This weeks App of the Week in the Apple App Store is RAC7 Games minimalistic yet creative horror game Dark Echo. The premise of Dark Echo puts the player (or victim rather) in a pitch black hallway. Essentially blind, the only way to move around in this world is to rely on your senses, the key one being hearing.
While maneuvering around, you are shown “sound waves” in the form of white lines bouncing around the pitch black screen. The lines will be your only marker and way to progress, playing on your lack of sight.
Thrown into the mix are ghosts and ghouls who pursue you, creating intense chases to the exit, and the louder you tap you produce more sound, drawing the monsters to you, but revealing more of the map to you.
“Trapped in darkness, you must use visualized sound to guide your way through threatening environments. The sounds you create will bounce off obstacles, revealing the shape of the surrounding world. It won’t be long before your only way of sensing the world attracts a horrifying evil that devours both sound and souls.
Survive through 80 levels that will make your heart race and leave you with an irrational fear of red lines. A foreboding soundscape, best experienced with headphones, sets the tone for your journey. Explore, solve puzzles, and most importantly – stay alive.”
It may seem strange, but trust me, this game is intense, and even in the daytime it was pretty scary. I suggest using a pair of headphones to block out all sounds other than those in the game.
Last updated Tuesday, the 54.6 megabyte game is available for all iOS Devices with 5.0 or higher. Although the game is free this week, there are some In-App purchases.