If you think of survival horror games, odds are high the first things that will come to mind are the Resident Evil series or Silent Hill games. But, before these thrill fests were even a twinkle in their creators’ eyes, there was a series that was already dishing up the genre. Having been sadly forgotten, Alone in the Dark is back and its timing couldn’t have been any better.
We are bang in the middle of a bit of a golden age for survival horror, the perfect time for a revival. Especially for a series that has been dormant in the mainstream since 2008’s ambitious, but ultimately pants, reboot. Alone in the Dark. A 2015 low-budget PC-only affair, Alone in the Dark: Illumination, did nothing to restore interest.
Risen from the Dead
Alone in the Dark (2024) aims to bring the series back to to the top table of a genre it created by retelling the 1992 3DO and PC classic. However, far from a straight remake, 2024’s Alone in the Dark offers a new and interesting spin on the tale.
This modern retelling also brings some Hollywood glitz. Both Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer and Stranger Things‘ David Harbour star as the game’s dual protagonists.
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In Alone in the Dark, you play as Emily Hartwood (Jodie Comer) or private investigator Edward Carnby (David Harbour). In their half of the story, each travels to the Deep South looking for the Derceto Manor, a home for the mentally fatigued. Once there, they are tasked with investigating the disappearance of Jeremy Hartwood, Emily’s uncle.
But, soon after arriving the pair discover that all is not as it seems in the bayou and the locals are more than a bit off. After all, the duo are very much strangers in a strange land.
Emily and Edward’s Dovetail Tale
Emily and Edward’s campaigns are very similar to each other for the most part. There is, however, one whole chapter each, which focuses more on their individual tales.
As you wander around the mostly decrepit Derceto Manor, you begin to uncover more about where Jeremy could be. That is, before things take a turn for the supernatural. No spoilers.
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Gameplay is very much what you would expect from a survival horror. 80% is exploring and searching for info and keys, 10% is solving puzzles, and the last 10% is combat. Alone in the Dark is a joy when let loose to explore. You’ll find locked doors and blocked paths as you navigate the hulking manor.
Collectibles
The game handles collectables in an interesting way. These ‘lagniappe’ trinkets are grouped in sets of three. Find all three in a group, and you’ll bag a reward. From new lore, to items and weapons. So, searching every dark corner is really worth your time.
Puzzles tend to have the right ratio of challenge to reward. Plus, there are a number of settings to try find the level for you.
Combat is the weakest element of the game. The clunky movement and twitchy camera system add up to a mediocre combat loop. Most enemies are very easy to dispatch, with a few shots or a well-timed axe swing. And on top of this, there aren’t very many enemies to deal with.
Not Much Survival
Items are also a little too plentiful. Ammo, health kits, or to be more precise, alcohol for your trusty hip flask, are always easy to find. There is no real inventory management at play in Alone in the Dark. Additionally, the combat side of things only comes into play when you are in certain areas. So, you’ll quickly cop where a fight is likely. This knowledge, along with the lack of true inventory management, kills the level of tension.
Its worth noting the game is also hounded by a number of issues on the performance front too; from hard crashing, to not loading areas correctly and even getting stuck on pieces of scenery with no way to free yourself, except a reload.
Atmosphere Wasted
Alone in the Dark‘s visuals carry a foreboding vibe throughout. There is a nice level of detail within the game’s environments. And, Comer and Harbour absolutely look the part, even if they can be a bit dead-eyed at times.
The audio is similarly atmospheric. The Hollywood cast do a mostly passable job with the lines they have. Sometimes, the A-listers phone it in, which does kill the mood of some scenes. And on top of this, there are a few bugs around sound timing and lip syncing.
Middle of the Road
Alone in the Dark is a real middle-of-the-road title, in a lot of ways. A reboot that achieves a some of what it aims for, but is also let down by technical issues and bizarre choices.
Choices like taking the survival aspect away, and confining combat to certain areas. Both of these factors destroy any real tension, any real fear, that the atmosphere does so well in laying a foundation for.
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If you’re a fan of survival horror games, you’ll find something worth your time, but that is far from scary. Everyone else will find a safe Hollywood-esque romp that is a blast at the time, but will be forgotten about once the credits roll.