We’re debuting the iLounge Game Spotlight to give you an extended look at one particularly interesting game per week, helping you to decide whether or not a title is worth your time and money. Enjoy!
In Fear I Trust ($3) is not a game you might expect from Chillingo, the publisher of Catapult King and the original Cut the Rope. It’s a first-person puzzle game described as a psychological thriller, and it comes with a 17+ rating. Like some other similar games, In Fear I Trust recommends gamers play with headphones for the best, most immersive experience. The game is compatible with iPad and iPhone, but not iPod touch.
There will be no story spoilers here, which fits right in with the game, as you wake up in a facility with no knowledge of what happened before. As the app description explains — and as you’ll probably sense — you became a test subject in this strange gruesome place, but how? And why? You pick up clues to piece together the story.
However, getting the game to start isn’t pleasant. We experienced extremely long loading times on the first launch of the game — though the times did improve with subsequent plays. You wake up to see your character’s shadow, and it’s tough to ignore the blocky graphics. It’s not a great start, but the game’s graphics improve from that point on — they quickly become an asset.
The touch controls are smooth and responsive enough, with virtual joysticks and the ability to tap and swipe. It’s a bit slow and could benefit from some sensitivity settings, but we played on an iPad mini with Retina display and had no major issues. The gameplay is nothing too out of the ordinary — solve puzzles, find clues and items, pick ‘em up, record them in your journal, move along. In Fear I Trust also uses a second vision feature, which allows the player to view hidden elements within the rooms for a limited time.
The game’s setup is intriguing enough, though some players may have a tough time getting into the plot with virtually no back story, and only puzzle pieces to build upon.
