Alone in the Dark Review

I remember playing the original Alone in the Dark back in 1992 and being blown away. It was the first game to use polygonal characters over pre-rendered characters. It was also one of the very first 3D survival horror games. It was a game that spawned a hell of a lot of sequels through the 90s, before seeing a relaunch on Xbox 360 in 2008. But it’s been quiet since then.

At least that is until now, with another sort of rebranding, referencing the first one and utilising one of its main protagonists. I’ve been excited about going back into this franchise once again. However, I’ve come away from Alone in the Dark both delighted and frustrated, pretty much in equal measures. 

Alone in the Dark (2024) is a bit of a reimagining of the original game and you can tell that by the ironic frog appearing in the first frame of the initial cut scene. Discovering that her uncle has gone missing and hasn’t been heard from for a while, niece Emily Hartwood goes looking for him. She takes with her a grizzled detective, Edward Carnby. It’s here where things play out, with the game set in the 1920s, placed deep in southern America, in a large mansion house called Derceto Manor. This is a home for the mentally ill, filled with residents and guests, but as the duo get there they fast discover that things aren’t what they seem and the adventure begins…

At the start of the game, you get to choose to play as either Emily or Edward. Now, this isn’t just about cosmetics or whether you want to play as a man or a woman. No, Alone in the Dark will give you two similar, yet very different experiences, when taking in a playthrough. Some sections will be very unique to each character and that means this could well demand a couple of playthroughs, especially if you want to see everything. I like this approach, but may have preferred to see a combined character narrative in one playthrough, swapping characters as we go. 

Story-wise, as well as in terms of the atmosphere, and Alone in the Dark is very strong. The narrative arcs of the characters you meet along the way are interesting and engaging, as is the way the story starts as a straightforward detective mystery, before descending into horror and dream states, taking you back into the past. The world is a brilliant feat of storytelling.

In terms of the gameplay and you can choose to play in the old-fashioned tank style of movement if you want, with fixed cameras to boot. That means working your way through Alone in the Dark will feel like playing the original Resident Evil at times, even more so as for the first part you are traipsing an old manor, exploring in the third person. And of course, there are lots of things to pick up and examine, as items get added to your inventory. 

You’ll also notice locked areas or puzzles to solve that will require you to come back later. This part of the gameplay is enjoyable, rewarding at times. And it comes with a hint system, giving out clues if you need them. Frankly, you will need them as some of the puzzles in Alone in the Dark can be tricky to work out; the solutions quite hard to grasp. Other times it is much more simple and for veterans of these types of games, it will be a blast. 

Alone in the Dark also – obviously – comes with combat sections, where all manner of monsters will be found attacking. These have been my least favourite parts of the game, mostly as the combat mechanics feel clunky and slow, especially in the boss battles. Reloading guns takes an age and when you get cornered by creatures the animations are so slow that trying to dodge out of the way becomes stupidly hard. Yes, you get a range of weapons from a pistol to a tommy gun but I wouldn’t ever say the combat opportunities in here are ever fun to play through. 

I must say though, Alone in the Dark does look great at times, with some brilliant interior designs, nice character animations and great lighting in places. The performance of the two leads – Jodie Comer and David Harbour – add weight to the game as does the excellent performance from the rest of the cast. But there are a number of moments that succumb to glitches and slowdown; we’ll hope these issues are able to be patched out. 

The sound score is very impressive, full of great music and tension-building notes as you progress through the world. The voice-over work on the notes and letters you find is equally good and I particularly like how the objectives are constantly voiced, much like a Private Detective film. 

I came to Alone in the Dark with a lot of love, looking to enjoy the old school exploration, puzzle solving, atmosphere and story of the game. But as time progressed and more combat sections emerged, that love dimmed somewhat, so much so that by the end, I was glad it was done. 

Not helped by glitches and frame stutters, Alone in the Dark is a decent relaunch of the franchise, one that is let down by the combat mechanics.