For years, developers have tried to create a game that captures the essence of the original Alone in the Dark. With the latest reimagining of the iconic original, they finally have it in their grasp.
Gameplay
While you can play as one or the other, I suggest playing as both Emily and Edward, the two protagonists of Alone in the Dark. Depending on which one you choose, you'll get different cutscenes, different elements of the story, and some specific puzzles. You can get most of the story from one playthrough, but the game is really enhanced by playing as both characters because of the many differences.
Once you select one of the two, you'll be able to start exploring Derceto, the asylum where Emily's uncle Jeremy has disappeared. As your first playthrough, I suggest going with the niece, Emily, as you search for her uncle and then picking Edward (the detective she hired to help).
Most of the sections at Derceto involve unlocking new areas of the house and solving puzzles to trigger the dream sequences (or memory sequences, as Edward calls them). While the house is relatively safe from all enemies, Jeremy's dreams are not. I found myself fighting sludge monsters from the bayou and escaping the Dark Man to unravel Jeremy's mystery.
The combat aspect of the game was fun but nothing super special. I did enjoy the numerous melee weapons, even if they broke after only a few hits. It was hilarious to kill all of those monsters with a crucifix. I despaired when I accidentally picked up a hatchet, and the game wouldn't let me pick up my crucifix again.
The variety of puzzles in this game really made for quite a challenge. I particularly liked those that involved multiple steps, such as the Astronomical puzzle, with the most fun part being assembling the decorative plate. Keep in mind that most of the puzzles until the late game are the same for both playthroughs, which I found a bit tedious. The puzzle I was most annoyed with was the safe one at the Pretzt shipping company. It has such a simple solution, but I was really overthinking it.
Overall, the game reminded me a lot of Resident Evil with its puzzles and enemies, but less outright horror and more psychological horror. This is not surprising, considering Mikael Hedberg wrote for the game. He is also the writer behind SOMA, one of the best games in that genre and one of my favorites of all time.
Gameplay: 3.5/5
Story
When I started playing the game, I didn't really expect all of the twists that were coming my way as I was searching for Jeremy and trying to escape Derceto alive. I also didn't know how significant the changes were going to be in the two characters' journeys.
I started my first playthrough as Emily, so many of her interactions and responses were as someone who was prepared to experience deteriorating melancholy, a condition that runs in her family—the same condition that put Jeremy at the Derceto asylum. A lot of the time, it feels like Emily is part of the patient patchwork of the manor and not just a visitor.
Once I finished her story and saved Jeremy (though I don't know if saved is the right word for him), I was excited to see how exactly Edward was going to react to the strange occurrences at Derceto, the Dark Man, and being teleported into different locations and even different countries.
The detective has no connection to Emily's family and, as such, no ready excuse for the weird things going on around him. And I have to say, I enjoyed his side of the story a bit more. For someone who was seeing monsters pop up left and right, Edward took a lot in stride, but his reactions were more frantic, and his commentary was frankly hilarious at times.
Story: 3.5/5
Sound Design
The music felt authentic to the era, with jazz noir tunes following you throughout the investigation. This, along with the visual design, really sold me on the game's old-timey atmosphere. The music, while soothing jazz in regular situations, actually added to the tension of the investigation when exploring Derceto.
When I ventured outside, the sound design really shined. Although the areas were empty of humans, they were alive with the sounds of nature and the unnatural. And, not to spoil much, but whenever there was a change in location, the music, along with the outside sounds, adjusted perfectly.
Related: How to solve the boiler puzzle in Alone in the Dark
The voice acting in the game is also pretty fantastic. I love listening to the southern drawl, and it was music to my ears whenever the Derceto residents talked. However, I have to appreciate both David Harbour and Jodie Comer, who voiced their characters very well. They both had really great takes on their characters and accents, and the dialogue felt very natural throughout the game.
Sound Design: 4.5/5
Graphics and Performance
Alone in the Dark looks very authentic to its era, the 1920s, both in terms of the environment and the character design. To me, the most beautifully designed moments were the dream sequences. They really felt like foggy memories, disconnected moments suspended in time that I could explore.
Emily and Edward look very much like their real-life counterparts, but I loved Grace's design the most, the little kid patient at Derceto. Honestly, I was expecting her to become an evil mastermind at any point, with how creepy she was portrayed. The character models were okay, but I did get an uncanny feeling often from them (not just Grace). The biggest issue for me was the character movements and the eyes. Something was lacking for a game developed in 2024.
While the game overall does look pretty stunning, especially in cinematic settings, it wasn't all smooth sailing on the bayou. Just like Jeremy's steamboat, the game crashed for me a few times, even when I adjusted it to medium settings. And with an RTX 4070, I really wasn't expecting such issues. It was a bit annoying having to repeat some parts because of this since I was already playing the game multiple times to get all of the Lagniappe collectibles.
Graphics and Performance: 4/5
Verdict - A light at the end of a very dark tunnel
The game wasn't perfect, but Alone in the Dark definitely kept me entertained. I love a good Gothic Southern story like this one, with great characters, an entertaining mystery, and a sprinkle of psychological horror. If you don't mind that it stumbles a bit along the way, then this is definitely a game you should check out.
[Disclosure: A free copy of the game was provided to PGG by the publisher for review purposes.]
If you want to get all of the collectibles in the game, check out All Lagniappe locations in Alone in the Dark (Map) on Pro Game Guides.
Published: Mar 19, 2024 07:00 am