There's tons of Halloween-themed apps already in the App Store. Here at Go!Go! Mob, we've confidently handpicked several games that should receive a boost in popularity this coming holiday weekend. Which games are scary good, creepy diversions or frighteningly bad? There's plenty of games that "trick" consumers into paying a premium price for an inferior product. However, there's also quite a few "treats" in the app store that should satisfy your digital gaming tooth, while remaining festive. It's time to go time or treating!
TRICKS:
TREATS:
The Tricks: Frighteningly Bad Games
Resident Evil 4: Mobile Edition ($4.99)
For a game that scored so highly on the consoles, Resident Evil 4 on the iPhone had plenty to live up to, at the very least cover mild expectations. Unfortunately, the game doesn't have enough spooks and scares to deliver on even the lowest expectations of the game's brand. As I mentioned previously in my review, controls were too sloppy for such a control-demanding game that demanded quick response times. The original game's cut scenes were definitely a strongpoint, but this mobile version has to settle for small pictures followed with text. To make matters worse, the original's revolutionary quick-action events were also taken out. With so many sacrifices, Resident Evil 4 just doesn't cut it (pun intended) for the most needy of survival-horror gamers.
Verdict:
A 2D side-scrolling shooter, Zombieville is simple enough that even the most casual of gamers can play it. However given the game's quality, this title simply isn't worth your time. Each level looks exactly the same, with only the houses changing position a few times. In the end, it never gets interesting as upgrading your weapons will take over 5 minutes of gameplay at a time. For something that tells me to conserve my ammo while there's hordes of ordinary looking zombies around, Zombieville isn't recommended.
Verdict:
This game, seemingly made with Microsoft paint, is a survival horror game with a few cool weapons, with LIMITED ammo. Very limited. This means that your rockets, grenades and arrows will all have to be kept to a minimal while zombie critters climb your security fence. Scary thing is... there's only one type of enemy (Ed: one fat zombie was just added for the Halloween update) in the game. With not much variety and the limited ammo being more of a nuisance than a challenge in itself, Zombie City will easily be forgotten.
Verdict:
This one really tricked all of us in the office. For a well-named game with an evil eye as an icon, you'd think that this game was all about a few scares and some decent gameplay. Sadly, the only thing I fear is people being tricked to play this game.
The game is either broken or unfinished and is being sold that way. There's no title screen or directions on how to control the game. In a first-person view, you start off in a dark catacombs area with the sole ability to move in four directions. After about two minutes of "gameplay," you'll start questioning the game's objectives. There's no reason to keep searching around the catacombs, as all you'll see are quick, split-second flashes of grim reapers and bloodied corpses on the screen. The only thing that makes them creepy is the ambient music and sound effects of torture screams that loop every few minutes or so. There isn't even a weapon to equip or items to use. iFEAR acts more like a virtual screensaver with some decent sound effects, but nothing even close towards resembling a horrifying game as the name suggests.
Verdict:
The Treats: Scary Good Games
Haunted 3D Rollercoaster Rush ($2.99)
Ever wanted to make a roller-coaster faster while you were riding it? For someone who hasn't played these types of games featuring roller-coaster physics, I was pleasantly surprised at how easily addictive Digital Chocolate's game was. By using the iPhone accelerometer tilt function, players control the rollercoaster's speed as it goes up and down its whimsically designed levels. The game's physics system can have the entire coaster easily fall off the track, sometimes in portions. As long as you have everything in one piece by the end, you complete the level and receive a score based on your ride.
With impressive and fluid visuals, the game has enough to satisfy those looking for a quick game or challenging events testing your sense of speed and balance. The "Haunted" special edition only costs $2.99, down from the original's price of $4.99, but also features a robust set of 40 different tracks, a challenge race mode to out race the game designer's ghost time and a high-score tracking system. With Halloween themed evil pumpkins and ghouls, Haunted 3D Rollercoaster Rush is one of the legitimately fun games we've ever tried on the iPhone and this particular edition comes at a great value even for long-winded gaming sessions.
Verdict:
For an indie game, Horror Crunch has some slick production values. It takes the typical matching colors puzzle game, and adds two new twists. First, not only do you have to match colors, you have to match symbols on the blocks. Once you start to master the mechanic, you can load the screen up with the same colored symbols, then knock out a super combo score by slotting in a matching symbol. Second, you can build up your combo meter and try to activate a red panic button to rack up an ever higher score. The challenge there is that the longer you wait, the more pissed the mummy gets, and he'll start dropping more blocks on the screen. It creates a fun gameplay dynamic where you are trying to hold out as long as you can for a big combo without angering the mummy. It seems that some people had some bug issues with version 1.0, though this game runs just fine for me. I hope they update the game and develop the concept further with more boss characters and levels, but otherwise, it's a fun diversion for just 99 cents.
Verdict:
The Creeps! is a tower defense game that both newcomers and veterans of the genre will enjoy. One of the best things about the game is the plethora of weapons at your disposal. Some of these weapons, such as a whirlwind, oil slick or giant spider can save you from a large wave or a boss character. There's also obstacles on the map that must be strategicially destroyed to get prime position for placing your defenses. Another favorite is the innovative gameplay mode Door Buster, which is an interesting take on the "monsters under your bed" childhood fear.
Our review of the game states our love for The Creeps! and we still stand by the game's quirky way to remain addictive.
Verdict:
A social RPG game, Undead Live! encourages plenty of outside recruitment to get the most out of it. Fortunately, the prospect of featured vampires, undead lords and sacrificial virgins make this game interesting even for Mafia Wars players. Right off the bat, the horror theme is evident. The eerie intro music, the screaming sound effects when you are defeated, and the graphics all do a good job of conveying the creeps. The game is set in some undefined medieval era, so you have such quests like Enslave a Village, and weapons like a Spiked Flail, which is a nice touch. There are some disturbing and yet ironically hilarious quests as well. It looks like they update the quest list every now and then, and some aren’t available anymore.
My top 5 favorites:
- Impale a Non-Believe
- Corrupt a Virgin
- Torch an Orphanage
- Devour Clergyman
- Carve Dark Symbol in Flesh
Scarily expansive for a FREE game. More can be found in our full review.
Verdict:
Download these iPhone Halloween treats without fear. On behalf of Go! Go! Mob and its staff, we'd all like to wish everyone a safe and happy (or scary) Halloween!
