Five Nights at Freddy's : Into the pit. It's a whole new ball game!
The year is 2020, the newest Zendrelix movie has been released and it’s summer vacation. But not all is alright in the town. Since the local mill has closed, families have been leaving in droves for better work in the town over. But Oswald’s family is stuck in the dying town due to his grandmother’s health. With a mom working full time at the hospital and a dad frantically looking for a new job, Oswald is left in the care of the tired and slightly unprofessional Jeff’s Pizza. It’s an old building with leaky pipes, broken vents, and back rooms full of trash. But the pizza’s cheap and Jeff lets Oswald stay all day, so his parents can’t complain. Oswald, however, does not hold back his opinions as there’s nothing to do and no other kids his age at the old rundown pizza joint. In an effort to get back at his dad for leaving him alone all day, Oswald crawls into the defunct ball pit hidden away in a backroom.
What awaits him on the other side is a magical place for kids and grown-ups alike, where fantasy and fun come to life. Oswald finds himself in 1985, when the town was at its peak activity with the new mill having attracted hundreds of families and businesses soon to follow suit. Jeff’s Pizza has reverted back into its much more popular and successful predecessor: Freddy’s Fazbear Pizzeria. But not all is what it seems. Very quickly, this wonderland of arcade games and singing animatronic animals turns into a horror scenario as five kids are found lifeless in the backroom. Parents and kids run in a frenzied panic as an golden animatronic rabbit goes on the prowl, snatching kids and terrifying customers alike.
Oswald escapes with his life, but not before witnessing his dad being taken by the golden rabbit and replaced with something much more sinister. With an imposter living in his home and shuffling around his house in the dead of night, Oswald must venture back to the past to not only find his dad, but to solve the mystery of Freddy’s Pizzeria - all within five nights.
Let's dive in Into the Pit is a 2D horror adventure puzzle game that requires problem solving, time traveling ball pits, and some odd challenges in order to successfully solve the mystery of the Freddy Fazbear killer. As players are roaming the pizzeria, they must use sound to determine where the enemies are and use the environment to hide from them. When spotted, players are given chances to hide and stay safe through mini games; should they fail, the golden rabbit will grab them and it’s game over.
There is a lot more to this game then a first glance might have you suspect when eying the simplistic graphics. But the entire game, actually drips style with its atmosphere and audio design. It was a real surprise to see how well it captured the spirit of the FNAF universe. And not only that, it comes packed with a bunch of features.
- Experience the pulse-pounding adventure of a beloved entry in the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise, Into the Pit.
- Solve satisfying puzzles intertwined with an adrenaline-fueled story.
- Test yourself or take it easy in Hard and Casual modes with varied difficulty.
- Try to save your friends, your family, and escape with your life.
- Uncover secrets in Fatal Minigames.
- Discover different endings.
- Escape the clutches of the animatronic creature wreaking havoc across time.
- Dive into a classic horror adventure game in its entirety, packed with agency and Easter eggs.
Different is beautiful
Without a doubt - the most eye-catching and unique aspect of Into the Pit is its use of its pixel art, shifting from standard gameplay to video segments to keep players engaged. Despite the pixel-based art, the scares and suspense are as intense as the best horror movies and guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. The game has plenty of scares mixed into the puzzles and challenges it presents to players. Fans of the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise will be glad to find easter eggs and references to previous games and books scattered throughout the game.
Parental guidance:
As of this writing the ESRB rating on the game is still pending, but previous entries have been rated T for teen. We did note that the European rater PEGI rated this game a 16+ where others have been rated 12.
The game does not have any blood or gore, but it does reference death, kidnapping, and mental anguish of children that can be disturbing for some viewers. It may not be best suited for young children due to these themes and the jump scares of the game, but we believe those aged 12 and above should not have a problem. The game does have various options for difficulty, one of which allows the players to experience the game for its narrative story rather than its scares. This may be a good option for younger kids that want to play or watch, though the puzzles may be a bit difficult for them to figure out on their own.
Final Thoughts
As an avid lover of the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise since the first game released in 2014 and a huge nerd for the lore, this game was very enjoyable to play. It has the perfect mix of scares, humor, and frankly silly challenges for the “true ending” that fans have come to know as the franchise's calling card. It builds off the lore established in the books and games without being too convoluted or difficult to understand; however, those that know little to nothing of the original story may not be able to completely understand. Overall, this game was an amazing experience, and I would definitely suggest others to play it, especially fans of the game. The studio did an amazing job bringing the game to life and giving a unique experience to fans and newcomers alike.
