All materials on showgamer.com are protected by copyright. Partial copying is permitted with an open (for search engines) link. ShowGamer (2015)
Infogrames Entertainment, a franchise company that bought Atari in 2021 and renamed itself to that famous brand in 2003, and created the Alone in the Dark franchise. The first game, released in 1991, was the idea of the company's deputy director Bruno Bonell. The basic concept was that the action takes place in gloomy locations, which the main character explores, using various tools to light the way - matches, torches and so on.
The project was led by Frederic Reynal, who had previously adapted the Alpha Waves game for PC. Based on the limited graphics capabilities of the time, Reynal decided to add text-based horror elements to the game, which were intended to maintain a tense atmosphere. He also introduced an innovative gameplay element whereby the player could die while performing standard actions such as reading a book or opening a door. This reinforced the feeling that you could die at any second.
The plot is set in 1920s America, which is also characteristic of the noir genre and the works of Howard Phillips Lovecraft, whose works partially inspired the developers to create this project.
On which platforms it was released: MS-DOS, 3DO, Mac OS, RISC OS, iOS.
Metacritic rating: iOS version - 50/100, Alone in the Dark: The Trilogy 1+2+3 (1997) - 72/100.
The development of Frederic Reynal's debut project took only a year, and in 1992 the game was released on PC and consoles. The plot of Alone in the Dark centers on the story of Detective Edward Carnby, who investigates strange events at the Derseto Mansion in Louisiana. Carnby proved to be such a fascinating character that he became the protagonist of all subsequent installments of the series, including its reboots.
After arriving at the mansion, Carnby quickly realizes that the rumors were true and the building is inhabited by monsters. The game is based on solving puzzles and fighting enemies, some of which are made intentionally unkillable, which played a key role in the formation of the survival horror genre. Earlier games of this type were often reduced to destroying monsters, but here a completely new approach was offered.
Graphically the project looked impressive for its time: the game used hand-drawn backgrounds and polygonal character models. The first Alone in the Dark quickly became a bestseller with sales of more than 2.5 million copies and received high marks from critics, especially notable for its horror atmosphere and references to Lovecraft's work. In 2009, the game was listed as one of the top 100 games of all time by Empire magazine.
On which platforms it was released: 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, PlayStation, DOS, Sega Saturn, NEC PC-98, FM Towns, Mac OS, PC (Windows).
Rated on Metacritic: Alone in the Dark: The Trilogy 1+2+3 (1997) - 72/100.
The sequel to Alone in the Dark, titled Alone in the Dark 2, was successful enough in terms of sales that it allowed Infogrames to turn a profit and continue developing the series, although it was unable to replicate the shocking success of the original. The main character, Edward Carnby, transformed from a simple detective to a recognizable paranormal specialist after his adventures at the Derseto Mansion. His next assignment takes him to Hell's Kitchen, where he must face new threats, including ghostly pirates and real-life gangsters who have mysteriously allied themselves with dark forces.
Gameplay in Alone in the Dark 2 differs significantly from the first installment. If the original offered freedom of exploration and an emphasis on puzzles, the sequel was much more linear, corridor-based and focused on the combat system. The arsenal of weapons had to be expanded. Such changes caused mixed reactions among players and critics. Some felt that the game lost some of its unique atmosphere and depth, now focusing on action and combat elements.
The critics' average score of 6 out of 10 reflected disappointment in some aspects of the game, such as outdated graphics and a weak ending, as well as problems with camera angles, which was a significant drawback to the gameplay. This became especially evident when the game was ported to Sony's PlayStation platform in 1996. Despite the updated graphics, the game seemed dated against then-current projects such as Resident Evil, which emphasized the importance of visual and technical aspects in the gaming industry.
The failed move to PlayStation was one of the first major failures for the franchise, but not the last. Nevertheless, despite mixed reviews, the Alone in the Dark series continued to evolve and remained an important part of video game history, continuing to explore the possibilities of the survival horror genre.
What platforms was it released on: DOS.
Metacritic rating: none.
Jack in the Dark is a small addition to the Alone in the Dark series, which is a nice gift for fans of the franchise. The events of the game unfold in a small children's toy store on the eve of Halloween. The main character, Grace Saunders, accidentally enters the store and finds herself trapped by the evil Jack-in-the-Box, who has kidnapped Santa Claus himself and keeps the toy store's inhabitants in fear.
Unlike the main parts of the series, the gameplay of Jack in the Dark is closer to classic quests. The player will have to rely on his attentiveness and wit, as there is no violence in the game, and courage and logic become the key qualities. There is no shooting or fighting, but plenty of riddles and puzzles that require thinking and finding the keys to solve them. The game also allows you to learn more about the many toy characters who take an active part in the events.
Despite some technical shortcomings, Jack in the Dark still successfully conveys the atmosphere of a small toy kingdom and creates a pleasant holiday mood. Although the game takes a small amount of time to complete, it offers players a brief but exciting adventure. A great addition to the series that can appeal to fans and newcomers alike, as well as being a nice diversion for holiday parties.
On which platforms it was released: MS-DOS, NEC PC-98, PC (Windows), Mac OS.
Rated on Metacritic: Alone in the Dark: The Trilogy 1+2+3 (1997) - 72/100.
The third installment of Alone in the Dark attempted to take the game's familiar formula into a new, unique Wild West setting, but unfortunately failed to fully capitalize on its potential. Moving Edward Carnby to a place where the action takes place amongst the ghosts of cowboys and bandits seemed promising, but the realization was a failure. The game did not differ much from the second part, except for the change of location and antagonists, which in the end did not meet with the approval of both critics and players.
Critics and players alike noted the lack of innovation and significant development in both gameplay and technical aspects. It was this secondary nature that was the main reason why the third installment of Alone in the Dark is often considered the weakest of the original trilogy.
Infogrames' shift to a strategy of acquiring other studios and publishing their games, especially after the disappointment of the third installment, had a significant impact on the future fate of the series. Instead of focusing on developing its own projects, the company began actively buying third-party studios. This move, although it helped Infogrames strengthen its position in the global market, led to a freeze in the development of Alone in the Dark series for seven years.
Such a hiatus and change of strategy often affects game franchises, as the refocusing of resources and attention on new projects can sideline development and innovation in existing series. For Alone in the Dark, this meant that fans had to wait years before seeing a revival or continuation of their favorite series.
What platforms it was released on: PlayStation, Game Boy Color, Dreamcast, PC, PlayStation 2.
Metacritic rating: 66/100.
The relaunch of the Alone in the Dark series in 2001 was indeed a significant step for Infogrames and Darkworks Studios. It was an attempt to breathe new life into the classic franchise, while keeping its unique features and adapting to the current trends in the gaming industry.
An interesting move with the ability to choose a character between Edward Carnby and Alyn Sedrak added depth to the game, offering players two different playthrough styles. This not only increased replay value, but also appealed to a wider audience by allowing them to choose between Edward's more dynamic and action-oriented approach and Alyn's more tactical and mysterious style. This feature was well-received by newcomers and fans of the original series alike.
In addition, the game's sales, which reached the one and a half million copy mark, indicated that the game not only met fan expectations, but also attracted a new audience. However, despite the financial success and generally positive reviews, the relaunch caused further controversy due to the cinematic adaptation, which unfortunately proved to be extremely unsuccessful.
Uwe Boll's movie "Alone in the Dark", based on the game, has been notorious for ending up in the Guinness Book of World Records due to low box office receipts and extremely negative reviews from critics. This reflects the difficulty of adapting video games into movies, with many projects facing misunderstanding and disappointment from fans and critics alike.
Thus, the reboot of Alone in the Dark showed that even a successful and well-received video game can be the basis for cinematic failure, once again confirming the difficulties developers and studios face in translating game universes to the big screens.
What platforms it was released on: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC (Windows), PlayStation 2, Wii.
Metacritic score: 58/100.
The story of the second "Alone in the Dark" reboot under Atari sounds like a series of risk-taking decisions during a difficult time for the company. The company's name change from Infogrames to Atari, the departure of a key executive and financial difficulties added uncertainty to the future of this iconic franchise. Despite this, hope remained to resurrect the success of the previous installments.
A new approach to the story using an episodic format and the ability to choose the order of story arcs could add flexibility to the game and attract a new audience. The idea of using surrounding items as weapons and combining them to increase damage also seems interesting, bringing elements of creativity and tactility to the gameplay. The damage visualization system, which adds realism to the perception of the character's state, also sounds like a potentially appealing feature.
Unfortunately, however, all of these innovations are marred by serious flaws in execution. Bugs, poorly developed plot, unfortunate dialogs, and awkward controls all significantly undermined the game's potential. Such problems are often characteristic of projects released under financial pressure and limited deadlines.
Atari's response to criticism of the game, including lawsuits against critics, further exacerbated the situation, causing negativity in the gaming community and possibly discouraging potential buyers. As a result, even though the game sold a good 1.2 million copies, the overall perception of the game and the company's actions left a heavy imprint on the reputation of the franchise and Atari itself.
This case illustrates how important it is for video game developers not only to innovate and adapt classic series to modern standards, but also to carefully consider the implementation of innovations, ensure the quality of the product and adequately respond to criticism.
On what platforms it was released: PC (Windows).
Metacritic rating: 19/100.
Atari's latest attempt to revitalize the Alone in the Dark series with a project based on a zombie apocalypse in an abandoned mining town seems like a really desperate and failed move. A project that could have been an opportunity for Atari to reassert itself ended up being another financial failure and buried hopes of reviving the iconic series.
The move away from the story development that was one of the strengths of the early installments to repetitive zombie-shooting gameplay shows that the studio may have lost sight of what fans valued in the original games. Adding RPG elements could have added depth, but the faulty implementation only served to emphasize the game's overall shortcomings.
This case emphasizes the importance of a careful approach to game development, especially when it comes to legendary series. It is important not to simply use well-known brands as a means to make a quick buck, but to invest in projects with meaningful innovation and quality that can meet the expectations of modern gamers. It also emphasizes the need to have a clear vision of what elements of the series are key, and how they can be adapted to current trends without losing the uniqueness and appeal of the original.
For a company like Atari, which was already struggling financially, such a failure could have had serious consequences, not only deepening the crisis, but further eroding investor and customer confidence. It might have made more sense to focus on developing new projects or even reimagining other classic series where there was potential for innovation that could have been better received by the market.
What platforms it was released on: PC (Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S.
Rated on Metacritic: 66/100.
P.S. If you want to know more about the game, read our review of Alone in the Dark (2024) — https://showgamer.com/en/reviews/72-obzor-alone-in-the-dark-2024-otlichnyy-perezapusk-klassiki.
THQ Nordic has taken on the task of reviving the Alone in the Dark franchise through a remake/re-launch, assigning the job to Pieces Interactive, a studio with little experience in big projects, but similar prospects have been seen before, as in the case of the cult series Batman: Arkham, created by the small Rocksteady Studios.
The script of the game was developed by Mikael Hedberg, the author of SOMA and Amnesia, and the design of monsters was entrusted to the artist Guy Davis, known for his work on the films "Pacific Rim" and "The Shape of Water". For the soundtrack is responsible Jason Kenen, the creator of music in the style of doom-jazz, corresponding to the genre and atmosphere of the project.
The plot of the latest horror Alone in the Dark is set in the 1920s, gamers can play the game for two different characters, whose storylines are intertwined, but have their own unique differences. The main roles of Edward Carnby and Emily Hartwood were played by David Harbour and Jodie Comer. The couple explores an abandoned asylum for the mentally ill in search of Emily's birth uncle.
Rating on Metacritic: 9/100.
The Alone in the Dark franchise, due to its popularity and setting, attracted attention as a potential cinematic adaptation. However, the choice of Uwe Boll, a director who specialized in lowbrow thrash, proved to be a bad move. His 2005 film Alone in the Dark, starring Christian Slater and Tara Reid, could not avoid failure, being a lowbrow, boring and disgusting horror movie.
Subsequently, a sequel with Rick Yune and Lance Henriksen followed, with Uwe Boll already acting as producer and others directing. However, this sequel was also criticized, closing the story of the film franchise "Alone in the Dark" without the possibility of further continuation.
The success of the title is quite expected.
New heroes, new challenges.
Deadpool's world is dying.
