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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Silent Hill meets Resident Evil and then some..., August 2, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: Alone in the Dark 4: The New Nightmare (Video Game)
If you liked the Resident Evil series or Silent Hill then this is the game for you. While the 'Alone in the Dark' series was actually one of the pioneers in the survival horror genre, Resident Evil became the leading game in terms of popularity. Well, the makers of this game are here to show that they still have a trick or two up their sleeves and have created a new adventure that is absolutely amazing. Alone in the Dark is a 3D characterization on a pre-rendered background. Believe me, you will fully appreciate the time and effort that went into this game for the look of it alone. The atmosphere is creepy and surreal, while maintaining sharp images and incredible detail. While Silent Hill managed to capture the eerie atmosphere, the overall appearance of the game was a bit grainy and indistinct, which was covered up with the fog and darkness that dominated the game. AITD is a dark game but that is by design, not as a ploy to mask its shortcomings. In fact, quite the opposite. This game uses shadow and light to add significantly to the atmosphere. The overall gameplay is superb. There was no problem with camera fail or instances of pixel breakup. Character control is simple and easy to learn. Load times are relatively short, which is impressive with a detailed game such as this. The music for AITD is also greatly adds to the overall creep-factor of this game. The story line is original and the puzzles do not seem quite as contrived as the RE or Dino Crisis games. Best of all, the voice talent is excellent and not totally annoying like RE. While the replay value of this game is relatively low, the creators were smart enough to have two different characters that are tied into the game from the beginning, yet have two distinct and independent adventures. This allows for you to have two games in one and although CAPCOM did try this for RE, it was essentially the exact same game with keys and weapons just hidden in different rooms. I've read several reviews of this game that imply that it is too short. Hey, the game is two discs long and in actuality, it is longer than Silent Hill, any of the RE series and Dino Crisis. Maybe it just seems shorter, which is actually a compliment to the creators. This game draws you in from the beginning and you just can't seem to put it down. If you are a fan of this genre, you will not be disappointed in Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare. It is simply a GREAT GAME!!!!
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
AITD4 Plays to Old Tune, August 20, 2001
This review is from: Alone in the Dark 4: The New Nightmare (Video Game)
I absolutely love role-playing games especially scared-off-your-pants type games. Unfortunately AITD4 is reminiscent of the RESEvil series and thus lacks originality. Pros: The graphics are great and the characters move pretty seamlessly. AITD4 did make the 2 characters you can roleplay go through different adventures in different parts of the island, so in that sense it makes the game less repetitive. Cons: Forget about plot and good voice acting - I mean some of the dialogue is laughable. Plot is typical explore creepy mansion, shoot zombies/monsters on sight and save yourself and might as well save the world while you're at it. Also, the background music is totally irritating and doesnt add at all to the mood of the game. If you want to be scared get Silent Hill. That's to me is the all-time creepiest, unnerving game ever produced. I got AITD4 because I remember reading the producer's goal at creating a game that was onpar or exceeding the fear factor of Silent Hill - ummm... not even close. Rent AITD4, dont buy it.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
From Creepy to Creepier -- I Always Love That!, July 24, 2001
This review is from: Alone in the Dark 4: The New Nightmare (Video Game)
I'm a late comer to the world of "Survival Horror" games. But I love them! From my introduction to them with the first Resident Evil game, I've been hooked. And this game provides a good installment in my now rather long string of games played. Yes, it does have a lot in common with the RE series. But so what! This is a good game! I always like how these games start out in some creepy location and then things just get weirder and weirder. And the monsters keep getting more and more bizarre. But the best thing is when the originally described premise is supplanted by the truth behind all the gruesome events which are part of the game. And then that too usually becomes more and more strange and wonderful! The best part for me about this particular game though is the puzzles. That is definitely one of the strengths here. Some seem a bit too intuitive at first glance...while a couple just don't seem logical even after discovering the secret. Sure, I can try all of my tools on an object and finally hit on which one is supposed to be used...but that doesn't make me feel smart. Nor does it make solving the puzzle seem rewarding. But all in all, this is a pretty interesting game. Yes it does seem to have borrowed from Resident Evil, Fear Effect, Silent Hill, and others. But if so, the choices of elements to integrate here were wise! As someone who is still waiting for a game developed specifically for the PS2 which I would consider worth playing, I'm glad to have this one. But even if you've already stepped up to the PS2, give this a chance. It offers a type of game that I wish was more common. Fighting, racing, and battle strategy might do it for many...but I need a game like this with an interesting story and puzzling situations to immerse myself in. If that describes what you look for in a game too, I hope you will also enjoy this game.
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