnaf felt back in 2014/2015, i really wish Scott didn't focus way too much in sci fi themes and just kept the supernatural vibe.

[@marioluigi3122]

Fnaf is like TMNT. It has reinvention in its core DNA

[@jjhongxina8236]

*J mentions Halo 2* Me: "Halo retrospective when?"

[@RuruFIN]

I still remember that I first watched Dashie's gameplay of FNaF1. Still go back to his FNaF gameplays from time to time.

[@disturbedrebirth]

I got into FNF thanks to my kids. I really like the story and lore.

[@ethanbailey1956]

Yeah this is my getting older moment. I remember being 13 as well when this game was all people talked about

[@Nic_2751]

What do you mean it’s been a decade…..

[@EerierFish17]

It was released in 2014?????

[@mint_1919]

Hearing your commentary on this game is so entertaining and I'd love to see you try some more games from at least the quadrilogy

[@Darkfawfulx]

I know the views arent here but I'd love to see a video on 2 and 3.

[@koolmoviestvstudios1158]

No way my favorite sonic/gamer guy is talking about the best game history FNAF

[@NigelMelanisticSmith]

Honestly, I think the bigger hit in the intro is Halo 2 being 2 decades old lol.

[@HubPie3]

I was 16 years old when FNAF came out. I remember binging Markiplier’s legendary LP of it (particularly the Custom Night) and stayed with the series up until FNAF4. I’m not a huge fan of FNAF, but I’ll always have some kind of fondness for it.

[@anonymousyoutuber3760]

You really should throw more curveballs like this

[@MiltonGagliardi]

Even if I never played the game, I remember watching video after video about the story, theories and gameplays about it. Those were the days

[@LTSaraBlight]

Fun fact about this game: You don't have to close the door to stop Freddy. You only have to watch him on the camera in order to lock him up in the place. That's because the phone guy said He's very shy. Freddy and Foxy have the same mechanic but you can see any of the cameras to counter the fox from coming at your office

[@TamNguyen-hm2lj]

Last thing I expected to see on this channel, but it's welcome

[@6ixman485]

J doing a fnaf retrospective isn't something i thought i would see. Also no way its been 10 years, i remember watching mark and cory play this game when i was 8 cuz i was too scared to play it myself

[@benjoman8252]

It's crazy looking in the comments and seeing people who grew up with the game when it launched at the same age as me (12-13), thinking up theories and glitch hunting was a big thing for us on the playground. We're all grown up now 😢😢

[@zodiacthundaga7264]

Never expected you of all people to cover this game. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I love this game.

[@atavious2491]

I actually pretty much liked the movie. FNAF and the Illumination Super Mario Bros movie were movies I think were financially successful simply because of some positive word of mouth pre-release and mainly the fans or general audiences coming in to rewatch those movies over and over again in theaters. I personally blame Rotten Tomatoes and certain movie reviewers on KZbin for trashing those movies. Even though there are genuine criticisms I do agree with, a lot of it to me I felt is just non-fans trying to be mean, calling out the fanbase and antagonizing them for what they love, and continue the cynical notion that "video game movies will forever be bad and therefore should never exist" kind of mentality. But overall, I had a blast watching the new Mario and FNAF movies and look forward to their sequels. If you're a fan of something and know the source material by heart, then it's practically like your religion and you shouldn't let noobs tell you otherwise. In my middle school years, the 2012 Ninja Turtles series and Five Nights at Freddy's were my space of solace and escape from my stressful preteen and teenage life. It was pretty fun being on board in the early years and following the latest news, trends, and theories based on these mediums. This video kinda forgets to add in more context to the overall state of the internet and KZbin during that time of the first game's release. It was a time when basically creepypastas and other similar horror content on the worldwide web were at an all time high peak. This was the time when a lot of people were beginning to post a lot of weird stuff on the internet pertaining to childhood nostalgia and completely flipping it upside down for more edgy and mature content. This fad kinda dwindled by the end of the 2010s but would later pick up a bit more steam again during the pandemic with the likes of analog horror videos and such and people beginning to get more creative with horror storytelling. The classic era of FNAF remained relevant through this new venture with people coming up with their own head canons, timelines, and telling new stories to keep the mythos alive.

[@MalzraAirwynn]

I'm not personally interested in seeing a whole series FNAF retrospective, but I think doing one off videos on important video game titles, indie or otherwise, could make for cool videos between longer series etc.

[@cryssie1309]

I never thought I would see J review fnaf on this channel

[@JinSeiryuu]

I was 19 when this came out man how time flies....

[@chaosdoesthings9347]

I did not expect js reviews to do a video on fnaf

[@AvatarAidan]

I feel old knowing that this game is 10, since I was a kid when it came out. But I also never finished this game, cause I get easily scared and prone to Nightmares.

[@henryhunter9643]

The 'play dead advice is real (I think). If you stay still with the power out, it takes a little longer for you to die. At least that's what I heard. Might be a myth.

[@MegaDarkness5000]

That's a myth, The power out Freddy is completely random when it ends.

[@MegaDarkness5000]

I recommend Tech Rules FNAF video has he breaks down FNAF very well

[@lpfan4491]

That's wrong as Megadarkness said, but the advise ironically can also just work...for most of the game. All of the animatronic-jumpscares besides Foxy are triggered on lowering the camera(Bonnie and Chica force it down after a while tho), so simply not doing anything can actually win if you get lucky with Foxy. Nights 1-5 are basically cheesed by hammering the continue-button. Night 6 makes this far too unlikely to be anywhere near reasonable tho and 4/20 just does not give Foxy a chance to not move, so those nights have be to cleared legit.

[@finalfantasyfan222]

J’s reviews and FNAF?! Is it Christmas?!?

[@vizuren]

FNAF 1 to me is the scariest out of the first 3. It’s the only one that manages to scare me to the point where once I get jump-scared in the game, I never play the game again. I never beaten night 2 btw.

[@THGMR-ox7sd]

That’s crazy. Not even night 2?!

[@vizuren]

@@THGMR-ox7sd yep

[@ToyFreddyGaming1987]

I did not expect J's Reviews to cover FNaF, but I'm pleasantly suprised.

[@farhankapadia6814]

I remember hearing about the game during the mid 2010s as a teenager but I actually sat down and played the game properly last year and thought it was really solid

[@david.godlewski]

crazy to scroll someone's channel just to notice they uploaded a minute ago. hi lol

[@ethejumper6568]

C-Tier A fine Beginning of one of the most popular Horror Franchises

[@jasaiahacevedo7689]

I was 5 when this game came out

[@thevioletskull8158]

I wasn't expeting you to make a fnaf video but Im cool with it

[@bbrown333]

Seeing how young everyone else is here I feel extremely OLD. 13 in in 2014?! That's the year I got my M.A....

[@Cosmicfallsr]

J mentioned Halo 2 (the best game ever made) he now has to cover the Halo games

[@SerpentHashiraObanaiIguro]

J making a FNAF vid was not on my bingo card for this year, but I welcome it.

[@saito_the_one]

I became a fan of fnaf back in 2016 Man 2016 was goated frfr

[@Joel-nu1ed]

The jump scares, especially in this first one or less scary and more. F@$K MY EARS ARE BLEEDING!!!

[@brainafkstube5393]

Jays Review gotta be my fav gaming channel

[@zernek9199]

I think you would probably like FNAF 4. A lot of the good stuff about 1 still applies

[@Autistic_Artist_795]

A Fnaf video by J's reviews?! Let's Go!!

[@cloudshines812]

8:48 This is probably common knowledge, but Golden Freddy was actually just called “Yellow Bear” and was a one in a million easter egg in the first game. It was actually because of Markiplier’s unlucky encounter during his playthrough did Scott coin the name “Golden Freddy” and added the infamous 1.9.8.7 custom night scare

[@lpfan4491]

It's not actually 1 in 1000000. It is supposed to be that rare, but the clickteam random-function used sucks and not only does not handle numbers that high, but the numbers are also generated unevenly. So it is actually much more common than it looks at first glance.

[@randommf24]

I didn't expect bro to make a five nights at Freddy's review But I'm all for it

[@rhyperiorhunter7339]

I remember back when 4 was the newest game in the franchise Man I feel old