I'm around halfway through Emily Hartwood's campaign in at the time of writing.Many people credit the survival horror genre as originating with the 2024 reworking of the game, Alone in the Dark.
The games I had played up to this point demonstrated to me how authentically original they are. I'm unable to pass a game-breaking problem that was introduced with a recent update, however, and I'm not sure what else it could have broken. As the game is set to release tomorrow, I would be negligent if I did not advise you to wait to purchase it until I have had a chance to provide you with an accurate review.
Because of the degree of plausibility that these performers bring to the plot, they both deliver excellent performances that elevate the experience beyond that of most horror games. Their voices and faces, in my opinion, transcend the boundaries of media, bringing an unanticipated but much-needed element to the experience.
An additional pointer to Alone in the Dark The narrative and location are established from the first. The objective is to find Emily Hartwood's uncle, Jeremy Hartwood, regardless of whatever role you take on. Each character has an own storyline with distinct playthroughs and collectibles. He has been residing in Derceto, which its somewhat unsettling resident physician affectionately refers to as a hospital.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot, so I won't say much more. But don't be hesitant if you have mixed feelings regarding the game's scenario. Yes, it seems to be a mystery game with a few eerie characters and aspects set in yet another house. You'll know precisely where developer Pieces Interactive has taken the title to infuse a persistent feeling of foreboding dread and employed graphics to create a jaw-dropping spectacle to play through after you've finished the first chapter.
The gameplay is rather good, yet I believe certain players may find some elements and decisions problematic. To advance, characters must solve riddles, some of which have ambiguous answers. You may choose to play with or without tips, but I believe there should have been a compromise: something in between having no instructions and being given instructions at every round.
But it doesn't mean the riddles aren't good. The way this game handles them makes me desire more. Frequently, I would find myself at a loss, gazing at my map to determine my next course of exploration and the items required to solve each problem. Even if you eliminated every battle encounter, there would still be puzzles to complete, doors to unlock, and collectibles to locate, making the game impossible to put down.
Every piece of text in the game includes a full set of audio that enhances the overall atmosphere for players to enjoy, even if not all of the collectibles have entertaining, fully-voiced notes to accompany them. Unless they're really necessary for a puzzle, I don't typically take the time to go through these random stuff, but Alone in the Dark had me listening to each one since they all make the world a little bit more beautiful.
One element of Alone in the Dark that I believe should have been simpler is combat. Combat engagements may function as puzzles in some ways, but the courses and actions of the opposition don't always make this happen as planned. I can see the developer's goal; it should be similar to how you can avoid adversaries in The Last of Us, but every time it turns into a shootout, it loses its impact. It also becomes fairly taxing after a while to keep running across the map in search of another melee weapon. Every time they are required, the addition of a permanent one for Emily Hartwood would be very beneficial.
Apart from the glitches that destroy the game, Alone in the Dark feels like the book you've always wanted to read. It's enigmatic, dark, and profound in every aspect, and all I want to do is jump into its depths and let it suck me in till the very end. Few games are able to craft a compelling narrative that keeps you playing long after midnight—despite the fact that you have to get up at five a.m. the following day to spend time with your son—and include puzzles that you wish were harder since they make the game more enjoyable rather than annoying.
I'm totally alone and in the dark right now
As I said at the beginning of this work in progress, Alone in the Dark is now utterly broken. This, in my opinion, was brought on by the most recent update, which made audio behave strangely. For example, the background noise of a swamp began to play quite loudly, yet there was absolutely no sound at all from adversaries, equipment, or interactions. In order to possibly get this corrected, I have also alerted the team about a persistent game-breaking action that I have found.
I really think this is a fantastic horror game. Up till now, I've really loved everything I've played, and I really like the variety of material available, the challenging puzzles, and the gradually changing scenery. However, I do not advise you to purchase this game at this time until a patch has been made available and I have had time to finish it for our final review.