- Publisher: Atari , Atari SA
- Release Date: Jun 23, 2008
- Also On: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
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Alone in the Dark is a perfect example of how to stage games: a story with twists, fantastic scripts and interesting characters. It could be a great cocktail of action and horror, but it comes with a bad aftertaste. Every minute obvious design errors can be observed. This could have been avoided with two more months of development time. Players who are easily frustrated should wait until patches fix the problems.
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Alone in the Dark proves that with a little time and patience, a good game can be created from innovative ideas.
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Ambitious and imaginative, it's a guilty pleasure. Those who are able to deal with its issues – that aren't easy to ignore – may end up living a very interesting adventure.
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A valiant attempt at elevating Alone in the Dark back into the Pantheon of genre-defining adventure-games – much innovation, and even more atmospheric awesomeness.
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Game InformerAlone in the Dark can be applauded for its innovation, but it cannot be saved from its dysfunction. Had Eden Games added polish, or dare I say it, play-tested the game, it could have been a welcome addition for survival horror fans. [Aug 2008, p.85]
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PC FormatPoor controls and too much reliance on trial and error in order to progress within the game. Hacking up the zombies is good fun, though. [Sept 2008, p.102]
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Buy it on a console if you must play it, but don't expect things to be much of an improvement.
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It has more than enough good ideas to make a brilliant, must-own game, but features even more bad game design and gameplay issues. As such it's without doubt the biggest disappointment this generation of consoles has seen and a game that's impossible to recommend.
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BoomtownThere are some unique ideas concerning health replenishment and inventory management.
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Despite the numerous obtuse moments, the interesting story should keep you playing at least a little while.
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Play (Poland)A horror that isn't scary? Fail. Awkward controls are tiring, gameplay is shockingly plain. There is a lot of new concepts, but technical deficiencies take out the fun from this game. For example the fires are amazing, but fireproof wood does the whole idea in. [Aug 2008]
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Total PC GamingGreat environmental puzzles and a chilling soundtrack are sadly let down by a poor port with dodgy controls. [Issue#9, p.46]
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Alone in the Dark could have been a great game, but in its current shape it’s just a disappointing failure.
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PC PowerPlayFor me, this was one of the most frustrating gaming experiences in recent memory. Most frustrating of all is the fact that this could have been a great game. Like a pack of half-starved zombies, the developers have simply bitten off more than they can chew. [Sept 2008, p.57]
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Alone In The Dark truly horrifies me. How can such a big-budget title actually get to the stores with such unfriendly controls and gameplay glitches? The game is clumsy, completely linear and absolutely no fun to play.
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PC Zone UKHateful game. [Sept 2008, p.60]
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PC Gamer UKAlmost - but not entirely - worthless. [Aug 2008, p.70]
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Nice visuals, great fire effects and valiant efforts at innovation don’t make up for boring combat, frustrating controls, poorly designed levels and a hackneyed story.
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PC GamerThink about it: the developer built in a level skip. I recommend a cheaper alternative: the game skip. [Oct 2008, p.66]
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 74 out of 180
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Mixed: 39 out of 180
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Negative: 67 out of 180
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AlexaL.Jul 1, 2008I don't recommend it. a total waste of time and money. @atari: I am very disappointed.
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Jun 3, 2011
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DanielMOct 8, 2008