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PS3 | Adventure | Alone in the Dark

Boxart for Alone in the Dark
Alone in the Dark 45 screen shots
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First Look: First Look: Alone in the Dark

First Look by Rice Burner | 07/06/2006 | 09:40:59 AM PST

Can next-gen graphics, a hyper-realistic interface, and episodic content resurrect the original survival-horror champion, Alone in the Dark? Here are our first impressions.

The Alone in the Dark series, under the tutelage of up-and-coming developer Eden (Test Drive Unlimited, Kya: Dark Lineage), is returning from a brief hiatus to redefine what the survival horror genre can do. When the original Alone in the Dark was released, the game catapulted the survival-horror genre into the limelight. Atari is hoping lightning can strike twice with the simply titled Alone in the Dark.

In a bit of a departure, this new version is switching to a more action-oriented format. Eden hopes to deliver a game so engrossing that you'll forget it's a game and play instinctually -- big plans, to be sure. Since everybody as different gameplay instincts, there will be multiple ways for players to react and no two game experiences will be identical.

Technically speaking, Alone in the Dark is beautiful. The trailers shown at the Pre-E3 and E3 events demonstrated in-game footage with dynamic lighting, photo-realistic environments based on actual photos and satellite images, and slick depth of field effects. Furthermore, the entire game will be running on the HAVOC 3.0 engine, which allows for high-end physics modelling (ragdoll effects and so forth). Eden has also stated that they want to break the preconceived conceptions that have been established over the years concerning the survival-horror genre. Alone in the Dark won't feature the usual confined, dark rooms with fixed camera angles. The game will be about open areas, engrossing gameplay, and an unusual focus on realism.

As in earlier games, you'll take control of Edward Carnaby. Somehow, a monster from another realm has been released in New York City's Central Park and is stalking human prey. It's up to Carnaby to investigate why this has happened and stop the monster's rampage. Atari and Eden have left one major unanswered question for the fans of Alone in the Dark. Edward Carnaby was the protagonist in the original Alone in the Dark game, which took place in 1929. How can the same character be in a game based in our contemporary world?

The game's plot and story structure will be radically different than traditional survival-horror titles as well. Instead of epic, long-winded plots which usually are separated by combat and puzzles, Alone in the Dark will be based on a TV episodic formula. That means gameplay will be separated into 30-40 minute segments. What's more, each episode will be buffered with preview and "last seen" summaries, which will allow players to pick up and play the game, even if they didn't catch last week's episode.

The latest Alone in the Dark Xbox 360 tech demo we saw at E3 illustrated the depth of options the player will have in the game. They showed Carnaby in a parking garage breaking into an abandoned vehicle. The Eden employee playing the game directed Edward to perform a surprising number of actions. Edward could lock and unlock car doors, defog the vehicle windshields, turn on the radio, turn on the passenger compartment lights, check the various cab compartments for items, and even move from one position to another in the passenger's compartment in the vehicle. There was a short mini-game were Edward could try to hot wire the ignition of the car by matching six three colored cords under the car dashboard. Failing to start the car would short circuit the car alarm and calls the attention of monsters in the area.

Another notable aspect of the game is that there is no on-screen display or inventory menu. Since the game will be based on real-world logic, Eden has built the inventory menu into the character. With a quick flick of a button, you'll be able to switch to first-person view point and look down into your jacket pockets. Your item capacity is limited to the number of pockets you have. Additionally, you'll have a quick draw function for a single item, which will most likely always be a weapon of some sort.

It's too early to say much about the gameplay. Everything shown was basically a teaser for things to come. It'll be interesting to see what the gameplay will actually be like and to see what kind of comparisons Alone in the Dark will get to Quantum Dreams' Indigo Prophecy. Alone in the Dark has been just been announced for the PS3, and all three editions (PS3, Xbox 360, and PC) should be available sometime in 2007.


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