Speaking of frustrating sections, it’s somewhat confusing that players will be allowed to skip parts of the game but yet in a protracted, scripted, trial-and-error driving sequence there won’t be a single checkpoint. Strangely, despite Eden Games’ last title being the excellent Test Drive Unlimited, the driving controls are loose, the physics are unrealistic, and the driving sections have more bugs than the Amazon Rainforest. In fact, the only time I used the ‘scene-skipping’ function was after losing patience after having to repeatedly restart sections after getting stuck in a glitch.
Note to Atari – Quality testing is a good idea. Seriously.
So does this game really have any redeeming features? Well, the visuals are excellent, although the lack of any distinct aesthetic style means locations and enemies feel forgettable and generic. The voice acting is passable, but by the end of the game you’ll probably come to despise the characters. The music is almost certainly the best part of the game, featuring some excellent choral scores that really set the scene for the epic and atmospheric nature of the story.
Check it out, it’s just like that bit from that other 3D action game you played once. Except more brown, and not as good.
And the story itself is quite compelling at times; the mystery of how amnesiac 1920’s gentleman Edward Carnby is alive and well in modern-day New York, and what exactly is controlling the powerful ‘fissure’ that’s tearing apart the city give you some incentive to keep playing. It’s a shame the ending is short and sour, and serves to undermine the point of the whole game.
Some astonishing set-pieces near the beginning of the game will leave you gasping for more of the same, but for some reason the gameplay gets duller as you progress, culminating in one of the most irritating and tedious ‘fetch quests’ I’ve ever played being forced upon you in the final chapter.
Note to Atari – Nobody sane enjoys repetitive and time-consuming backtracking. If it’s the only way you can extend the length of your game, just keep the damn thing short.
Alone in the Dark is enjoyable at times, mostly when the game steps back and allows you to figure out solutions on your own, rather than prodding you with overly obvious help text, or having an insipid NPC shout out suggestions. At the end of the day, the bad points massively outweigh the good ones, and when the credits roll you’ll be left with a feeling that it all could have been so much better. The game also has absolutely no replay value whatsoever, and is consequently terrible value for money.
Alone in the Dark on PS3 will feature some exclusive episodic content when it’s released later this year. Maybe this is a chance for Eden Games to right their wrongs and make a game that lives up to its potential.
For now though it’s probably best to leave well Alone..
195 days ago
Is this a mamite game then? I’ve seen some good reviews for this game and some pretty shocking ones...