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Alone in the Dark

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4.0 User Score:

Generally unfavorable reviews

Based on 10 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 24 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Atari

Developer: Hydravision - Eden Studios

Genre(s): Survival Horror, Adventure

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 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...

Official Nintendo Magazine UK

It should have been so good, but it's been rushed to the shelves too early. What a pity. [Aug 2008, p.86]

NGamer UK

A pale imitation of a far more ambitious game, Alone in the Dark on Wii is too higgledy-piggledy to satisfy. A handful of terrific highs can't make up for hours of lows. [Sept 2008, p.58]

PTGamers

This version has serious technical and design flaws that make it not much fun to play and are indication of a rushed conversion.

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Nintendo Power

It's a shame--the basic concepts are sound, but the execution should have been much better. [Sept 2008, p.86]

n-Revolution Magazine UK

It's badly realised in places, the production values are low and, like a poorly produced horror flick, it feels like it's been stitched together like a Picasso. [Issue #24, p.71]

Cheat Code Central

Unfortunately, if the Wii version of AITD is any indication as to where this series is headed, then nostalgia may be all that is left for its many fans.

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IGN

Nearly every gamplay mechanic fails in one way or another. While the game is functional, Alone in the Dark is a clear case of something that needed to be baked in the oven longer. The overall concept is solid, but the testing phase seems to have been glossed over.

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Eurogamer

For everything else in its amazing catalogue of flaws, errors and catastrophes, though, the biggest problem is that the game just stops whenever you can't work out what to do.

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N-Europe

Alone In The Dark is a truly shining example of both how to make a bad game and how to over-hype a game. Avoid.

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The Wiire

Alone in the Dark is a game that had such great potential, but never followed through with making a solid product. Ultimately, the downfall of Alone in the Dark is that it is a chore to play.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 4.0 (out of 10) based on 24 User Votes

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

M. O. gave it a2:
Great Idea, horribly carried out. Throughout the game I was very disgusted with the camera angles. Sometimes the controls didn't work correctly. The ending (both that I've found so far) sucked terribly. The levels were alright, graphics were OK except on the characters. They were terrible. Overall, a waste of time. I am glad I rented this instead of buying it. Even my $2.50 for the rental was a waste.

Ali Baba gave it a1:
The original Alone in the Dark is far superior to this excreted bowel demon, i have never seen a game where the controls have been so ill thought out. All the sequences i have played so far are not even puzzle related just driving in crap cars or trying to make out what to shoot because the setting is way to dark. Graphics 5 Controls 0 Gameplay 1 Value 1 a Big F off to Atari for such a pile of crap.

Geert K. gave it a4:
The first time i played, it looked ok (i did not see the PC-version before) and the gameplay was not too hard and it looked promissing. But... this game is definitely not finished. They cut out important cutscenes so that you cannot follow the storyline or you can have situations like "hé, what do you doing here??? I thought you were outside??" The ending is even more stupid and full of questions, more than on the PC-version. This bothers me the most. Also you have not the ability to use a lot of items (as on the PC-Version) and there are rather annoying puzzles like the car handling or rope-jumping. Unlike other users, the other controls were not that bad but turning in shooting perspective was also difficult. Graphics are for me not important as long as it not annoys me (it doesn't) because gameplay and storyline is much more important. Sound is ok though. I'm a fan of spooky/thrilling adventure games: firstly this game looked like on of them but after a few houres... no, don't buy this game even if you like the genre A LOT (and believe me: i don't say such things fast).

Andrew C. gave it a4:
The controls really ruined this game. The controls try to be TOO much making the game a complicated mess. I love survival horror and reserved this game months in advance and payed for one day shipping. I wanted to like this game but after playing it for an 8 hour session I just got the feeling that the game wanted me to hate it. On a positive note: The graphics look amazing, The music fits the moment.

[Anonymous] gave it a2:
You have to blink for your character or his eyes dry out... that alone makes the game more annoying than anything I can possibly imagine avoid this game at all costs.

Mr Nintendo gave it a2:
What the hec is this garbage? What a disappointment. This game is a disgrace and the people that made it should be ashamed. It's just so poor. Gameplay, controls....nothing works. The graphics are horrid. What is with these developers! Come on! Look at RE4. It's a Gamecube game but it looks 100 times better than almost every Wii game out. Graphics aren't meant to be the strong point of the Wii but that doesn't justify making games look worse than they should. If every game on Wii had the same graphical standards as RE4, noone would complain! But no, developers for Wii games are just downright lazy and don't want to make an effort. I hope they lose a tonne of money cause they don't deserve anything for this lackluster effort. Avoid this game! *screams*

Stuart S. gave it a0:
This game is awful. I played the original series way back when, and those were fun and creepy. Controls on this one are awful and the writing and voice acting is unredeemable. I wish I had rented first.

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Alone in the Dark

Game Info

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What The Critics Said

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