Very few of those who played the original game remain in the video game journalism sector today. Many of them are already retired, because three decades is a long time. And in this case, in Alone in the Dark, we are talking about exactly 32 years.
Explored from the perspective of two protagonists – played by Stranger Things star David Harbour and acclaimed actress Jodie Comer from Thirteen – Alone in the Dark is a dark and atmospheric Lovecraftian horror story shown through a film noir lens.
For many people, Alone in the Dark is the father of a genre that later led the Resident Evil saga to excellence. Without Alone in the Dark, Silent Hill, Resident Evil or Dino Crisis would not exist. And I say it without fear of reprisals.
The same old story, but with a key addition
Alone in the Dark follows Emily Hartwood (Jodie Comer) and private investigator Edward Carnby (David Harbour) on their journey to Derceto Manor, a home for people with mental fatigue, to investigate the disappearance of Jeremy Hartwood, Emily’s uncle.
Up to this point everything is normal, it’s the same (or almost the same) argument that we had in the 1993 game that so many people fell in love with. But here comes a brilliant twist: the game can be played with one of the two protagonists… and with that, the story and missions change enough to be worth it.
The creators say that the game’s duration is three times longer than the original game and resembles a Resident Evil 2 Remake because it tells both stories, Carnby’s and Hartwood’s, as both offer unique storylines and missions.
And yes, this is a success, as it offers a breath of fresh air very well thrown to a game, for everything else, it is tremendously old in the strict sense of the word.
Despite everything and despite the 32 years that have passed, the plot and story of Alone in the Dark remains a Lovecraftian marvel that has not aged at all, one of the best in its genre even in 2024.
The story unfolds rhythmically and the discoveries continue to surprise us as we play, until we reach a point where the youngest player will say: And now what do I have to do? But I will develop this point later.
A game that will appeal to those who were there… 3,000 years ago
Allow me to quote Elrond (The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001) when I say that those who played it at the time will enjoy it, because in my opinion, being already a 32-year-old man… this game caught me when I was just a few months old. So not many will remember and even fewer will still be playing at this point.
The game is designed to please and satisfy the first players who, in 1992, were able to enjoy one of the best horror games of the entire decade, but the effort to bring the game to 2024 has only been focused on the graphics.
The gameplay is clunky, the combat is very uncomfortable, and most of the time we will be walking through the same hallway while reading the same diary we found on a nightstand over and over again.
This is not bad, many games of the genre replicate this premise, but in 2024 we ask developers not to stick to what worked in 1990, to take risks and update the game a bit.
In addition, the title allows you to play it in Classic Mode and Current Mode, where the main difference between the two is the difficulty of the puzzles. That is, these are the same, but the Current Mode highlights key parts of the texts or indicates intermediate steps between the puzzles.
Being in 2024 and having quite a bit of experience in these games, the Classic Mode seems very heavy and difficult for someone who hasn’t played the original. Each puzzle can take you more than an hour, making the experience very burdensome.
The latest mode doesn’t make the puzzles easier, but it does adapt to today’s players, allowing them to solve the riddles faster and adding dynamism to the game. Without a doubt, it’s the right way to play the game in my opinion.
Some amazing graphics
This is important: the game looks amazing. I have been able to play it on PlayStation 5 and it looks fantastic. For me, the most comfortable game mode is Performance, above Quality, as it has a higher frame rate and looks practically the same.
I remember that when I started the game and the first cinematic played, I feared the worst, as the game models and textures looked old and flat, like a game from 2012. Luckily, once the gameplay starts, things change and it looks very good.
The work they have done to bring Jodie Comer and researcher David Harbour into the world of video games is great, they seem to be alive and that is very difficult. And if not, ask Kojima with his Death Stranding.
In addition to them, the Derceto mansion is magnificently recreated. It looks, sounds, and feels real. Something very important since we will spend many hours walking through the same corridors, of course.
Is Alone in the Dark worth it in 2024?
This is a complicated question, but it has an answer. If you were playing the original game in 1992, it’s not that you should buy it, you have to do it. Not every day brings to life such a fundamental classic for the gaming industry itself, so you have to support it no matter what.
If you didn’t play it at the time, but always wanted to, you also have to buy it no matter what. It is the best way to experience the dark, atmospheric Lovecraftian horror story of Alone in the Dark, it is the definitive version (like the Resident Evil Remakes).
Now, do you like survival horror games and puzzles? Then it depends. This game is nothing like a Resident Evil Remake, I’m sorry. It’s much more static, much less action-packed, and much more about using your brain.
For that reason, this game is not a Must Have, like Prince of Persia or Alan Wake 2, but it is a niche game that knows how to play its cards: nostalgia and graphics. So I leave it in your hands to make the final decision… which one will it be?
