Alone in the Dark (2024 video game)

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Alone in the Dark
Alone in the dark 2022.jpg
Developer(s) Pieces Interactive
Publisher(s) THQ Nordic
Director(s) Mikael Hedberg
Producer(s) Michael Paeck
Artist(s) Guy Davis
Writer(s) Mikael Hedberg
Composer(s)
  • Jason Köhnen
  • Árni Bergur Zoëga [1]
Series Alone in the Dark
Engine Unreal Engine 4
Platform(s)
Release20 March 2024
Genre(s) Survival horror
Mode(s) Single-player

Alone in the Dark is a 2024 survival horror video game developed by Pieces Interactive and published by THQ Nordic. The game is a reimagining of the original 1992 Alone in the Dark and is the seventh installment in the Alone in the Dark video game series. The game features a single-player narrative set in the 1930s, where players can choose to play as Edward Carnby (David Harbour) or Emily Hartwood (Jodie Comer), as they make their way through Derceto Mansion to uncover the mysteries within. It was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on 20 March 2024. Upon release, it received mixed reviews from critics.

Contents

Story

Alone in the Dark follows Emily Hartwood (Jodie Comer) and private investigator Edward Carnby (David Harbour) as they travel to Derceto Manor, a home for the mentally fatigued, to investigate the disappearance of Jeremy Hartwood, Emily's uncle. [2] [3]

Gameplay

Alone in the Dark features an "over-the-shoulder" third-person perspective, doing away with the fixed camera angles of the original. This is similar to the Resident Evil franchise, which also chose this mechanic for their recent remakes. Combat is available with a firearm, or melee weapon as shown by the reveal trailer. Players can choose to play as Emily or Edward, both campaigns featuring different cutscenes and levels. [4] [5]

Development

A remake of the original 1992 game Alone in the Dark was in active development by Eden Games after the release of Alone in the Dark: Inferno . But following the liquidation of the studio by Atari in 2013, the game was cancelled. [6]

Three years after the poor reception of Alone in the Dark: Illumination , then-owner Atari SA sold the Alone in the Dark franchise to THQ Nordic in September 2018. [7] Pieces Interactive, which was most known for making Magicka 2 , commenced the game's development in 2019. It will feature an original plot that incorporates characters from the first three Alone in the Dark games. The team was inspired by the success of Resident Evil 2 in 2019, and Resident Evil 3 in 2020. [8] The game was written by Mikael Hedberg, who had previously worked at Frictional Games on Soma and Amnesia: The Dark Descent . Artist Guy Davis, best known for his work with Guillermo del Toro and his own comic series The Marquis , was recruited to design the monsters featured in the game. [2] Series creator Frédérick Raynal gave his blessings to the reimagining saying that Pieces Interactive did a great job preserving the "core feeling" from the original game. [9]

British actress Jodie Comer and American actor David Harbour were recruited for the voice recordings and motion capturing of the faces of the two protagonists Emily Hartwood and Edward Carnby. [10] American voice actors such as Yuri Lowenthal and Paul Mercier were cast as supporting characters, while also providing voices for text documents found throughout the game.

Release

In August 2022, Alone in the Dark was revealed at THQ Nordic's Showcase. [2] A free demo for the game, titled Grace in the Dark: Prologue, was released for all platforms on 25 May 2023. It was originally scheduled to release for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on 25 October 2023, [1] but was delayed to 16 January 2024 in order to avoid a "chaotic" release window. [11] In December 2023, it was delayed again to 20 March 2024, so that the team would not have to crunch over the Christmas holidays. [12] [13]

Reception

Alone in the Dark received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic. [14] [15] [16]

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References

  1. 1 2 Romano, Sal (25 May 2023). "Alone in the Dark reboot launches October 25; free playable Prologue now available". Gematsu. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 McWhertor, Michael (12 August 2022). "Survival horror game Alone in the Dark is getting a remake". Polygon . Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  3. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (25 May 2023). "Alone in the Dark remake stars David Harbour and Jodie Comer". Polygon . Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  4. ↑ "Alone in the Dark Offers a "Delightful Sense of Matinée" - Interview with Producer Andreas Schmiedecker & Creative Director Mikael Hedberg". EIP Gaming. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  5. ↑ Earle, Sharnelle (20 March 2024). "Alone In The Dark: Should You Play As Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood?". TheGamer. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  6. ↑ Seibert, Dustin J. (6 February 2014). "Canceled Alone in the Dark Remake Footage Released". IGN . Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  7. ↑ Wales, Matt (19 September 2018). "THQ Nordic has now acquired survival horror classic Alone In The Dark". Eurogamer . Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  8. ↑ Peppiatt, Dom (12 August 2022). "An Alone in the Dark reboot is coming from the Soma and Amnesia: Dark Descent writer". VG247 . Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  9. ↑ Alone in the Dark - Spotlight Video. YouTube . PlayStation. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  10. ↑ Michael McWhertor (25 May 2023). "Alone in the Dark remake stars David Harbour and Jodie Comer". Polygon. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  11. ↑ Romano, Sal (5 September 2023). "Alone in the Dark reboot delayed to January 16, 2024". Gematsu.
  12. ↑ Croft, Liam (7 December 2023). "Alone in the Dark Delayed Once More, Now Out in March 2024". Push Square . Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  13. ↑ Hilliard, Kyle (10 January 2024). "Alone In the Dark, The Remake Of The Original Survival Horror Game New Gameplay Today". Game Informer . Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  14. 1 2 "Alone in the Dark for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  15. 1 2 "Alone in the Dark for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  16. 1 2 "Alone in the Dark for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  17. ↑ Deneschau, Nicolas (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review". Adventure Gamers . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  18. ↑ Colantonio, Giovanni (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review: an unabashed ode to a '90s horror classic". Digital Trends . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  19. ↑ Blade, Vikki (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review – a perfunctory romp that doesn't quite live up to the hype". Eurogamer . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  20. ↑ Delaney, Mark (19 March 2024). "Alone In The Dark Review - Dimly Lit". GameSpot . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  21. ↑ Hurley, Leon (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review: "Lacks the life or coherence needed to give it any momentum"". GamesRadar+ . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  22. ↑ Ogilive, Tristan (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark Review". IGN . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  23. ↑ Brown, Andy (19 March 2024). "'Alone In The Dark' review: more trouble than terror in this disappointing reboot". NME . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  24. ↑ Chatziioannou, Alexander (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review". PC Gamer . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  25. ↑ Smith, Ed (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review – the death of survival horror's pioneer". PCGamesN . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  26. ↑ Croft, Liam (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark Review (PS5)". Push Square . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  27. ↑ Denzer, TJ (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review: A heady head case". Shacknews . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  28. ↑ Lane, Rick (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review – Jodie Comer and David Harbour can't save this soporific horror". The Guardian . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  29. ↑ Scullion, Chris (19 March 2024). "Review: Alone in the Dark is anotherfrustrating reboot for the classic horror series". Video Games Chronicle . Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  30. ↑ Bardwell, Tom (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review – a thrilling reimagining of a pioneering classic". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
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