Halloween is drawing near, so we’ve got a couple of horror-themed apps to lead today’s Apps Worth Downloading column. Haunting Melissa is first – it’s an app-delivered horror movie of the found-footage variety, with segments shot on phones, web cams, and security cameras. Following that is Dead Trigger 2, a great-looking zombie first-person shooter. Breaking the horror theme is Hazel Dazzle, a top-down action-platformer that takes place on a series of small planets covered in puzzles and enemies.
Looking for even more horror games? Try these.
Haunting Melissa update (Free)
What’s it about? Haunting Melissa is a horror movie presented in app form, funneled to viewers in short chapters that tell the story of a woman haunted by the ghost of her dead mother.
What’s cool? From the producer of The Ring, Haunting Melissa is an app-styled take on a horror film. The app brings users the film, which consists of a series of videos pulled from surveillance cameras, web cams, phone-shot movies and IM chats, in short chapters of about 10 minutes each. The tech-heavy implementation of Haunting Melissa plays up the impression that it was created by a woman as she was experiencing a haunting, and the app presentation highlights the idea of the movie feeling more realistic than traditional films might. Haunting Melissa has just received a big update in time for Halloween that optimizes it for iOS 7, adds new sound design and better visuals, brings more Push notifications to extend the horror experience, and the ability to unlock the app’s chapters for free by sharing Haunting Melissa with others.
Who’s it for? If you’re a fan of horror movies and experimental films, you’ll definitely want to take a look at Haunting Melissa.
What’s it like? Stream more horror films with the help of Crackle and Netflix.
Looking for even more shooting games? Try these.
Dead Trigger 2 (Free)
What’s it about? Blast zombies in first-person shooter Dead Trigger 2, a survival-horror first-person shooter with lots of guns and lots more enemies to shoot.
What’s cool? Like its predecessor, Dead Trigger 2 is another first-person shooter filled to bursting with zombies and the guns you need to take them down. Only this time, the game has been greatly expanded, with a story that develops in real time as you join the global resistance fighting the zombie threat, and fight off new brands of zombie enemies that will require different tactics and quick reflexes. Dead Trigger 2 features some awesome 3-D graphics, and you’ll create and upgrade your weapons to be a more effective zombie fighter over the course of the game.
Who’s it for? Players who enjoy first-person shooters and games that push the graphical envelope of iOS devices will want to try Dead Trigger 2.
What’s it like? Don’t forget to grab the original Dead Trigger, and other shooters with high-quality graphics like N.O.V.A. 3.
Looking for even more action games? Try these.
Hazel Dazzle (iPad) ($2.99)
What’s it about? Top-down action game Hazel Dazzle puts players on a series of tiny planets, filled with enemies to fight and puzzles to solve.
What’s cool? Hazel Dazzle is a game all about traveling to different, tiny worlds. As an archaeologist exploring them, you’re faced with small planets you can circumnavigate in seconds and even venture inside. You’ll need to do so in order to solve Hazel Dazzle’s puzzles and defeat its enemies, and you’ll explore four different worlds in Hazel Dazzle, each complete with huge dungeons. The game sports both touch and tilt controls for players to choose their favorite control mode.
Who’s it for? Fans Players who like action-platformer games and titles such as the Nintendo Wii’s Super Mario Galaxy will want to check out Hazel Dazzle.
What’s it like? You might also enjoy Kosmo Spin and Cordy, which have similar takes on controls and environments.
