Hello Neighbor 2: Unraveling Raven Brooks’ Murky Secrets
Puzzle-solving prowess meets stealth in a world that confounds with both brilliance and befuddlement.
last updated Nov 27, 2023
Hello Neighbor 2 is a neighborly handshake that awkwardly evolves into a clumsy hug.
A Teeter-Totter of Stealth and Frustration
Hello Neighbor 2 has you tip-toeing around like a cat burglar obsessed with unraveling local tabloid lore. Our protagonist, Quentin, embodies a mix of espionage-level sneakery and the occasional stumble into a comedy of errors, all thanks to an AI that's as predictably unpredictable as a weather forecast in the Sahara. While it's a bit of a rush outsmarting the AI, other times it feels like trying to outwit a particularly cranky vending machine — it might give you the sneaky satisfaction of a free candy bar or just eat your money without a burp of acknowledgment. Easy to approach but vexing to master, the gameplay oscillates between heart-pounding chases and head-scratching standstills where the clunky controls rear their ugly head.
Oh, My Ears Are Tingling!
Now, let's croon a bit about the eargasmic melodies of Hello Neighbor 2. The tunes slink around your auditory senses with a bewitching charm, setting a stage of discomforting tranquility that sharply contrasts the onscreen antics. The sound design — oh, the sweet cacophony of creaky floorboards and heart-thudding footsteps — is masterfully crafted to leave you second-guessing whether that was just the wind or Keith-the-cop tiptoeing behind you. It’s a theatrical symphony that echoes the almost precarious balance between playfulness and dread in Raven Brooks. Truly, the audio pulls the strings of your paranoid puppeteer, crafting an ambiance that is nothing short of bewitching.
A Vision to Behold — Until It Unravels
To its credit, Hello Neighbor 2 initially enchants with its eye-candy world that's as beautiful as an autumn sunset over a pumpkin patch. However, don't be hoodwinked by its picturesque veneer, as the performance might start to resemble a Picasso painting left out in the sun — slightly distorted, and not as the artist intended. While the alphas surely had a distinct visual allure that's been toned down, the final game still manages to capture the essence of its eerie, whimsical universe. The frame rate, however, occasionally stutters like a toddler on a sugar crash, causing a frustratingly jerky experience just as you're trying to execute a well-timed escape.
The Price of Becoming Raven Brooks’ Snoop Dogg
Hello Neighbor 2 attempts to offer a full investigative journalist package for $39.99, a choice Quentin would dissect in his exposés for either its ambition or delusion. Considering the length and content, you could argue Quentin's big scoop isn’t worth the full price of admission, and a pit stop at the discount bin might be worth the patience. The game paddles an intriguing mystery with enticing puzzles and a world that's begging to be probed, but it grapples with its own missteps of bugs and crashes that stain what could have been an impeccable follow-up.
An AI with More Mood Swings than a Soap Opera Starlet
The promised high-tech, neural-network-learning AI from our friendly neighborhood developers ends up being akin to a parrot reciting lines — impressive at first, but somewhat wilting upon repetition. Patch 9's ephemeral enchantment with its improved AI and bountiful puzzles sparkled bright, but the novelty began to dim as the 'intelligent' adversaries wavered between Mensa members and forgetful goldfish. The AI's unpredictability is both a charm and a curse; sometimes the thrill of the chase captivates, while other instances leave you frustrated over the robotic overlord's hiccups.
STEAM RATING
Developer
Eerie Guest, tinyBuild
Publisher
tinyBuild
Release Date
December 06, 2022
The Verdict
Hello Neighbor 2 is a neighborly handshake that awkwardly evolves into a clumsy hug. The game delivers an artisan blend of stealth, puzzles, and an unsettling storyline, but gets tangled up in its own aspirations. The AI tantalizes with its sporadic genius, yet sometimes leaves you questioning its touted evolution. And while it’s a cosmic leap from its predecessor, it struggles to escape its shadow. If you're a glutton for cryptic enigmas or have the patience to peer through the cobwebs of a few bugs and crashes, then Hello Neighbor 2 might just tickle your brain cells in all the right ways. But if your wallet is feeling a pinch or you need a smoother ride on the frame rates express, you may want to give Quentin and his peculiar neighbors a rain check until things get ironed out a tad more.