Alone In the Dark

In just a couple of minutes, you will see a building ignite, crumble, and implode. Fire will spread if not extinguished, turning any surface that isn’t marble into ash. Walls come tumbling down, and entire rooms will be ripped apart as a mysterious fissure rips its way through the building’s hefty structure. Debris falls by the truckloads, leaving permanent damage on everything it hits.

Speaking of trucks, there’s one that makes a wrong turn, slams into a couple of cars and explodes shortly after impact. Its cargo space was well stocked with a flammable liquid, causing an explosion so large that it lifts the other vehicles several dozen feet into the air.

All of this happens in just one scenario in Alone in the Dark, the long-awaited sequel from Atari. As that building falls apart, Edward Carnby, the returning star of the series, is trying desperately to escape. He’s trapped inside by circumstance and by his conscious. Every time he turns around, another person is in danger. In the world of survival/horror games, it would be crazy for anyone to think they could save ‘em all. But you still gotta try – even if it increases your chances of dying by abolishment.

“Survival/horror” hasn’t been the common term used to describe Alone in the Dark, primarily because it’s so different from the Resident Evil and Silent Hill brand of games. But you won’t have to play Alone in the Dark for more than a few minutes to be convinced that it too is survival/horror.

Forget about pyramid heads, moaning zombies and everyday creepy-crawlies. In Alone in the Dark, the fear comes from what you can’t prevent. It isn’t necessarily what you can’t see, but what you anticipate and how you’ll react. If you’re speeding through New York City while an unknown force rips up the streets (literally, by raising the pavement and by breaking it apart), what will you do? If you’re rappelling down the side of a building as that same force attempts to split it in half, how will you make it out safely?

Alone in the Dark isn’t necessarily the kind of game that’ll have you jumping out of your seat. Instead, you will be on the edge of your seat, eager for more surprises but hoping you have what it takes to survive them.

You Won’t Be TiVoing This One

Much of the intensity and variety comes from the developers’ uncommon inspiration: Lost, Prison Break and 24. Rather than separate Alone in the Dark’s content by levels alone, the developers broke it down by story-driven episodes, mirroring the format of a television series. Each episode tells a new part of the story; when the next one is reached, a “Previously on Alone in the Dark” message appears, followed by a TV-style recap of the last episode. Episodes can be played out of order, allowing you to experience the game any way you like. The purpose of this presentation is twofold: first it’s unique. Alone in the Dark’s voice acting isn’t flawless, but it’s more believable than most horror games (frightened people actually sound frightened) and blows licensed products (like the Lost and 24 games) out of the water. Thus, you’re more likely to pay attention to the story. Second, it adds to the drama by pulling you deeper into the episodic experience.

There’s another element, one that really influenced the game design: variety. Based on everything I’ve seen and played, I can say with certainty that Eden Games had big plans for this game all along. But I believe the episodic format – which locked them into a season’s worth of gaming content – helped, perhaps even forced, them to come up with bigger and better ideas for each episode. In the few I played through, I didn’t get the chance to become bored or merely get used to any particular style of play. Well before that could happen, the game switched over to something else. I went back and tried them again, and discovered new things every time.

In the long run, multiple play-throughs could lead to multiple achievements. Atari wasn’t ready to reveal the full details just yet, but we’re told that the gameplay perspective may have something to do with it. Ex: vehicles can be driven from a first-person or behind-the-car view. The former is much more difficult, resulting in higher points (potentially) upon its completion. On-foot missions can also be played from a third- or first-person view.

Alone in the Dark’s visuals are incredibly strong. One effect in particular was astonishing: fire. We’ve all seen killer explosions before, but never have you seen fire that burns and spreads as realistically as in this game. You won’t find a flat surface, a strange pixelated image, or some other issue that typically accompanies polygonal flames. It’s an entirely smooth (almost silky) effect. Walk around it, extinguish it, and start your own – it doesn’t matter, the fire is beautiful every time.

Likewise, the environmental destruction effects are wonderfully intense, setting the mood for a game where safety doesn’t exist. From the camera shakes and scenario-enhancing angles to debris so large it covers the screen (with realistic and highly detailed pieces), Alone in the Dark is a game you’ll want to play alone and in the dark.

Creeping into stores on June 24, Alone in the Dark is one of the year’s most promising horror games.

Stay with us for more in the coming weeks, and be sure to hit the links below for the rest of our Alone in the Dark event coverage.

Alone in the Dark Event Coverage:

Nintendo Wii Preview

Hands-On Presentation With Nour Polloni

A Horrific Conversation with Alone in the Dark Game Analyst Andre Bermudez