Joystiq

Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare (PC, PS1, PS2, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color)

The "next generation" of Alone in the Dark games hit in 2001 across several platforms (including the Game Boy Color!), reintroducing the world to protagonist Edward Carnby in what was to be a much more action-packed outing than previous installments.

In this game, players battled "Creatures of the Dark" -- living shadows that were most effectively driven back by light, whether it was from phosphorous grenades or a simple flashlight. In fact, the flashlight was a key game mechanic. Developer Darkworks (who later made the survival horror title Cold Fear for Ubisoft) created a unique game engine that allowed light to shine realistically on pre-rendered backgrounds. It was a neat effect, but the gameplay itself was trailing in a genre the series had essentially created.

Fun Fact: Uwe Boll, director of such *ahem* fine films as BloodRayne and Postal, made an Alone in the Dark movie in 2005 loosely based on The New Nightmare. It starred Christian Slater (really, Christian?) and was horrible.

24/06/08