Alone in the Dark – ALMOST AMAZING

Long-time horror fans have been eating well over the last two years. First, we had the shockingly awesome Dead Space remake in 2023, in which the original was inspired by Resident Evil 4, and that also had its own remake later in the same year. Now in 2024, we’ve received the much anticipated Alone in the Dark reimagining, where the 1992 release actually inspired the very first Resident Evil. So we have truly gone full circle here, folks. Although, how does this new version stack up as a modern survival horror game? Well, that’s what we’re about to find out.

Cosy Mansion Vibes

Set in the 1920s, Alone in the Dark follows the stories of a private detective named Edward Carnby and a woman called Emily Hartwood who are out looking for her uncle, Jeremy within the walls of the mysterious Derceto mansion. Played by Hollywood stars David Harbour and Jodie Comer, their performances bring out several subtle acting qualities that really heighten the cutscenes and the game’s film noir presentation.

At the start of the adventure, players choose between one of these two characters for the entire run, occasionally bumping into each other as the story progresses. While the two playthroughs are essentially the same (apart from some small diverging paths towards the end) the cutscenes’ dialogue will vary significantly, since the main characters have different relationships and standings with the supporting cast.

The story itself is quite intriguing, but the payoff isn’t exactly worth the time investment. That being said, fans of the 1992 version will most likely appreciate the expanded story segments. Plus, certain narrative elements and objects have been shifted around to keep veterans on their feet, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy here. Those who purchase the game’s DLC can apply some vintage horror filters and even swap out Edward and Emily’s character models for polished, polygonal versions of the 1992, MS-DOS ones. Massive W there. You can also listen to commentary from the dev team at specific intervals in the story, as they provide detailed insights into the design and core concepts—definitely worth a listen the second time around.

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The horror elements are relatively consistent too, featuring some creepy, warped locales and a deliberately restrained use of jump scares that made me spill my ultra-hot chocolate more than once. The pain was worth it though. Except sometimes, the execution flubbed pretty hard. Want random enemies freezing on the spot? You got it. How about the main character herky-jerkying it around a cutscene? Ok, then. Looking for silly jump-scare QTEs with invisible monsters? We have that too! Apparently, there will be a Day 1 patch to address these issues, but said bugs and glitches immediately yanked me out of it as soon as I saw them.

Thankfully, the moment-to-moment gameplay is a lot more polished, with a decent visual and audible crunch to combat. Taking clear inspiration from the latest Resident Evils in its presentation and action, Alone in the Dark follows the tried-and-true survival horror fundamentals to a T, encouraging players to tiptoe past danger and prioritise destructible melee weapons, or throw bricks and Molotov cocktails ahead of traditional ammo. While there isn’t too much in regards to enemy variety and their movements, the way monsters will try and sneak up, hide behind corners or approach in numbers can be deceptively tricky to deal with, especially on the highest difficulty.

It can also be challenging to go through Alone in the Dark’s many puzzles and winding corridors. But the good thing is that players can adjust the puzzle difficulty, altering: how much information is given, if important texts and map markers are highlighted, and how many hints are received for each puzzle, so you can cater the challenge precisely to your preference. The devs also implemented the awesome blue and red map scheme from 2019’s Resident Evil 2 remake which colours in which rooms have been cleared of collectables (blue) and those that have not (red), as well as visibly highlighting locked doors and puzzles that can be solved. Overall, there are more than a few combination locks and sliding puzzles to unravel, with a solid selection of unique brainteasers to figure out too. It’s also a good idea to keep a lookout for hidden items known as ‘lagniappes’, as you may or may not receive a secret ending for picking them up…

Decision

Whether you find them or not, Alone in the Dark truly lives up to the original game’s legacy. What you’ll discover in this reimagining is a fairly confident survival horror experience, featuring plenty of tense encounters and thought-provoking puzzles that let players modify the difficulty in several accessible ways. The glorious coloured map system first birthed in Resident Evil 2 remake is also alive and kicking here, with many nods to its distinct style and flair both visually and audibly. While technical issues like enemies freezing in place or characters glitching out during a cutscene did mar the experience a little too often for my tastes, Edward and Emily’s intriguing stories are acted out remarkably well, even if each individual event doesn’t amount to much in the end.

By Anthony Culinas – Reviewed on PC

Great

Alone in the Dark is an impressive take on the 1992 classic. Featuring solid survival horror mechanics inspired by the latest Resident Evils, a strong selection of puzzles and a narrative that returning fans and newcomers alike can enjoy. It’s just a shame that certain technical issues and a lacklustre second half of the story hold this game back from being amazing.

This game was reviewed using a download code provided by THQ Nordic. The Beta Network uses affiliate partnerships, however, this does not influence reviews or any other content published. The Beta Network may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links that are on the website.