One of the best genres in video games that truly brings fright and suspense will always be the horror genre. We are met with stories that live with us for the rest of our lives.
We have had remakes in the past such as some of the Resident Evil games but never anything like Alone in the Dark!
The minds behind Alone in the Dark thanks to the developers of Pieces Interactive have brought back one of the horrors that made us all fear the dark in a big new way compared to the original.
Alone in the Dark is a remake of the 1992 cult classic release, with better graphics, gameplay, and even story. Derceto Manor has never looked more terrifying! So, in this survival horror adventure published by the amazing THQ Nordic for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
I hope you brought your flashlight as what waits in the dark is darker than your mind could ever imagine, face your fears, and survive the nightmares that await you in Alone in the Dark!
Are You Brave Enough?
Story
Welcome to Alone in the Dark, a game that makes you wonder if you are seeing things or if the nightmares that are there are truly in front of you!
You have a choice of who you would prefer to play, rather Edward Carnby voiced by the talented actor David Harbour or Emily Hartwood voiced by the fabulous Jodie Comer with their own unique styles, weapons, etc.
But each character has different levels and cutscenes so it has 100% replayability so you can come back and experience the story as the other character. I played as Edward Carnby and currently revisiting the game as Emily Hartwood.
The game is based on the 90’s cult classic Alone in the Dark, you have a chance to relive the same game but in a whole new re-imagination.
Although a brand-new story set in the American South of the 1920s with touches of themes, characters, and more from the original.
Emily Hartwood discovers that her uncle has gone missing and hires Edward Carnby, a private investigator to help her find him.
Arriving at Derceto Manor, the home of those with mental health issues soon encounter strange residents and nightmares beyond anyone’s imagination! Can you find Emily’s uncle before it is too late and what horrors wait for you?
NO SPOILERS Only you can figure that out and trust me you won’t see it coming! I must admit certain parts of the game threw me off completely and psychologically messed with my head.
Written by the man behind games like SOMA and Amnesia, Mikael Hedberg has written the psychological horror that takes you deep into your mind.
90s Cult Classic Re-Imagined!
Gameplay
Alone in the Dark relies on you exploring Derceto Manor where you must uncover secrets, puzzles, and mysteries to find out about the sinister plot of the Manor.
You will come across some strange individuals, which depending on the character you are currently playing will depend on how the individuals will act towards you.
Your gun and flashlight are your new best friends, you want to make sure you always have ammo as some of the enemies you face will stop at nothing to take you down.
If you happen to get injured or are nearly killed during these encounters, then alcohol is your third best friend! Alcohol is your health pick-up which shows as your flask as Edward Carnby and can only carry up to 5 at a time.
Ammo can also be found in too boxes or lying about, you will use a lot of ammo so stock up!
One mechanic I liked about Alone in the Dark was the option to use stealth, if any enemy doesn’t see you or you want to distract them you can run past by throwing a throwable object like a bottle to make them leave the area and go towards the sound.
This helped a lot especially when you are low on ammo and can’t take on loads at a time, just make sure you aren’t seen or it’s game over! Like some games have collectibles you have something very similar in Alone in the Dark called “Lagniappes”
These are non-essential items found throughout the game. Finding and completing the sets will uncover forbidden knowledge and sometimes even more! These can be tricky to find so you will need to keep your eyes peeled.
Alone in the Dark uses puzzles and such to unlock doors, you will need to find keys by completing certain tasks which will help you uncover more of the story, and who knows what lies behind a door right?
Finding items for investigation will help you uncover clues and more, this is a huge need for this kind of game, and at times you will find yourself revisiting pieces you have picked up to help figure out what is your next move or where you need to go.
This was a nice mechanic to add especially when you’re playing as a private investigator! A feature that I found to be a nice touch that was cool to see was after being attacked or set on fire your clothing would be bloody or burnt, as was your character.
One minute you’re okay, get attacked and your suit is dripping with blood, and your face is shown injured until you are able to heal. These small details really give the game more life and show a more realistic look to it.
I must warn you and heed my warning as this game comes with so many wonderful and less wonderful surprises. The less part is how much this game likes to shake you up!
I had a few mini heart attacks from jump scares as you never see them coming, one minute you’re walking, and then suddenly something jumps out and yes, I nearly threw my controller. So, you have my warning!
Alone in the Dark takes a noir setting and adds the classic Lovecraftian horror elements so you just know some of the monsters, yep… Monsters are going to look horrifying, and I mean that’s one of the best parts about horror games, the imagination and design of the terrifying creatures that stalk you through the night.
Through gameplay, you will also be able to carry not just a gun but also a melee weapon. This could be an axe or even a crowbar, there is a wide range to find, so if you have no bullets grab the next best thing you can.
These weapons can be broken so keep an eye on the health bar of your item, plus as you progress you will find better weapons!
Nightmares Will Haunt You!
Graphics and Audio
Alone in the Dark was created using Unreal Engine 4 and the realism used can truly be seen, I mean graphically it looks amazing!
All the characters have different designs and looks. Edward Carnby sort of has that noir, 1920s undercover cop outfit, with a fedora. Emily Hartwood wears a white buttoned shirt with a tan coloured coat.
The enemy models used were supported by monster designer and Guillermo del Toro collaborator, Guy Davis which really shows what kind of nightmares he could make, each enemy is different with its own horrific theme.
The environments used in Alone in the Dark transport you to the heart of the era of the 1920s and the American South. I mean exploring these locations and the Manor with the little details here and there shows how much love and effort the developers put into Alone in the Dark.
The audio used in Alone in the Dark is superb! Firstly, the actors smashed their roles, I felt that David Harbour really suited his role as Edward Carnby and saw pieces of his character from Stranger Things implemented into his character.
Jodie Comer really gave life to her character especially working alongside David Harbour and the chemistry between the actors made it more than just a game but more a movie.
Jason Kohnen, who provided the eerie and haunting melodies for Alone in the Dark gave the game the perfect soundtrack with the Jazz New Orleans style music and gave the game its eerie atmosphere when exploring and also helped with the horror and suspense with how it was used during the game!
Watch Out For The Boogeyman
Controls, Options and Accessibility
Alone in the Dark was very easy to navigate, with controls that were easy to follow. If you did struggle, then you can find all the controls in the options.
You have many options for gameplay such as the difficulty setting which can be changed. There are two types of modes to choose from when it comes to exploring and completing puzzles,
Modern or Old School mode. Modern will highlight puzzles on your map, give you more detailed information, and tell you if you have everything you need to complete a puzzle.
Whereas Old School mode gives you no help at all, this also makes it a more immersive experience where being a detective is all about figuring out what to do. You can choose this at the start of the game.
You can also turn on things like map highlighting, text, and dynamic objectives plus revealing interactive points.
Depending on the style you prefer, you can pick and choose the way you want to play. When it comes to accessibility there are a few options that will help such as making the game easier, and so on.
Final Thoughts
Alone in the Dark is a true horror experience I never saw coming, understanding that this is why we have games like the Resident Evil franchise and more, and for that,
I owe Alone in the Dark a lot! I have never played an Alone in the Dark game before, and this was my first time playing one.
I had a blast and can’t wait to replay as Emily and search for the many secrets in the game!
If you are a fan of the survival horror style types of games and enjoy a story that takes you through nightmarish locations, then like I said I hope you brought your flashlight as this is the game for you but before I end this review, I have one more question…
Are you brave enough to venture Alone in the Dark? Well… Are you?
Alone in the Dark is AVAILABLE from the 20th March 2024 on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and Steam
GAMERHUB RATING: FOUR (Out of FIVE) JOYSTICKS
(Thank you to Jennifer and the team at THQ Nordic and the team at Pieces Interactive for providing the code for this review)
