Latest Alone in the Dark trailer is impressive, empty

by Christopher Grant { Jan 22nd 2008 at 5:30PM }

So, what's changed in the nearly two years since we first saw a trailer for Atari's oft-delayed update of Alone in the Dark? Well, in some ways, not much. Just like when IGN previewed the game last summer, it still looks more like a tech demo, showing off some of the fancier gameplay elements (what can't you light on fire?) than an action game due to be released in about three months. Where's the nasty monsters ... and can we light them on fire? You won't find the answer in the latest trailer, found after the break.

Gallery: Alone in the Dark (2008)

[Thanks, Marcus]

Tags: Alone-in-the-Dark, AloneintheDark, Atari, Eden-Games

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

thomashenwood @ Jan 23rd 2008 1:21PM

The puzzles, the Physics, the horror... please don't go bankrupt on us before you publish this Atari.

arrrgh @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:35PM

woa...im officially restoked

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:11PM

duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude....totally.

jcd @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:59PM

Yah.

Though the trailer showed very little of the monsters or actual combat.

Also, was that a headcrab at arounf 4/5ths of the video?

GreyFox @ Jan 23rd 2008 12:51AM

I didn't think I'd say this about an inventory menu but it left me speechless.

KVN @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:43PM

I liked it i thought it was pretty.I especially like the inventory screen,that was cool to me.I will definitely keep an eye on this game.

Mikeawesome @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:27PM

I definitely agree, the inventory thing is one of the best implementations of an inventory I've seen yet. The thing is, though, this is one of those things that I've always thought more games should utilize, especially now that a lot of games are "concerned" with how much you carry, keeping weapons down to a realistic two or three. It would just make sense to have a more realistic, visual inventory.

Oh well, while that's a really interesting feature, I really don't want to invest a lot of hope into something that's, at best, just some visual polish. i'll continue to remain skeptical until a demo or some impressions are released.

Mal F4cti0n @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:57PM

Yeah, no sh*t, that inventory is certainly a new take on things.

Definetly the new hawtness.

Farseer (GDI) @ Jan 23rd 2008 12:58AM

Dude, I'm glad someone else noticed the inventory system - I really hope they keep it in the final build.

LaughingTarget @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:42PM

From that trailer, I gather you spend most of the time being a pyromaniac and breaking things because you got nothing else to do then some monsters get frustrated at you waging a one man riot and decide to put you down because you're being violent.

StarFoxA @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:44PM

I noted a few things during the video:

1. The graphics will definitely not be that pretty on the PS2 or Wii.
2. It actually showed gameplay.
3. It looked pretty fun.
4. Now I know where the hell video game characters store all the crap they get.

LaughingTarget @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:47PM

Guybrush Threepwood keeps it all stored down his pants.

wait in the car @ Jan 22nd 2008 10:25PM

In regards to point #1: It will probably (already does a bit) look a whole lot like Resident Evil 4, which ain't a bad thing.

Rein @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:45PM

Wow, that game looks awesome. I've never played another Alone in the Dark game, but I must say, I'll totally pick this up when it comes out.

I wish my jacket swooshed the way his does.

Ryan LN @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:50PM

Meh. Looks great but so did "Jericho". The proof in the pudding is under the crust.

Anticrawl @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:15PM

Ewww, pudding crust... gross.

Mikeawesome @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:23PM

I'm afraid I really have to agree.

Right now I'm finding myself boiling over with excitement. I mean, did you SEE him shoot the sword off and pick it up? And the way they're handling inventory in the game? So sweet.

But, I still need to leave skepticism in my mind, otherwise this game will garner a lot of undeserved attention before it's released.

Noshino @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:40PM

When did Jericho look great? and this trailer has shown MUCH more than Jericho ever did...

Hell, I love that way of showing your inventory, and ugh, I want this game already!

Kudos to Atari, this looks like GREAT game

Undead Priest @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:54PM

Thank God this one doesn't seem to have retarded Resident Evil-like gameplay elements where you need to hunt for a key for 45 minutes. Glad you can bash doors open. :D

Brian Sexton @ Jan 22nd 2008 5:57PM

Why yes, I would like another survival horror game. Thank you.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:10PM

The sarcasm isn't nearly as fun without ITALICS.

Brian Sexton @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:30PM

I wasn't being sarcastic; I love survival horror games. :)

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:41PM

Oh...well still. I NEED ITALICS IN MY JOYSTIQ COMMENTS!!

NukeAssault @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:25PM

Awesome! >_

Geist @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:27PM

Very much picking this one up for the PC. Looks pretty cool, and looks like it's eschewing a lot of the old boring survival horror cliches.

Hashbrown_Hunter @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:42PM

It actually looks like a SURVIVAL-horror.

finnith @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:37PM

Utility belts are awesome.

KeenCommander @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:52PM

Looks shiny, but I suspect there's going to be some awkward combat. When devs try to do both melee and gun combat in the same game, neither one ever comes out quite as well as if they'd just stuck with one style. Nice atmosphere though, and it actually looks like and Alone In The Dark game, not some random survival horror business (remembers horrid polygon graphics in AOTD 1 and laughs).

Mal F4cti0n @ Jan 22nd 2008 6:59PM

Well, I think it is empty (similar to the Alan Wake trailer) because they don't want to give things away. Half the fun of playing a survival horror game is encountering the things that go bump in the night for the first time.

Looks pretty complete to me (shooting down the sword, opening doors by bashing them, leaving a trail of gas to blow up the car) and they showed lots of combat elements, just not fighting too many things.

Color me interested.

Tom @ Jan 22nd 2008 7:01PM

'You are not alone. Let us take this wood that is set ready for the fire as a sign. There is little shelter or defence here, but fire shall serve for both. Sauron can put fire to his evil uses, as he can all things, but these Riders do not love it, and fear those who wield it. Fire is our friend in the wilderness.'

Dave @ Jan 22nd 2008 8:45PM

There weren't a lot of monsters in the original either. What you had was a lot of silence--and the occasional monster. The empty environments and quiet built up the suspense--so that, when you finally did see a monster, you shit yourself.

Monge161 @ Jan 22nd 2008 9:41PM

wtf was that

jynxycat @ Jan 22nd 2008 10:08PM

The originals weren't half bad, next-gen followups to classic games usually tend to lose a few points in transition, so my hopes are low.

gramblor @ Jan 22nd 2008 11:25PM

Man... I'll still never forget playing the original with two of my friends in a basement, going out to see a movie, and then having one of my friend's say "Now let's go home and beat Alone in the Dark together."
It took a few seconds, but our teenaged minds in the gutter realised what was just said, and spent years laughing about it. Heck, I still laugh about it!