Beginner’s Guide to Neighbors Suburban Warfare [Playtest]

If you’re in search of a relaxed and entertaining PvP experience, distinct from the intensity of traditional FPS games, then Neighbors: Suburban Warfare might be the perfect choice. This hero shooter invites players on two teams to engage in a whimsical battle, aiming to protect their homes while attempting to dismantle the opposing team’s base. To get you started, this comprehensive guide covers essential gameplay mechanics, character details, and strategies for newcomers.

Complete Beginner’s Guide to Neighbors Suburban Warfare

Your main goal in Neighbors: Suburban Warfare is to obliterate the key possessions in your opponent’s house while safeguarding your treasures. Set for release on April 17, this game promises to deliver a unique twist on the traditional shooter experience.

Winning Strategies in Neighbors Suburban Warfare: Targeted Items

Neighbors Suburban Warfare Features — Screenshot courtesy of Pro Game Guides

Each house is fortified with four critical items located in distinct areas:

Living Room: Television
Kitchen: Stove/Range
Bathroom: Toilet Seat
Bedroom: Bed

The first team to successfully eliminate all of the opponent’s objects secures victory. This will involve penetrating enemy defenses, which includes breaching openings like doors and windows, before targeting the furniture. Be prepared for counterattacks, as the opposing team will be equally focused on protecting their possessions!

Ranking the Neighbors: Best Characters to Play

Neighbor Characters — Character Overview by Pro Game Guides

The game is designed with simplicity in mind, with accessible characters that cater to various playstyles. While many heroes excel in melee combat, others serve as excellent healers or powerful attackers. Explore each character to find the one that aligns with your approach.

It’s advantageous to coordinate team roles and select different characters, allowing for both defensive strategies and aggressive assaults. Below is my personal ranking of the neighbors, from the most to least preferred based on initial gameplay insights:

S. No.	Neighbor	Weapon	Special Ability
1	Kevin	Slingshot	Grappling Hook
2	Doreen	Boxing Gloves	Fury Rush
3	Kim	Wrench	Oil Turret
4	P. A.	Cannon	Big Bertha
5	Chad	Vacuum Cleaner	Overdrive Vacuum
6	Gramps	First Aid Kit	Revive
7	Louie	Firework Box	Firecracker
8	Mary-Jean	Knitting Bag	Echo Location

Cosmetic Options in Neighbors

Indeed, the game presents players with a variety of skins for both characters and their weapons. These cosmetics can be acquired in the Neighbors menu under the Appearance tab. Additionally, each hero boasts a unique golden skin that can be earned for free by reaching level 20 with that specific Neighbor.

Exploring Perks in Neighbors

Skills and Perks — Perks Overview by Pro Game Guides

Neighbors: Suburban Warfare integrates a system of Perks that unlock automatically as you level up your characters. Unlike a traditional skill tree, each character can utilize one Neighbor Specific Perk along with a General Perk, allowing customization for different play styles—be it defensive or offensive.

Effective Defense Strategies

At the start of each match, bolstering your defenses is crucial to thwart enemy advances:

Utilize barricades found around the map to reinforce windows and fences.
Deploy bear traps picked up from the garage around your property to surprise and stun intruders.
Gather resource crates from nearby construction zones and deposit them at the shop to upgrade your fencing and unlock new defensive items.
Purchase defensive equipment at the shop to enhance your protective capabilities.

Invest the resources you collect to strengthen your defenses and acquire new gear. The available gear types include:

Utility: Items like the Oil Well, which generates extra income; Hen House, providing healing eggs; and ladders for intruding into neighbors’ yards.
Defense: Traps, barriers, and shields to enhance your home’s security.
Offense: Weapons primarily designed for player combat.
Demolition: Tools intended for destroying structures such as barricades and doors.

Selecting the appropriate gear for various scenarios is essential; for instance, while the Saw is excellent for smashing items, it lacks effectiveness against players.

Strategic Attack Techniques

Execute your attacks with caution, as death does allow you to respawn, but doing so frequently can compromise your team’s defense.

Be cautious of the nighttime Guard Dog, which boasts formidable attacking power. For effective assault gear, consider trying the Orange Cannon for long-range strikes and the Sledgehammer, which excels in damaging structures and objects within homes. However, fair warning: the Orange Cannon’s reload can be a bit slow.

If you enjoy shooter games, you might also want to explore the latest FPS title, FragPunk.

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