Alone in the Dark Review

thesixthaxis.com:

Alone in the Dark is the definition of slow burn horror – something that’s pretty much a given when playing, reading, or watching anything that takes heavy inspiration from the works of H.P. Lovecraft. A modern take of the 1992 classic created by Infogrames, it’s easy to see why THQ wanted to take a punt at reanimating the series, especially when you consider the back-to-back successes Capcom has enjoyed with its recent string of Resident Evil remakes. After all, it was Alone in the Dark that inspired Shinji Mikami in creating the very first Resident Evil all those years ago. Both games took place in a sprawling manor complex teeming with jump scares and puzzles, though Alone in the Dark veered more towards the occult and committing to a period setting.

Enlisting the help of Detective Edward Carnby, Emily Hartwood arrives at Derceto Manor, a psychiatric hospital where her uncle Jeremy was being treated before his sudden disappearance. Immediately, there’s a foreboding atmosphere and after an initial search of the grounds, players are introduced to Derceto’s colourful cast of staff and residents who don’t seem to be entirely forthcoming when asked about Jeremy’s whereabouts. Meanwhile, Derceto itself is somewhat of a maze: a beguiling network of rooms, hallways, and corridors that gradually unspools as you piece together clues, solve puzzles, and discover keys to unlock new doors. In true cosmic horror fashion, the deeper you delve into the game’s story, the more reality starts to fall away.

Alone in the Dark offers a compelling mystery, and one that encourages players to thumb through journals, letters, and other written materials left by other characters to help piece together what’s happening at Derceto Manor. It’s not afraid to flaunt its adventure game roots with a large portion of playtime spent gathering clues, and immersing yourself in its creepy setting.

THQ clearly wants you to care about its two protagonists, brought to life by David Harbour (Stranger Things,