Over the last 65 years of gaming, there is one horror game that has the status of a pioneer of this specific genre. It’s Alone in the Dark, a game from 1992 that was considered a classic back in its day. 30 years later, Alone in the Dark is receiving a new refreshed version, that’s about to once again show people why the original title was a success.
Alone in the Dark from 1992 is a certified classic horror game
Alone in the Dark emerged from the depths of gaming history back in 1992, becoming the godfather of survival horror games as we know it. The entire story is set within a mysterious Derceto Manor in the southern state of Louisiana. From the beginning, it offers various moments filled with intrigue, despair, and supernatural malevolence. From the first moment, the mansion appears to be completely normal, but quickly we see how it reveals its true nature.
Derceto Manor throws players into a realm of shadows and secrets straight from the twisted mind of Jeremy Hartwood, the painter who lived in the mansion, but took his own life. The fear, sadness, creepiness, and horror echo through the mansion, filling us with alarming emotions. The oppressive and evil atmosphere of every room, and the palpable sense of malice lurking around every corner, immerses players in a world where fear overcomes common sense.
At its core, Alone in the Dark gave us something that captivated many players for hours. It drew inspiration from the iconic horrors of H.P. Lovecraft’s stories and introduced players to the ancient malevolence of unknown power that toys with human lives. The narrative is an interesting mix of mystery, horror, and psychological tension, which even in 1992 added layers of depth to the gaming experience.
While the game excels in many regards, it’s impossible to ignore its aging controls. When I was playing this game for the first time many years ago, navigating the labyrinth halls of Derceto proved frustrating, and I wanted to hit something. Furthermore, the combat system, pushing and jumping, requires weird navigation through menus. This led to repeated returns to YouTube walk-through videos to advance.
Again, it’s a game from 1992. Now we have technology that supports a variety of game engines (backbones) and advanced graphics. So, let’s see what Alone in the Dark 2024 will look like, and what it has improved.
Alone in the Dark 2024 improves some horror game stereotypes
Alone in the Dark will once again take players on a haunting journey into the depths of Derceto Manor, a place shrouded in mystery and dread, this time in fully realized 3D. Emily Hartwood is portrayed by the talented Jodie Comer and Edward Carnby by Stranger Things alumni, David Harbour.
The decision to set the game in the 1920s is great. This introduces a historical and mysterious backdrop that enhances the overall atmosphere and still honors the original game. One notable feature is the option for players to choose between two protagonists. This adds an element of player-focused decisions and introduces the potential for varied perspectives and storylines, increasing the game’s replayability. It’s full of riddles and adventure-like moments. What’s most important is that you can play it more than once to check how is it to experience the story from a different point of view.
Combat plays a significant role in Alone in the Dark, with players wielding firearms and melee weapons to fend off the horrors that dwell within the mansion’s shadows. From encounters with terrifying creatures to otherworldly creations, the game challenged me to prove my courage and willingness to finish this game.
One of the key features for me is the game’s narrative, created by Mikael Hedberg, whose previous work includes acclaimed titles like Soma and Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Those titles were really strange and scary for me. I don’t like the horrors, so I had a tough time playing through them. But since they were so well-written, the whole horror vibe fell away as I focused on the story instead of the scary elements.
Alongside him is the artist Guy Davis, known for his collaborations with the amazing Guillermo del Toro and his comic series – The Marquis. Joining him is also Frédérick Raynal, the visionary creator of the original Alone in the Dark, who has given his blessing to this remake. Raynal praised Pieces Interactive for capturing the essence of his original vision while breathing new life into the franchise. With a nod to the past and an eye toward the future, Alone in the Dark gives us a promise to deliver a gripping horror experience that will leave players trembling with fear.
For fans of the original Alone in the Dark, this remake represents a chance to revisit a beloved classic in a whole new light. For newcomers, it’s an opportunity to discover the terror and intrigue that made the original game a groundbreaking masterpiece. For me, at least, I truly hope it becomes another great Game of the Year contender. As a person who is not fond of the horror game genre, I want to see projects that will help me overcome that and enjoy them more, and this game has alleviated some of that for me.
Games like my favorite Alan Wake II or Sons of the Forest proved that you don’t have to provide players with 100% of tense story moments, bloody and scary gameplay, or jump scares every 5 seconds to create a good horror game. Because of titles like this, I changed my opinion on horror games to a more positive one.
So I hope this new Alone in the Dark game will be a good experience that will help change the opinions of players who don’t like horror. We can’t ignore games with amazing storylines. It’s something that we have to overcome. Or just wait for modders to create an “all horror elements removed” mod to experience it. That’s also a good solution.
Closing Q1 2024 in gaming on a high note
The road to the release of a new Alone in the Dark hasn’t been easy and without challenges. It was affected by multiple delays, pushing the launch date to March 20, 2024. But these delays have also allowed the development team to upgrade and test more every aspect of the game, ensuring that players will have an unforgettable experience from start to finish. Which is an excellent sign.
Besides, from all we’ve seen, the game looks really good for a remake. The environment, locations, and characters look astonishing for a game that’s supposed to re-use and re-imagine old assets from 1992. Improvements to the whole accessibility side of mechanics like color-blind modes and controller support will also make the gameplay better for players.
Alone in the Dark reminds me of a recent Resident Evil remake that focused on providing the same good story from the original games while giving fans improvements in graphics, mechanics, and more. This allowed me to experience a game from 1992 in a new, fresh version in 2024, which is amazing. In recent years, we’ve got a many remakes or reboots that were meant to give the newcomers in the “gaming bubble” the opportunity to experience classics. What better way is there, than to create a new, better-looking version of a beloved game, that even older fans will want to play.
As the release date draws near, anticipation continues to build for what promises to be a defining journey into darkness, but also into a growing horror gaming market. Through the blend of atmospheric storytelling, intense combat, and immersive gameplay, Alone in the Dark will fight to claim its status as the best horror game of 2024. Unless we’ll get a DLC for Alan Wake II, then it might get harder.
Alone in the Dark will be released on March 20, 2024 on PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox Series X and Series S. Find more information via the official game site here. Do you plan on playing this game when it comes out? Have you played the original? Let us know on social media @mycosmiccircus or in The Cosmic Circus Discord.
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