iPhone It In: Phantom Mansion: The Red Chamber
More than any other feature on Joysitq, iPhone It In is a meritocracy. If I or some other member of the staff finds themselves unable to stay away from a game, it makes it into this feature. The end. And it just so happens that this week, I can't keep my thumb off of Phantom Mansion: The Red Chamber.
It's an utterly simple puzzle-action game, presented via a top-down view of several rooms in the titular mansion. You'll control a little dude named Hector as he wanders from room to room using the keys within to collect all the skull-shaped souls in each, manipulating boxes, switches, etc. to navigate past pitfalls and the mansion's skeletal denizens.
The weird thing is, I don't know why I can't stop playing the thing.
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The visuals are functional (but only just), the controls (a basic keypad) are just okay, the audio is a totally homemade loop of footsteps and digitized moans that's adorably abysmal (though weirdly still kind of creepy), but for some reason, when they're all paired with the smart, simple puzzling, I found myself totally charmed.
I accept that my recommendation of PM:TRC is more a reflection on my own odd taste and inclinations than on the game's objective quality. And frankly, I'm cool with that. But give the lite version a try and see if you don't end up under its enjoyably low-rent spell.
Phantom Mansion: The Red Chamber ($1.99, Gimme5Games):
Phantom Mansion: The Red Chamber: Lite (Free, Gimme5Games):
