Whether you’re a fan of the series or just curious about its history, we invite you to join us on a journey through the Alone in the Dark series.
The Alone in the Dark series is one of the most influential and important franchises in the survival horror genre. The first game in the series, released in 1992, was one of the first to use polygonal characters over pre-rendered backgrounds. This decision defined the genre’s look and feel, which would soon be filled with many exciting titles. The series has undergone several changes but usually focuses on atmosphere, puzzles, combat, and exploration.
This article looks at the history of the Alone in the Dark series. You’ll learn about the individual games in the main series and how their reception changed from awesome to awful. With a new Alone in the Dark title coming soon, now is the right time to dive into this topic. Will the franchise rise from the ashes, or will the new title be the final nail in its coffin?
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The Origins of Alone in the Dark
In 1991, Frédérick Raynal, a programmer at Infogrames, ported the early 3D game Alpha Waves to the Amiga. This gave him the idea to develop a new game combining 3D graphics with a horror theme. He was inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft, George Romero, and Dario Argento and the early survival horror game Sweet Home (1989).
With a small team of developers, Raynal began work on the first Alone in the Dark game and released it for MS-DOS in 1992. It was a critical and commercial success. The game’s unique visual style set it apart from other games of that time. Alone in the Dark’s success helped launch the survival horror genre as we know it, and it inspired several other games, including Resident Evil, Silent Hill, and Fatal Frame.
All Alone in the Dark Games 1992-2023 (Main Series Games Only)
Alone in the Dark (1992)
The first game in the series is set in Louisiana in the 1920s. It follows the story of Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood, depending on whether the player chooses a male or female protagonist. They take the role of a private investigator trying to figure out the truth behind the suicide of Jeremy Hartwood, the owner of a haunted mansion.
The game is played from a third-person perspective and features an exciting combination of exploration, puzzles, and combat. Gamers must explore the mansion, solve puzzles, and battle various supernatural creatures to uncover the truth behind Jeremy Hartwood’s death.
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Alone in the Dark 2 (1993)
The second game took place in New York City in 1925. Once again, gamers join Edward Carnby for an investigation. This time, the game is mainly played from Edward’s perspective. He’s trying to solve the mystery of a series of occult murders with the help of his partner. While the game keeps the core elements of Alone in the Dark, it’s more action-oriented and has enemies that act more human-like.
Like the first game, Alone in the Dark 2 was a critical and commercial success. Gamers loved the improved graphics, gameplay, and atmosphere. By today’s standards, it looks outdated, but back then, it was incredible.
Alone in the Dark 3 (1994)
The third game also takes place in 1925 but takes gamers to the Mojave Desert, where a film crew disappeared in a ghost town with the charming name Slaughter Gulch. Emily Hartwood, who was present in the first game, is part of the missing crew, so it’s personal. Together with Edward, players discover that a curse is responsible for the problems.
The enemies in the third game are once again a bit more mindless. Even though the game was just as popular and well-received as the first two games, it would be the last Alone in the Dark game of the 1990s. Fans would have to wait a long time for a reboot of the franchise.
Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare (2001)
It took seven years until the franchise rebooted. The fourth game allows players to choose between male and female protagonists: Edward Carnby and Aline Cedric. Edward gets more action, and Aline gets more puzzles. The gameplay and graphics are in most aspects an improvement to the older titles. The story, which takes place on Shadow Island, received mainly positive reviews, though some reviewers didn’t like how the puzzles worked.
Overall, the reboot was off to a promising start, and fans were hoping that future games in the series would stay true to their origin. Little did they know what was yet to come.
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Alone in the Dark (2008)
The fifth game in the main series wasn’t a big success and received several negative reviews. First of all, the gameplay is very different from what fans expected. Gamers who got stuck could choose to skip the section and would then receive a cutscene that explained what happened. This wasn’t well-received.
The story, which starts with Edward Carnby waking up as an amnesiac after an exorcism, wasn’t a fan favourite. The story got more confusing the more you progressed in the game. There were bugs, poor optimisation, and not much of the original Alone in the Dark atmosphere people fell in love with.
Alone in the Dark: Illumination (2015)
Alone in the Dark: Illumination took the franchise into a direction fans liked even less. The third-person shooter game needs to be played online as a multiplayer co-op. The story takes place in Lorwich, Virginia. Four survivors battle against a group of cultists who are trying to summon an ancient evil. It’s as basic a story as you can get. It’s horrible.
Fans of the franchise believed the franchise died with this game. The game was so bad everyone hated it, and reviews were overwhelmingly bad. But then, the rumours started. There was talk of a new Alone in the Dark game. This takes us to:
Alone in the Dark (2023)
The 2023 Alone in the Dark isn’t a reboot but a remake of the original 1992 game. Fans wonder: Will this be a phoenix from the ashes, or will the remake kill the franchise again? The game’s planned release is October 25th, 2023. So far, we know little about the game, but what’s available looks very promising.
You’ll learn more about this game on Player.me once we have more details. There’ll also be a full and honest review.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Alone in the Dark Prologue?
While it’s still a few months until the remake is available, fans can play the Alone in the Dark Prologue, a small teaser for the main game. Playing through this little game only takes 10-15 minutes and gives gamers an idea about the look and feel of the remake.
What Platforms Is the Alone in the Dark Remake Available On?
The game will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. No other platforms have officially been announced yet.
Is Alone in the Dark Difficult?
The difficulty of games in the series varies wildly, but it is usually a fair gameplay experience.
Author Profile
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Name: Kim Anisi
Intro: Gaming has been my passion since childhood. The journey started when I received hand-me-down games on Atari and Amiga systems from my brother and I now mainly play games on PC. Among the vast genres in the gaming world that I have tried, my personal favourites are RPGs, MMORPGs, (Action) adventures, horror games, and settlement/city builders. Overcoming the challenges and helping others in games provide a great satisfaction to me.