Customer Reviews

Alone in the Dark 4: The New Nightmare

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although the Alone in the Dark series gets credit for being the originator of survival horror, Capcom's Resident Evil franchise took it to the mainstream. Now, with the release of The New Nightmare, Infogrames and Darkworks tip their hat to RE, as well as Komani's Silent Hill, and the result is a game thick with atmosphere containing all the good and bad points of typical survival horror.

AITD looks fantastic. The backgrounds are prerendered, but your character (you get a choice of two, each with separate yet overlapping adventures) wields a flashlight a la Silent Hill, but everything in the game is capable of being illuminated in real-time light and shadow. The effect is astonishing, and contributes masterfully to the ambience. Some creatures fear the light while others are drawn to it, making combat more strategical than merely blasting everything that moves. Add that the flashlight is movable via the analog stick while walking, and you have a wonderful graphical achievement.

Edward Carnby returns to investigate a friend's death on Shadow Island, and he's suitably equipped with all kinds of delicious weaponry (a triple-barreled shotgun??? Yes please!). The other selectable character, Aline Cedrac, isn't so heavily armed, and her adventure relies more on puzzle-solving. Some of the puzzles are needlessly vague, but in the end more realistic than Resident Evil (no helpfully labelled keys this time) and fit better into the overall game structure. Control is clunky, voice acting is grin-inducingly cheesy, and the menu interface is a bit complicated, although helpful on-screen icons indicate ammo count and remaining life during battle - a welcome change.

Not since Silent Hill has a game sounded so eerie. Faraway shrieks, nearby rustlings, a minimalist soundtrack all create a murky experience that is truly unsettling. Sometimes sounds will fade noticeably (the rainfall disappears during thunderclaps, for example), but Darkworks knows how to creep you out, sonically and visually.

Amazingly, the DC version of New Nightmare is cheaper than the PlayStation version, yet is a far better game, due mostly to the improved visuals. Save for the light/shadow meshing technique, it does nothing revolutionary, but delivers an engrossing plot and fantastically creepy atmosphere. As the Dreamcast fades into the gaming sunset, gamers are lucky to have bargains like this. AITD is a marvelous creation of fear on two discs - far scarier and darker than Code Veronica - and any survival horror fan would be nuts to pass this deal up.

"Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare" pushes the graphic power of the Dreamcast to it's limits with the best graphics I've ever seen on any system. The control interface can be confusing but you get used to it quickly, and the lighting effects are simply amazing. When lightning strikes you feel your hair stand on the back of your neck, and the sound quality is very excellent, you can hear screams and footsteps from a few yards away, that alone is proof that Darkworks made this game as a labor of love. The only drawback is, and it is a big drawback, are the puzzles. The puzzles are incredibly confusing at times and do seem more tedious than challenging. That one flaw stops "Alone in the Dark" from being a Dreamcast classic. But at this price this is a must have for any fan of survival horror or any Dreamcast owner.

I must admit I am a diehard fan of the survival horror genre and as such, titles such as Resident Evil, Silent Hill and others will always be at the top of my list. I feel Alone in the Dark 4 aspires to be in the same league of these other games, but falls a bit short with a overly complicated plot, weak character development, and ridiculous monsters. One bright star in this title however is the wonderfully atmospheric backgrounds that do an excellent job of creating an authentic survival horror type environment...

Ill try to keep this simple for you.

Alone in the Dark is definately creepy, even more so than Resident Evil. The game is definatley VERY long and can wear you down. Without a walkthrough, the game is almost impossible! The graphics are amazing, though. The camera angles are the same as resident evil (one shot from the corner and things like that). The controls are basically hopeless. The next game they make, I hope that they'll make it easier to actually walk like a normal person. This game is for anyone who can stomach quick, scary action, and suspense. This game is pretty nice.

I played and beat the playstation version. I was a little dissappointed that they didn't add any new features, the graphics are improved greatly though, so there is a plus, the load time is non exsistant. Plus the game doesn't slow down as your playing. Over all a good game for someone who likes Resident Evil clones. But still not quiet Resident Evil enough for 5 stars.

Buy it, that will be my first words. I thought that this game was gonna be the same as RE but it is more enhanced. This game is more realistic and makes more sense. You will love this game. The graphics are wonderful. This game is addictive. This has all the trillers in it to get you spooked up. When you are walking all of the sudden a zombie pops up. Or when things are quiet you hear a loud noice that scares you. Buy this game, you will love it.

Alone in the dark is one of the scariest games I have played. This game has some of the best graphics and sound effects I have ever heard. I was a little confused playing it but was able to figure it out very quickly with the clues. The feeling of being alone in the dark and having things jump out was like pure terror. It is a great game I would recommend it to anyone.

this game kinda stinks. its mory scarey than it is fun. it just really isnt a whole lotta fun to play.

OMG my brother got this game for me and it is great! I dont know why you people are dissen this game giving it like 3 or 4 stars what the heck? Sure this game and be hard at times but what are ya gonna do sit there and cry? go buy the gameshark. but truley this game has the best graphics ever i mean there is one piont early early in the game where it shows a movie and a answering machine is one the desk, you cannot tell is that is video game likish it looks so real! YOU SHOULD GET THIS GAME RIGHT AWAY! (i am reffering to the Dreamcast version)

THIS GAME IS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO RESIDENT EVIL GAMES IN CONTROL AND PRESENTATION BUT WITH BETTER GRAPHICS AND MORE TERROR.IF YOU LIKE RESIDENT EVIL GAMES,THEN YOU WILL LOVE THIS GAME.