I bought Alone in the Dark from Gamefly because I had some rewards points about to expire, and the price offered from the site’s beta trade in program was higher than the buy price; I thought I could make a profit after I played it. The surprise came when, as a gamer, I profited by experiencing this supposedly horrid title. Alone in the Dark does not deserve the crap that is flung its way and it merits higher scores than reviewers have been willing to give it. I think that the vast majority of gamers out there have just jumped on the bandwagon and trashed this game without giving it its fair dues. It’s a better game in concept than in execution, but I praise the risks it took and I’m very glad I ended up playing through it.

Alone in the Dark stands apart from other games thanks to its presentation. It was designed to play out like a television action drama. The game is broken into eight episodes, and each episode is broken down into small action sequences buffered by either cinematics or traveling from one point to another. It’s a great setup for just playing for a bit at a time, or long gaming sessions that run you through an episode or two. It’s like watching an eight episode long season of television on dvd. Whenever you continue your game again, you are treated to a “previously on Alone in the Dark” montage that recounts what has happened up until then; it’s a great touch that made me smile the first time I saw it. This theme is carried even farther by the freedom of episode selection. If you are not having fun, or having a hard time with a certain sequence or entire episode, you are free to pause the game and access the controls that allow you to skip ahead, again, just like a dvd; if you want to know what you missed, just watch the newest recap. The benefit of all this is that it really plays to grab your attention; it doesn’t keep you at any one task or place for too long. The game is also full of cinematic camera angles and explosive action sequences and tension; it’s like watching an episode of 24 mixed with the X Files or Millennium. This game could have been an hour long show on Fox.

The problem is that there are issues too problematic to ignore. The worst of which is the control scheme. You can play in the third person, which looks a lot cooler and offers you nice cinematic angles here and there, but you can’t control the camera. You move and turn all with the left thumbstick, and this just feels way too archaic in this day and age. If the camera turned faster to show you more in the direction you are turning it would be better, but as it stands, you are much better off in the first person view. This view detracts a bit from the whole cinematic experience, but you really need to use it. The trouble comes when ever you wield a melee weapon or large object and the camera moves back into a forced third person view again. This switch can be a great hindrance during intense moments. When you’re firing a gun, there seems to be a lock on ability in third person, probably due to your lack of the ability to look up and down, but when in first person, your up to your own aiming. It’s anything but fluid and intuitive. Most of the issues stem from Alone in the Dark’s unique use of the right thumbstick. When you use melee weapons, the right stick is what controls them. A left to right tilt will swing your item to the right, back to forward can slam a heavy object into a door to beat in down, etc. A good idea, but implemented terribly. Other complaints are unskippable videos and driving. One sequence has you traverse a room while the ceiling begins to lower; I watched the video of that damn ceiling begin to move thirty times. Incredibly frustrating. Most of the necessary driving sequences are actually pretty cool, just difficult due to the stiffness of the driving mechanics. You can get by, but getting stuck on mild slopes, and being unable to hop a little curb without speed is pretty annoying.

There actually is not too much direct combat in this game, which is probably a good thing due to the awkwardness of the controls. Alone in the Dark is much more a puzzler than anything else. The puzzles revolve around your inventory and combination of your items to get things done. You can shoot an enemy over and over again with your gun, but it’s rather pointless. Combine your bullets with a flammable liquid and shoot flaming shots at the enemy and now we’re talking. Knock him over and then dump liquor on him and lead a trail away and then use your lighter to burn him up also works. Place a bandage in the neck a glass bottle full of fuel, and make a molotov cocktail that shatters and spreads flames. Or do the same with a plastic jug wrapped in double sided tape, so when it hits the guy, he’s got a bomb stuck to his chest. Use first aid spray to heal yourself, or combine it with your light for a mini flamethrower. The inventory system is pretty cool. Everything is stored in your jacket. Instead of pulling up a menu, you look down and open up your coat and see all the items stored inside. It’s a nice touch. Any other information is gained from your PDA, the new cop out for menu access.

Alone in the Dark could have greatly used another six months of polish. As it is, it is very mechanically flawed, but with excellent presentation and concepts. There is a story there, but it’s not explored enough. I feel like we needed more background revealed. It all takes place in Central Park in one night, but revolves around thousands of years and Satan and what not. It has potential, but like a lot of the other elements here, it was squandered. They were so close to something great here, it’s a bit of a shame, but it would also be a shame to outright dismiss Alone in the Dark.

Comparable to: National Treasure, older Resident Evil titles
Verdict: Great concepts that needed more time for great execution.

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