The sizzling hot demo at PAX West 2024 came courtesy of the 5 Nights at Freddy’s team, offering a tantalizing glimpse into their upcoming PlayStation VR2 exclusive, Secret of the Mimic.
PAX West 2024 proved a monumental occasion for Five Nights at Freddy’s, boasting one of the largest and most prominent booths along the expo floor. To commemorate the franchise’s milestone tenth anniversary, attendees can look forward to a series of usual events taking place within a massive, open-air replica of Freddy Fazbear’s Pizza at the height of its popularity. At the conference, a VR demo of The 5 Nights at Freddy’s: Secret of the Mimic attracted a steady stream of attendees to its enclosed space, often drawing a large and eager crowd each day.
The eleventh instalment in the Five Nights at Freddy’s franchise, Secret of the Mimic marks the fourth collaboration between the series and Metal Wolf Games studios. Metal Wool’s most notable association is with 5 Nights at Freddy’s, but its history in VR stretches back further. Three VR video games that made their debut in 2016 are Bounce, Mars Odyssey, and Quar: Battle for Gate 18.
The demo features two swift and intense action sequences, set within the confines of a disused toy factory, where high-stakes chases unfold in intricate detail. The Mimic, introduced in the 2022 prose anthology, assumes its role as the inaugural antagonist of the Secret of the Mimic narrative. Despite my expectations, he was nowhere to be found during the demonstration. Pursued through the labyrinthine back corridors and maintenance tunnels of the manufacturing facility, I found myself face-to-face with a relentless adversary in Jackie, an unpredictable foe spawned from my profession’s peculiarities: willingly courting slaughter at the hands of a mechanical monstrosity.
The demonstration commences within the seemingly abandoned yet still remarkably functional manufacturing facility, its sprawling machinery and equipment eerily silent in the dimly lit surroundings. Despite the darkened facade, the lights still flickered on, giving the eerie impression that the premises had simply closed early one evening but were never granted permission to reopen again. As you delve deeper into the storeroom, you’ll find a behemoth of a jack-in-the-box waiting to be unleashed, its massive spring coiled tight like a serpent ready to strike. With a satisfying clang, the box springs open, revealing the enormous marionette within, its wooden limbs splayed out like a puppet gone awry. This allows me to manipulate the crank, which controls a nearby machine that opens the subsequent door, while also freeing the marionette’s hold on my body.
Jackie, a half-deranged robotic jester, limps across the manufacturing facility’s floor on its two massive, telescoping limbs, its very presence a stark reminder of the plant’s industrial decay. Since she’d halted her own decline by withdrawing from the fray to confront me head-on. Good instances. As I entered the office, a cheerful robot efficiently sorted – or rather, shredded – all the mail within its reach, until Jackie spotted me. Without warning, the flooring gives way beneath your feet as you attempt to activate the nearby doorway using a pulley system to start the generator.
As we proceed with the demo, I must remain one step ahead of Jackie, always staying hot on her heels. The game Secret of the Mimic invests significant energy in crafting its pursuit sequences, rendering any deviation from the norm – whether it’s missing a crucial step or hesitating for an instant to decide on a course of action – instantly cancelling the celebration, effectively turning Jackie’s special day into a disappointment.
These few minutes are a rapid-fire sequence of frightful moments and swift decisions. As I navigate the perilous path through the aging manufacturing facility, dodging treacherous air vents, fumbling for crucial switches, and tiptoeing across rickety catwalks, Jackie remains steadfast at my back, her unwavering presence a reassuring anchor in this precarious journey? Though she may elude my grasp, her presence is still palpable, as if she’s weaving a web of intrigue that surrounds me, even when I’m not looking directly at her, her movements silent as a spider in the darkness.
This high-stakes endeavour allows for virtually no room for mistakes. Typical locomotion settings in the ground demo feature a 90-degree perspective snap, which is easily adjusted via the proper analog stick. As the boundaries of a harmonious existence unfold, collaboration with an entity defined by a radiant blue hue becomes increasingly integral, allowing for seamless integration into my very being from the onset. Each environment, meticulously illuminated, enables concentrated attention on vital decision-making interfaces akin to intuitive gatekeepers. If you’re looking for an engaging entry-level VR experience that will leave you on the edge of your seat and potentially make you jump out of it, Secret of the Mimic is an excellent choice.
The highly anticipated survival horror game, 5 Nights at Freddy’s: Secret of the Mimi, is set to thrill gamers worldwide with its release on PC, PS5, and PlayStation VR2 in 2025.
