Haunt was announced alongside the introduction of Microsoft's hands-free device known as the Kinect. More than a year later, Haunt has made its way onto the Xbox Live Arcade. I had been keeping an eye on this one as its light-hearted romp through a haunted house sounded very appealing.

The opening sequence has you lying injured on the floor of what looks like the basement. It is assumed that you took a nasty spill from carelessly overlooking a trapdoor a few stories above. Lying on the floor next to you is a relatively unharmed flashlight. Lucky for you, it must have landed on top of you during this tumble through empty space. Nevertheless, you shake off your injuries and begin listening to Benjamin Muldoon, the mansion owner. Benjamin Muldoon is perhaps a ghost? I'm not really sure what his deal is, but he has the ability to take form in any of the many paintings within the mansion. This is how he follows you around, giving sound advice throughout your journey. Muldoon is right there with you detailing a newly discovered ability, troubles up ahead, etc.

The object of Haunt is to assist Muldoon in his escape from his painting prison within the mansion. In order to escape, Muldoon needs you to collect four items known as Phantaflasks that will be inserted into his statue in the main hall of the mansion. Since Muldoon is stuck within the confines of the mansion's paintings, he can guide you through, but needs you to retrieve his cherished flasks. The first of four flasks is found relatively quickly within the main hall. Just when you are ready to complete his task and add this fourth flask to the mix, three ghosts sweep in and run off with three of the flasks. You insert your flask into the statue and then it's up to you to decide which path you will choose to hunt down those ghosts.

Your decision lies within three doors labeled "Motility Vaults," "Lumanarium" and the "Auditory Annex." Each path introduces a new ghost that you must watch out for and subsequently defeat. You will encounter such ghosts as the Blinder Ghost, in which you must cover your eyes when he shines his bright light at you. Another will be a screamer ghost, in which you must quickly cover your ears or you will be deafened and will take damage and lose health. Each path contains two chapters, which will have you solving puzzles, defeating ghosts, dodging the mansion's many oddities, etc. There are many twists, turns and exciting secrets to be found and enjoyed along the way. For example, one area has you in a rail car zipping through tunnels in a very Mr. Toad's Wild Ride-esque fashion, dodging skeletons, waving off bats, etc.

Haunt uses the Kinect very well as the controls are impressively crisp and fluid. I was immediately impressed when the flashlight was first put in my hands and I moved it around to look around the room. Actually, I was more than impressed. Floored would be a more appropriate response. It was nearly identical to how it would be in real life. Moving throughout the mansion is as simple as walking in place. If you want to look right, simply turn your body to the right. If you want to look under a table or something, simply squat. There really isn't much instruction needed in the game as you basically do what you would normally do. If you want to shine some light in the corner of the room, move the flashlight to the corner of the room.

I must admit that I easily got lost in Muldoon's mansion. I could find my way around, but I immediately got sucked in. The Kinect greatly assists in losing yourself and feeling like you are really there. The campaign is single-player only and is relatively short but feels just long enough. The story is as engaging as its gameplay. The game is quite easy, which is a welcome change of pace from the usual relentless difficulty we're so used to. Haunt’s difficulty and light-hearted nature allow it to be enjoyed by everyone. Hardcore veteran gamers will get a kick out of this one alongside the younger generation. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times during my play-through.

Haunt is a well-crafted game all around. It will have the hardcore gamer playing only a few hours, but those few hours are bursting with enjoyment. Haunt is cheaper than a movie, twice as long and will have you jumping for joy (literally) from its beginning to its awesome end. Do yourself a favor and check this one out. You'll be glad you did.