Soul Trapper: Episode 1 - Ollie Ollie Oxen Free!

Ghost stories have long been an entertaining tradition. Raconteurs of all ages have been scaring with tales built from the imagination. A creepy creek from wooden floorboards can be explained as some malevolent ghoul waiting to pounce. Imagination transforms ordinary sounds into vibrant stories and that's exactly how Soul Trapper ensnares. Fantastically clever audio design supports an entertaining tale, even if it gets tangled up in its own trappings.

Less game and more audio adventure, Soul Trapper: Episode 1 – Ollie Ollie Oxen Free! introduces ghost hunter Kane Pryce. The 27-year-old Los Angeles resident possesses a rare weapon capable of capturing ghosts. With it, Kane is able to solve hauntings by grabbing the departed and then sending them to their final resting place. What he believes to be another routine haunting becomes far more complex – innocent souls, demons, and Hell itself embroil Kane in a tumultuous adventure.

The story evolves through a nearly two dozen chapters of audio clips and spoken dialogue. A static image fills the screen for each chapter, naturally in sync with the happenings of that particular part. As the story progresses, you're given options to explore Kane's surroundings using directional icons and interact with various objects via mini-games. Unlike a choose-your-own-adventure, however, you can't die and should you fail at a mini-game you're immediately given another shot at getting it right.

Stellar sound drives the experience. Remarkably accomplished recording and editing ensure every spooky effect achieves its intended goal. An original score heightens the drama at key points, not to mention signals the start of a new chapter, too. Only the voice acting, which bears inconsistencies, entertains limited criticism.

The emphasis on audio here conceivably limits the amount of visual variety, yet more is really needed. During several chapters, you're prompted to explore different environments and yet there's no visual indication of such change. One early chapter has you visiting a carnival fun house, but the picture of a ferris wheel still hogs the screen. Not much more is needed – just a few more simple pieces of artwork to enrich the adventure and tie the audio more closely together with what appears on the screen.

Mini-games occasionally break up the often cheesy dialogue. Nothing more than timed taps of the touchscreen, they vary from matching the rhythm of Kane's heartbeat to noting the position of a ghost via audio cues to remembering a safe combination. All are easy and mildly amusing. Too much repetition plagues these mini-games, though, and you find yourself repeating the same few over and over again. It's a needless attempt to instill interactivity and variety.

Addressing the desire for more graphics and a better approach to the mini-games would benefit future episodes. Scrutiny of the script couldn't hurt either since the dialogue frequently suffers from corny slang and poorly placed one-liners. On the positive side, there are some hilarious moments such as references to Gordon Ramsay and Hilary Clinton's run for president. These elements date the introductory episode of Soul Trapper: Episode 1 – Ollie Ollie Oxen Free!, but like a true ghost story its imaginative approach ensures it remains entertaining.