It’s been a long time since we’ve been graced with a new Alone in the Dark entry and it’s fair to say that this iconic horror series has had somewhat of a turbulent time since its inception in 1992 with mixed receptions and cancelled projects. Now Alone in the Dark is back with a series reboot, but can it step from underneath the shadows of other horror games that have since become iconic entries of its genre?
Long before the likes of Capcom’sResident Eviland Konami’sSilent Hill, Alone in the Dark was bringing us ghouls, ghosts, cults and conspiracy way ahead of its competition but hasn’t shared the same level of success as those it inspired. Not taking into account the cancelled multiplayer game onPC,Alone in the Dark: Illumination, the last single-player release came in 2008 with the same namesake as its predecessor and successor.
Check out the Alone in the Dark trailer below!
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I appreciate thatAlone in the Darkdoesn’t overly rely on cheap jumpscares and instead generates its energy from its performances, soundtrack and map design.Alone in the Darkdoes have some classic survival horror elements, such as well-thought-out puzzles, plenty of backtracking, and resource management. It does lean towards action more than the original game, with functional firearm and melee combat mechanics. The combat is nothing spectacular and it serves its purpose, but can feel a little clunky at times, which perhaps leans into the element of panic that any good horror game strives to achieve.
THQ Nordic
You’ll have a few firearms at your disposal such as a handgun, shotgun, machine gun and, later into the game, a flare gun. Being an old-school survival horror fan, resource management is an instinct for me and, other than some of the more tricky enemies, I found that I was favouring degradable melee weapons. Shovels, crucifix crosses, wrenches, and the like were often preferable to firearms so I could save ammo and dispatch any foes that stood in my way.
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Unfortunately, enemy variety is whereAlone in the Darkstruggles to shine, which is a little disappointing. The most common enemy you’ll encounter is kind of like a budget Molded fromResident Evil 7and after an initial scare, the enemies ofAlone in the Darkwill not be giving you sleepless nights.
Yet, as cliché as it sounds, the real character ofAlone in the Darkis the Derceto Manor. Mixed with the chilling soundtrack and environment sound design, not to mention the maze-like claustrophobic corridors of the mansion. The Derceto Manor will give you classic haunted house movie vibes and it will soon be apparent why the original game in this series inspired the likes of the Spencer Mansion of the Resident Evil series.
THQ Nordic
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Pros:a throwback that horror fans will appreciate, superb cast of actors, fantastic sound design, decent replay value
Cons:gameplay is a little clunky, visuals could do with more polish
For fans of:Resident Evil, Silent Hill
7/10: Very Good
Alone in the Dark releases on 20 March 2024, for PC, PlayStation 5 (version tested), and Xbox Series X/S.Read a guide to our review scores here.
Topics:PC,PlayStation,PlayStation 5,Resident Evil,Silent Hill,THQ Nordic,Xbox,Xbox Series S,Xbox Series X
