Alone in the Dark PC and 360 Review

Eden Games, makers of the quite entertaining Test Drive Unlimited, have now twisted their in-house technology around and used it to revive one of the oldest survival horror franchises in the business. The original Alone in the Dark set the template for survival horror for years to come, and was also one of the first home PC games to feature fully polygonal graphics for all of its characters. The technology and ambition were stunning for the time, and the gameplay built upon traditional adventure elements while also adding some new quirks. This new Alone in the Dark is a plot sequel to the older games, and it too features some really neat technology and some new twists on the adventure genre. It comes off feeling like a mix of Bioshock and Dead Rising, deftly combining everything from first person shooting to physics puzzles, driving sequences to platforming. It’s a great game, hampered only slightly by some minor technical issues and somewhat disjointed endings.

Alone in the Dark puts players in the shoes of Edward Canby, the main character from the older Alone in the Dark games. Somehow, Edward has popped up in 2008, even though the earlier games took place in the 20’s and 30’s. This is actually explained throughout the game. Players must guide Carnby through a zombie-infested central park, and figure out why the Devil is trying to return to Earth. The game is broken up into 8 chapters, and in a twist reminiscent of the old PC game Phantasmagoria, it allows you to skip around through these chapters at your leisure. The storyline is solid right up until the somewhat abrupt ending, and should keep you engaged for the 10 or so hours that the game takes to complete. Gameplay is a mix of third and first person play, with both perspectives being used for certain types of actions. The centerpiece of the game is the elaborate physics system, powered in part by the newest iteration of Havok physics technology. Doors can be busted down. Anything flammable can be set on fire. Every object has a real weight and heft to it. This real-world element allows for several clever takes on classically-styled adventure game puzzles, and provides many exciting “Aha!” moments.

Other cool touches include the inventory system, which is displayed as the pockets of Edward’s jacket. You can only carry as many items as will fit in these pockets, and you can combine items as well. The item combination is not completely free-form, but still allows for the creation of crazy things, like say a Molotov cocktail made out of a bottle of whiskey and a handkerchief, which you can then tape a glowstick to for no apparent reason. The gameplay is split about evenly between action, puzzle, and shooting elements, and feels more like an action adventure game or classical adventure game rather than a survival horror game. Although the game does deal with grizzly elements and zombies, it doesn’t have too many overtly scary moments, and resources are always easily found if you’re willing to scrounge around a bit.

Graphically, the game is sharp. It’s not quite as robust and detailed as say, Metal Gear Solid 4 or Crysis, but it holds its own, particularly with its impressive fire effects and eerily realistic lighting. It has some of the best over-dramatic lighting in the computer gaming space since Doom 3. Sounds are quite good, with the main character being acted by James McCaffrey, who astute gamers might recognize as the voice of Max Payne in those phenomenal games. The music is also really great, featuring a fully orchestral score that lends some great touches to some of the more epic moments in the game.

Sadly, the game is not without some notable flaws. The framerate isn’t always perfect, and the fact that most enemies in the game have to be set on fire in order to be destroyed can get irksome when trying to complete certain objectives. Also, for as elaborate as the physics system is, every now and then it will hang up. The game includes some breakneck driving scenes, and the car physics are the most touchy spot in the game. This is ironic since the developer just came off of a driving game. Every now and then whilst driving, my car would sort of vault its rear up into the air for no reason, leaving me with the option of exiting the vehicle and trying to tip it back down on its wheels. This only happened to me about three times during my playthrough of the game, but still it was irritating when it happened. Also, the endings are a little bit abrupt, and don’t quite provide the kind of closure that the epic story is begging for. It doesn’t ruin the game, and thanks to the open nature of some of the scenarios, it’s worth playing through at least once after finishing it.

Alone in the Dark is a fun new take on a classic gaming franchise. It has some great physics elements, and the shooting and action parts are fun to play if nothing spectacular. It really excels in making you feel like you’re actually living the scenario, something that Dead Rising also did well. Being able to break open locked doors is quite liberating after dealing with locked door puzzles for so many years. Alone in the Dark is quite the experience, and recommended for action and adventure fans. Just be warned if you’re looking for survival horror, this probably isn’t your game. The 360 and PC versions are comparable, with the PC version looking a little better provided you have the machine to run it. I would recommend playing with a gamepad on the PC, as many of the controls were designed around that interface. This game is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. For more information, check out www.centraldark.com.


	Alone in the Dark 360 and PC Review…4 out of 5 By Alex Rowe Eden Games, makers of the quite entertaining Test Drive Unlimited, have now twisted their in-house technology around and used it to revive one of the oldest survival horror franchises in the business. The original Alone in the Dark set the template for survival horror for years to come, and was also one of the first home PC games to feature fully polygonal graphics for all of its characters. The technology and ambition were stunning for the time, and the gameplay built upon traditional adventure elements while also adding some new quirks. This new Alone in the Dark is a plot sequel to the older games, and it too features some really neat technology and some new twists on the adventure genre. It comes off feeling like a mix of Bioshock and Dead Rising, deftly combining everything from first person shooting to physics puzzles, driving sequences to platforming. It’s a great game, hampered only slightly by some minor technical issues and somewhat disjointed endings. Alone in the Dark puts players in the shoes of Edward Canby, the main character from the older Alone in the Dark games. Somehow, Edward has popped up in 2008, even though the earlier games took place in the 20’s and 30’s. This is actually explained throughout the game. Players must guide Carnby through a zombie-infested central park, and figure out why the Devil is trying to return to Earth. The game is broken up into 8 chapters, and in a twist reminiscent of the old PC game Phantasmagoria, it allows you to skip around through these chapters at your leisure. The storyline is solid right up until the somewhat abrupt ending, and should keep you engaged for the 10 or so hours that the game takes to complete. Gameplay is a mix of third and first person play, with both perspectives being used for certain types of actions. The centerpiece of the game is the elaborate physics system, powered in part by the newest iteration of Havok physics technology. Doors can be busted down. Anything flammable can be set on fire. Every object has a real weight and heft to it. This real-world element allows for several clever takes on classically-styled adventure game puzzles, and provides many exciting “Aha!” moments. Other cool touches include the inventory system, which is displayed as the pockets of Edward’s jacket. You can only carry as many items as will fit in these pockets, and you can combine items as well. The item combination is not completely free-form, but still allows for the creation of crazy things, like say a Molotov cocktail made out of a bottle of whiskey and a handkerchief, which you can then tape a glowstick to for no apparent reason. The gameplay is split about evenly between action, puzzle, and shooting elements, and feels more like an action adventure game or classical adventure game rather than a survival horror game. Although the game does deal with grizzly elements and zombies, it doesn’t have too many overtly scary moments, and resources are always easily found if you’re willing to scrounge around a bit. Graphically, the game is sharp. It’s not quite as robust and detailed as say, Metal Gear Solid 4 or Crysis, but it holds its own, particularly with its impressive fire effects and eerily realistic lighting. It has some of the best over-dramatic lighting in the computer gaming space since Doom 3. Sounds are quite good, with the main character being acted by James McCaffrey, who astute gamers might recognize as the voice of Max Payne in those phenomenal games. The music is also really great, featuring a fully orchestral score that lends some great touches to some of the more epic moments in the game. Sadly, the game is not without some notable flaws. The framerate isn’t always perfect, and the fact that most enemies in the game have to be set on fire in order to be destroyed can get irksome when trying to complete certain objectives. Also, for as elaborate as the physics system is, every now and then it will hang up. The game includes some breakneck driving scenes, and the car physics are the most touchy spot in the game. This is ironic since the developer just came off of a driving game. Every now and then whilst driving, my car would sort of vault its rear up into the air for no reason, leaving me with the option of exiting the vehicle and trying to tip it back down on its wheels. This only happened to me about three times during my playthrough of the game, but still it was irritating when it happened. Also, the endings are a little bit abrupt, and don’t quite provide the kind of closure that the epic story is begging for. It doesn’t ruin the game, and thanks to the open nature of some of the scenarios, it’s worth playing through at least once after finishing it. Alone in the Dark is a fun new take on a classic gaming franchise. It has some great physics elements, and the shooting and action parts are fun to play if nothing spectacular. It really excels in making you feel like you’re actually living the scenario, something that Dead Rising also did well. Being able to break open locked doors is quite liberating after dealing with locked door puzzles for so many years. Alone in the Dark is quite the experience, and recommended for action and adventure fans. Just be warned if you’re looking for survival horror, this probably isn’t your game. The 360 and PC versions are comparable, with the PC version looking a little better provided you have the machine to run it. I would recommend playing with a gamepad on the PC, as many of the controls were designed around that interface. This game is rated M for Mature by the ESRB. For more information, check out www.centraldark.com.