Alone In The Dark 2024 | Review

Initial release date: March 20, 2024

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows

Developer: Pieces Interactive

Mode: Single-player video game

License: proprietary license

Composers: Bong-Ra, Árni Bergur Zoëga

Genre: Survival horror

Jason’s Score 7/10

Key Takeaways

• A solid reimagining of the 1992 classic
• Camera during combat was terrible
• Shooting and melee super janky but okay
• Puzzles ranged from challenging to simple
• Edward Carnby’s campaign is around seven hours
• Two protagonists but same conclusion
• Not scary
• Cosmic horror atmosphere
• Impressed by it’s various settings
• Reminds me of In The Mouth of Madness (movie)
• Level design requires backtracking via keys/items/puzzles
• Boss fights were hot garbage
• Enemy variety boring
• David Harbour and Jodie Comer were solid as Carnby and Hartwood
• Character sticking to environment bug got me killed once
• Some stuttering during gameplay to cutscenes
• Good not great video game
• Played on my Xbox Series X with performance mode

Introduction

Alone In The Dark has a history dating back to 1992 when I was just a young whipper snapper at the age of sixteen. Personally, I started at Alone In The Dar: Infermo on my Playstation 3. That game was trash. Alone In The Dark Video Playlist

Fast forward to 2024 and we now have the original 1992 AITD reimagined for current gen hardware. Updated visuals are neat but what about the gameplay and everything else that makes a good Alone In the Dark game? Good news. I actually think 2024’s Alone In The Dark is a solid video game.

Presentation

There are some hefty issues in regards to Alone In The Dark 2024. There were glitches and bugs related to the camera during heavy combat sequences. During Jacob’s boss fight I died because gumshoe flask drinking Edward Carnby got stuck onto the environment.

Jank up the ass can be said regarding basic melee and gunplay mechanics. Call Alone in The Dark Cosmic-Jank! The jank was enduring and added a sense of challenge to combat yet never really pissed me off during my Edward Carnby playthrough.

I played in performance mode and noticed transitional stuttering during gameplay to cutscenes with some random stuttering in-gameplay. I would say the camera was my biggest issue overall.

Story

In 1920’s Louisiana you play as PI Edward Carnby and as his client Emily Hartwood as they try to find Emily’s uncle Jeremy at Derceto Manor. Along the duo’s adventure they unravel a cosmic horror revolving around the “Dark Man” who created a pact for Jeremy. Why? Because Jeremy is stupid. Jeremy is insane actually.

I played through Edward Carnby’s story which I know is wrong but I’m strapped for time so my apologies to whoever wanted to read Emily’s story. Anyhoo, Carnby unlocks doors into Jeremy’s conscious culminating in unleashing the Black Goat at Derceto via a tree ritual.

Story was told through long collectible descriptions featuring audio dialogue. Cutscenes infused with narrative along with Edward Carnby’s PI banter told a weird odd convoluted cosmic horror tale of making a pact with the devil sort to speak.

The story had an enigmatic plot that reminded me of the movie In The Mouth of Madness as the protagonist descends into madness which would be his salvation. I love cosmic horror abyss madness mind bending stuff.

Gameplay

The gameplay was a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed the cosmic horror atmosphere of Derceto Manor. Combat was janky yet serviceable. Old school puzzles had range while some being easy and others confusing as hell.

The camera while fighting cosmic monstrosities was very shitty. I loved the various settings such as Greenland, Egypt, French Quarters, Swamps etc. Metroid-vania collecting keys and artifacts to unlock cosmic doors via talisman puzzles were a solid gameplay loop.

To me, gameplay had some glaring weaknesses and strengths resulting in a straight up mixed bag if there ever was one in Alone In The Dark 2024. A few too many chokepoint spaces in it’s map’s design at times as well.

Weapons ranged from pick up and break melee weapons like hatchets and oars. Guns included a flare Gun, revovler, tommy-gun and a double-barrel shotgun. Each gun had a heavy distinct feel.

Enemies seemed generic which is what Alone In The Dark always had in my opinion. You had those Fissure humanoids, crawlers, flyers and larger boss creatures. Just melee jank or shoot them to kill them.

Visuals | Graphics

Nothing special stood out visually in Alone In the Dark 2024. I played this on my Xbox Series X with performance mode enabled. I did enjoy some of the art in regards to it’s overall 1920’s Louisiana and cosmic horror settings.

Sound | Music

David Harbour and Jodie Comer did a great job voice acting. Then again they are pro actors. The music had it’s own identity that put me back one hundred years in Alone In The Dark derceto manor. Music and sound made for a strong cosmic horror atmosphere.