App Review: Haunted Dorm

Think about all the tropes you've ever seen in Asian horror and even movies like the A Nightmare On Elm Street series and It. Think of all the times the characters triumphed over evil by virtue of their imaginations and teamwork.

And then download this game - Haunted Dorm, by China game company Mihuan, for a fun time.

This is a Tower Defense game with a single goal - to defeat the monster lurking the hallways before it comes for you. To that emd, you'll have all the classic tools for a Tower Defense; namely, missile weapons and resource generating items. The difference is that there is one main enemy to defeat. Sometimes there are multiple enemies, but only the demise of that one monster will win the game.

The Premise

The dorm is being haunted by a monster. You play as one kid in a group of children, going to a room and sleeping to gain enough resources. These resources will build your defences to hold off the monster's attacks, and eventually destroy it.

Once the monster breaks through the door of the room you choose, you're as good as dead and the game ends.

The Aesthetics

Haunted Dorm is rendered in what one would call "kiddy graphics". Everything looks hand-drawn and crude, like toddlers made this. It's a bold stylistic choice, though sometimes comes off as clunky.

The Experience

It's definitely a spooky experience, especially the first few days you play it. The atmosphere is haunting. The graphics are kiddy and this could end up either being comical or adding to the spookiness.

But there's also that sense of solidarity as you, the player, team up with other computer-controlled players to take down the monster.

The Interface

Drag your finger over the screen to move the avatar. Tap on buttons to perform actions. Select items to be built from menus.

It's not exactly complicated, though the execution feels clumsy.

There are also some items, like the machine gun, that you will need to tap and hold, and drag, in order to use. It's awesome, but not terribly intuitive.

What I liked

The music. It adds so much to the atmosphere, I can't rave enough about it.

Dream Hunter Mode. You get to play as the monster instead of the kids... and lemme tell you that this feature is fucking insane. Whereas in Normal Mode you had the aid of computer-controlled allies, in this mode it's the opposite - all these are working against you now. Still, what a feature!

Seven Monsters Mode. More interesting levels where you can't purchase Special Objects. This was pretty challenging.

Story Map Mode. Different rooms with different rules of engagement.

Ghost And Angels Mode. This is another mode where any allies who die, become a ghost as well. Good, chaotic fun!

The comments made when you steal stuff from other players, are amusing. Especially the awkward English translations of what was obviously Chinese text to begin with.

This solar beam is awesome beyond belief. Not only does it pinpoint the Monster's location, it deals damage and earns coins! And you can even upgrade it for bonus damage. Talk about overkill.

The entire game was ridiculously easy to play. Even with comically bad English translation, it was a breeze to just tap my way around and try shit out.

What I didn't

Unless you have the Trampoline, there really does not seem to be any way to escape what I call the Ghost Hole attack, or just spam-filling every square inch of the room, which can be super-tedious if you chose a large room.

The menu tends to go out of the screen sometimes depending on where you tapped the button. It's a layout issue and annoying AF. Do better!

Amy Can't Die Mode seemed like a waste of time. You basically sleep in one room with a bunch of other kids and you use your combined powers to hold of wave after wave of hostiles until you finally assemble a weapon strong enough to kill the Boss. It was an interesting concept, but the execution was so weak.

When there are objects appearing around the corridor, it's always a crapshoot as to what you'll end up grabbing before the others do. There's just so little time to react. At least give players and option to pick something else other than what they initially picked up!

I don't understand this game's obsession with frogs and toads. At all. It can be a little off-putting.

Conclusion

Haunted Dorm is simultaneously campy and goofy, and deliciously creepy. I found Normal Mode quite addictive and all the other features combined should provide great replayability. This is a game that doesn't take itself at all seriously, always a plus. One definitely could do worse than give Haunted Dorm a shot.

My Rating

6.5 / 10

Not spooktacular, but damn solid!
T___T