Alone In The Dark Review

[Burned Your]

Alone In The Dark
Don't be ashamed... being afraid of the dark is what keeps you alive

Eden Studios has struck a refreshing balance with the taut exploration sections that suddenly transform into high-drama action scenes. Without spoiling too much, the entire first mission is like an interactive intro sequence as you try to escape a collapsing building. At one point the floor falls through and you propelled on to a ledge 60 stroies up. Unlike many moments in gaming, which are quickly forgotten, this stans out as something that makes you feel genuine vertigo - while at the same time being completely overwhelmed by the impressive New York skyline. There are a few moments to take in the veiew and nervously shuffle along the precipice before the action kicks off again and giant chunks of devris rain down from above.
Events like this, which seem scripted, are anything but. The physics engine plays such a hige part in everything that happens that no hazard is entirely predictable. Objects fall in different directions, fire spreads in ways you never saw coming and the monsters' behaviour becomes increasingly erratic. And even if you do die by some horrible twist of fate, you never have to go back far. The checkpoint system is well balanced, and there's also the option to skip to the next episode if you find it too hard. We won't be doing that because there's way too much fun to be had in Central Park.
While well-trodden franchises tend to grow stale, Alone in the Dark looks set to buck the trent with suprising originality and genuine big-budget thrills you demand for your money.

-Burned