With a new story that draws its themes and locales from the Original 90's classic, this new entry in the Alone in the Dark franchise expertly captures the atmosphere of a haunting Lovecraftian tale.
The environments are filled to the brim with details and hidden gems and nods to the previous games, and the sound and music transports you to the hauntingly abandoned streets of New Orleans or the oppressively murky bayous of Louisiana. The jazzy soundtrack blends beautifully with the stingers and sound effects that play when things happen in the game.
All clues and notes you find throughout the game are fully voice-acted, sort of like little radio theater plays, something that I found extremely endearing, not to mention engrossing. The other collectibles, called "Lagniappes" after the Louisiana French term for a small gift, unlock deeper parts of the story, along with an unfolding meta-narrative touching upon the nature of retelling stories and creating "remakes" in general.
Some reviews mentions clunky combat, but during my playthroughs I don't think I've encountered the atrocious combat some describe. Sure, it is a bit rough around the edges when compared to it's contemporaries, but when everything comes together, it truly shines with hard hitting strikes and shots, along with meaty sound effects. The opportunities system is a nice touch that makes combat feel a bit more desperate, which I deem fitting as the protagonists aren't trained soldiers or fighters.
The puzzles are good. Not too hard and not too easy, but a little more variation would have been neat. There are some lovely headscratchers that require you to cross-reference notes and clues, making you feel like a true detective at times.
The story is deep, thought provoking and engrossing. I love analyzing the notes, clues, and dialogue to try to piece together the story of what really happened at Derceto. The game leaves a lot of loose threads, which I hope to see tied up in future games.
In short; If you enjoy survival horror, Lovecraftian stories, mind-bending narratives, or games that ooze atmosphere, Alone in the Dark is a game you should pick up.
The environments are filled to the brim with details and hidden gems and nods to the previous games, and the sound and music transports you to the hauntingly abandoned streets of New Orleans or the oppressively murky bayous of Louisiana. The jazzy soundtrack blends beautifully with the stingers and sound effects that play when things happen in the game.
All clues and notes you find throughout the game are fully voice-acted, sort of like little radio theater plays, something that I found extremely endearing, not to mention engrossing. The other collectibles, called "Lagniappes" after the Louisiana French term for a small gift, unlock deeper parts of the story, along with an unfolding meta-narrative touching upon the nature of retelling stories and creating "remakes" in general.
Some reviews mentions clunky combat, but during my playthroughs I don't think I've encountered the atrocious combat some describe. Sure, it is a bit rough around the edges when compared to it's contemporaries, but when everything comes together, it truly shines with hard hitting strikes and shots, along with meaty sound effects. The opportunities system is a nice touch that makes combat feel a bit more desperate, which I deem fitting as the protagonists aren't trained soldiers or fighters.
The puzzles are good. Not too hard and not too easy, but a little more variation would have been neat. There are some lovely headscratchers that require you to cross-reference notes and clues, making you feel like a true detective at times.
The story is deep, thought provoking and engrossing. I love analyzing the notes, clues, and dialogue to try to piece together the story of what really happened at Derceto. The game leaves a lot of loose threads, which I hope to see tied up in future games.
In short; If you enjoy survival horror, Lovecraftian stories, mind-bending narratives, or games that ooze atmosphere, Alone in the Dark is a game you should pick up.