Alone in the Dark (2024) Reviews
The stars are lost in a swamp of poor writing and buggy combat in this wearisome reimagining of the 1992 survival classic
Coupled with the rest of the game’s failings, it becomes apparent that whatever more complex aspirations Alone in the Dark might have wanted to realize, it didn’t have the resources to achieve them. Its greatest achievement is that, rather than releasing in some broken and clearly unfinished state, it has managed to reach the level of being merely bad instead.
The 2024 Alone in the Dark is a deeply flawed game, but at least it's never boring. The first playthrough is fun despite its issues, mostly thanks to the campy story, and exploring Derceto is rewarding, even with the simplistic puzzles. The second playthrough is where it becomes apparent that there isn't much to the game. At best, it's an incredibly basic and generic survival-horror game that's stuck in the past, and at worst, it's buggy and doesn't justify its $60 price tag.
A lackluster and fragmented game that never really comes together in any meaningful way. In almost every sense that matters, from story to combat, horror, and atmosphere, Alone in the Dark leaves much to be desired.
While true fans of the franchise might get a kick out of seeing a new take on an old story, Alone in the Dark is a tonal and functional mess that frustrates more than it entertains.
Alone in the Dark's promising atmosphere is let down by annoying and repetitive puzzles, poor combat and frequent glitches. There's a good game in there somewhere but you have to put up with a lot of frustration to find it.
The truth is, I'm a little confused as to the purpose of this new Alone in the Dark. From an investigative point of view, it's well-balanced, but there's no trace of the series' signature horror formula, let alone any element of survival. On top of that, it doesn't bring anything new to the genre. It's an emotionless experience that seems to use the franchise's name only as a strategy to attract players looking for novelties in the genre. Alone in the Dark deserved better, and Pieces Interactive obviously couldn't get the job done.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Return to Derceto Manor in this reimagination of Alone in the Dark, a love letter to the 90’s cult classic horror game. PS5 version reviewed. Review copy provided by company for testing purposes. Alone in the Dark is a bland entry in the survival horror genre that fails to say anything with its themes, and that barely holds up.
Alone in the Dark is a scare-free horror experience, rife with technical issues, a nonsensical plot, and lacklustre performances from its two notable stars.
If you're expect Alone in the Dark (2024) to be the next Resident Evil 2 Remake or Dead Space Remake, you'll be dumbfounded. Yes, the series used to a reference for survival horror, but that's no longer the case. This remake has to many flaws to be really enjoyable. The overall film noir atmosphere, with its doom jazz music, is appealing but underused. And on the other hand, the game suffers from narrative issues, a lack of memorable moments and isn't simply good enough. Finally, it's more like a thriller than a satisfaying survival horror experience.
Review in French | Read full review
As it stands, it’s very hard - if not impossible - to recommend Alone in the Dark in its current state. Even if you can look beyond the blandness of its design, story, and gameplay, the sheer lack of polish is far too frustrating to warrant spending any money on. It’s a game that, without exaggeration, I had been looking forward to for years. All that’s left now, though, is a sour taste.
Alone in the Dark tempts you with some great ideas but inevitably provides no substance. Couple that with less than stellar gameplay and a hunger to tell a better story, I left Derceto Manor feeling unimpressed, frustrated, and ultimately dejected by the sum of its parts
This reboot of a long-dormant horror franchise doesn't do enough to justify digging up the dead.
Great ideas and a storied history are mired in mediocre combat and a disappointingly unpolished delivery.
Pieces Interactive recovers the master lines of the 1992 original to create a reboot that fails to revitalize its proposal.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The game certainly gets better as time goes on, and the story is well-told enough that it's worth experiencing for survival horror fans. However, it comes with the caveats that the overall gameplay leaves a lot to be desired, and its survival horror contemporaries just do a better job on nearly every front.
Alone in the Dark is hopelessly mediocre and rife with technical issues. While the bugs can be addressed, the generic gameplay and confusing story will always hold it back. There should have been some effort to include the original 1992 Alone in the Dark as an unlockable extra to add value to this remake, like how Splatterhouse (2010) had the 16-bit trilogy or how the Medievil remake had the PS1 game as an unlockable.
As remakes go, Alone in the Dark has a hard time measuring up to horror stablemates like Resident Evil. All of the requisite ingredients might be here, but they're poorly realised and implemented, resulting in a game that has its moments, but is hamstrung by shoddy combat, half-baked visuals, and more than its fair share of bugs.
Alone in the Dark is a weak survival horror pastiche largely devoid of original moments. The occasional dash of character in its 1920s Deep South setting can't make up for repetitive puzzles and the feeling we've seen all of this before.
Alone in the Dark is a B-class game that can be compared to projects like Daymare: 1994 Sandcastle and Song of Horror. But it can't even come close to the legendary original.
Review in Russian | Read full review