Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter what order you choose to set up the traps, but you need to keep an eye on Rottweiler’s location, as being caught in the same room or area as him will result in losing one of each level’s three lives. A raging bull is exactly what Rottweiler becomes whenever he falls victims to traps, as you’ll see the same animation for almost every single one.Īs the levels go by you’ll be able to explore more of Rottweiler’s house, including his balcony, with this poor taped-up pigeon. As Woody, you must go about the levels laying down traps, which could be using a rotten egg to slather all over Rottweiler’s microwave, laying down marbles on his floor Home Alone-style, or even having him attacked by a raging bull. The gameplay is consistent regardless of the setting. Rottweiler’s miserly mother becomes a secondary challenge in the latter stages. The first of the two games has Woody go to Rottweiler’s house, while the second has him antagonising his poor adversary as he holidays all over the world. This is a remaster collection of two games which date back around fifteen years ago, but it could quite easily be something unique put out by an indie developer today. It’s surprising how well the pseudo-claymation visuals have aged. It sure would be a shame if a nosey neighbour were to wreck it… It seems over the top, and especially so given Rottweiler is undoubtedly the furthest thing from a fine figure of a man, and neighbourhood hunk Woody looks like how Postman Pat might were he in the universe of Wallace & Gromit.Ī fine statue. Such is Woody’s obsession with exacting petty justice, he repeatedly breaks into Rottweiler’s house in order to lay down a string of booby traps, sending Rottweiler towards the brink of insanity. Probably not as far as Woody, the protagonist-cum-antagonist of Neighbours back From Hell would in order to ruin the day of Mr. A change in pace would be appreciated too, or some extra spice like timed missions or your neighbour’s loop changing as he responds to the events happening to him.How far would you go to teach your good-for-nothing neighbour a lesson?

Yes, there are variations in the level designs, the variety of locations, and different pranks, and this means that at times it can be clever and funny, but I feel that as an overall experience it needs more surprises and different elements within the gameplay, if only to keep it fresh. Finding the multiple possible combinations of setting up pranks is fun and rewarding, but I did feel my interest waning by the second season, and once you got into the rhythm of watching the loop of Mr Rottweiler, while setting traps, it all becomes a little bit dull. Further levels are unlocked after you complete the previous stage, with additional seasons coming into play once you have completed a set number of pranks in the previous season.įor all the madness, Neighbours back from Hell is actually a nice surprise, and when you initially start playing it will feel a bit like a mix of Hitman strategy with the stupidness of Mr Bean. This may mean you only need to action a few of the set number of pranks available, but should you wish to go crazy and pull them all off, you can. In each level you will be left with several pranks to pull off in order to find completion. Basically, you are attempting to ensure that your neighbour is met with all sorts of twisty mishaps. What you have to do as Woody is to find items around the house or in specific locations that will cause pain to Mr Rottweiler a screwdriver that may help that chest expander fall apart, or a different book which may see your neighbour tie himself up in knots. He has three lives in total, and after that, it’s game over. Throughout Neighbours back from Hell, Woody can’t be in the same room as Mr Rottweiler or he will get beaten up and lose a life. If we take my initial example, he might be doing some yoga in the living room utilising a book on moves, then he moves to the basement to work on the chest expander that is attached to the wall. Mr Rottweiler will take in a loop of the house while he is doing his activities. Areas change and doors open up to new areas in different episodes, like a basement area which is initially out of bounds.

You are presented with rooms in a house, like a bathroom, kitchen or bedroom area, all placed on several levels. Each episode in a season concentrates on an activity that Mr Rottweiler is doing: for example in one episode the theme is about the neighbour getting fit, another is focused on him doing some DIY, and there is one which is all about art as Mr Rottweiler tries his hand at photography and sculpture.

Neighbours back from hell