A FLAWED REIMAGINING THAT ALMOST GETS IT RIGHT

The Alone in the Dark franchise has experienced its fair share of ups and downs. Pioneering the 3D survival horror genre, it has often been overshadowed by the titles it inspired, notably Capcom’s Resident Evil.
Throughout the years, various attempts to revive the series have fallen short, placing developer Pieces Interactive in a challenging position as they attempt to reestablish the series as a cultural zeitgeist.
The 2024 iteration of Alone in the Dark is presented as a modern reimagining that weaves a new narrative while retaining elements that harken back to the 1992 original.
The game’s opening shots offer an expansive, cinematic view of the bayou’s solitude as protagonists Emily Hartwood and detective Edward Carnby journey toward Derceto Manor, an asylum where mentally fatigued patients seek recovery.

 

Located away from New Orleans, the institution houses Emily’s uncle, Jeremy Hartwood, who sends his niece a disturbing letter that prompts her to check up on him. As the duo arrives, they not only learn that he is nowhere to be found, but strange occurrences soon begin to suggest that Derceto may be harboring darker secrets.
It begins with eerie whispers and strange sounds that you easily brush off before meeting the patients. Several cutscene-driven interactions reveal seemingly reasonable people who each carry a different brand of weirdness.
Then, as you explore, the door you just opened a minute ago refuses to budge and you’re suddenly thrust into an alternate reality, where hostile rot creatures seek to bring a swift end to your life.
Alone in the Dark skillfully draws you in with the introduction of its different elements, seamlessly transitioning between surreal journeys and calmer moments of exploration within Derceto Manor.
Yet, as you slowly unravel the mystery of Jeremy’s disappearance, it becomes evident that akin to the spreading rot within the manor, certain attempts to modernize the game’s formula sap it of its strength

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