Armchair Empire Home

 

Platform: PC

Genre: Strategy/Action

Publisher: JoWooD

Developer: JoWooD

ETA: Q2 2003 (US)

 

Related Links:

Review: The Sims (PC)

Review: The Sims Hot Date (PC)

Review: The Sims (PS2)

 

 

 

Be notified of site updates. Sign-up for the Newsletter sent out twice weekly.

Enter E-Mail Address Below:


Subscribe | Unsubscribe

Nasty Neighbors

(A.K.A. Neighbours From Hell)

 

The success of reality TV had spawned what can only be called reality PC. Playing out like reality TV hits such as “The Real World” and “Big Brother,” a new budget-priced ($20US) PC game from European developer JoWood, Nasty Neighbors (to be called Nasty Neighbors in North America, Neighbours From Hell everywhere else) will attempt to ride on the surely-there’s-a-hidden-camera-around-here-somewhere coattails of the unbelievable popularity of reality TV programming.

 

nasty neighbors preview          nasty neighbors preview

 

You will play as Woody, who is the “star” of the newest reality TV show, Nasty Neighbors. The premise is simple: Set booby traps, recorded on-camera, for your pink-slipper-wearing 

crotchety old neighbor-from-hell without getting caught by him to win awards and claim reality-TV notoriety. If you get caught, prepare for an old-man beat-down, courtesy of your now-furious neighbor-from-hell.

 

There’s not too much information available about Nasty Neighbors and its definite North American release, but there’s plenty of screenshots and even a mini-movie to watch on the game’s official website, www.neighbours-from-hell.com. If nothing else, you have to check this game’s mini-movie out. It looks like a hoot-and-a-half. And hey, checking it out will give you 

Advertisement

 

a break from reality TV for a while. There’s only so much of it that can be shoved down your throat before you choke (except for The Osbournes; you can never get enough of The Osbournes.)

 

Here’s some real info on the game:

 

Living next door to you is a real Neighbor From Hell and it's now time to have your revenge! Creep around your neighbor ’s house performing ever more elaborate tricks upon the unsuspecting resident. As the star of a fantastic new TV show, cameras will track your every move as you set your fiendish traps. Your objectives are to create more and more disarray, increase ratings and maybe even winning prestigious awards. But beware of watchful neighbors and alert guard dogs; if they catch you the show will be taken off air.

 

Key Features:

- 14 hugely varied episodes of anarchy

- Use stealth, skill and style to perform the perfect ambush

- Easy to use interface and controls

- Superb cartoon-style graphics

- Excellent soundtrack

 

System Requirements:

Minimum:

- Pentium-compatible MMX processor, 166 MHz

- 64 MB RAM

- Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP

- DirectX 8-compatible graphics card, 16 MB of video RAM

- DirectX 8-compatible sound card

- 4x CD-ROM drive

- 130 MB free space on your hard drive

 

Recommended:

- Pentium II-compatible processors, 266 MHz.

- 128 MB RAM

- Windows 95/98/ME/2000/XP

- DirectX 8-compatible graphics card, 16 MB of video RAM

- DirectX 8-compatible sound card

- 4x CD-ROM drive

- 130 MB free space on your hard drive

 

nasty neighbors preview          nasty neighbors preview

 

With only scant information to go on, it’s hard to figure out when we’ll actually be able to play it in North America (looks like May 15 right now), but I can’t wait to see the final product of Nasty Neighbors. It reminds me a lot in its irreverent tone and humor of the old LucasArts classics, Sam and Max, Day of the Tentacle, and Full Throttle.

 

While its brand of reality won’t get neighborly with The Sims at the top of the PC game-selling charts, with its budget price, gameplay style and warped reality TV storyline, it could develop a small cult-status following.

 

- Lee Cieniawa

lcieniawa@armchairempire.com

(March 22, 2003)

 

 

 

All articles ©2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 The Armchair Empire.

All game and anime imagery is the property of their respective owners.

Privacy Statement - Disclaimer