Trending
True lovers of old video games are always eagerly anticipating fresh remakes of cherished classics. These timeless titles evoke nostalgia, transporting us back to the carefree days of childhood, which is why they hold such a special place in our hearts.
For those who recall the iconic Alone in the Dark from 1992—myself included—the game's nostalgic charm and widespread acclaim are unmistakable. The mere notion of a remake of this beloved classic instantly elicits joy among true fans, evoking fond memories, heartfelt smiles, and a lot of scary moments.
Certainly, the landscape of gaming has evolved significantly over the past three decades, making it unrealistic to anticipate an exact replication or identical emotional resonance from the original. Let's explore together whether the remake of this enduring classic truly meets expectations and merits recognition as a successful venture and a quality game overall.
Story
The majority of games on the market typically prioritise specific aspects, as it's rare for a game to excel in every single aspect. Alone in the Dark prioritises storytelling above all else, and I must say, it has unequivocally succeeded in this regard.
The story in Alone in the Dark is truly fantastic, encompassing all the elements one would anticipate from such a tale. From monsters and illusions to themes of psychosis and schizophrenia, the game delves into battles both within the characters' minds and in reality. It delivers precisely what was promised: a gripping and compelling story.
The storyline revolves around two main characters: Emily Hartwood, the niece of Derceto's final proprietor—a mansion resembling an asylum—and Edward Carnby, a private investigator enlisted by Emily to assist in uncovering the enigmatic disappearance of her uncle within the mansion's walls.
As they progress through the game, the duo endeavours to unearth the truth behind the occurrences within Derceto while grappling with the supernatural phenomena that ensnare them. Brace yourself for a journey across time and space, the revelation of hidden enigmas, the involvement of a secretive cult, and many other elements that will make this story a one-of-a-kind experience.
The story unfolds through two main channels: cut scenes featuring dialogues with supporting characters and the gathering of clues and evidence in the form of documents. To prevent this aspect from becoming tedious, the developers at Pieces Interactive have ingeniously implemented voice narration for every document discovered, ensuring they remain engaging to explore.
Furthermore, whenever Edward or Emily uncovers something noteworthy—depending on the character you're controlling—a new narration accompanies the event upon entering the pause menu. It's worth highlighting the superb voice acting, which enhances both the narrative elements and the characters' overall portrayal, contributing significantly to the game's excellence.
The developers' dedication to this aspect of the game is evident in their hiring of acclaimed Hollywood actors David Harbour and Jodie Comer to portray the main protagonists. Not only did they provide their voices, but they also contributed their character portrayals and participated in motion capture, underscoring the level of commitment invested in the game's development.
Having mentioned the main characters, it's important to note that players have the option to choose between Emily, the canon protagonist, or Edward at the start of the game. However, their playthroughs don't substantially differ. While there are minor variations in cut scenes and item discoveries, the overarching storyline remains largely consistent regardless of the character chosen.
The only aspect of the story that can be considered a little letdown is its length because the story is surprisingly short. You will partake in four chapters that can be finished in less than four hours, which is a very short time for a game of such magnitude. However, if you choose to explore everything and read every single document, this playthrough can be lengthened to approximately eight hours per playthrough, which is still very short, to be frank. As previously mentioned, the game requires two different playthroughs to be finished properly, but since the story doesn't differ too much between playthroughs, it is arguable how many players will go for the second run.
The story is undeniably interesting and serves as the primary catalyst that propels you through the game. Yet, at times, it may prove slightly perplexing, particularly for newcomers to the world of Alone in the Dark. Occasionally, the game assumes prior familiarity with the characters, leaving some details unexplained. However, the inclusion of a journal section in the main menu proves beneficial, allowing you to track their discoveries and access information about the characters, thereby simplifying the overall experience.
Gameplay
In the realm of gaming, certain subgenres are often unofficially denoted by adding "like" to their name, such as "Souls-like" or "Rogue-like" games. My opinion is that the horror adventure subgenre be similarly dubbed "Resident Evil-like" games, as many titles within this category heavily borrow mechanics from the iconic horror franchise.
Indeed, Alone in the Dark follows in the footsteps of Resident Evil in terms of gameplay, joining the ranks of numerous titles that adopt this proven formula. However, this emulation is far from a flaw, as the gameplay of Resident Evil games is renowned for its excellence. An exemplar of this emulation surfaced in last year's Alan Wake 2, which not only succeeded in replicating the formula but also garnered acclaim, earning our title of game of the year.
However, it remains uncertain whether Alone in the Dark effectively used this formula, as the gameplay in this title suffers from numerous drawbacks and aspects that simply don't function as they should.
Initially, the pacing of the game feels rather off. Character movement, a common trait in this genre, is notably sluggish in Alone in the Dark, taken to an extreme where it feels like characters are navigating in slow motion. While this deliberate choice aims to heighten fear and evoke a sense of helplessness, the movement speed becomes excessively laborious, causing fatigue as players traverse from one location to another.
Furthermore, the combat mechanics are rather lacking in execution. You are limited to just four weapons throughout the game: starting with a pistol, followed by a shotgun, an automatic rifle, and a flare gun, all of which are gradually acquired as you advance through the game.
In contrast to games like Resident Evil, where you can upgrade and customise the weapons, Alone in the Dark lacks this option. Additionally, you can use melee weapons discovered throughout levels, each with limited durability and a limited number of uses before they break. Furthermore, Molotov cocktails are available but cannot be carried; instead, they can only be thrown at the location where they are found, presenting an unconventional mechanic.
During the combat, your character starts to move a bit faster, and in addition to the classic sprinting, you can use a dodge mechanic that can be quite helpful, especially when you become overrun by the enemies.
The enemies in Alone in the Dark are well-designed, albeit limited in variety, with only a handful of types encountered throughout the game. Similarly, while there are bosses present, their number is scarce, numbering only two or three. Notably, the final boss encounter stands out as the sole instance in the game where you must exert considerable effort and employ tactical strategies to emerge victorious.
Besides combat, another crucial aspect is the inclusion of puzzles, an integral component of games of this nature. I must emphasise that the puzzles and their solutions are exceptionally well-crafted. While there may be instances where you'll need to apply considerable effort to overcome certain puzzles, overall they are of high quality and undeniably shine as a highlight of the gameplay.
Regrettably, the same level of praise cannot be extended to the exploration aspect, as it feels overly simplified. For instance, akin to conventions in the genre, certain doors are initially locked with chains, requiring the use of a bolt cutter. However, within moments, the bolt cutter conveniently becomes an integral part of the main storyline, serving its purpose of unlocking only a select few doors before outliving its use.
Furthermore, every key for the locked doors is conveniently located nearby, directly tied to the progression of the storyline, with no optional areas to uncover or bypass. The linearity of each level, aside from Derceto, which offers minimal exploration value, is a significant drawback for a game of this genre.
Derceto encompasses a spacious layout, featuring a basement, an attic, and two floors, offering considerable potential for exploration. However, this potential remains largely untapped, as the use of the map becomes essential to navigate the premises and discover which areas have been thoroughly explored and which still hold undiscovered secrets.
All of these aspects culminate in the defining element of the game—horror. Regrettably, Alone in the Dark falls short of delivering a truly chilling experience, as it appears the developers made little effort to instil even a modicum of fear.
The only scare tactic employed in this game is the most clichéd and outdated one: jump scares. These sudden frights occur unexpectedly, accompanied by the protagonist's startled screams, which may startle you momentarily. However, beyond these jump scares, the game fails to evoke a genuine sense of horror. There's one level where you engage in a cat-and-mouse scenario with an overpowering enemy, yet even in this tense situation, the intended feelings of anxiety and persecution fall short, constituting a significant disappointment in my view.
The oversimplified gameplay and absence of crucial horror elements are insufficient to elevate this game as the pinnacle of the genre. In fact, I would argue that the gameplay segment, in contradiction to the story, which excels, stands out as the weakest aspect of the game overall.
Graphics, Sounds, and Performance
Simply put, Alone in the Dark boasts stunning visuals, with not a single complaint to be made regarding its graphics. From the intricately designed levels like Derceto and beyond, each environment brings a haunting atmosphere that aligns with the game's overarching theme.
Set in the 1920s, the game's ambience captures the design aesthetic of that era. Intricately detailed interiors, accompanied by intentionally muted colours, contribute to an immersive experience. Many levels feature integrated fog, seamlessly intertwining with the narrative and enhancing the overall visual experience with their exquisite craftsmanship.
The textures are detailed and sharp, while the lighting, particularly in dimly lit areas requiring battery activation, is exceptional. High-quality shadows further enhance the visual immersion, and overall, there's not a single fault to be found in the graphical presentation. Notably, the character design stands out for its attention to detail, showcasing the considerable care invested in its creation.
I particularly appreciated the depiction of the nighttime desert setting and the excellently rendered vegetation in the bayou section of the game. Overall, the graphics deserve commendation, as the game boasts a truly stunning visual presentation.
The sound design in Alone in the Dark is truly outstanding, too. Particularly noteworthy are the realistic weapon sounds, which, despite feeling slightly exaggerated in combat, exude power and precision. Additionally, the atmospheric background music effectively enhances the game's ambience, although it's regrettable that this doesn't fully translate into the gameplay experience. Nevertheless, in terms of sound quality, the game excels at a top-tier level.
Speaking of the sound, there's a particular instance I appreciated: during certain cutscenes, the ambient music transports players to the era of the twenties, reminiscent of movies from that time. This subtle detail adds a wonderful and delightful touch to the overall experience.
The performance of the game is flawless, without any issues to report. On PlayStation 5, the game runs smoothly in performance mode at a stable 60 FPS, providing seamless gameplay. The quality mode offers a higher native 4K resolution with slightly lower FPS but sharper graphics. I can attest to the fact that I encountered no technical glitches or hiccups, which is highly commendable.
Conclusion
When evaluating Alone in the Dark based on its compelling narrative, stunning graphics, and exceptional sound design, it stands shoulder to shoulder with genre hits like Alan Wake 2 and Resident Evil 7. However, a game's true quality hinges on its gameplay, as it remains an interactive experience rather than merely an interactive novel. Unfortunately, the gameplay in this title leaves much to be desired.
However, if you belong to the group of players who prioritise the story above all else and are willing to overlook the flaws mentioned, Alone in the Dark offers a satisfying gaming experience with a narrative that may resonate deeply and leave a lasting impression on anyone who partakes in it.
The Good
An excellent story- Stunning graphics
- Great sound design
- Very good puzzles
The Bad
Limited weapon variety- Linear level design
- Lack of exploration opportunities
