Posted June 11, 2009
At first glance, the "Neighbours from Hell" compilation may seem silly, simple, and childish. Actually, at second and third glances, too, because that's exactly what this pair of games is, and marvelously so.
The premise does a wonderful job of being straightforward and absurd at the same time. Your job is to guide cheeky prankster Woody through various episodes of a TV show based entirely around pranking his grumpy oaf of a neighbor (or neighbour, depending on your textual dialect). Woody is entirely aware that he's on a show, whereas his neighbor--Mr. Rottweiler, according to Wikipedia--is blindly unaware of the 4th wall, which is a comedic situation I always enjoy. You must guide Woody through Mr. Rottweiler's house, constantly avoiding getting caught, setting up traps and tricks to bedevil the old slob. The better you can string pranks together, and thus the angrier you can keep Rottweiler, the better your score for each level.
This is an excellent game for kids as well as adults, as the puzzles aren't terribly complicated. You find object A, which can really only be used with household item B. The trick is in creating a line of pranks in the right order to constantly keep Rottweiler steaming, which often involves circling around him as he traverses the house, and hiding in wardrobes or under the bed. Another obstacle that crops up is pets, which Woody must sneak past, which slows him down considerably.
The second game of the series adds a variety of vacation scenery for the episodes, instead of just a house, and increased challenges, such as Rottweiler's mother (who seems to be some sort of senior body-builder). While more difficult, it's not unpleasantly so, and the added locations helps keep things fresh.
The charm of these games is undeniable. The claymation-esque characters emit a definite "Wallace and Gromit" vibe, and some of the animations are worthy of the chuckles they earn. Mr. Rottweiler cracks his back from shouting so often you'd think he would be wearing a brace by now. This same style carries into the scenery, which is rounded and cartoonish, as well as the soundwork, consisting of peppy "getting into trouble" music and garbled shouting and grumbling from Rottweiler.
As a puzzle/casual game, "Neighbours from Hell" wins you over. It's not deep, but it's fun, and its cute brand of mischief is appropriate for anybody who loves a good prank.
The premise does a wonderful job of being straightforward and absurd at the same time. Your job is to guide cheeky prankster Woody through various episodes of a TV show based entirely around pranking his grumpy oaf of a neighbor (or neighbour, depending on your textual dialect). Woody is entirely aware that he's on a show, whereas his neighbor--Mr. Rottweiler, according to Wikipedia--is blindly unaware of the 4th wall, which is a comedic situation I always enjoy. You must guide Woody through Mr. Rottweiler's house, constantly avoiding getting caught, setting up traps and tricks to bedevil the old slob. The better you can string pranks together, and thus the angrier you can keep Rottweiler, the better your score for each level.
This is an excellent game for kids as well as adults, as the puzzles aren't terribly complicated. You find object A, which can really only be used with household item B. The trick is in creating a line of pranks in the right order to constantly keep Rottweiler steaming, which often involves circling around him as he traverses the house, and hiding in wardrobes or under the bed. Another obstacle that crops up is pets, which Woody must sneak past, which slows him down considerably.
The second game of the series adds a variety of vacation scenery for the episodes, instead of just a house, and increased challenges, such as Rottweiler's mother (who seems to be some sort of senior body-builder). While more difficult, it's not unpleasantly so, and the added locations helps keep things fresh.
The charm of these games is undeniable. The claymation-esque characters emit a definite "Wallace and Gromit" vibe, and some of the animations are worthy of the chuckles they earn. Mr. Rottweiler cracks his back from shouting so often you'd think he would be wearing a brace by now. This same style carries into the scenery, which is rounded and cartoonish, as well as the soundwork, consisting of peppy "getting into trouble" music and garbled shouting and grumbling from Rottweiler.
As a puzzle/casual game, "Neighbours from Hell" wins you over. It's not deep, but it's fun, and its cute brand of mischief is appropriate for anybody who loves a good prank.