Alone in the Dark: A Legacy Reclaimed, But Not Without Flaws

5 April 2024

Survival horror owes its existence to the trail blazed by Alone in the Dark in 1992. Its chilling atmosphere, resource scarcity, and monstrous foes helped define an entire genre. Three decades later, the 2024 remake from Pieces Interactive and THQ Nordic attempts to recapture that groundbreaking spirit while offering a fresh, terrifying experience for modern players. While it succeeds in delivering chills and a healthy dose of nostalgia, it stumbles in its efforts to truly elevate the series' legacy.

Stepping into Derceto Manor is like stepping into a beautifully macabre time capsule. Now a crumbling hospital for the mentally ill, it exudes Southern Gothic dread. Dusty hallways, flickering lights, and a sense of unseen horrors lurking in the shadows set the perfect stage. The game's interbellum setting, sandwiched between two world wars, adds a unique layer of historical unease but remains sadly underutilized, serving mostly as an aesthetic choice.

Jodie Comer and David Harbour breathe new life into Emily Hartwood and Edward Carnby. Their performances are nuanced and vulnerable, grounding the supernatural horrors in relatable fear. When the Lovecraftian creatures emerge, twisting limbs and reality alike, the terror escalates. Unfortunately, these adrenaline-fueled moments are hampered by clunky combat and a reliance on predictable jump scares. Resource scarcity, a survival horror staple, becomes more frustrating than strategic as you desperately scrounge for ammo and healing items that simply never seem to be enough.

Alone in the Dark's remake is like an old friend returning, bearing both familiar comforts and unsettling changes. The atmosphere is undeniably gripping, drawing inspiration from the original's best moments while adding a modern sheen. The narrative, while simple in its premise, explores themes of trauma and memory distortion that resonate emotionally amidst the cosmic horror. This is where the game shines brightest, offering a chilling introspection in the face of the monstrous.

Yet, where the original Alone in the Dark innovated and terrified in unexpected ways, this remake feels content to tread familiar ground. Scares become repetitive, the inter-war setting loses its thematic potential, and combat often devolves into a frantic and unsatisfying mess. In its attempts to honor the past, it inadvertently highlights the genre's evolution, leaving a lingering sense of missed opportunity.

Alone in the Dark's 2024 return is a must-play for survival horror veterans who crave a trip down memory lane. It's undeniably scary, with moments of genuine brilliance. However, those who seek an experience that pushes the boundaries established all those years ago will likely find the darkness here a little too familiar.