Alone in the Dark 4: The New Nightmare

Other products by Infogrames

Product Features

• plays perfect

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00004WFRN
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #10,174 in Video Games (See Bestsellers in Video Games)

Product Description

Platform: PlayStation

Amazon.com Review
The fourth installment in the series that created the survival-horror genre, Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare doesn't quite live up to its legacy, as it more often than not resembles a shoddy knockoff of the franchise that has since defined the genre, Resident Evil.

You can play The New Nightmare as either Edward Carnby, a paranormal private investigator and poster boy for the series, or Aline Cedrac, a college professor and requisite video game babe. As in Resident Evil 2, the protagonists cross paths but have separate adventures within the main story, which, in this case, involves evil supernatural forces at work on the appropriately (but unimaginatively) named Shadow Island.

Although The New Nightmare uses the genre-standard, third-person, fixed-camera viewpoint, it adds a twist by bathing most of its detailed, predrawn 3-D backgrounds in darkness, and then equipping the player with a controllable flashlight. Not only does this create some rather impressive lighting effects, but it also heightens the sense of fear that is further fueled by the game's ominous music and sounds.

Unfortunately, the rest of The New Nightmare isn't very inspired. Its underdeveloped controls are on par with the first Resident Evil, which might not be so bad if not for that fact that this combat-light game has you tediously running around looking for keys to match its many nondescript locked doors, as well as trying to find solutions to vague puzzles that all too often leave you in the dark. --Joe Hon

Pros:

• Play as either of two protagonists, each in a separate adventure
• Impressive lighting effects
• Effectively ominous music and sounds

Cons:

• Awkward viewpoints
• Clumsy, underdeveloped controls
• Gameplay is more often tedious than challenging

Product Description
The fourth installment in the series that created the survival-horror genre, <I>Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare</I> doesn't quite live up to its legacy, as it more often than not resembles a shoddy knockoff of the franchise that has since defined the genre, <I>Resident Evil</I>.<p> You can play <I>The New Nightmare</I> as either Edward Carnby, a paranormal private investigator and poster boy for the series, or Aline Cedrac, a college professor and requisite video game babe. As in <I>Resident Evil 2</I>, the protagonists cross paths but have separate adventures within the main story, which, in this case, involves evil supernatural forces at work on the appropriately (but unimaginatively) named Shadow Island. <p> Although <I>The New Nightmare</I> uses the genre-standard, third-person, fixed-camera viewpoint, it adds a twist by bathing most of its detailed, predrawn 3-D backgrounds in darkness, and then equipping the player with a controllable flashlight. Not only does this create some rather impressive lighting effects, but it also heightens the sense of fear that is further fueled by the game's ominous music and sounds. <p> Unfortunately, the rest of <I>The New Nightmare</I> isn't very inspired. Its underdeveloped controls are on par with the first <I>Resident Evil</I>, which might not be so bad if not for that fact that this combat-light game has you tediously running around looking for keys to match its many nondescript locked doors, as well as trying to find solutions to vague puzzles that all too often leave you in the dark. <I>--Joe Hon</I> <p> <B>Pros:</B> <ul> <li>Play as either of two protagonists, each in a separate adventure <li>Impressive lighting effects <li>Effectively ominous music and sounds </ul> <B>Cons:</B> <ul> <li>Awkward v

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars AITD4 Plays to Old Tune, August 20, 2001

By	greensbeans "R. Chacon" - See all my reviews

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.

7 of 7 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

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!!!!

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

By	Colin Paterson "b-lever" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

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.

2115|R30F41WUZ7TBZ2;2115|R19R3OUQQAIXVE;2115|RIH0BR036CYJ4;