Alone in the Dark: Inferno

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"Alone in the Dark" is a game that had a lot of hype behind it prior to release, but when it finally landed on the 360, Wii and PS2, it was pretty much broken beyond repair. All of the fundamental elements that make a game enjoyable (outside the storytelling aspects) were left in a perpetual state of disarray. Long story short -it played like an undercooked beta release. Why Eden Games chose to release the title with its fundamentals fractured so terribly is beyond me.

What we've received from Eden Games in "Alone in the Dark: Inferno" is a greatly improved build that, unfortunately, still suffers from some clunky play mechanics.

First, the improvements:

01 For the most part, the player has been given full control over the game's camera, allowing for a 360 degree view of the environment. Occasionally the camera locks itself down, but this is done in moments that require the cinematic effect. For the most part, it works.

02 Edward no longer controls like a tank. This change was pretty much a given when the camera was freed up.

03 The inventory system is less convoluted. The order in which you combine items is no longer dead set, and its easier to navigate in general.

04 The driving mechanics have been tweaked. Now one of the game's most exciting levels (the final stage in episode 2) is a lot more fun and a lot less frustrating. The cars no longer handle like boats.

05 A "hint" system is integrated into the early stages to help orientate the player (this may have been in the 360 version, but I certainly don't remember it, particularly during the first driving level).

06 The storyline is pretty much identical between builds, but there's been a fundamental change made surrounding a quest that in the initial build involves a LOT of painful backtracking. I don't want to say too much for fear of spoiling things, but this change helps the flow of the game immensely.

07 A new level has been added mid-way through the game.

Now the problems:

01 Despite the tweaked control scheme, Edward is still a bit difficult to control. There are times where I'll want him to walk one direction, and he'll sort of wander in a slightly different direction. This was particularly annoying in the later half of episode 1.

02 It's easy enough moving him around in first person view, but the controls are never as sensitive as one would like in first person, and getting into a gun fight can be really irritating, particularly if you're used to the precision aiming in games like "Resistance".

03 There is no 5.1 surround support in this game, which is sort of a letdown. It's the only game I own that lacks 5.1. There are also no subtitles, which just feels lazy. One of the people in my house is deaf in one ear and partially relies on subtitles to convey the story. This is probably the only PS3 game I own that lacks subtitle support.

04 Using melee weapons is problematic. It's a good idea for a combat system, but it's implemented poorly. It reminds me a little bit of that PS2 Jet Li game, but less refined.

There are a lot of big ideas in "Alone in the Dark: Inferno". It's a very ambitious game, and I think that's one of the problems. I get the feeling that this title was just slightly outside the capability of Eden Games. They couldn't quite pull it all together into a cohesive experience.

Having said that, the game features an exciting episodic presentation and a wonderful musical score that utilizes the award-winning female choir known as The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices. The voice acting is solid (the guy who plays Max Payne voices Edward Carnby) and there are some excellent set pieces that really get the blood pumping.

If you can look past the slightly awkward control scheme and the occasional graphical oddity, I would suggest picking the game up. The price has already dropped quite a bit (I picked the game up brand new for $29.99 at a local Game Stop) so now's the time.

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Wow, this game took me by surprise. I first played the demo and then picked up the game on discount. It's much better than the reviews would lead you to believe!

First off, I think the graphics are very impressive; it might not be Uncharted or Killzone 2, but there's an undeniable artistry in the game designers' post-apocalyptic version of New York City. The lead character, Edward Carnby, also looks really cool, and the monster designs are exceptionally scary.

Like a big summer movie, the action set-pieces in this game are astounding! The designers were obviously influenced by Spielberg's popcorn films, as well as disaster movies in general, as many of the situations you come across seem pulled right out of the cinema (try not to shout "cool!" when you dangle from a wire outside a crumbling skyscraper and the camera pans down to show exploding vehicles from the street far below being flung upwards and nipping at your heels). I particularly liked the final level, which seems like it was pulled straight out of the Indiana Jones/Mummy films.

Alone in the Dark: Inferno is also wildly innovative, which is where you might argue that it falters from time to time (thus some of the scathing reviews)--personally, the unorthdox game design is what impressed me the most with this game. The inventory system in particular is very unique: anytime you need to use an item, weapon, etc, you press a button and the camera switches to a 1st person "inside your jacket" view, where you look through the character's eyes as you pull items from your jacket pockets and equip/combine them on the fly. True, this happens in real time, and it's possible to be attacked while you're doing your doing it, which is why some people might not like it; I think it adds intensity and sets this game apart from others (side note: you can reload without going into your jacket, so combat still works without being too much of a chore).

Another awesome innovation is the DVD-like chapter system that the game employs: it's like when you buy a TV series on DVD--every level of the game is broken down into different episodes and chapters. There's even a cool wrapup every time you resume a saved game: "previously, on Alone in the Dark..."

The writing is a bit juvenile at times (what with the overuse of the "F" bomb), but the story itself is very intriguing, concerning you-know-who (the big bad man with the red horns) attempting to make a comeback and plunge the world into darkness. (Another side note: this game is absolutely for mature audiences, and it does deal with the occult, but without getting into too much gory/incantation reciting details).

"Alone in the Dark" definitely stuck with me after I finished playing; it's an intense experience that I rank up there with the best gaming experiences I've had. It has its flaws here and there, but the good overwhelmingly outnumbers the bad in this case. If you love action/adventure games, I highly recommend it. (Final note: do yourself a favor and start killing the evil weeds AS SOON as the game gives you the opportunity--it'll make the final sections of the game much easier to complete, and you definitely want to see the incredible last level!)

Buy Alone in the Dark: Inferno Now

Atari's Alone in the Dark reboot has finally hit the PS3 (and been re-titled Alone in the Dark: Inferno), and thankfully Atari has taken the extra time to address some of the problems that hurt the game when it first came out not too long ago. The biggest issue with Alone in the Dark on the XBox 360 was the unresponsive controls, many of which have been fixed here. Now, driving around in the game isn't so godawfully difficult to do, even though there are still a few lingering control issues to be found while you're playing on foot. That aside, the game still looks good (despite some occasional graphical oddities), and those jaw-dropping moments that will jolt you out of your seat while playing are still here, and are still pulled off flawlessly. The great item uses remain as well, and the improved camera controls make the gameplay all the more rewarding. All in all, Alone in the Dark: Inferno for the PS3 is definitely the best version of the game to see the light of day, and if you felt burned playing other versions of it, check it out on the PS3, and you'll be much more satisfied with what you get here.

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This game was killed with the reviews the first go and now that it has been rereleased the critics seem to hate it just as much. I was expecting a decent game for the $16 I payed for it but the truth is that this game is excellent. This is the first game I have played in along time that I would actually call hard. Not frustratingly so but it is a good challenge. Another good aspect is that there are times in the game where you will not advance if you can't think. Yes that is right, you must think. I know, it sounds strange given todays shoot 'em up action style of games but this one is so much more. Besides, this game is so cheep that if you are thinking about getting it then just buy it, for 16 bucks this game can seriously surprise you, now that I have played it I would have payed the full 50-60 buck for it. In short, it's a steal.

The bottom line is that this game is a gem and most people will never know...tragic.

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I was pleasantly surprised with this game. Without going "Hard-core gamer" on this review, the gameplay although a bit buggy, is very satisfying. The cinematic sequences are of top quality and keeps you hanging on to the story. It's a solid, unique, and scary title that deserves to be played! Burn on Eden, burn on!!