Review cover Alone in the Dark (2024) GBAtemp review
PlayStation 5

Product Information:

  • Release Date (NA): March 20, 2024
  • Release Date (EU): April 20, 2024
  • Release Date (JP): April 20, 2024
  • Publisher: THQ Nordic
  • Developer: Pieces Interactive
  • Genres: Survival Horror
  • Also For: Computer, Xbox Series X|S

Game Features:

Single player
Local Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Co-operative

Review Approach:

Survival horror has always been one of my favourite genres and Alone in the Dark is a franchise that set the standard for many of its defining features. In many ways, the game walked so that titles like Resident Evil could run. There have been many attempts at reviving the IP in the past, some more successful than others, but we haven't seen a true new installment since 2008 (except Illumination. We *don't talk* about Illumination). It's odd that such a defining title in the genre has such bad luck in regards to capturing mainstream appeal - almost as if the property was cursed. Now, after 16 years since the reboot, Pieces Interactive is taking another shot in the dark. Did they hit the mark, or is Alone in the Dark (2024) another failed attempt at a resurrection?
Alone in the Dark is a Survival Horror game available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X and PC.

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Ph'nglui Mglw'nafh...

Private investigator Edward Carnby thought that he was in for an easy payday. His client, Emily Hartwood, requested that he accompanies her to Derceto Manor, a home for the mentally fatigued, where her uncle, Jeremy Hartwood, was currently being treated. She recently received a disturbing letter from her relative and felt it necessary to conduct a wellness check. The man suffered from paranoid delusions, a condition so common in the family that it earned the moniker of "The Hartwood Curse". The symptoms were all-too-familiar. Surreal visions of "The Dark Man" stalking his victims were shortly followed by suicidal ideation, so it was simply safer for Jeremy to be under professional supervision, or so Emily thought. Upon their arrival, the pair find out that the man is missing, so they immediately join the search. If only they knew that this was no ordinary disappearance, perhaps they would've never crossed the threshold of Derceto. Alas, they had no idea of the mansion's dark past and stepped into the darkness in blissful ignorance.

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Much of the mansion is in utter disrepair which, at least initially, makes it seem abandoned

Alone in the Dark (2024) is another franchise reboot and it reimagines the events of the original game completely. While the game does feature many of the recurring characters, the plot is altogether different, so you can safely leave what you already know about the IP at the doorstep of Derceto. Knowing the events of the original enriches the experience for returning players, but will not help in solving the mystery and is not required for newcomers. You're put in the shoes of Edward Carnby (played by David Harbour) or Emily Hartwood (Jodie Comer) with a very simple task at hand - explore the depths of a 1920's Louisiana psychiatric hospital in search of her uncle whose suicide was the impetus behind the original AITD's plot. Before his disappearance Jeremy confessed that he believed events weren't unfolding "as they should have", which I felt was a nice nod to the fans of the series. The trail of breadcrumbs the man left behind leads you from one puzzle to the next, and as you interrogate Derceto's numerous inhabitants, you quickly learn that there's more to this story than meets the eye. Eventually your protagonist of choice comes across Jeremy's talisman and it becomes obvious that his "visions" are not only tangible, but also dangerous. The ancient artifact is imbued with voodoo magic and allows one to travel into what seems like Jeremy's memories, crossing the boundary between the real and the metaphysical. The investigation becomes two-pronged and the lines between reality and delusion are blurred. Jeremy's mental decline, slowly but surely, becomes your own. Uncovering the truth behind "The Hartwood Curse" will require you to explore not just the walls of the manor, but also Jeremy's mind, and the minds of the mentally deranged are anything but safe.

...Cthulhu R'lyeh...

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In this reimagining of the story Derceto is a mental institution and its inhabitants are appropriately cooky

In terms of gameplay you can expect the standard survival horror formula with a strong emphasis on puzzle-solving. Rather than reinvent the wheel, the game borrows gameplay elements of successful games in the genre and combines them into a more-or-less coherent vehicle to convey its story. You have your over-the-shoulder camera, you have your trusty flashlight, you have an arsenal of period-appropriate weaponry, you have your melee weapons with limited durability and you have the ability to throw various items scattered around the floor, from stones to molotov cocktails - nothing unusual, but you're not exactly left wanting either. As I played the game I that that "action" was not the main focus. Nothing makes that fact more obvious than the relative scarcity of the bestiary - most of the time you'll be facing vine creatures reminiscent of RE7's Molded and ghouls composed of a mish-mash of body parts, although there are some location-specific monsters to mix things up. This is not unusual for a game so heavily inspired by H.P. Lovecraft's fiction wherein actually fighting otherworldly horrors is not a good idea, but it's worth noting nonetheless.

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Can't have a survival horror without the survival part!

Ultimately your most important weapons are your mind and your two legs as you'll spend most of the game following in Jeremy's footsteps back and forth the manor, collecting clues and solving puzzles, gradually accessing new areas and discovering secrets of both the past and the present. In fact, prepare to retread the same paths *a lot* as the game is designed to force you to revisit the same rooms with new-found knowledge or items quite often. By the time you reach the game's climax you'll explore locations ranging from the swamps of Louisiana to the Antarctic, with the manor house being more investigation-oriented and the visions more focused around combat. If you expected to be confined to the mansion then think again - thanks to the power of the amulet you get to visit places both real and imaginary, so long as you manage to solve the associated puzzles. The outcome of your adventure depends on how well you did in terms of collecting sets of artifacts called "Laganiappes", with three out of four endings being dependent on finding specific collectibles and performing the right actions as a given character. There's a lot here for gamers who love hunting for collectibles and getting lost in the lore, but the game is perfectly enjoyable even if you gloss over those secrets.

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Can you solve the mystery of "The Hartwood Curse" before it's too late?

In terms of audio-visual presentation the game is a mixed bag. You will notice that all of my screenshots are taken using the game's Performance Mode on PlayStation 5, which is set as default. The reason for that is very simple - the game is absolutely unplayable in Quality Mode, with a framerate so unforgivingly low and frame skips so frequent that it is effectively impossible to enjoy, and to use it just for the sake of capturing nicer-looking footage would simply be dishonest. I fully understand that this is not a big budget AAA title by any stretch of the imagination, but that's no excuse for a lack of optimisation - perhaps if this level of graphical fidelity is not feasible on the platform then it shouldn't even be included in the settings menu. On the flip side, the sound direction is excellent. The ominous ambient sound really enhanced the overall atmosphere and the sound effects felt appropriately punchy. The star-studded cast delivered a decent show too, even if the lip syncing of the characters isn't the best. Overall, the game looks and sounds the part, so long as you're willing to put up with a bit of jankiness expected from a lower budget title here and there.

...Wgah'nagl Fhtagn!

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For a game focused on a spooky mansion AITD sure does offer some interesting vistas

AITD (2024) is a "different" kind of horror game, and having read some of the reviews floating around the web, I noticed a disparity between review scores and user scores that I thought was unfair. I actually chose to delay some of the other pieces I've been working on to give this game priority. How can it be that a title that averages 6's from reviewers can receive ratings closer to an 8 from actual users? Was this sunk cost fallacy, or were the reviewers missing something critical that fans actually appreciated? I needed to know, so I played all the way through both campaign and I think I "get it". If you're a person walking in and expecting tight, tense combat or resource management along the lines of Resident Evil, or a wealth of jump scares so common in the horror genre nowadays, you're bound to be disappointed. That's not the kind of experience Pieces Interactive was going for, it's not what Cthulhu-adjacent games are known for and it's not what you're getting here. The game's strength is its atmosphere, it's supposed to keep you on edge. The horror here is entirely psychological. The objective is not to scare you, or make you jump and scream, but to create tension and make you feel uncomfortable. AITD succeeds at that, and I can't help but wonder if many other reviewers picked up the title wanting it to be something it was never meant to be. Pieces Interactive were aiming at recreating and refreshing a 1992 classic, and the result is a game that lays a great foundation for the franchise's revival.

There's only one question that really matters in any review - did I have fun? Yes, absolutely. AITD is not a game for everyone, for all the reasons I've mentioned above and more. In many ways, it suffers from its own curse, the curse of nearly two decades of expectations built-up while the industry at large moved on to more action-oriented pastures full of sudden loud noises and thrills. With an average playtime of 7-8 hours per playthrough, and a bare minimum of two runs to discover all of its secrets, it's not the longest game in the world either, but then again, I'm a player who prefers a shorter playtime if the alternative is stretching the game thin and wasting my time. Is it worth it? That depends. If you're a player who's willing to keep an open mind, AITD feels like an atmospheric throwback with a gripping narrative and an excellent twist ending that justifies any jankiness you may have experienced along the way. If you're less forgiving perhaps it's one of the titles worth picking up on a sale. Whichever of the two you may be, AITD is by far the best entry in the series since the days of the original PlayStation, and I sincerely hope to see more from Pieces Interactive in the future. The game they delivered is an unpolished gem, but if you tilt it just right, you'll see the shine hidden underneath its rough exterior.

Verdict

What We Liked ...
  • Great sound design that creates a tense atmosphere
  • An interesting reimagining of the original AITD story
  • Fantastic twist ending that ties a nice bow on the mystery, leaving the door open for a sequel
  • A throwback to old school survival horror that's more puzzle and story-heavy
What We Didn't Like ...
  • Despite offering two different characters their playthroughts are nearly identical outside of one (admittedly impactful and personal) end game sequence
  • The Quality graphics mode is effectively unplayable
  • Monsters lack variety
  • Somewhat janky combat
  • Poor lip syncing
8
Gameplay
The game did not disappoint in terms of gameplay, but I can see how it might not be to everyone's taste, especially when compared to other games in the genre. The game's biggest shortcoming is the somewhat janky combat, particularly when melee or thrown weapons are involved. Thankfully you won't suffer from a shortage of ammunition, so feel free to start blasting. Where AITD truly shines is whenever it's time to solve some puzzles or find alternative paths around the maze-like mansion, just like it was the case in survival horrors of the past.
7
Presentation
The game looks and sounds the part, but there are some blemishes. The great sound direction contributes to the game's excellent atmosphere, but the lip syncing misses the mark, somewhat spoiling the performances of the cast. More importantly however, the Quality Mode included upon release is completely unusable and desperately needs further patching. Given how poorly it performs, perhaps the game would've been better off if it wasn't an option at all. Thankfully, the game offers enough impressive vistas, both real and imaginary, to still justify a good score in this category.
6
Lasting Appeal
Despite offering two separate characters and multiple endings, the game is fairly short and can be fully completed within two playthroughs if you reload at just the right spots. If you're particularly good at collect-a-thons you can probably 100% the game in under 20 hours, which isn't much, but I find that a shorter overall length is better than a game that's a mile long and an inch thick. The sole reason to replay the title is to complete your collection of "Lagniappes" and see different endings, but once you've done that, there's no reason to come back a third time.
7
out of 10

Overall

Alone in the Dark was a reboot I've been looking forward to and actually had on my list of pre-orders prior to receiving a review copy, so needless to say, I was excited to play it and it didn't disappoint. It lays a good foundation for a series relaunch, even if it seems quite polarising. There's a very noticeable disparity between how the game is scored by reviewers compared to how it's scored by fans, so I can't help but wonder if there's still a place in our hearts for an "old school" horror game like this, something that's more chilling than it is frightening. Me? I love this kind of stuff, and I can only hope that there's enough gamers who think alike to justify a sequel. C'mon Pieces, Hell's Kitchen awaits! Surely we haven't seen the last of Edward Carnby... right?
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This franchise is so wack, but I love it. The first 3 are really hard to get into nowadays, and all the others are both great and awful in their own ways. AITD 2008 is my favorite even though it's probably the worst overall. I agree that this franchise isn't for everyone, but I'm still playing through this new remake and loving it so far. I haven't started the second playthrough with Emily yet, but so far David Harbour's performance has been a bit underwhelming IMO. All the other characters are excellent though.


Gone is Edward Carnby's signature two triangles mustache. It will be missed.
It can be yours for the low low price of $2.99!
 
Well, dunno the original has some charm, this is so generic.
The trailer sure makes it seem like it, but I still maintain the game is worth a spin - it doesn’t really demonstrate the game’s strong points because to do so would be to spoil the story, or stories, plural.
This franchise is so wack, but I love it. The first 3 are really hard to get into nowadays, and all the others are both great and awful in their own ways. AITD 2008 is my favorite even though it's probably the worst overall. I agree that this franchise isn't for everyone, but I'm still playing through this new remake and loving it so far. I haven't started the second playthrough with Emily yet, but so far David Harbour's performance has been a bit underwhelming IMO. All the other characters are excellent though.



It can be yours for the low low price of $2.99!
Edward can be quite flat at times, yes - he doesn’t quite get into the groove until you reach the later sections of the game. Emily’s performance is significantly better, and her unique story segment is quite touching.
 
its so sad, that this game get so much bad critics. I played it, and loved it. Only Battle Mechanics are bad.
Everything else is just perfect. Such a Gem.
Sadly the Game Studio will ge bankrupt because of bad critics.

No Alone in the Dark anymore ... at least for long time
 
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its so sad, that this game get so much bad critics. I played it, and loved it. Only Battle Mechanics are bad.
Everything else is just perfect. Such a Gem.
Sadly the Game Studio will ge bankrupt because of bad critics.

No Alone in the Dark anymore ... at least for long time
Seems this franchise is cursed.

AitD 2008 tanked and now it's happened again, admittedly the 2008 game wasn't very good.
 
its so sad, that this game get so much bad critics. I played it, and loved it. Only Battle Mechanics are bad.
Everything else is just perfect. Such a Gem.
Sadly the Game Studio will ge bankrupt because of bad critics.

No Alone in the Dark anymore ... at least for long time
I don’t think Pieces is at any risk of going bust given the fact that they also have their Titan Quest IP which does sell well enough. I just hope that the sales of this game will justify a sequel because I think it’s a good starting point of the series. I was really impressed by how they reinvented the story, and yet still managed to subtly tie back to the original turn of events. I’m not sure if that was intentional or not, but I choose to believe that it was, they seem to love the source material.
 
Seems this franchise is cursed.

AitD 2008 tanked and now it's happened again, admittedly the 2008 game wasn't very good.
AitD 2008 is a great game, only marred by a ridiculous car level.

Carnby is such a great character there that it really deserved a sequel. It's one of my favorite games ever, really because of Carnby's depiction. The story is bog standard, but there's plenty of good ideas there.

The AitD franchise is mostly about the story and investigation, not necessarily about monsters and goosebumps.

There's hope for the saga, yet.
 
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AitD 2008 is a great game, only marred by a ridiculous car level.

Carnby is such a great character there that it really deserved a sequel. It's one of my favorite games ever, really because of Carnby's depiction. The story is bog standard, but there's plenty of good ideas there.

The AitD franchise is mostly about the story and investigation, not necessarily about monsters and goosebumps.

There's hope for the saga, yet.
The only one I ever liked was the original on PS1, that which I plan on playing the DC version as it's graphically superior.



I'm still a bit annoyed that the legendary Dreamcast was killed by Sega. 😢 It's one of my favorite consoles ever.
 
The only one I ever liked was the original on PS1, that which I plan on playing the DC version as it's graphically superior.



I'm still a bit annoyed that the legendary Dreamcast was killed by Sega. 😢 It's one of my favorite consoles ever.

That’d be Alone in the Dark 4, they just dropped the number.
 
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See, this is what I want in horror games. I want to feel dread, I don't want a potential heart attack as a scare. I want that long feeling that makes me think about the experience I had for a long time. Same with horror movies.
 
See, this is what I want in horror games. I want to feel dread, I don't want a potential heart attack as a scare. I want that long feeling that makes me think about the experience I had for a long time. Same with horror movies.
The problem with this game as it relates to modern audiences is that the burn is very, very slow, only to ramp up almost vertically at the grand finale. There are many excellent set pieces here and the story is very well-paced. What can I say, I liked it a lot, and the score would’ve been higher if not for the lacklustre combat and some technical issues that can be ironed out through patches.
 
The problem with this game as it relates to modern audiences is that the burn is very, very slow, only to ramp up almost vertically at the grand finale. There are many excellent set pieces here and the story is very well-paced. What can I say, I liked it a lot, and the score would’ve been higher if not for the lacklustre combat and some technical issues that can be ironed out through patches.
I can understand, but also, that is absolutely my jam. Slow burns lead to more impactful dividends, in terms of experience! In my opinion, anyways, which doesn't generate profit in the horror scene, unfortunately.
 
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I can understand, but also, that is absolutely my jam. Slow burns lead to more impactful dividends, in terms of experience! In my opinion, anyways, which doesn't generate profit in the horror scene, unfortunately.
You should look into Call of Cthulhu (2018), that game gave me very similar vibes and, unsurprisingly, was met with a similarly mixed reception.
 
@Foxi4 This trailer mentions use of haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and speaker audio for the DualSense. However, I have seen some people state these things were all nearly non existent. Can you please comment on your own experience with those features?

 
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@Foxi4 This trailer mentions use of haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and speaker audio for the DualSense. However, I have seen some people state these things were all nearly non existent. Can you please comment on your own experience with those features?


Consoles always have these cool features and then end up being unused/ignored. Same happened with the Switch's HD Rumble. :(

The demo 1-2 Switch showed the potential HD Rumble had.
 
its so sad, that this game get so much bad critics. I played it, and loved it. Only Battle Mechanics are bad.
Everything else is just perfect. Such a Gem.
Sadly the Game Studio will ge bankrupt because of bad critics.

No Alone in the Dark anymore ... at least for long time

A remake of game that was about running away from danger... has battle mechanics?
 
I am doing it on PC (4k/best settings) and I spent about 3 hours on it already. It is very good. This review reflects the real thing. Good job !
 
@Foxi4 This trailer mentions use of haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and speaker audio for the DualSense. However, I have seen some people state these things were all nearly non existent. Can you please comment on your own experience with those features?


I’ll be honest, I haven’t seen this trailer before. If those features are implemented then I certainly haven’t noticed them - they’re either very subtle or weren’t enabled yet in my pre-release playthroughs. I’ll have to investigate, thank you for pointing this out.

EDIT: Returning from my quick reload and sure enough, the PS5’s adaptive triggers are definitely enabled and add tension to the trigger before firing. I must’ve taken it for granted. I assume the same applies to the other features you’ve mentioned.
 
I’ll be honest, I haven’t seen this trailer before. If those features are implemented then I certainly haven’t noticed them - they’re either very subtle or weren’t enabled yet in my pre-release playthroughs. I’ll have to investigate, thank you for pointing this out.

EDIT: Returning from my quick reload and sure enough, the PS5’s adaptive triggers are definitely enabled and add tension to the trigger before firing. I must’ve taken it for granted. I assume the same applies to the other features you’ve mentioned.

Thanks for going back to check. I'll purchase on PS5 then.

Aw I was really hoping this would do better.

Same. Especially considering most people who have played it think it's actually pretty darn good. I think the ones that didn't were just expecting a Resident Evil experience. Unfortunately it seems there will be not much chance of a sequel.
 
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Thanks for going back to check. I'll purchase on PS5 then.

Same. Especially considering most people who have played it think it's actually pretty darn good. I think the ones that didn't were just expecting a Resident Evil experience. Unfortunately it seems there will be not much chance of a sequel.
As I said, the effect is rather subtle, so don’t expect anything miraculous or mind blowing - if it was, I would’ve noticed it on the first go-around. I must’ve gotten used to tension on triggers over time seeing that the PS5 is my main gaming platform. I hope you’ll enjoy it!
 
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As I said, the effect is rather subtle, so don’t expect anything miraculous or mind blowing - if it was, I would’ve noticed it on the first go-around. I must’ve gotten used to tension on triggers over time seeing that the PS5 is my main gaming platform. I hope you’ll enjoy it!

I could play for free on PC but at this point my PS5 is more powerful than my desktop & even if subtle, the DualSense features give it an advantage over the Series X version for me. I have a couple other games to get through first but this is third in line. From everything I've read it sounds right up my alley. :)
 
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Review cover
Product Information:
  • Release Date (NA): March 20, 2024
  • Release Date (EU): April 20, 2024
  • Release Date (JP): April 20, 2024
  • Publisher: THQ Nordic
  • Developer: Pieces Interactive
  • Genres: Survival Horror
  • Also For: Computer, Xbox Series X|S
Game Features:
Single player
Local Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer
Co-operative

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