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Alone in the Dark

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4.9 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 19 critic reviews
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Based on 67 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Atari

Developer: Eden Studios

Genre(s): Action, Adventure, Survival Horror

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: June 24, 2008

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, 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]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

GameStar

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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Gamer 2.0

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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PTGamers

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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Gamers.at

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 Informer

Alone 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]

PC Format

Poor 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]

Strategy Informer

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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Boomtown

There are some unique ideas concerning health replenishment and inventory management.

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VideoGamer

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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Cheat Code Central

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]

Total PC Gaming

Great environmental puzzles and a chilling soundtrack are sadly let down by a poor port with dodgy controls. [Issue#9, p.46]

Computer Games Online RO

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 PowerPlay

For 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]

YouGamers

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 UK

Hateful game. [Sept 2008, p.60]

PC Gamer UK

Almost - but not entirely - worthless. [Aug 2008, p.70]

IGN

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 Gamer

Think about it: the developer built in a level skip. I recommend a cheaper alternative: the game skip. [Oct 2008, p.66]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 4.9 (out of 10) based on 67 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Benoit H. gave it an8:
It's a different game with a different kind of immersion. I'm buying almost all the best games for PC and i have to admit that often the best critical successes are boring - always the same things to do, same control scheme, same graphics... I bought that game for 19.99, a real steal... Use a gamepad, a XBOX 360 controller if you have that hardware.

Mario A gave it an8:
Good game. The controls aren't much of a problem. I played it with mouse and keyboard. MAybe the controls are unfamiliar because the character moves on a 1st person perspective when using the 3rd person perspective. But those experienced gamers might remember, AITD1, 2, and 3 had the same controls. Great story and graphics, some bugs that's why the 8. Worth buying.

Johnny M. gave it a9:
Right from the beginning of the design of this game it was clear that those responsible were looking to skirt the boundaries of what (not just first-person) gameplay could mean. Far from the point-and-shoot-and-collect-ammo-from-the-fallen, this game forces you to think on your feet. Combining items in your inventory in the split second you've managed to avoid an attack, making quick decisions whether or not this is a fight you could win, for those who insist on interest and challenge in their games this is the real deal. Having played the game with only a mouse and keyboard, I agree to the criticisms of it being awkward... for the first five minutes. Through proper acclimatization (ie. actually taking time to figure out how the game works) it springs out at you from a genre dominated by the same old weapons, the same old regenerative health system, and lack of engrossing situation. As a gamer I looked at it tentatively, having paid too much to the critical feedback. I cannot say enough about this game to those looking for more from their game collection.

Daniel M gave it an8:
Great game. Controls take a bit of getting used to but if you go through the entire game you'll walk away feeling the experience was worth it. Most people giving these poor ratings haven't played the game from start to finish or have some kind of bias against the game.

Canadian H. gave it a9:
I really don't understand what all the fuss is about; I bought a Logitech Rumble 2 (great product) and had one of the best times in recent history playing through this game. I would highly recommend it if you own a good pad, or invest in one. Console ports are here to stay, and if they're like AITD, I'm more than a happy camper. Good on them!

TrueGamer gave it a10:
I don't know if it played differently on other systems but i played it on PC with a 360 controller.... I LOVE THIS games! Yea the learning curve on the controls was about 30 mins but after you get them down you don't want to go back to the traditional controlling of games... dont put the game down just because your to dumb to figure out how it works.

Dany T gave it a1:
Worst controls ever in a game, camera some times is a pain, the only horror in this game is the money I lost when I bought this.

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Alone in the Dark

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