Alone in the Dark
Use What You've Got - Or DieBy coupling open exploration with the ability to improvise on the spot, a better connection with the narrative can be achieved. In the same vein, it's all too easy to be jarred out of a game by unrealistic controls. To this end, Eden Games have done away with a general-purpose 'use' key. The Havok-based physics allows for precise control of the environment, so look for character movement that mirrors your mouse movements. For example, getting out of a tight spot may mean moving a few obstacles and wriggling through a small opening. This mechanic is easy to implement poorly, but if done well it could be innovative.
The inventory system, which makes liberal use of combining items, encourages ingenuity when under pressure. An emergency glow stick can serve as a source of light, for instance, as can some paint and a match. The same improvisation applies to combat as well, where a decoy corpse can be used to draw an enemy away from Edward. A blood bag can serve the same purpose, but wrapping it in tape and attaching it to an enemy will draw other enemies to the unwilling blood porter, killing it and sparing you in the process. Rewarding a player for originality is something seldom seen in games, and the options available in Alone in the Dark sound like a welcome change for the better. The True Sequel to Alone in the Dark?Looking toward television writing for inspiration, the game will play out in a series of short episodes (but not, mind you, episodic content). Instead of a typical monolithic story arc from beginning to end, Alone in the Dark plays out in a number of short bursts, similar to a television drama, with a main storyline tying the entire narrative together. Punctuating a story with a series of smaller resolutions and conflicts without disturbing the underlying theme is no easy task. But like the unique control scheme, it may be compelling if executed properly. And given the let down that the episodic gaming has become, Alone in the Dark offers a glimmer of hope for frequent releases of new content.
The first Alone in the Dark captured the imagination of a generation of PC gamers, and influenced a new generation of developers. Until now, remakes of the game have seemed phoned in, doing no justice whatsoever to the legacy of the original game. Alone in the Dark: Near Death Investigation has all the promise of a proper franchise resurrection. By introducing an open world and unrestrained combat system, Eden Games has gone beyond a token story continuation and graphics update. It appears that we're set for an innovative and entirely engrossing game. Will it be as frightening as the original? Perhaps. Just in case, I'll be playing with the lights on.
If you wish to comment on this preview or discuss the game further, please head over to our forum - click right here (registration not required).
Tags |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
