Alone in the Dark Image
Metascore
58

Mixed or average reviews - based on 53 Critic Reviews What's this?

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5.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 176 Ratings

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  • Summary: Taking inspiration from the presentation style and structure of a number of acclaimed and globally popular TV action dramas, Alone in the Dark is split into a number of distinct episodes in a season-style format. With approximately 30-40 minutes of gameplay comprising each episode, theTaking inspiration from the presentation style and structure of a number of acclaimed and globally popular TV action dramas, Alone in the Dark is split into a number of distinct episodes in a season-style format. With approximately 30-40 minutes of gameplay comprising each episode, the structure of Alone in the Dark is adapted for an audience familiar with the hard-hitting bite-size delivery of contemporary TV dramas, offering easy accessibility whether the player has hours to devote or only wants a quick TV-style fix. Each time the player launches a saved game, the episode begins with a video summary of the previous episode to quickly re-immerse the player in the story, removing the need to remember where they were or what they were doing. Every episode closes with a nail-biting cliff-hanger ending to rattle players' nerves, and if the player is leaving the game a video teaser of the next episode plays to leave them wanting more. Alone in the Dark returns with a heart-stopping survival experience realized through the use of state-of-the-art real-time physics and unprecedented environmental interaction. Delivering an action-orientated experience within a highly detailed, open environment, Alone in the Dark once again strives innovation and excellence within the genre. [Atari] Expand
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Alone in the Dark Official Trailer 1
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 53
  2. Negative: 11 out of 53
  1. Games Master UK
    81
    Ambitious but inconsistent, frustrating but entertaining. Still an innovative adventure. [Aug 2008, p.62]
  2. Maxi Consolas (Portugal)
    70
    A mix of revolutionary ideas and clumsy execution, Alone in the Dark is like a giant with clay feet. The way it marries new concepts with an old fashion control scheme of the character, not to mention some technical flaws, leaves us with a game that is frequently frustrating and only sometimes brilliant. [July 2008]
  3. The monsters hunt Edward and one idea hunts the other. This game is not perfect but you definitely won’t get bored with it!
  4. X-ONE Magazine UK
    60
    We so wanted to like this game but it kept slapping us in the face with bad controls, repetitive puzzles and the annoying inventory. [Issue#34]
  5. Pelit (Finland)
    58
    Great cinematic looks and fresh ideas don't amount to much if they don't serve the game. Clumsy controls and annoying deaths ruin a game that has a lot of potential. Also the constant swearing feels tacked on and childish. [Aug 2008]
  6. The game can be compared to an agressive puppy without potty-training. You want to keep him so badly, but everytime it seems to go right, it bites, scratches and sh.ts on your carpet.
  7. Is there anything good about Alone in the Dark? The fire effects are stunning and the music theme is quite good. Other than that though, nothing.

See all 53 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 63
  2. Negative: 24 out of 63
  1. Feb 19, 2015
    10
    Я стою здесь…один…в темноте. Передо мною металлическая дверь в здании, напоминающем котельную. Где то там в одном из помещений корень зла,Я стою здесь…один…в темноте. Передо мною металлическая дверь в здании, напоминающем котельную. Где то там в одном из помещений корень зла, который я должен сжечь, корень, который охраняют одержимые. Допустим, я вышибу дверь и мне хватит патронов, смоченных бензином, но у меня остался лишь один бинт и это меня беспокоит. Ведь если меня ранят и я использую его для перевязки раны, что мне использовать в качестве фитиля для Молотова которым я хочу поджечь корень? Без вариантов, у меня один шанс на успех и ни одного на ошибку. Ну что ж, осталось вынести дверь огнетушителем и провернуть все погромче и побыстрее. Надеюсь, в этот раз у меня все получится…
    На дворе 2008 год. Мне 17, крестнику моего отца 13, и мы сидим на стульях в полумраке перед монитором моего пк и пытаемся выжить в мире Alone In The Dark. Сейчас мне 23 и я набираю первый пост на этом портале, посвященном играм, которые мы любим и тем, кто в них играет, рядом сидит моя любимая женщина и печатает рецензию на театральный спектакль, на дворе 2014, сентябрь месяц, а воспоминания от мрачного приключения Эдварда Карнби в центральном парке посещают меня и по сей день.

    На моей памяти множество проектов, которые по тем или иным причинам были недооценены как прессой, так и игроками. Но «Alone in the Dark: Near Death Investigation» одна из тех, за которые по-настоящему обидно. Обидно, потому как большинство тех, кто поливал игру грязью, попросту застопорились на сцене с автомобилем в начале игры.
    Да, физика автомобиля действительно кривая, да и сама сцена, нужно признать, срежиссирована не идеально, но именно она показывает масштаб катастрофы и после нее игра приобретает краски, а механика игры начинает работать на полную. Тут тебе и подручные средства, разбросанные по локациям, которые с легкостью комбинируются во всевозможные виды оружия, и множество разнообразных ситуаций, в которых его можно применить.
    Инвентарь в виде внутренних карманов куртки протагониста смотрится очень свежо и сегодня. Количество, а также размеры барахла, которое мы то и дело кропотливо собираем на локациях, не вызывает вопросов, а лишь помогает погрузиться в атмосферу происходящего. Ты считаешь патроны, ты размышляешь над тем, как и сколько бензина из баклажки тебе расходовать на те или иные нужды. В то время как ты возишься в инвентаре, противники продолжают выполнять свою первостепенную задачу, делая все, чтобы отправить тебя в лучший мир. Ты пытаешься выжить, пытаешься изо всех сил. Разве не этого все ждут от жанра Survival Horror? В игре есть сцена с отцом Теофилом, от которой, ей богу, меня в дрожь бросило.

    А под конец игры нас отправляют жечь корни зла, из-за которых возмущаются те, кто до них все-таки дошел, а может все те, кто «промотал» пол-игры? Об одном из таких идет речь в начале поста. Некоторые из этих деревьев уничтожить очень нелегко, ведь для того, чтобы с ними расправиться, сперва необходимо к ним подобраться, решив несложную головоломку, коих в игре и до этого этапа немало. И вот пока носишься по карте, уничтожая корни, ты всем нутром осознаешь значение слов Alone In The Dark. Тебе по-настоящему одиноко в этом темном городском парке и ты понимаешь, что дух отца Теофила был бы очень даже неплохим компаньоном. Просто чтобы не сойти с ума, просто чтобы не быть одному в этом безумном кошмаре.
    Единственное, что действительно могло помешать ощутить всю прелесть этого многогранного и богатого на впечатления путешествие это управление. И оно не столько ужасное сколько тяжелое. Мне кажется, что современный Kinect пришелся бы в этой игре кстати, хотя бы как альтернативный вариант. Ну а те, кто смогли совладать с управлением и даже почувствовали некий уровень мастерства, ближе к середине сюжетной линии открыли для себя по-настоящему хорошую игру. Игру, которую вспоминаешь нередко, игру, в которую спустя годы приятно вернуться.
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  2. JackyB.
    Jun 18, 2008
    10
    One hell of a game. The deep atmosphere created by Eden Games is pioneer to the new genre "Survival Experience."
  3. [Anonymous]
    Jun 24, 2008
    9
    Controls and Annoying moments aside - at least they tried something new. A mixed bag, but one worth playing.
  4. DaneM.
    Jun 29, 2008
    7
    Mainstream reviews are useless, and if the 10s for GTA and the 4s for Lair did not convince you of this, the 3s and such for Alone in the Mainstream reviews are useless, and if the 10s for GTA and the 4s for Lair did not convince you of this, the 3s and such for Alone in the Dark should. While far from a masterpiece Alone in the Dark supplies tons of scares, cool enviornments, free-roaming horror action gaming and interesting moments. Some of the most unique moments this generation can be found here, from the different ways to kill enemies to the way the enviornment and fire play a role in almost everything you do. There is an enemy who is weak to light, and I was trying to use my flashlight to get passed him, as the game suggests. It was hard though, and I kept dying, but rather than give up I thought "I wonder if a flaming chair, carried with me, would work better." Sure enough it did, making a circle of light around me and preventing the enemy from even getting close. Unique moments like this are constant in Alone in the Dark, as you are repeatedly faced with tons of enemies and scant resources. You have to use your brain. The game does have flaws... the third-person camera control turns off when you pick something up, the driving levels are too hard, the checkpoiints can be scarce and sometimes the game leaves you with little direction, but overall these flaws are minor and only frustrate the easily annoyed out there. Play through the game for a while, get used to its flaws, and you will have a great time. I'm giving it a 7 out of 10, which for me is a good score. Compare it to a 8.5 or 9 from sites like IGN. Expand
  5. AnonymousMC
    Aug 30, 2008
    5
    This game has an enriching storyline that takes you to the end. Also, if you get stuck at a part, they have a unique chapter selection featureThis game has an enriching storyline that takes you to the end. Also, if you get stuck at a part, they have a unique chapter selection feature that lets you skip it and come back later. Plays like a tv show with reviews of what has happened previously on Alone in the Dark. The fire in this game will leave people awestruck and is very realistic. Except, although this game has many ups and good ideas, most aren't thought out that well. Many glitches in the game and 1st person view being horrible on responses. Even though the title is Alone in the Dark, you are followed by another character who is so annyoing that I wish I was alone in the dark because, like F.E.A.R. has shown us, some things are scarier alone in the dark. Also, some ideas were good thoughts, just weren't used right. Like the inventory system being way too small and half of it is taken up by items you need to have throughout the game making the small inventory system even smaller. And batteries that die out too quickly. Also mid-way through the game, you have to kill a bunch of "roots" (not telling you why or else it will destroy the story for you), but it makes you kill a lot of them and it gets VERY repetetive. The driving system in this game is very fun and when you get onto New York driving, it is one of the most fun driving scenes in a video game I have ever played. I really would love to give this game a higher rating than 5 out of 10, but with this many flaws and poorly executed design choices, I can't. Let's hope that when Atari brings a new patch to the game, it will hopefully fix some of these glitches. Expand
  6. DanW.
    Jun 22, 2008
    3
    I really hope someone reads this and is able to avoid wasting time and effort on this terrible game. Although the story and gameplay are not I really hope someone reads this and is able to avoid wasting time and effort on this terrible game. Although the story and gameplay are not perfect they would be forgivable would it not be for the number of bugs within the game itself. On a number of occasions the gameplay dynamics have been inconsistent and unpredictable a resulted in death of the character with no explanation given. For example driving through a door and suddenly falling down an unseen mineshaft to your death with no reason wahtsoevergiven! During this 'sequence' the screen literally went black with no sound for several seconds and then just a death, no explanation given. To add to these problems, the controls and camera angles are unforgivably bad. There is no control over the camera in 3rd person mode at all. this may have been acceptable 8-9 years ago or more with the original resident evil games, but games have moved on considerably since then and as a result, this plays like a blind retarded animal that keeps running into things and hurting itself cos it doesn't know what the hell it's doing. Don't waste your money on this, atari have really let us down. All of the delays in development make this even less justified. I'd rather kick myself in the balls several times than carry on playing this. Expand
  7. AnonymousMC
    Aug 7, 2008
    0
    Don't listen to morons like Al. C over here this game sucks and is horrible. GTA4 and MGS4 shouldnt even be mentioned in the sameDon't listen to morons like Al. C over here this game sucks and is horrible. GTA4 and MGS4 shouldnt even be mentioned in the same sentence as anything that has to do with alone in the dark. Worst game I've played in a long time, Al. C is a retard, and a loser, and he has no knowledge of anything whatsoever. Expand

See all 63 User Reviews

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