Customer Reviews

Alone in the Dark 4: The New Nightmare

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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!!!!

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.

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.

I played this game and expected it to be much like the Resident Evil series. I was right...but there is much more to this game. While the premise of this game is far from new (they have borrowed heavily from the RE series and Silent Hill) this game has a few cards up its sleeve. The graphics for the most part are exceptional, with only a few problems here and there with the camera angle. Character movement is easy to learn, especially if you are familar with the RE series. The music and voice acting is also good (something that CANNOT be said about RE). The game gives you the option of playing as two different characters and while the end result is pretty much the same and the puzzles are similar, it does add to the replay value giving you more for your money. The creep out factor is definitely there, with the detailed graphics and overall dark atmosphere of the game. If you like horror/action games than this one will be right up your alley.

The graphics are absolutely beautiful and the sound effects are tremendously well done and this gives an overall spooky and eerie feeling to the game. And talk of the excellent animation of the characters as well as the monsters, absolutely stunning and terrifying. Overall, an excellent game and a 'must buy'

despite what some people may think, This game's camera angels DO NOT copy off of RE, the first game in the alone in the dark series had switching camera angles just like this game, and alone in the dark 1 was released in 1992. There's just about everything in this game, puzzles with a definite plot, different ways of doing things, combined with action and different fight scenes... etc. The only things that could have been better is that the entire storyline of alone in the dark is thrown out by this game... the second game took place in the 1920's, and this one takes place in 2001, the carnby of the original was middle-aged, now he's in his 20's... and so forth. Also, in some parts saving ammo is crucial, in other parts you have more ammo than you know what to do with. There is no more melee combat or weapons such as knives or swords. There isn't much replay value, but keep in mind there are two different missions, each one with the same basic idea but with different actions, areas, and so forth.

I thoght this game was pretty good.It keeps you guessing and has the blood and gore to make you worry about the creators. There are even a few places that make you jump a little. SAVE YOUR AMMO whenever possible. Tword the end, after the manor, you will need it. The book is not essential if you are in mensa, so I recommend you get it. The only thing Bad to say about it is that once you get the book, you can solve it in about 12 hours. That is if you choose Carnaby as your charachter. I have not tried it as aline yet but will probably do so soon,

One of the first games that I got when I purchased my playstation was Resident Evil, and I thought that that was going to be the best game ever. It was, for a while, but for those of you tired of the T virus and zombies in bloated sequels, I would definitely recommend AITDTNN. A haunted island, and black magic combine to make one horribly freaky gaming experience. You did not have to play the original to enjoy this wonderfully chilling sequel.

I loved this game! Granted it was a very, very difficult game to get through but still, it was extremely enjoyable! The atmosphere and the characters in this game are much creepier than in the Resident evil series (which I also loved). Some scenes really spooked me....The graphics were excellent even for an old console. If you are an action fan, pick this one up for sure.

I haven't played this title in years, but I still recall very fond memories of how creepy it was. People complain AITD 4 is nothing but a shoddy rip off of Silent Hill and Resident Evil. Whether AITD is the original progenitor of the survival horror genre within digital entertainment, I am unsure. But, I know the francise did touch upon the idea long before RE or SH came along (I remember playing a very primitive and earlier edition of AITD on my computer as a child, and I'm almost 25 as of this review!) and improved and expanded upon the possibilities of the survival horror video game.

However, I can understand the criticism. After all, there are many...MANY...similarities between this title and RE or SH. Except the storyline follows a more evil/supernatural (a la' Silent Hill) course than any Resident Evil title, which, for me, makes the story all the more disturbing, and thus more pleasurable. The story was pleasurable because it is evident that its creators attempted to put some thought into it. I find this "evidence" in the fact that the reading files are numerous, very detailed, and serve to enrich the game's environment and plot by providing background information. The creators went at great lengths to develop the plot itself, which is richly embued with history, drama, mystery, occult practices, aboriginal culture, and malevolent supernatural forces. The puzzles can be very difficult and even frustrating, which is good in my opinion, since the idea of a puzzle in Resident Evil is pushing a few buttons or boxes in a particular order. Survival and thinking are encouraged over trigger happy shooting sprees, as ammo for the weapons are usually scarce.

I do recall that an annoying faux metal melody begins when monsters appear, this did detract from the dark atmosphere. I also recall the process required to defeat the last boss was rather anticlimatic and stupid. Some puzzles will probably require help from an online guide (thank God for gaming nerds who spend all their time figuring the nuanced elements of a video game) Other than these and a few other minor gripes, AITD 4 was a fun and creepy play. This title isn't the best (see Silent Hill for that), nor is it groundbreaking, but for those who truly love the survival horror genre, this might be a good addition to a collection, or at the very least a fun rental, if you can still find it.