The Hello Neighbor franchise isn’t done yet, and a new video for Hello Neighbor 2 has offered some insight into what players can expect from the story and titular Neighbor’s AI in the sequel.
Streamed during the 2021 Guerilla Gaming Showcase livestream held on June 12, the video sees bits of gameplay and cinematics paired with developer commentary. The developer offers some insight into the basic premise of the game, and how some of the new features applied to the gameplay will alter the experience from player to player.
The video starts with a basic rundown of the story. Following a string of disappearances in the town of Raven Brooks, journalist Quentin decides to look into the dealings of his neighbor, Mr. Peterson; aka the Neighbor from the first game. As his investigation progresses, it becomes clear something is afoot, and Quentin must outwit Mr. Peterson in order to get to the bottom of what’s going on.
From there, the video moves into gameplay. Like in the first game, players will need to run, hide, and otherwise outwit Mr. Peterson while exploring his home for clues and new ways to progress. There are a number of ways they can do this, but also just as many ways they can screw it up by being careless around noisy objects, not anticipating Mr. Peterson’s movements, and so forth.
Adding to the challenge is the revamped AI system the game features. In addition to general routines and patterns, Mr. Peterson’s AI will also utilize a neural network shaped by the actions taken by players. This means that Mr. Peterson will learn to check certain areas and anticipate strategies the player can take, resulting in a trickier, more devious foe players will need to outwit.
It’s an interesting tease of what’s to come, and fans of the franchise will want to view the video in full down below.
Hello Neighbor 2 is currently slated for release on PC, though a firm release date has not yet been revealed. For more on all the latest news out of E3, be sure to stay tuned to Twinfinite. We’ll be covering every big reveal and announcement as they happen.