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Alone in the Dark
How can one game do so much right, and so much so horribly wrong?
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I am a huge fan of the Alone in the Dark series. I think from glancing in some forums and reading some Internet sites that most people had the same experience as me. As a child, coming across a game like the original Alone in the Dark was not just scary, or terrifying, it was a complete mind fuck. Not only was it the first game to use polygons moving on top of still camera shots, the first game that could properly be classified as Survival Horror, and not only was it the first game to really scare the player like a horror movie could, but philosophically it was downright disturbing. If you took the time to read the books you found in the game the Lovecraftian brand of evil dripped off each virtual page and, if you’re young enough, you’re introduced to an idea of devilry more mature and frightening than the childish ramblings present in mainstream society.
Wow, has this apple ever fallen far from the tree. Comparing the modern “Alone in the Dark” to the original is like comparing Wes Craven to Clive Barker. The new one has very weak themes and content compared to the rich world present in the original. It’s a step above what Hollywood would have done with the story (I’m told the film is evidence of that), but it’s still a bit childish and removed from its lineage. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed playing through the story but a member of the Alone in the Dark series it should not be.
Enough about the story; the game itself is pretty decent. They definitely made some very ambitious moves by having non-canned animations and a fairly robust physics engine. If you want to light something on fire you pick it up, hold it out into a fire, then swing it around however you like to light other things on fire. Using the right joystick after picking anything up you can hold that object out in front of you and swing it around your head. If you flick the joystick quickly then he swings the object with force. It’s kind of like the new EA NHL Hockey mechanism, but with demons and guns.
The combat in the game is handled in a similar manner, often requiring you to pick up objects and swing them with force as a weapon. At first I found this system VERY clunky but over time, and in using my superior gaming skills, I learned how to hold my own in this world quite well. In the end I ended up being quite an effective fighter in the game which is testimony to the fact that the combat system DOES work, despite what every other reviewer is saying.
The best part about “Alone in the Dark”, though, is the cinematic action sequences. There are many points in the game that are just a blast to watch and even more fun to play. Crawling along the ledge of a crumbling building, driving through a city undergoing demonic eruptions, or climbing up a decimated elevator shaft, time and time again this game served up fantastic cinematic action sequences only rivaled by the greats like “Tomb Raider: Legend” and “007: Everything or Nothing”. I will probably play through this game again just to experience all those moments again, and it turns out that they are patching the game to fix what camera and control problems did exist.
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Graphics
Nothing amazing, but fairly nice environments. The cinematic sequences are very well presented.
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7.0 |
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Sound
I don't remember anything about the sound jumping out at me but I definitely got into some of the scenes. That's not possible without passable sounds.
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6.5 |
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Gameplay
Clunky cameras, awkward controls, all in the attempts to bring you something different. Sometimes innovation has it's price.
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4.0 |
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Originality
It took some balls to make the design decisions present in this game and it feels as if another few months of polish would have helped it a lot.
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8.0 |
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Interface
It seems like the whole DVD playback feature, allowing you to jump around the storyline, was a hack thrown in to make up for the horrible controls.
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5.0 |
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Fun
I actually had a good time playing this game despite all my complaints.
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8.5 |
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Lasting Appeal
I really doubt there is much replay to get out of this title. Once you're done, you're done, and even doing the completionist thing isn't that much effort.
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2.0 |
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Overall
This is definitely not a game for everybody, but if you are looking for a fun romp through a Satanic wasteland then this will occupy a weekend or two.
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5.9 |
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