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Loved it, from start to finish.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 7
Date: July 22, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I pre-ordered this game back in February when I bought Test Drive Unlimited. When the game was reaching it's release date I checked out game sites to see if any early reviews were posted, and of course I eventually ran into the numerous reviews on Amazon and have also seen the reviews from IGN and GameSpot. Now, I after beating the game I can fully understand why it is getting so much flak. Alone in the Dark is a game that requires the player to actually think, to use common sense. Alone in the Dark is not your simple shoot em' up game, it's not Halo, or Call of Duty. The problem I am reading most is the controls, and this is what I don't get, if you have played Resident Evil (any of them). then you should be ok with this game because they are the same as any Resident Evil game with the exception of switching between first and third person. Other complaints span to the infamous 59th Street scene when your driving through New York City. Once again I see no problem with this as I completed it in one try, and during that one try I encountered no such things that ive been reading like ''invisible walls'' or ''bottomless pits.'' In fact, I re-did the part in cockpit mode which actually made the scene easier. I am actually glad I decided to go ahead and buy this game even with all the negative press, because I am so sick and tired of all the sequels we keep getting every year (I.E. Halo 3, GTA4, MGS4, COD4, DMC4, Resistance 2, Gears 2, Resident Evil 5). Now, if you are reading this, you might be asking ''Mr. Vereb, why did you add Resident Evil 5, Gears 2, and Resistance 2; they are not even out yet!'' Well I just added them because they are in a long line of a list of sequels that I am talking about. What I like about Alone in the Dark is that it is new, it's not just a sequel to the franchise; it's more like a reboot. You know what, I may as well be in the minority here, but I damn well loved Alone in the Dark; from start to finish. This game is truly a AAA title. However, like any other game it has it's faults and I will point them out. The first fault being that some objects are nearly invincible when you are driving through Central Park (branches, light polls, benches, etc) if I know better these things should be pretty easy to run right through with any kind of car. The second fault being that the game does not pause when you go into you inventory (which means an enemy can still attack you while you are checking your inventory). The final two faults are the annoying repetitive evil roots you have to burn unless your an achievement whore like mean, then by all means there good, and lastly this game has no replay value. Everything else from the graphics (especially the fire effects) to the DVD-style chapters to the incredible soundtrack done by The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices and not to mention the realism that was put into recreating Central Park in it's entirety makes the game top notch. Even with my review I do not recommend this game for everyone, I strongly recommend it to gamers who are willing to take a chance with something new and I also highly recommend this game to survival horror fans in general. Overall, if you are looking for a game to hold you over for more survival horror games or for something else in general, then Alone in the Dark is a satisfying adventure. I can safely say this in case you want your own opinion, there is now a demo available on XBL if you want to play through the first two levels from what I have read at least. Even though the game has no replay value, I am not going to sell it because the game was that good for me, and I plan to pick it up and play again sometime in the near future.

Amazing Scenario and Direction

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 3
Date: July 24, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Despite all the justified negative reviews i still rate this game very possitively as the game cenematics, scenario and music all mixed together are simply amazing. This game cenematics is way better than a lot of hollywood movies i have seen.
The game gets pretty tough on episode 7 but before that everything is within limit. Controls and camera are not amazing and they might get annoying sometimes.
It is worth playing and i enjoyed most of my time in the game (excludig the 10+ hrs i spent to pass the 8 zombies in the train station in episode 7 :)).

A pretty good sendoff for a classic series

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 9
Date: June 24, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Okay let me first state that this is a thinking man's survival horror, not a balls to the wall action title. You should expect exploration, puzzle solving, story, dark atmosphere and some scares/suspenseful moments. Where this AITD differs from its predecessors is the level of story telling and the inclusion of some action sequences that usually start run of the mill casual and suddenly jump forward when you start to get comfortable, but the major action sequences are heart racing and challenging ( i.e. Racing full speed through a collapsing New York City while an primordial evil tries to tear the very street out from underneath you, or platforming your way around the outside of a burning New York sky rise while it collapses around you.).

As far as control goes, AITD has two different scemes: FPS (which works fine) and an over the back camera (A little frustrating). You can switch between the two at will, which lessens the hurt of the camera issues. While fighting with a me lee weapon, the camera fixes itself behind your back, but it pulls back to give you a wider viewing area. You control the me lee weapons with the right stick in this situation, pulling it one way, then another to get the desired swing; You can also lock on to a desired enemy in order to strafe him. This in my opinion is not too bad, and definitely a step up from traditional SvH combat.

The ability to combine items on the fly (Two sided tape, flamible oil) opens up a lot of combos for combat and puzzle solving (Take the taped oil, puncture it an toss it where you want it, then light the oil trail on fire) This definitely adds to the strategy department here,and allows for creative ways to solve your problems.

The story telling is taken up a noche, and is on par with many of the current Gen games in that area, the graphics are beautiful, and the ability to finally bash down the infamous indestructible locked door that has plagued gaming for nigh over a decade or more are all nice features that update traditional SvH for the current Gen. The music is spectacular whether its your mood setting background for SvH segments, the sudden dangerous shift for fight sequences, or the Hauntingly beautiful choir music that sets the pace for the major action sequences.

What blows me away the most is the presentation of AITD. Combining all the best elements of Survival Horror, dark atmosphere, rich story telling, mystery, amazing action segments, and some disturbing enemies, accompanied by one of the most beautiful sound tracks in gaming history, this game is a solid title that is a good buy.

Again I state this is not a Balls to the Wall action game. If thats what you want, go play Halo or Gears of War. This is a solid SvH with Appropriately placed action segments that help keep the pace of the game from going stale. This game is 4 stars easily. I would give it 5, but there are occasional glitches, but they are forgivable.

a fairly good game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: June 26, 2008
Author: Amazon User

With the large number of 10/10 rated games, this is not one of them. With that said, I enjoyed playing this game. While I agree that there is not too much in the way of replay value, the lack of online play, and the slower pace of the game may turn off alot of people from playing it. The plot, unprecidented environmental interactions, and the puzzles make this game entertaining, and after all, that is why we play games in the first place. It is also worth mentioning that I did not run into ANY glitches while playing this game. I'm not sure if I can justify the average casual gamer paying $50 for this, but it is definetly a game that should be played because I see the revolutionary gameplay from this game comming back in future games.

Great Experience

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: August 01, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I know Im not alone when I say this game offers a whole new experience that deserves, at least, a rent. Since the game starts you get a chance to experiment with the abilities you will have through the rest of the game, the difference is that later on you will star finding new or different items to combine. This takes me to the inventory, which everyone seems to hate. I find the inventory to be excellent, many people hate the fact that the game doesnt pause when you open it but does the world pause when you go through the pockets of your jacket? Its suppose to be a survival horror kind of game. Besides its not even complicated, it doesnt take me more time in the game to change the batteries of my flashlight than what it takes in real life. The camera is not an issue either, its just different, and the fist-person view is like any other.
The graphics are probably the most amazing thing on the game, which may also have something to do with the soundtrack, together they make a beautiful combination. No problems with the save system. You also have a way to forward the story, so if you just dont like the part where you are playing or its too challenging you can just skip it. The story is intriguing and it reminds me of the movie "Cloverfield" although as the story progresses the similarities just banish.
Overall what I think its going on is that people are obsessed with Halo and Gears of War, they want every game to be a shooter. And honestly im tired of war games and other shooters, maybe because thats all the XBOX 360 offers, so if you are like me just give this game a chance, maybe even a rent. It may take Master Chief out of your mind for some time.
8/10

Pretty solid game

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 30, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I picked this game up a few monts ago when I had some spare money, and I most say I was pleasently suprised with it. I had heard a lot of bad things about it and was a little worried after I bought that it might be poor. Its basically a survival horror game with a fairly heavy gunplay feature thrown it with it. The game will frustrate you a lot, there are a lot of parts where you seem to be set up to fail multiple times before you figure out a specific pattern to use. With that said this is no COD4, Halo 3, or Bioshock, but it still brings much to the table that we have not seen in a while. This game is now $40, which is resonable if you have that much money on you.

Graphics 9.0 ( Top notch graphics )
Audio 6.5 ( You only hear enemies most of the time )
Achievements 8.5 ( easy 750-1000 )
Controls 7.0 ( Wasnt that bad to me )
Camera 6.5 ( Can be irritating at times )
Overall 8.5-9.0

Could have been spectacular, but marred by technical issues

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 8
Date: June 28, 2008
Author: Amazon User

The Alone in the Dark series goes back a long way (even pre-dating the Resident Evil franchise) in terms of pioneering the survival horror genre, with this new installment kind of being a re-boot for the series. Once again filling the shoes of paranormal investigator Edward Carnby, Alone in the Dark finds Carnby caught in the middle of an apocalyptic event while investigating strange happenings in Central Park. The first thing you'll notice is that Alone in the Dark boasts some wonderfully creepy and spooky environments that drip with eerie atmosphere. In fact, the areas are so well designed that you'll often find yourself admiring your surroundings while dodging demons and beasts. The game looks good in general as well, despite a few graphical glitches that occur, while the game's solid score adds to the overall survival horror atmosphere. What's really sad about Alone in the Dark is that the game's potential to be something special is marred by technical issues. Namely, just moving around can be a chore. The control issues that present themselves during combat and puzzle solving only add layers of frustration to the game, which is a crying shame. Despite it's flaws, Alone in the Dark does present some innovation in terms of it's item inventory use and some dramatic moments that will jolt you out of your chair. The game's story is intriguing, and there are some great lighting effects too. All in all, Alone in the Dark is a worthwhile trip that could have been something truly great, but in the end is brought down thanks to it's technical issues. Still, for survival horror fans, Alone in the Dark is definitely worth a look.

Good Looking But Not Fun To Me

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: June 26, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game is very ambitious and stunning to look at; The locations and scenarios are impressive, but to me the game fails to deliver on the fun factor. I found myself either bored or frustrated half the time, and didn't really find it scary either. I have considered the possibility that after so many years of console gaming, it is harder to find something fresh and something that really grabs me. The first person control works the best, but the 3rd person is somewhat of a nightmare, esp in the era of 'next-gen'. Hand to hand combat is awkward, and while this game is very beautiful to look at, it just wasn't enjoyable. In many ways it reminded me of Condemned 2, which was also very hit and miss; But that's just me. It should also be noted that I have little to no tolerance for a game that doesn't control well. Decent story and voice acting, but the visuals are the best thing this game has going for it. Playable, but a mixed experience.

Greatness yanked down by poor decisions

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: July 31, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Most people attribute the start of the Survival Horror genre to Resident Evil. While you can trace the birth of Survival Horror back far, far before that game (to Sweet Home or, if you want to stretch it, to Haunted House in 1981), modern Survival Horror games were firmly established by the first Alone in the Dark. Since that first game, though, the series has been an up and down roller coaster that never seemed to be able to outmatch some of the better known and more famous franchises like Resident Evil or Silent Hill.

So, when Eden Games started to work on reinventing the franchise, I was cautiously optimistic. A lot of the ideas and concepts they spoke of seemed like great ideas, and they seemed to be trying to Do Something Different. Unfortunately, the sum is not greater than its parts and Alone in the Dark, while reaching for the stars, can't stay afloat.

Things begin appropriately apocalyptic. Edward Carnby awakens in some hotel with some bad men arguing about cryptic shenanigans. Carnby, no longer useful, is led up to the roof to be executed but before that can happen, bad juju hits the fan as a "scar" tears through the building. From here, this first episode really picks up as you're trying to escape the building alive.

Here is where the goodness lies. Alone in the Dark has a great opening that's appropriately cinematic but in such a way that only games can do. The building starts to fall apart, you have to run and jump your way to safety, climb along the outside of the building while debris tumbles and while watching cars below you explode. You learn how Eden Games created some appropriately realistic fire for the game as you watch it spread and have to put it out or use it as a weapon. You'll see things happen to the various rooms you're in that will make you want to believe you're watching a cinematic, not playing through a game. It's very cool.

And then you try to move.

Movement is the worst part of the game. It's all controlled with one stick which makes actually moving feel as if you're controlling a drunk, disobedient person. Once you get a melee weapon in your hand, you'll see another problem: using the right analog stick to attack. You'll have to swing it one direction, then another just to attack. Unfortunately it's sluggish, as is the animation, resulting in you taking more damage than you should need to. Fighting monsters becomes a chore, one you'll grow to hate because as the game progresses, you'll learn that basically all monsters can only die via fire. So, grab that chair, light it on fire and swing away...hoping you hurt it more than it hurts you. Similarily, gun fights are also not terrific as you have to pop into first person whenever you want to shoot someone. No lock and pop here.

Likewise, if walking around makes you feel like a drunk, driving is a good approximation of drunk driving, I believe. The controls are incredibly loose and in the first driving portion of the game, loose controls isn't a good idea. What should be an exciting escape sequence that involves the ground behind you exploding, tears appearing across the streets, buildings collapsing, fire, death explosions, cats and dogs sleeping together turns into frustration as you'll probably find yourself repeating the episode. Over. And Over. From the beginning. It loses its fun and becomes a chore.

Towards the end of the game, the game pulls a Zelda: Wind Waker moment and has you hunting down certain things and destroying them in an effort, one has to assume, to artificially lengthen the game. If there's one thing that Alone in the Dark does exceptionally well, it's the pacing. When you hit this moment it's like running smack dab into a brick wall. It's sad.

There's a lot going for Alone in the Dark, don't get me wrong. The inventory system is a cool innovation. The whole episodic "TV show/DVD" feel is perfect, with DVD-style menus complemented by the ability to switch to any episode you like. The graphics are pretty decent, as is the engine it's running on. Some cool, small features, like the ability to blink your eyes is very effective during some sequences. And the pacing--for the most part--is perfect; it can really get your adrenaline going...until you're forced to repeat the same thing over and over again.

I really wanted to like Alone in the Dark. I didn't honestly think that Eden Games would elevate the game to the front of the pack, but there was enough little things and innovations that I thought maybe it'd be a good game. When I played it, I was amazed. Eden Games wanted no less than to shoot for the moon and make the most ambitious Survival Horror game yet. Unfortunately, reality is sometimes like gravity and unfortunately Alone in the Dark isn't the masterpiece I, and Atari, I'm sure, was hoping for. Definitely give it a rent, but I'd hold off on purchasing it.

A Nightmare to control.

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 4 / 10
Date: June 24, 2008
Author: Amazon User

This game had so much potential. Production values are generally high, with some occasional glitch here and there. The main problem is that the game's pace is inconsistent. You should never find yourself bored in a game, and it happens more often then not in Alone in the Dark.

To make matters worst this might be the weakest controlled next generation game ever. It is not difficult in a way the ultimately rewards you with practice. From the start, until you get to the end, you will NOT like how the game plays. I felt like throwing my controller through the wall. Do yourself a favor, and skip this one until it drops in price. I assure you this one WILL drop soon.

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