iPhone It In: Silent Hill: The Escape

Hey, welcome to our brand new iPhone feature, "iPhone It In." We're going to start off with a discussion of a new iPhone game, but stick around afterward to see how you can win a super-sexy, Joystiq-branded iPhone case from our friends at Element! [Update: Congrats to Baby Sea Tuna, a winner is you!]

Let's give credit where it's due: As a proof of concept, Silent Hill: The Escape works. If someone at Konami wanted to prove that they could create a creepy atmosphere that boasted the series' trademark look and sound on a phone, they should consider this a success.
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The first-person shooter controls actually work surprisingly well, once you get acclimated to them. Scoot your thumb around on the screen to move, tilt to aim, tap the center crosshair (or, in an odd choice, tap the back of the phone) to fire. It feels unfamiliar at first, but it's fundamentally solid.

So, there's a basic idea here that does work, and impressively so. Unfortunately, the game surrounding this skeleton is far more underwhelming.

Here, in brief, is a description of every level of Silent Hill: The Escape: Wander through corridors covered by one of a handful of different palettes, shooting monsters you encounter. Eventually stumble upon a key, wander until you find a door, leave. Repeat 10 times.

There's a mini map pointing you towards the door (though you have to find the key by chance) but even that's not particularly useful, as it shows only the immediate area you're in, and doesn't depict a lot of the barriers.

The "story," as it were, provides little help in breaking up the monotony; it's little more than an interlevel, prolonged soliloquy from our unnamed hero, a meditation on how he would prefer not to be in the hell tunnels filled with no-face nurses and murderous wheelchairs. Not exactly a compelling inner struggle.

At one point, he wonders to himself, "I've been wandering through this sewer forever, WHERE is the exit?"

We can't help but sympathize.

So, would you like to cover your iPhone in a sleek, sexy shell that also sports the logo of your favorite video game blog courtesy of our friends at Element? Of course you would.

Here's how to enter for your change to win:

• Leave a comment telling us your favorite iPhone game
  

• You must be 18 years or older and a resident of the US or Canada (excluding Quebec)
  

• Limit 1 entry per person

• This entry period ends at 12 pm ET on Wednesday, February 11. We'll randomly select 1 winner at that time to receive a custom Element-made, Joystiq-branded Liquid case ($99.99). Please check your e-mail!

• For a list of complete rules, click here

So what, exactly are you vying for? Behold!