Hello Neighbor (video game)

Hello Neighbor
Developer(s)	Dynamic Pixels
Publisher(s)	tinyBuild
Engine	Unreal Engine 4
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, macOS, Xbox One
Release	WW: 29 August 2017
Genre(s)	Stealth, survival horror
Mode(s)	Single-player

Hello Neighbor is an upcoming stealth survival horror video game developed by independent Russian studio Dynamic Pixels and published by tinyBuild. The object of the game is for the player to successfully sneak into the basement of their neighbor's house to uncover a "horrible secret".^[1] The game's artificial intelligence modifies the neighbor's behavior based on the player's past actions, such as setting traps along paths the player followed in a previous attempt.^[2][3][4]

The game, originally known as Hello, Neighbor!, was released as an alpha build on Dynamic Pixels' website in 2015, before being approved for sale as an early access game by the Steam Greenlight program and launching a Kickstarter campaign to fund further development, after which the studio signed a deal with tinyBuild to publish the game.^[5] The game is scheduled to release on Microsoft Windows, macOS and Xbox One on 29 August 2017.^[6]

Gameplay

In Hello Neighbor, the player finds themselves moving into a new house across the street of a mysterious neighbor, who seems to be keeping a secret in his creepy basement. The player's task is to break into the neighbor's home and gather items needed to unlock and access his basement. As the player explores the neighbor's house, he must not be caught by the neighbor, or he will be sent back to his own house and reattempt the break-in.^[7]

The player has four inventory spaces; items of the same kind cannot be stacked together in the same inventory space.^[8]

Pre-alpha

The first prerelease version of the game was the Pre-Alpha. The player starts in his own house and has a list of things to do before going into the neighbor's house. A glow can be seen from your neighbor's basement door. Before the player can enter the basement, the neighbor catches him trespassing. He then bars the door to the basement and locks it.^[9] In this build, the neighbor's house is blue and quite big. However, only the first floor is accessible. The player must find a tool to get the boards off the basement door, a key to unlock it and a code to the keypad.^[10][11]Though every time you get caught, you get sent to your house and the neighbor will block the entry by using a chair or locking the door.

Alpha 1

The game's first alpha installment has a cutscene showing the player moving into his house. His neighbor watches him arrive from the second floor.

The neighbor's house is now an improved version of the Pre-Alpha house. There is a train that goes around the house.^[12] There are a few puzzles added to the game, one of these being getting across a pool inhabited by a robotic shark on the second floor which will rapidly attack the player and capture them, so should the player step into the body of water?

This alpha is also one of two versions to have a tutorial. The player's first objective is to complete a tutorial that explains how to interact with the environment in Hello Neighbor. Then, the player must go to the neighbor's house. Should the neighbor catch the player the first time, they will be treated to a cutscene of the neighbor going inside the basement. What may look like an explosion occurs, and a tire rolls out. Then the neighbor goes back upstairs and walks away. This alerts the player that he needs to find out what the neighbor is hiding. As from the Pre-Alpha, the player needs a key and a tool for getting the boards off, however the keypad has been removed.

Alpha 2

The second alpha of Hello Neighbor also has a beginning cutscene upon starting the game, however this one can be skipped. A new visual effect has been added so that when the neighbor is very close, things will get darker and darker until the neighbor eventually catches you. The player is seen moving to what appears to be "his house". As in Alpha 1, there is a tutorial for how to play Hello Neighbor. Here, the neighbor's house is significantly smaller, and the player now has a physical appearance as can be seen from the visible hands and arms. The basement door is once again barred, but the padlock holding it shut has been replaced with a keycard receiver. This is also the first time players can see the contents of the basement. This is also the last alpha to use a different house, as this and the previous builds were used to gain feedback from playtesters...^[13][14][15]

Alpha 3

This time, the game is set in the night-time (second to Alpha 2, both being the only versions without a day/night cycle), and the neighbor's house is now much bigger (the first revision of what will be the final house). Here, the tutorial is omitted, but the player's house (from the previous alpha) remains intact and has added furniture.

Alpha 4

The fourth alpha is very similar to the third alpha, but the day/night cycle (which debuted in the Pre-Alpha and Alpha 1) has been implemented as compared to the previous two alphas being fixed at dusk and night-time, respectively. The neighbor's house is mostly left intact, but now has more rooms and the player can now reach the rooftop. However, the player's own house is now inaccessible and only part of the scenery. Falling damage has also been added; should the player fall far enough without using an umbrella, they black out and are sent back to their house. Once again, the basement door is nailed shut with wooden boards and requires a keycard to enter. Also new to this version is abilities which the player can obtain, both being the double jump and ability to break free of the neighbor's grasp once chased.

References

External links

• Official website