Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Fixed Alone in the Dark gets new name for PS3http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/fixed-alone-in-the-dark-gets-new-name-for-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/fixed-alone-in-the-dark-gets-new-name-for-ps3/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/10/10/fixed-alone-in-the-dark-gets-new-name-for-ps3/#commentsFiled under: ,


Those fixes promised for the upcoming PS3 version of Alone in the Dark are substantial. So much so that Atari and developer Eden Games have decided to rebrand their survival horror romp through Central Park with a fiery subtitle, Alone in the Dark: Inferno. Set for release on November 18, the new version aims to correct many of the annoyances found in last June's release, changes Atari notes were fuelled by media and player feedback, and not -- repeat not -- by a Edward Carnby-shaped totem set ablaze on their front lawn.

Inferno's changes include "quicker and smoother" controls and 360-degree camera control, as well as a "more logical" inventory system, improved car handling and a better tip system. Atari also promises "an exclusive new sequence" in one portion of the game for more "excitement and variety." As for those of you who purchased the fettered Xbox 360 version, we're waiting to hear back from Atari if plans exist to patch that version, or if players should simply get used to watching Edward Carnby roast in a 'technically complicated' fire.

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]]>alone-in-the-darkalone-in-the-dark-infernoatarieden-gamesJason Dobson2008-10-10T16:55:00+00:00Eden 'can't promise' PS3 Alone in the Dark fixes for 360http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/12/eden-cant-promise-ps3-alone-in-the-dark-fixes-for-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/12/eden-cant-promise-ps3-alone-in-the-dark-fixes-for-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/09/12/eden-cant-promise-ps3-alone-in-the-dark-fixes-for-360/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Remember all those new features Eden is working into the PS3 release of Alone in the Dark? Oh, or how, upon announcing them, the developer also said they'd be arriving as a patch for the Xbox 360 version? Now the tune has hit a sour note, according to MTV Multiplayer.

Game designer Emile Morel says that Eden is, "Trying to do a patch," but that "it's technically complicated," saying that, if anything, the control and camera fixes will be implemented; don't expect the new subway chase sequence in the PS3 release to show up. There's evidently also an issue with the actual estimated size of the patch not sitting too well with Microsoft.

So now it's not only a case of if the patch will happen but when. Morel says that the decision to patch or not to patch might actually depend on the success of the PS3 version, and that the team probably won't get around to working on it until the release for Sony's machine goes gold.

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]]>alone-in-the-darkatariedenpatchRandy Nelson2008-09-12T21:00:00+00:00GC 2008: Eden bringing Alone in the Dark PS3 fixes to Xbox 360 with patchhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/eden-bringing-alone-in-the-dark-ps3-fixes-to-360-with-patch/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/eden-bringing-alone-in-the-dark-ps3-fixes-to-360-with-patch/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/21/eden-bringing-alone-in-the-dark-ps3-fixes-to-360-with-patch/#commentsFiled under: ,


Did you find yourself driven just a wee bit mad by some of the design decisions in Alone in the Dark for Xbox 360? Well, you're not alone, and developer Eden Games isn't in the dark about what it did wrong.

During a Leipzig Games Convention presentation, the studio owned up to the title's shortcomings, promising that a number of them are being addressed in the upcoming PS3 version. Specifically, the camerawork is different (it's pulled back more, and players will have free control using the right analog stick); the player character, Edward Carnby, runs by default; and the atrociously twitchy car handling has been mellowed out.

While this is good news for PS3 owners still eager to experience the game, they won't be the only ones to reap the benefits of Eden's hindsight and extra development time. It's been announced that an upcoming patch will bring these fixes - and potentially more - to the 360 version, although no firm date has been given for its release (it'll presumably hit when the PS3 game does in November).

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]]>alone-in-the-darkatarieden-gamesleipzig-08patchRandy Nelson2008-08-21T13:25:00+00:00Dem-o-rama: Alone in the Dark, Wall•E samples on 360http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/dem-o-rama-alone-in-the-dark-wall-e-samples-on-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/dem-o-rama-alone-in-the-dark-wall-e-samples-on-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/08/04/dem-o-rama-alone-in-the-dark-wall-e-samples-on-360/#commentsFiled under: ,


We're rarely ever encouraged when we see a demo for a game come after it has already been released -- it always feels a touch like a last-ditch effort. But when, as is the case for both games today, the release date predates the demo by more than a month? That's not promotional material; that's a dead canary.

But, as both Alone in the Dark and Wallo.E will likely be headed to Bargainville soon, perhaps there's no better time to get a free sample. Just don't be surprised if there's a reason they kept these sludge-filled hors d'oeuvres out of your hands.

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]]>alone-in-the-darkdemoswall-eJustin McElroy2008-08-04T10:45:00+00:00Zero Punctuation unleashes the fury on Alone in the Darkhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/18/zero-punctuation-unleashes-the-fury-on-alone-in-the-dark/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/18/zero-punctuation-unleashes-the-fury-on-alone-in-the-dark/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/18/zero-punctuation-unleashes-the-fury-on-alone-in-the-dark/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Zero Punctuation's Yahtzee has himself an awful game this week with Alone in the Dark, and he uses the opportunity for all that it's worth. This is a classic episode for the amount of ire it dishes out. Yes, it's everything one expects from Yahtzee reviewing Edward Carnby's latest misadventure in the well-intentioned, but ultimately flawed, game.

The NSFW clip can be found after the break.

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]]>aitdalone-in-the-darkatarizero-punctuationAlexander Sliwinski2008-07-18T19:50:00+00:00Big Versus tweaks format while Alone in the Darkhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/big-versus-tweaks-format-while-alone-in-the-dark/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/big-versus-tweaks-format-while-alone-in-the-dark/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/big-versus-tweaks-format-while-alone-in-the-dark/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Our friends at Big Download took both the PC and Xbox 360 versions of Alone in the Dark for a spin in an updated version of Big Versus. In their words, "Shying away from our original concept of which is better than the other, Big Versus has transformed to a comparison piece regarding our overall experiences." So which version left them with a more positive half-smile? Check it out here.

Gallery: Alone in the Dark (2008)


Gallery: A Dark Past: An Alone in the Dark Retrospective

A Dark Past: An Alone in the Dark RetrospectiveAlone in the Dark (PC, Mac, 3DO)Alone in the Dark 2 (PC, Mac, PSone, Sega Saturn, 3DO)Alone in the Dark 3 (PC, Mac)Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare (PC, PS1, PS2, Dreamcast, Game Boy Color)

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]]>alone-in-the-darkatariinfogramesRoss Miller2008-07-01T21:57:00+00:00A Dark Past: An Alone in the Dark Retrospectivehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/a-dark-past-an-alone-in-the-dark-retrospective/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/a-dark-past-an-alone-in-the-dark-retrospective/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/24/a-dark-past-an-alone-in-the-dark-retrospective/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Before the "survival horror" of Resident Evil and the foggy streets of Silent Hill, there was the original Alone in the Dark - the granddaddy of the game that hits Xbox 360, Wii, and PC today. It set the course for horror games to come and spawned three sequels that have all led up to Atari's latest stab at creating a next-gen blockbuster.

Summon up your courage and join us for a terrifying look back at the series' evolution from perilously pointy polygons to an ominous Old West set and beyond. Don't be afraid - let's get started!

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]]>alone-in-the-darkjoystiqfeaturesretrospectiveRandy Nelson2008-06-24T12:30:00+00:00Scared stiff: Why should we care about Alone in the Dark?http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/scared-stiff-why-should-we-care-about-alone-in-the-dark/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/scared-stiff-why-should-we-care-about-alone-in-the-dark/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/23/scared-stiff-why-should-we-care-about-alone-in-the-dark/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The survival horror genre is set to get a shot in the arm in 2008 with a number of high profile, not to mention highly anticipated entries all vying for the opportunity to keep us jumping at shadows and screaming like little girls. Or, for those gamers who are, in fact, little girls, just keep them screaming.

But as all of us know, build-up seldom equals pay-off, leaving us to look upon these titles with what could be described as a mixture of cautious excitement and malaise. However, rather than simply sit and wait to see what the games have in store for us, we decided to corner the teams working on this year's more notable survival horror titles, and pick their brains in true survival horror fashion -- with an ice pick.

But having left the ice pick at the office (my bad!), we opted to simply ask those working on these titles why we should keep their games on our collective radar. This week we'll be talking with people working on such games as Dead Space, Silent Hill: Homecoming and Project Origin, and kick things off today by asking Eden Games' producer Nour Polloni about her studio's re-imagining of survival horror architect Alone in the Dark, particularly, why should we care?

Gallery: Alone in the Dark (2008)


Polloni, who unsurprisingly counts the original Alone in the Dark for the PC as her favorite survival horror game of all time, told us that the studio designed this new take on the franchise with the intention of living up to the Infogrames 1992 classic.

"We wanted to break the constraints of any one genre and challenge what gamers expect from video games"


"We wanted to create a game that would live up to the legacy of innovation of the very first Alone in the Dark, which means we wanted to break the constraints of any one genre and challenge what gamers expect from video games," said the producer. She added that the developer attempted to create an experience in Alone in the Dark that was "much broader than any one genre with a really rich mix of different gameplay and some bold innovations."

Added Polloni, "For the gameplay there's big action set pieces, exploration, problem solving, driving and visceral combat, which all combines to give a varied experience which can appeal to a wide cross section of gamers."

Break constraints? Challenge expectations? Big words for sure, but given that so much of troubled publisher Atari's financial fortitude rests squarely on the shoulders of Eden, whose previous projects include 2006's criminally under-appreciated Test Drive: Unlimited, we're unsure how much of Polloni's excitement we should take at face value, and how much comes seasoned with anxiety.


Nevertheless, the producer talked up Alone in the Dark's gameplay novelties as yet another reason we should be mindful to keep the romp through Central Park on our list of survival horror titles to pick up, despite the game's somewhat mixed reception since dropping onto European shelves late last week.

"There's a level of interaction you won't see anywhere else based on real world rules."


"We've created new gameplay," Polloni told us, "which relies on the creativity of the player to create tools and weapons using his environment and the things in it, hence there's a level of interaction you won't see anywhere else based on real world rules."

It all sounds a bit complicated, like mixing the thrill of a roller coaster with having to puzzle out a Rubik's Cube. However, the producer's promise that players will have to chuck convention out the window and "instinctively apply what you know about how things work in the real world" certainly doesn't come without a sense of appeal.

The game certainly impressed us the last time we played it, but will it be enough to make Alone in the Dark stand out among 2008's other interactive frightfests? Our Magic 8-Ball offers an ambivalent "Maybe," though the game undoubtedly has some stiff competition.

Tomorrow we'll turn our attention to Electronic Arts, and hopefully even from the blackness of space you'll be able to hear us scream as we ask the company why we should care about Dead Space.

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]]>alone-in-the-darkaloneinthedarkedeneden-gamesjoystiqfeaturesscared-stiffsurvival-horrorJason Dobson2008-06-23T17:15:00+00:00Metareview -- Alone in the Dark (Euro edition)http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/metareview-alone-in-the-dark-euro-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/metareview-alone-in-the-dark-euro-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/20/metareview-alone-in-the-dark-euro-edition/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Early reviews of Atari's anticipated frightfest, Alone in The Dark, have generated quite a bit of controversy. A couple of 3/10s will do that, most of all when the publisher's scorn comes from the suspicion that said European articles were based on preview or pirated code. Though several other sites have now chimed in with their thoughts and less dire scores, Eden's efforts seem to have fallen just short of the game's ambition and promise. It seems everybody wanted to love Alone in The Dark, but had their feelings rebuked by clumsy controls and obvious padding to the game's length.
  • Xbox World 360 (73/100): "As much as Alone In The Dark deserves to be criticised for its problems, it equally deserves to be lavished with praise for some outstanding ideas and set-pieces. A gracious failure, AITD should stand as a lesson for other developers to see what they should be striving for."
  • Eurogamer (70/100): "The problem is that every time you get excited about Alone in the Dark, it shuts you down. At times it's akin to Atari's Boiling Point: Road To Hell of three years ago; throw any score on the ten-point scale and it will stick to something, but there's so much friction on the lower end that it's often impossible to pull away and remember when you brushed past genius. You want to love it, but it just keeps letting you down, and in the end that's the impression that sticks to the wall and stays there."
  • Gamer.nl (50/100): "The game can be compared to an aggressive puppy without potty training. You want to keep him so badly, but every time it seems to go right, it bites, scratches and shits on your carpet." (Translation)

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]]>Alone-in-the-DarkAtariEdenSurvival-HorrorLudwig Kietzmann2008-06-20T13:30:00+00:00The Best Of Big Download: June 8-14, 2008http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/the-best-of-big-download-june-8-14-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/the-best-of-big-download-june-8-14-2008/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/14/the-best-of-big-download-june-8-14-2008/#commentsFiled under: ,


Did you have a good week? We had a terrific one at Big Download but with the release of Spore Creature Creator next week it promises to be an even busier time for our site. In the meantime here are the highlights from the past week

Exclusive Features

Downloads
News


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]]>alone-in-the-darkarmaggedon-empiresbig-downloadcivilization ivCivilizationIvcodemastersgridhellgate-londonportalsupreme-ruler-2020John Callaham2008-06-14T14:00:00+00:00Alone in the Dark with Wiimote and Nunchukhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/alone-in-the-dark-with-wiimote-and-nunchuk/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/alone-in-the-dark-with-wiimote-and-nunchuk/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/13/alone-in-the-dark-with-wiimote-and-nunchuk/#commentsFiled under: ,

A fresh take on Waggletech(R) as Alone in the Dark for Wii developer, Hydravision Entertainment, proves its penchant for virtual charades in this new trailer. Seriously, the "flasher" maneuver? Brilliant! Who knew the Wiimote and Nunchuk could be used to mimic the parting of a trench coat? Still, there's nothing quite as immersifying as the overhand bludgeon. Classic.

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]]>alone-in-the-darkatarihydravision-entertainmentnunchukwiimoteJames Ransom-Wiley2008-06-13T15:00:00+00:00Delayed horrification: Alone in the Dark finishedhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/delayed-horrification-alone-in-the-dark-finished/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/delayed-horrification-alone-in-the-dark-finished/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/06/09/delayed-horrification-alone-in-the-dark-finished/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Atari has sent along word that its entry into the next-gen survival-horror action-survival fray is all wrapped up and ready to (*fingers crossed*) scare up retail bucks on June 24. (For every platform but PS3, that is.)

The oft-delayed Alone in the Dark series "restart" explores an even darker side of Silent Hill NYC's Central Park. Based on our recent hands-on with the Xbox 360 version of game, the unique "TV episode" style mission structure and varied gameplay situations (not to mention lots of pretty fire) should help it stand out during a relatively slow spot in the release calendar. PS3 owners will have to wait until "autumn" (we hear, November to be exact) for their share of scares.

Gallery: Alone in the Dark (2008)

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]]>alone-in-the-darkatarisurvival-horrorRandy Nelson2008-06-09T16:30:00+00:00Harrison elaborates on the future of single-player gameshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/harrison-elaborates-on-the-future-of-single-player-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/harrison-elaborates-on-the-future-of-single-player-games/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/28/harrison-elaborates-on-the-future-of-single-player-games/#commentsFiled under:


Infogrames president Phil Harrison made some eyebrow-raising comments last week, claiming that following Alone in the Dark, his company would move away from "huge-budget, single-player games." Speaking to videogaming247, Harrison went into more detail on what he described as not just a shift in direction for Infogrames, but for the entire industry as well.

While suggesting once again that Infogrames will be moving away from single-player console titles, Harrison elaborates that those games will still have a place in the market, but will have to begin integrating connectivity and non-linearity to survive. We'll have to see if there's any truth in these sooth-saying words.

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]]>alone-in-the-darkatariinfogramesphil-harrisonScott Jon Siegel2008-05-28T04:00:00+00:00Harrison: Infogrames & Atari done with 'huge-budget, single-player games'http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/harrison-infogrames-and-atari-done-with-huge-budget-single-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/harrison-infogrames-and-atari-done-with-huge-budget-single-play/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/harrison-infogrames-and-atari-done-with-huge-budget-single-play/#commentsFiled under:

alone in the dark
Stopping short of calling Alone in the Dark his troubled (transitioning?) company's "swan song," Infogrames president and Atari legal guardian Phil Harrison has again proposed that the company (meaning Infogrames the parent and Atari the wholly owned US subsidiary) is focused on carving out its place in the budding online gaming business with a stress on social communication. "I don't see that we're going to be making huge-budget, single-player games in the future," Harrison told Gamasutra, adding, "Now, that doesn't mean that we won't have ambition to do really incredible games ... but they won't be one-player, narrative-driven, start-middle-end games."

Will we be hearing the same message if Alone in the Dark manages to answer CEO David Gardner's prayers (to the tune of 2-3 million units sold)? Sounds like it. Harrison has clearly set his sights on taking a "slightly aggressive, leading-edge role" in the online gaming movement where loneliness is the last motif he wants to cultivate and dark days are in the company's past. "We have plenty of titles in our pipeline, and we think [Alone in the Dark] will be an important part of our year, but it's by no means the only part of our year."

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]]>alone-in-the-darkatariinfogramesphil-harrisonJames Ransom-Wiley2008-05-23T15:58:00+00:00Phil Harrison talks Alone in the Dark, spotlight shines on game footagehttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/phil-harrison-talks-alone-in-the-dark-spotlight-shines-on-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/phil-harrison-talks-alone-in-the-dark-spotlight-shines-on-game/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/23/phil-harrison-talks-alone-in-the-dark-spotlight-shines-on-game/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The dialog may sound cheesy, but Alone in the Dark looks like it could be good enough (and given our hands-on, maybe even 3 million units good enough) to try when it releases in late June. In the video above, Atari/Infogrames Directeur Général Délégué Phil Harrison speaks to 1Up about being impressed after seeing AitD for the first time and enjoying the narrative structure of the title.

The real highlight in the video is the impressive amount of gameplay footage shown, which gives us a much better idea of what the title will actually be like. We're not sure yet if Alone in the Dark will be "blow your mind" fantastic, but much like The Darkness last summer, it appears well suited in getting some attention from the consoles it'll launch on during a less-than-crowded release time. Don't fret PS3 owners, you should be way too busy with Solid Snake starting June 12 to care about little ol' Edward Carnby.

Gallery: Alone in the Dark (2008)

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]]>aitdalone-in-the-darkatariinfogramesphil-harrisonAlexander Sliwinski2008-05-23T01:30:00+00:00Joystiq hands-on: Alone in the Dark (360)http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/joystiq-hands-on-alone-in-the-dark-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/joystiq-hands-on-alone-in-the-dark-360/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/22/joystiq-hands-on-alone-in-the-dark-360/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


With some trepidation, I walked into Atari's offices today to check out the newest (and quite possibly final) build of Alone in the Dark. With controller in hand, I started a fresh save file ... only to have three hours blur by and be bombarded with a never-ending series of cinematic, adrenaline-pumping sequences. I was totally unprepared for Eden Studios' bold reimagining of the franchise. This is not your father's Alone in the Dark.

A key point that the Atari representative reiterated throughout my play session was the influence of serialized television in the design of the game. The game is broken up into a series of "episodes," each ending on a cliffhanger. Players are able to select levels and sequences via a menu that resembles something you'd find on a DVD. Not only can players jump to any level they want, but they can skip to specific "chapters" within each episode, as well. Each episode ends with credits, and each new episode starts with a very cute "Previously on Alone in the Dark" recap. (Interestingly, all the episodes are unlocked when a player starts the game. This means if you get stuck at a certain point, you can simply skip to the next chapter and use the recap to see what you missed. The reasoning behind this? Eden wants everyone to finish this game, no matter how challenging the puzzles may get.)

These trivial changes to the presentation are amusing, but the TV inspiration runs much deeper. One season of a great television show has a clear beginning, middle and end. However, each episode usually focuses on one specific issue in an overarching story arc. Alone in the Dark fully embraces the serialized narrative, and uses it to create stunning set pieces in every chapter of every episode we've had an opportunity to play. Alone in the Dark isn't survival horror like we've seen in Silent Hill and Resident Evil. No, it's also about platforming. It's about puzzle solving, first person shooting ... and even driving. Alone in the Dark really is a great season of 24, albeit one with a supernatural twist.

Gallery: Alone in the Dark (2008)




The story begins with your character, blurry-eyed, waking up to an angry group of men intent on killing you. Just like the main character, the player knows nothing about what's going on: Who are these people, what do they want ... and most importantly, who are you? There isn't much time for answers, though. They're taking you to the roof to execute you. That is, until the floors start cracking apart, eating people alive. The building (nay, the city) is falling apart and you have to get the hell out.

Escaping the building is no easy task, and it sets the premise for the entirety of the first "episode" of the game. Navigating the collapsing, burning hallways of the building reminded us a lot of Uncharted on PS3. The game's main protagonist, Edward Carnby, is as much an "everyday man" as Nathan Drake: Both will make incredible leaps of faith, but neither come with extraordinary powers to defy gravity. Edward, in the opening levels, will jump over burning pits of debris, rappel down a broken elevator shaft, and even precariously swing around the building exterior. In one incredible sequence, I tried climbing up a rope to the top of the roof, but every time I inched closer, the cable snapped a bit, plummeting me briefly. I nervously progressed forward, hoping not to make the rope snap completely.

"Pyromaniacs rejoice -- the fire in Alone in the Dark is a thing of beauty."
With the exception of the massive supernatural attack on New York City, everything about Alone in the Dark is meant to feel real. Edward feels like a real character in a real world, and he must abide by the physics that rule this virtual environment. The key star of the physics, however, is fire. Pyromaniacs rejoice -- the fire in Alone in the Dark is a thing of beauty. You can set a single piece of wood on fire and watch it slowly deteriorate into a smoldering pile of ash. Fire will stick to all flammable surfaces, trapping Edward in some truly perilous situations. But, fire isn't just a deadly environmental hazard -- it is both a weapon and a tool. When I approached a locked door, I could've simply smashed it open by using a nearby fire extinguisher. Instead, I picked up a wooden chair from the room, ran into an adjacent burning room, set it on fire and threw it at the locked door. It took some time, but the door became engulfed, slowly breaking apart into glowing embers.



The lack of HUD makes for an immersive experience, and the in-coat inventory system offers a sensible restriction to the player. All usable items are stored in Edward's jacket, and anything that can't fit will not be added to the inventory. Players can open their jacket at any time to equip, use and combine items -- but unlike Resident Evil 4, the game doesn't stop when you're perusing through your items. The world continues whilst you look in your coat, so don't expect to do extensive item work when you're surrounded by a horde of enemies.

The various items that can be used are all a lot of fun to use, especially when combined properly. For example, bullets can become explosive rounds when doused in a certain fluid. Players can make sticky bombs by combining tape and a volatile chemical. Players have the freedom to experiment with a number of various item combinations, which makes puzzle solving really engaging.

There are multiple solutions to many obstacles and puzzles in the game. For example, a locked door has an electronic keypad. By looking at the blood stains on the keys, players can input the right code to go. Alternatively, they can simply shoot the keypad and then hotwire the device to bypass security. Who knows? There might have been other ways to get past that sequence, depending on your inventory and imagination. If an item won't clear a path, the solution may present itself through physics. Everything has a sensible cause-and-effect in the game; don't expect any arbitrary Myst-like puzzles.

Simply traversing the stages is entertaining, thanks to the dramatic backdrops and clever environmental puzzles scattered throughout. But considering this is an apocalypse, Edward must face a growing number of zombie-like enemies, reanimated human puppets called "humanz." [Oh noez - Ed.] These horrifically scarred beings will relentlessly attack Edward, and can only be killed through the use of fire. Players can pick up a variety of objects in the environment: swords, frying pans, computer keyboards. But, these tools can only stall the undead enemies. Players can try to drag stunned bodies into fire, or use a weapon that's already covered in flames. Or, players can sacrifice their health aid spray, igniting it into a powerful flamethrower (when combined with the lighter).

Guns are also unsurprisingly helpful, especially when players learn how to create the best kind of ammunition in the game. The entire game can be played through either a first- or third-person perspective. I found myself switching between both modes, depending on the environment and the weapon I had in my possession. A simple press of the Y button changes things up.



Once I managed to escape the building, I learned of my ultimate destination: Central Park. A very accurately modeled New York City falls into a state of pandemonium, with streets being ripped in half, and buildings being torn apart. This segment, entitled "59th Street," is one of the most exhilarating moments I've experienced in this generation of games. In a taxi cab, I had to navigate through a crazed city street that looked like a scene from Cloverfield. Although there are no HUD elements directing me where to go, I never felt lost. When I finally got to Central Park, I thought to myself, "This is what driving through an earthquake is like." It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.

After that, Edward learns that the events of this apocalyptic evening, for some reason, can only be stopped by him. He's given "the stone," a magical device that'll obviously be vital to solving this mystery. A major plot twist later, and we're free to roam Central Park any way we'd like.

"This is what driving in an earthquake is like." It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
Yes, there are objectives to complete. But, if a player so chooses, he or she can explore the entirety of Central Park. According to an Atari representative, this is an almost-perfect recreation of the park. Looking at the map and playing the game, I'd have to agree: the sense of scale is incredible. This is even truer to real life than Grand Theft Auto IV's "Middle Park." Speaking of GTA, there are vehicles within Central Park that players can hijack. Finding a vehicle can make traversing Central Park much easier: Not only is it much easier than going on foot, but there are a lot of "humanz" looking to become roadkill.

This is where the real Alone in the Dark experience begins, and players will begin unraveling the mystery of the evil that lurks beneath Central Park. From what I've seen so far, I'm excited to play through more episodes of Eden's adventure game. The cinematic presentation outdid all of my expectations, and the gameplay variety was startling. With solid (and sometimes fantastic) graphics, an incredible soundtrack performed by the Grammy Award-winning vocalists "Mystery of the Bulgarian Voices," and a truly intriguing premise, Eden Studios has made a convert of me. After three hours with the game, I can only hope that the momentum found in the game's opening moments continues in the full, final game.

Alone in the Dark will be available on Xbox 360 and PC on June 24th. A PS3 version is planned for November. Stay tuned for impressions of the Wii version of Alone in the Dark, developed by Hydravision Entertainment.

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]]>alone-in-the-darkataricentral-parkeden-studiosjoystiqfeaturesAndrew Yoon2008-05-22T21:30:00+00:00Alone in the Dark shows off driving gameplayhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/alone-in-the-dark-shows-off-driving-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/alone-in-the-dark-shows-off-driving-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/13/alone-in-the-dark-shows-off-driving-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


If you like cheese, then you're gonna love the new Alone in the Dark gameplay trailer after the break. Try to ignore the giant pop-up on how to turn off the car's headlights and just focus on the voice acting, which even Resident Evil fans might cringe at. Who knows, maybe the game is supposed to be filled with fromagey goodness?

Considering Alone in the Dark is expected to sell 2-3 million copies this year, that confidence might be a little hard to understand after seeing this "GTA in hell" video. Oh well, hopefully we'll still be able to light plenty of stuff on fire.

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]]>alone-in-the-darkaloneinthedarkatarivideoAlexander Sliwinski2008-05-13T16:30:00+00:00BBFC rating confirms Alone in the Dark's spookinesshttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/bbfc-rating-confirms-alone-in-the-darks-spookiness/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/bbfc-rating-confirms-alone-in-the-darks-spookiness/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/05/07/bbfc-rating-confirms-alone-in-the-darks-spookiness/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


The British Board of Film Classification has posted details on the '15' rating pegged on Atari's upcoming survival-horror shriekfest, Alone in the Dark. The extended classification information on the BBFC website notes the game's "frequent use of strong language," but cuts it some some slack since, unlike Uwe Boll's ill-fated film adaptation, it "does not dwell on the infliction of pain or injury." The text reminds us that while there's "plenty of violence," it's all "mitigated by the fantasy context." Thank goodness!

Aside from the aggressive use of "guns, posts, spades, flamethrowers and other items," the BBFC also warns that we'd best watch out for "moments of horror, with some of the supernatural beasts that attack the protagonist arriving in fairly unexpected - and shocking - fashion." So ... zombies wearing ponchos, then.

Gallery: Alone in the Dark (2008)

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]]>Alone-in-the-DarkAtariBBFCSurvival-HorrorLudwig Kietzmann2008-05-07T17:00:00+00:00Alone in the Dark producer shows Wii controls and gameplayhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/alone-in-the-dark-producer-shows-wii-controls-and-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/alone-in-the-dark-producer-shows-wii-controls-and-gameplay/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/28/alone-in-the-dark-producer-shows-wii-controls-and-gameplay/#commentsFiled under: , ,


With the first footage we've seen of the Wii's Alone in the Dark in action, the game's producer, Maxime Loppin, shows off the title to JeuxVideo. To be honest, we know next to nothing of what Monsieur Loppin is saying, but sometimes actions speak louder than words.

After the break we've embedded footage of Loppin playing the game (he starts around 1:57). A nice touch: by moving the Wiimote and nunchuk away from each other in a "coat opening motion" players can view Carnby's inventory, which he conveniently keeps inside his coat. And if anyone is feeling super ambitious and wants to translate, be our guest.

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]]>alone-in-the-darkaloneinthedarkjeux-francejeuxfranceAlexander Sliwinski2008-04-28T12:30:00+00:00Alone in the Dark scares up a limited editionhttp://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/alone-in-the-dark-scares-up-a-limited-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/alone-in-the-dark-scares-up-a-limited-edition/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/04/22/alone-in-the-dark-scares-up-a-limited-edition/#commentsFiled under: ,


For pack rats who salivate for all things Carnby, Atari has released images to CVG of what collectors can expect to find inside the Alone in the Dark Limited Edition box. Currently only confirmed for release in Europe, the box will contain an Edward Carnby doll, official soundtrack CD, art book, making-of documentary and the game. There's currently no price attached and the limited edition is available only for Xbox 360, Wii and PC.

We'll take this as a sign that the oft-delayed game might actually (shockingly) release June 24. After all, how can there be a "making-of documentary" if the game isn't done, right? Whether the game actually sells as well as Infogrames is predicting ... we'll have to wait and see.

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]]>alone-in-the-darkaloneinthedarkatariEdenlimited-editionlimitededitionAlexander Sliwinski2008-04-22T16:00:00+00:00