Alone in the Dark
Game developer: Infogrames
Game publisher: Interplay
Game release date: 1992 year
Game status: Released
When you say survival horror a lot of people think of Resident Evil which is the series that made the genre popular. However the first game to actually use the formula was Alone in the dark, the environments are static but the characters and items are in 3D. You have to investigate the apparent suicide of Jeremy Hartwood and play as either Edward Carnby, an investigator, or Emily Hartwood, a niece of the deceised. The investigation soon turn nasty when you reach the attic and strange beasts and zombies come after you, can you find out what on earth is going on and put a stop to it before it's too late?
As soon as the game starts you feel how cinematic the game is as you are seen driving towards the house where the events took place from many different angles. Even when you go into the house it looks like you are being watched from every corner as you make your way up to the attic where your adventure starts. You'll soon encounter some baddies jumping through windows or coming up from a trapdoor which will trigger a fastpaced music theme. You can use any weapons you find along the way or use your fists and feet if you are desperate. There is more to find than weapons as many items will help you continue you investigation like keys that unlock doors and chests or a lamp that will allow you to walk into an unlit area. During your search you will often find books and papers which explain a bit more about what is happening and why mr. Hartwood died. These are the clues that will help you to find out the source of all the evil in the house and you means to stop it.
The graphics in the game were pretty unique at the time, hand drawn or rendered static backgrounds and characters and items being rendered in real-time 3D. Of course being the first also brings along problems like some camera angles don't allow you to see where you are going and the interface isn't the greates either with different actions needing to be selected from a menu. There is also the instant deaths and some dead ends when you don't have an item when you need it but dispute it all the game is definitely worth playing as it was a milestone in gaming and a pretty fun game overall.
Game genre: Adventures, Horror Games
Platform/System: MS-DOS Games, Mac Games
Alone in the Dark : Is it worth playing?
