The third episode delivered stunning graphics, cunning puzzles and a very, very eerie atmosphere. Overall, the trilogy, despite the shortcomings of the second game, was considered a classic. However, that was five years ago, and that was the last we heard of paranormal investigator extraordinaire Edward Carnby. Meanwhile, a new breed of horror-adventure has appeared, most notably Resident Evil 1 and 2.
With the same graphical style as the AITD games, the only reason these games are edging towards classic status is because they're taking advantage of newer technology in the absence of any decent competition. The recent release of Nocturne has fuelled the fire slightly, but what we're really waiting for - what we've always waited for - is Alone In The Dark 4. That wait is almost over. Charged with bringing the series up to 21st Century standards is the unenviable task of French developer Darkworks.
They've been working on the project for over 18 months now and, while the going may be slow, the creative aspirations of these Gallic 'artistes' are beginning to make their mark. Okay, so a cursory glance over these pages will reveal the pretty, if rather standard backdrops of haunted houses, dark corridors and hideously mutated beasts All that is basic Alone In The Dark stuff, and we expect nothing less. What you cannot hope to appreciate by simply looking at a few simple stills is that unlike previous AITD games, the backgrounds are all realtime.
Dynamic lighting is used to create authentic-looking shadows, and lightning even flashes across the sky to enhance the foreboding mood. If you've played the previous three games and remember the sort of frightening claustrophobic environments that were created without 3D acceleration, imagine the tension this new technology will bring.
There have also been significant changes to Camby himself. No longer is he a simple stony-faced, paranoid delusional, stumbling from one predetermined puzzle to the next. He's now our hero and storyteller rolled into one. Don't be. It's quite simple AITD4's plot unfolds depending on how you react to certain situations.
This is not a case of simply kill or run, either. The programmers are actually in the process of implementing real emotional responses. Players can be brave, stupid, wary, scared and more besides. Every emotion exhibited causes a reaction somewhere in the game. This could be a simple case of braving the darkness of a room to find an exit on the other side, or something subtler, like monsters backing off after you've shown you're not scared of them. The gameplay itself is as much about exploring Carnby's mind as it is about exploring the bizarre world you find yourself in.
No surprises, then, that Darkworks list psychological entertainers like David Cronenberg and Stanley Kubrick among their influences. In true homage to films like Existenz and Videodrome, Darkworks hope to create: In French accent "a sense immersion experience". The whole emotion concept is something that's never been done before. If it works, the results should be truly fascinating. Maybe there's scope for analogue joystick control, or force feedback. Inventory mode is, well, where you see your inventory.
You can take a closer look at certain items such as journal pages and the map. You can also see what weapons you have available as well as the amount of ammo for each. If there's no description for something you can pretty much bet that you'll use it somewhere else. One feature that I really liked about this game is that you can save anytime you want.
When you first start the game you can choose one of three different save slots. I'd suggest saving early and often, as you never know what will happen next. Well, this is an interesting topic for this game. They're both good and bad. The backgrounds are very nice for a GBC game and you can tell that this is where the bulk of the cartridge's memory is used. There aren't a whole lot of bright colors, which is to be expected in a game as this.
I was impressed with how bright the screens are, in that you can see things well assuming you can see the GBC screen well. The problem with the backgrounds is that there is so much detail on a screen that can't handle it all that well so you end up thinking, 'what is that blobbish thing anyway? Most of the icons you pick up are icons until you look in inventory. The inventory and cinematic cut-scenes both have nice art all around and, again, it's impressive for a GBC game.
Since the game is attempting to pull off a 3D environment, when Edward walks around he is scaled. This means that when he gets closer to you he also gets very blocky. Actually, on first glance I thought Edward looked like a wonderful rendition of one of the apes from the original 'Planet of the Apes.
I found that sounds and music were very limited. I'd guess this is most likely due to much of the cartridge's memory being used up with graphics. There are some ambient sounds on some screens and while they aren't the greatest, they're fitting for the various environments you're in at the time. The music is appropriate, but dull, droning, and repetitive. The music is mostly heard during cut-scenes. I was surprised at how simple the manual is considering how complicated the game is complicated for a GBC game anyway.
Most everything you need to know is explained and most of the rest will be explained throughout the game. There are a couple things that are left to question such as the display showing how much ammo remains which is not explained, but you'll figure it out if you're smart enough to be playing this game in the first place.
While this style of game may not be so much original in the grand scheme of video gaming these days, it is pretty original on the GBC platform. Yeah, there are different rooms to explore and such, like so many other games, but the viewpoint changing from room to room and the detail of the backgrounds give it a much different feel than a game such as Zelda.
I hate these kinds of games, they just aren't my cup of tea. I grudgingly accepted the game for review and in the end I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed solving the puzzles and the battle scenes weren't bad at all I've been scarred by these and camera angles on other higher end gaming systems.
Everything was reasonable to manage yet challenging enough to be fun. I found the game overall was easier than I anticipated, but fans of the Alone in the Dark series or any games in this genre will probably enjoy it although probably not nearly as much as the versions on the higher end systems.
Alone in the Dark immerses the player into a dark and strange atmosphere where conventional rules do not apply. I am pleased to say that this latest outing is a worthy successor.
Games MTX Mo. Now I know this sounds bad, but this game is not about challenging puzzles - it's about atmosphere, and that is present in no small amount! Share this article :. For instance, and this is an old complaint, if I am standing in front of a locked door with a grenade launcher in my hand, but no key, I should be able to stand back and blow the door off its hinges. The graphics in the game are first rate.
Antony Peel. The player must overcome his natural fear of the dark unknown and control Edward Carnby through a deep and highly detailedstoryline. The house you wander through is richly detailed and very pleasing to look at.
They managed to keep the controls simple, without sacrificing too much of the flexibility that these games usually boast. Dungeon Keeper 2 Pc Game. And this time its for revenge. Now, having said that, there is unfortunately rather limited character action.
However, there are some interface gaps that are irritating to say the least. The original survival horror franchise continues with a pure blend of intense action and suspenseful adventure. Updated Over a year ago. Pf Games:. Edward Carnby, the supernatural detective is back.
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