The Neighborhood is expanding, but will it continue to grow?
Fresh to PS5 this summer, My Friendly Neighborhood is the wacky lovechild of Sesame Street and Resident Evil, but do not be deceived by the title – this neighbourhood is anything but friendly. Developed by DreadXP, I was pleasantly surprised by both the quality and depth of such a seemingly silly game. Suffice to say, My Friendly Neighborhood has smashed expectations since its 2023 PC release and is finally available for console players. Join the neighborhood with me for this review.
My Friendly Neighborhood was a leading children’s programme that had faded to obscurity by the early 90s. In 1993, where our game is set, the show makes a sudden re-appearance, airing mysteriously and interrupting the regular broadcast schedule. We play as Gordon, the reluctant contractor sent to investigate the My Friendly Neighborhood studio. There are multiple endings available depending on choices made in the final scenes of the game. For the purpose of this review, I will refer to the game and programme as My Friendly Neighborhood and the programme’s studio as MFN.
The game design is bright and colourful, reminiscent of the childhood shows that inspired the titular programme. There is a surprisingly high level of detail in the background. Each poster or painting contains genuine text, nods to pop culture, and in-game references. In one room, The Girl with the Pearl Earring can be found depicting the Big Bird inspired character Pearl as the painting’s Girl. The gameplay is overall smooth as you move between environments, however, I experienced a decreased frame rate inside small rooms.
There is no tutorial, with only some hints and instructional pop-ups available when interacting with new components. The game may be aimed at more experienced players due to this, but controls are straightforward and memorable. I have confidence that inexperienced players will familiarise themselves with ease. Multiple game difficulties are available and more can be unlocked, including special game modes and the thematically appropriate ‘Unfriendly’ mode. I played on Normal mode to ensure I would survive long enough to progress the story and review the game. Interestingly, there are a series of ‘Cheats’ available to collect throughout the game. Cheats can be equipped on your next playthrough to make the game more difficult, fun, or silly. The game is definitely on the shorter side, playable over a few sessions, but this is the perfect length to broadcast the full story and draw the game to a satisfying close.
The health mechanic is minimalist yet effective. Rather than having a percentage health or HP, there is a status bar in the corner with three possible tiers before ‘death’ (Healthy, Caution, Danger). Much to my stress, there is no running mechanism to increase chance of survival, however, you can consume candy bars for a tasty speed boost. Healing is also possible by drinking ‘Health-O-Lax’ – unfortunately, this is a limited resource and only partially heals. Full healing is available, at a cost and only at save stations dotted sparingly around the maps, adding a survival element to the game. Saving also comes at a cost, but if you are a fellow resource hoarder you will never be short of tokens.
Character design is satisfying to say the least. Developers did an excellent job of emulating the goofy nature of puppets in an uncanny manner – especially when scaled to the human-size, walking monstrosities that reside in MFN. Imagine a 6-foot Elmo slowly chasing you whilst demanding you learn your ABCs and you get the image… Moments like those are where you remember that the game falls under the horror genre. You are further reminded of its genre by the cleverly placed jump scares and unnerving placement of ‘spare’ puppets. Even on their defeat, characters bounce back to life once you leave the room. Restraints keep characters indefinitely disarmed, but those happy-go-lucky nutjobs are unphased. Restrained characters simply lie on the ground talking and singing to themselves in an amusing yet concerning manner.
Although entertaining, the core My Friendly Neighborhood puppet cast are very two-dimensional. Luckily, we encounter a more diverse range of characters as the game progresses, with more aggressive and unique tactics. And who could forget Ricky the Sock, our MFN host who brings a dramatic flair and a hint of malice. So long as you can stay alive, the repetitive characters are entertaining. If you’re on an unlucky streak and stuck repeating the same area you may find your patience tested.
The voice acting in the game is delightful. The cast have perfected the overzealous, dopey voices that still enrapture children to this day. Characters sing and blabber nostalgic words of encouragement, bringing peak entertainment when you respond with a fatal blow from your weapon. This enthusiastic tone is maintained, even as lines change to vaguely disturbing demands or poorly concealed threats. In particular, “Scream out all the dirty words” is horrifying to hear in Junebug’s chipper voice. Or more concerningly, you might overhear Norman’s instructions on how to draw hazard signs for thermonuclear waste rooms. The more dialogue you hear, the more clear it becomes that the show’s collapse in popularity may have been self-inflicted.
Conversations are well-scripted between Gordon and other characters. Exchanges vary from reluctant reassurances to gritty sass and threats, enhanced by Gordan’s thick New York accent. Regardless of the situation, dialogue flows smoothly and is realistic, despite the cartoonish premise of the game. There are fantastic one-liners throughout and such distinct character tropes that the game manages to explore a wide range of both gimmicky and real-life topics. It’s like the game is gently parenting us on life’s obstacles through an adult-friendly alternative to our childhood shows.
Instead of taking the typical route for weaponry, DreadXP stayed on theme with a creative story-related arsenal. Our primary weapon, and the first discovered, is The Stenographer/Rolodexer – a weapon that fires alphabet cards rather than bullets. Weaponised literacy is highly encouraged, but if you prefer brute strength the trusty wrench is available to beat the stuffing out of residents. Gordan reloads his ammo with the tenacity of a first-person shooter, matched by the very serious sound design. Who would have known reloading paper sounds the same as loading bullets into a rifle? The contrasting sound design is a small detail but adds massively to the game’s entertainment factor.
Resident Evil is a big comparator here. The in-game inventory system mimics Resident Evil’s own, with an organisable briefcase and a tool trolly haphazardly labelled with fridge magnets. The overall feel of the game is Resident Evil-esque, and this is a sentiment shared by many players. Between the carefully crafted puzzles and incessant pursuit by enemies, you can draw clear lines to the inspiring game. Much like Resident Evil, there is no defence other than running away. You will be chased by puppets indefinitely until you exit the room/set, so strategic timing of attacks is essential. This can take some adjustment, but for most gamers is not a difficult feat. Tape is a limited resource and restrains characters, preventing their recovery.
I have no doubts that My Friendly Neighborhood will be a massive success on PS5, as it was on PC. From the introductory cut scene to its final moments, the narrative was engaging and entertaining. Gameplay maintained a great balance between combat and narrative development, keeping you engaged and alert. The sheer quantity of easter eggs and small details are entertaining but not essential to story progression, making this an excellent contender for all gamers regardless of playstyle.
Art and sound design are surprisingly intricate, creating a riveting environment for full immersion. Despite the level of detail, the game played smoothly. I encountered minor performance issues, but these were limited to very few rooms and did not impact the overall experience. Controls were quick to learn and limited to the required actions (and a few fun moves, like the gun flip). This, combined with the variety of game difficulties, makes My Friendly Neighborhood highly accessible for all players.
I am astounded by the originality of the game. DreadXP pay homage to their inspirations in tasteful and respectful ways, and I’m sure each playthrough of the game would unveil more hidden tributes. It has been compared to the likes of Poppy Playtime, due to the toylike characters and perversion of innocence, but the two are incomparable in my eyes. Luckily for you, this isn’t a comparison article so I will leave you to form your own opinions on that.
A PS5 review code for My Friendly Neighborhood was provided by DreadXP and this review is featured on OpenCritic.
