There was some skepticism going into My Friendly Neighborhood; the “evil kids entertainment mascots” genre has surprisingly become oversaturated in recent years due to the popularity of Five Nights at Freddy’s. That issue could be one reason why My Friendly Neighborhood received little buzz during its lead up to launch, and that’s truly a shame, because it provides a polished and engaging experience.
Developed by siblings John and Evan Szymanski, My Friendly Neighborhood is a survival horror game similar to Poppy Playtime. Both are founded on open gameplay that uses large interconnected levels, difficult puzzles, and various gadgets in order to survive. When it comes to gameplay, however, My Friendly Neighborhood plays less like Poppy Playtime and more like Resident Evil and Bioshock. With its unexpected but effective gameplay, puzzle design, writing, performances, and sense of self-awareness, My Friendly Neighborhood is a joy to experience and an absolute must-play.
Not only is this an effective opening, but the character work is immediately endearing. One aspect of this is the fantastic writing that is able to deliver dialogue that feels perfectly ”children’s tv” whenever necessary. Whether it’s a cutscene, character barks, personal thoughts, or the random notes and newspaper clippings, the writing always feels clear, unforced, and full of subtext.
What really makes the writing come to life are the performances. Gordon’s performance is pitch perfect, nailing the disgruntled technician archetype, but Ricky steals the show with its perfectly unhinged delivery that’s as lovable as it is threatening. The same go for the puppets as well, which are introduced almost immediately. After leaving Ricky, My Friendly Neighborhood decides to have one of the puppets running across the lot and into a building. With almost no fanfare or build-up, Gordon enters the studio to hear the puppet saying random lines that would be perfect for a children’s show, only to descend into something disturbing and off-kilter within seconds. No matter what they say, the puppets always sound jovial – and that eerie, inappropriate-to-the-setting delivery establishes an unforgettable atmosphere.
With the same level of quality as its writing, My Friendly Neighborhood’s first-person gameplay manages to balance bare-bones controls with complex mechanics, all the while combining different styles. The first gameplay style introduced is point-&-click, clearly inspired by classic puzzle games. This activates whenever Gordon is near an object he can interact with, be it a puzzle, searchable object, item to pick-up, and so on. The second style is the first-person shooter gameplay.
2023-07-18 16:48:03
Source from screenrant.com
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