2024-03-19 14:23:02
Developing an AA game is like walking a tightrope. Creators in this space don’t have the same deep wallets to fund their efforts, nor the same employee wealth to fall back on, but at the same time, AA games have to fake and disguise themselves to make them look like AAA. Some people are better at doing this than others, and some people, despite clear, good and promising intentions, fail to do so. Alone in the Dark unfortunately falls into the latter category.
Alone in the Dark is a survival horror game that effectively answers the question of what it would be like if Resident Evil 2 were set in the 1920s American South. There are two protagonists to play as, each of whom explores a disturbingly ancient building, unlocking new secrets in an almost Metroidvania-esque manner through a series of unique puzzles of varying difficulty. There’s a bit of resource gathering, supernatural and creepy enemies, a theme and a clear central narrative that wants to hook you, then scare you silly. It’s very, very clear that developer Pieces Interactive considers RE2 (the best Resident Evil game, Fight Me) as the main source of inspiration for Alone in the Dark.
While you might accuse and suggest that it breeds unoriginality, I would argue that the tried and tested format has simply been adapted in this game, adapted into a story that makes you want to keep playing and unlock the story that will keep you playing. They are linked together by strange and creepy strings. Moments of narrative brilliance and authenticity stand out in Alone in the Dark, and while you might argue that’s already there because this is a remake, the actual bones of the game are very different from its 1994 predecessor, not too much. Very comparable. This is actually a completely new game with modern and new ideas incorporated throughout, which is why I feel like this game let me down in a lot of ways.
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First of all, the idea of having two central and intertwined protagonists isn’t quite right. The stories of Emily Hartwood (Jodie Comer) and Edward Carnby (David Harbour) are nearly identical, seeing the characters completing the same puzzles and completing their respective stories Travel through pretty much the same area. There are some unique conversations with side characters, a few unique and smaller levels, and ways to get specific collectibles based on the story you’re playing, but the overall narrative is pretty much the same, unlike what we saw in RE2, for example. , Leon and Claire’s stories take them on different paths, though they often collide and repeat elements.
I will add here that Comer and Harbor did a decent job as the protagonists of this game. Neither is Alone in the Dark’s savior, but neither is it as poor and out of touch as we’ve seen in the past from other mainstream players in the gaming space. Essentially, don’t expect Comer-Villanelle’s level of performance here, but don’t expect to be disappointed either.
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As for the level design, this is also handled very well. Pieces Interactive created a complex, multi-level structure in which Derceto Mansion rivals RE2’s Raccoon City Police Station. Filled with nooks, crannies and secrets, you’ll be taken to the highest attics and deepest basements, following clues and hints to unravel this twisting story, which, for the most part, works. One of the main issues is the problematic consistency of Alone in the Dark’s puzzles, which range from needlessly complex to shockingly simple, and equally difficult to overcome leaving players scratching their heads and confused looking for answers without any form of help. moment, which I encountered when I accidentally skipped an important puzzle, and later stumped me.
Beyond that, there’s a lack of complexity that makes a game like RE2 stand out. For example, there’s no clear progression section where characters gain access to new weapons. You either find it in the story or claim it after collecting enough collectibles from around the world… Plus, the Mansion feels empty and you find yourself wandering the lifeless corridors in search of new ones Hints or clues instead of rushing to get the job done before some scary entity catches you. In this game, there is no equivalent of Mr. You’re mostly… Alone in the Dark.
Granted, there are some enemies encountered along the way, but these are poorly implemented and paired with a rather miserable combat system. Enemies never feel threatening, they’re slow and sluggish, and thanks to the game’s miscalculated ammo economy and melee combat, you can easily take down any enemy that stands in your way. There’s no need to judge whether this enemy is worth your ammo in Alone in the Dark, since you’re never asked for ammo or health resources, which for some reason are suspiciously treated as “drinks” here. There are a handful of unique melee weapons that all do the exact same thing, while The Dark Man, the largest and scariest entity in the game, never really had an existence to celebrate, having one of his scariest phases in the game’s earliest parts. See him acting on rails instead of like a responsive, snappy stalker enemy. Since Alone in the Dark presents a very limited level of fear factor and excitement, it begs the question as to why there’s even a stealth mechanic at all.
Then there are the technical issues. The first thing I’ll say is that the quality of the environment design is all very high, and the game does have amazing places and scenes, but the ugly character models that are out of sync with the mouth movements for dialogue quickly break the veil of the game’s creation. Of course, this was often broken before by textures popping up, your character glitching or getting stuck in the environment, and hard collisions that made you sigh.
It’s a shame that Alone in the Dark faces all of these problems, because there are moments that leave a lasting impression. The game does a great job of seamlessly and aggressively blending the real and the surreal in an almost Alan Wake -like way, and as I said before, the narrative has fascinating angles and twists that keep you wanting to go further. However, the lackluster and sometimes frustrating puzzles this game offers cannot be ignored. Enemies and combat, as well as performance issues can’t.
I just want to love Alone in the Dark, in fact it’s one of my most anticipated games in March, but the longer I spend with the game the harder it becomes to do so. Sure, updates and fixes will address performance issues and maybe even tweak and improve enemy, combat, and ammo economies, but there are more important core elements that need a lot more work in this game that won’t survive a simple post-launch update Patch to save. If you want to play a survival horror game like this right now, I implore you to simply go back to RE2 or even Alan Wake 2, as both are much more coherent and rewarding experiences.
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