I’ve become a bit of a sucker for survival horror games lately. In an age of multiplayer and live-service players that never seem to die and demand your constant attention, there’s something inviting about a pure, complete single-player experience – even if they often take us on incredibly harrowing and terrifying journeys. So when I heard that Pieces Interactive was going to make a remake of the classic 1992 horror game Alone in the Dark I got a little excited, and after seeing more of the game in connection with a press preview I’m very, very excited.
Because Alone in the Dark feels incredibly exclusive and modern from what I’ve seen. This is a game that takes players to a mansion and the surrounding town in the southern United States in the 1920s, and tasks players with solving a strange and disturbing mystery related to a missing member of the Hartwood family. But to put a little wedge in the wheels: Alone in the Dark is not played only from the perspective of one character, as Dead Space does with Isaac Clarke, or as we get in Resident Evil 4 with Leon S. Kennedy. No, here we get two stories that differ depending on whether you play as detective Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood, the niece of the missing uncle who was last seen at Derceto Mansion, a home for the mentally ill.
It’s natural to draw comparisons to Resident Evil 2, but it seems that Pieces takes this design a step further in this game, as the narrative and story not only takes you on a different path to different locations, like in RE2, but also that NPCs and other characters react to you differently, which creates unique scenarios and moments, making it almost a given to play the game again. If the unique elements aren’t enough to make you want to do this, however, the cast will help set your mind straight. Pieces has brought in both David Harbor and Jodie Comer to portray Alone in the Dark’s main characters, which is an eye-catching premise to say the least.
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As the original Alone in the Dark debuted in 1992, to call this a simple remake is an understatement. It feels more like a completely new adaptation of the survival horror game, as modern technology and the power of Unreal Engine 4 have allowed the developer to create a new and fantastic interpretation of the mansion and its surroundings. This is a love letter to the original, not just a straight remake, as has become quite common in the gaming industry these days.
The concept of Alone in the Dark is to utilize the psychological horror elements that have characterized the series, but in this version of the game reality literally crumbles before your eyes, while the main characters struggle to understand and find meaning in the world and what is happening to them. The enemy types that look like creepy eldritch horror monsters also clearly contribute to this design style, as does the soundtrack that uses doom jazz to create a mood that fits the time period, but still provides nerve-wracking moments.
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The combat elements also seem to lean more towards what we find in Dead Space and RE2, as you have to use the typical wobbly aiming systems and limited mobility to survive and overcome the threats that attack you. There are opportunities for melee attacks in Alone in the Dark, as well as short evasive maneuvers, but don’t expect to be round-kicking someone like Leon in RE4 anytime soon.
Alone in the Dark launches on PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox consoles on October 25th, and I’m really looking forward to seeing more and even playing a bit of this survival horror remake soon, and luckily you can get a taste of what awaits already, because Pieces has now launched a playable Prologue demo, which puts players in the shoes of the young girl you meet in the main game, as she explores Derceto Mansion a few weeks before Carnby and Miss Hartwood arrive. However, this demo will only be a taste of what’s to come and won’t contain any spoilers for the main story or any combat elements, so don’t expect a wide and deep adventure here.
Those interested in pre-ordering Alone in the Dark can do so now. The game costs £49.99 / €59.99 and comes in one of two versions. The Standard Edition with just the base game, and the Deluxe Edition which comes with some filter packs and commentary packs that expand and change the experience of Alone in the Dark. Anyone who pre-orders will also receive the Decerto 1992 Costume Pack DLC, which allows the models of the main characters to be changed to reflect the 1992 versions.
Needless to say, if you’re still craving a new take on survival horror, Alone in the Dark is definitely something you should mark on your calendar.
