If you've ever dreamed of getting back at your neighbor for using a power drill on a Sunday morning, filling the hallway with the smell of burnt fish, letting their kids bark, or having their dog screaming at 3 a.m. (well, maybe that one's justified) - then "Neighbours From Hell" is your game. No, you won't be throwing rotten tomatoes or retaliating with your own drill. This is about finesse - the true art of mischief.
Our protagonist stars in a fictional TV show, and his mission is to make his neighbor's life as miserable as possible - with style and humor - all without getting caught. If the neighbor sees you, it's game over and back to the start (and possibly a slipper to the head). The neighbor himself is a walking cartoon: short-tempered, ridiculous, and always in the wrong place at the wrong time. Meanwhile, you're the mastermind of traps, pranks, and petty vengeance.
The game's mechanics seem simple at first: sneak through rooms, collect random objects, and use them to set traps - smear glue on binoculars so the neighbor can't pry them off his face, scatter marbles so he slips, rig the electricity to zap him somewhere inconvenient. There were tons of tricks like that, and honestly, I can't even remember them all. But it's not just random chaos - timing matters. You have to set traps in the right order, track the neighbor's route, and plan carefully. It's almost like chess - only instead of a queen, you have superglue, and instead of victory, you get the joy of a raging neighbor's scream.
The graphics are quite charming, especially for a 2003 game. It's all very cartoonish and cozy in that exaggerated comic book way - furniture with character, goofy facial expressions, and hilarious animations. When everything lines up, it's genuinely fun watching the neighbor lose his mind and throw a tantrum.
But the game is definitely an acquired taste. I had a blast with it for a few evenings, enjoying the clever pranks and ridiculous setups, but then I kind of burned out. At some point, it's just more of the same - sneak around the house, mess things up, hide in the closet or under the bed. Eventually, you even start feeling bad for the poor guy. Seriously.
Still, it's a unique game. A solid puzzle experience with a great sense of humor and a refreshingly offbeat concept. It's oddly satisfying - even if you don't stick with it for long. Definitely worth trying, if only to see what it's like to be the star of a TV show all about creative mischief.
7 out of 10.
