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Alone in the Dark (2024 video game)

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Alone in the Dark
Developer(s)Pieces Interactive
Publisher(s)THQ Nordic
Director(s)Mikael Hedberg
Producer(s)
  • Claes Johansson
  • Michael Paeck
  • Andreas Schmiedecker
Designer(s)Magdalena Erlikson
Programmer(s)Carl-Oscar Lönn
Artist(s)
  • Rikard Ryberg
  • Robin Koitzsch
Writer(s)Mikael Hedberg
Composer(s)
  • Árni Bergur Zoëga
  • Jason Köhnen
SeriesAlone in the Dark
EngineUnreal Engine 4
Platform(s)
Release20 March 2024
Genre(s)Survival horror
Mode(s)Single-player

Alone in the Dark is a 2024 survival horror video game developed by Pieces Interactive and published by THQ Nordic. It is a reimagining of the original 1992 Alone in the Dark and is the seventh installment in the Alone in the Dark video game series. The game features a single-player narrative set in the 1930s, where players can choose to play as Edward Carnby (David Harbour) or Emily Hartwood (Jodie Comer), as they make their way through Derceto Mansion to uncover the mysteries within.

Alone in the Dark was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on 20 March 2024. Upon release, the game received mixed reviews from critics and failed to meet the sales expectations of THQ Nordic's parent company Embracer Group, which led to the closure of Pieces Interactive in June 2024.

Synopsis

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Alone in the Dark follows Emily Hartwood (Jodie Comer) and private investigator Edward Carnby (David Harbour) as they travel to Derceto Manor, a home for the mentally fatigued, to investigate the disappearance of Jeremy Hartwood (Paul Mercier), Emily's uncle.[1][2] However they will soon stumble upon Eldritch horrors involving hideous monsters, mental environments, cult conspiracies and connections involving a mysterious being known as "The Dark Man".

Gameplay

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Alone in the Dark features an "over-the-shoulder" third-person perspective, doing away with the fixed camera angles of the original. This is similar to the Resident Evil franchise, which also chose this presentation for their recent remakes. Combat is available with a firearm, or melee weapon as shown by the reveal trailer. Players can choose to play as Emily or Edward, both campaigns featuring different cutscenes and levels.[3][4]

Combat consists of firearms, melee weapons and throwable objects, along with environmental hazards that can be used to have an edge on the monsters. The environment is filled with items for the player to find, such as ammo, melee weapons, keys, collectibles such as journals, letters and lagniappes that unlock secret informations about the story and objectives.

Development

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A remake of the original 1992 game Alone in the Dark was in active development by Eden Games after the release of Alone in the Dark: Inferno. But following the liquidation of the studio by Atari in 2013, the game was cancelled.[5]

Three years after the poor reception of Alone in the Dark: Illumination, then-owner Atari SA sold the Alone in the Dark franchise to THQ Nordic in September 2018.[6] Pieces Interactive, which was most known for making Magicka 2, commenced development of the game in late 2019.[7] The game was written by Mikael Hedberg, who had previously worked at Frictional Games on Soma and Amnesia: The Dark Descent. Artist Guy Davis, best known for his work with Guillermo del Toro and his own comic series The Marquis, was recruited to design the monsters featured in the game.[1] Series creator Frédérick Raynal gave his blessings to the reimagining saying that Pieces Interactive did a great job preserving the "core feeling" from the original game.[8]

English actress Jodie Comer and American actor David Harbour were recruited for the voice and motion capture of the two protagonists.[9]

Release

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In August 2022, Alone in the Dark was revealed at THQ Nordic's Showcase.[1] A playable prologue for the game, titled Grace in the Dark, was released for PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S on 25 May 2023.[10] The full game was originally scheduled to release for those platforms on 25 October 2023, but was delayed a month before release to 16 January 2024 to "avoid competing with" Alan Wake 2 and Spider-Man 2.[11] In December 2023, it was again delayed to 20 March 2024 to "avoid any potential crunch over the Christmas holidays".[12]

Reception

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Critical reception

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Alone in the Dark received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[13][14][15]

Sales

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Alone in the Dark failed to meet the sales expectations of THQ Nordic's parent company Embracer Group,[30] leading Embracer to shut down Pieces Interactive in June 2024.[31]

References

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  1. ^ a b c McWhertor, Michael (12 August 2022). "Survival horror game Alone in the Dark is getting a remake". Polygon. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  2. ^ McWhertor, Michael (25 May 2023). "Alone in the Dark remake stars David Harbour and Jodie Comer". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  3. ^ DanielD (20 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark Offers a "Delightful Sense of Matinée" - Interview with Producer Andreas Schmiedecker & Creative Director Mikael Hedberg". EIP Gaming. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  4. ^ Earle, Sharnelle (20 March 2024). "Alone In The Dark: Should You Play As Edward Carnby or Emily Hartwood?". TheGamer. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  5. ^ Seibert, Dustin J. (6 February 2014). "Canceled Alone in the Dark Remake Footage Released". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  6. ^ Wales, Matt (19 September 2018). "THQ Nordic has now acquired survival horror classic Alone In The Dark". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  7. ^ Peppiatt, Dom (12 August 2022). "An Alone in the Dark reboot is coming from the Soma and Amnesia: Dark Descent writer". VG247. Gamer Network. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  8. ^ Alone in the Dark - Spotlight Video. YouTube. PlayStation. 25 May 2023. Event occurs at 6:22. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  9. ^ McWhertor, Michael (25 May 2023). "Alone in the Dark remake stars David Harbour and Jodie Comer". Polygon. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  10. ^ Colantonio, Giovanni (25 May 2023). "Alone in the Dark launches in October, and a free prologue is available now". Digital Trends. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  11. ^ Yang, George (5 September 2023). "Alone in the Dark Reboot Delayed to January 2024 to Avoid the Likes of Alan Wake 2 and Spider-Man 2". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  12. ^ Jarvis, Matt (8 December 2023). "Alone in the Dark reboot delayed again, will now land in March so devs "avoid any potential crunch"". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Alone in the Dark for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  14. ^ a b "Alone in the Dark for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Alone in the Dark for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  16. ^ Deneschau, Nicolas (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review". Adventure Gamers. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  17. ^ Colantonio, Giovanni (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review: an unabashed ode to a '90s horror classic". Digital Trends. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  18. ^ Blade, Vikki (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review – a perfunctory romp that doesn't quite live up to the hype". Eurogamer. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  19. ^ Delaney, Mark (19 March 2024). "Alone In The Dark Review - Dimly Lit". GameSpot. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  20. ^ Hurley, Leon (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review: "Lacks the life or coherence needed to give it any momentum"". GamesRadar+. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  21. ^ Ogilive, Tristan (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark Review". IGN. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  22. ^ Brown, Andy (19 March 2024). "'Alone In The Dark' review: more trouble than terror in this disappointing reboot". NME. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  23. ^ Chatziioannou, Alexander (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  24. ^ Smith, Ed (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review – the death of survival horror's pioneer". PCGamesN. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  25. ^ Croft, Liam (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark Review (PS5)". Push Square. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  26. ^ Denzer, TJ (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review: A heady head case". Shacknews. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  27. ^ Lane, Rick (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review – Jodie Comer and David Harbour can't save this soporific horror". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  28. ^ Scullion, Chris (19 March 2024). "Review: Alone in the Dark is anotherfrustrating reboot for the classic horror series". Video Games Chronicle. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  29. ^ Bardwell, Tom (19 March 2024). "Alone in the Dark review – a thrilling reimagining of a pioneering classic". VideoGamer.com. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
  30. ^ Batchelor, James (23 May 2024). "Embracer Group full-year sales rise to $3.9bn, but $1.5bn debt remains". Games Industry. Gamer Network. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  31. ^ Dinsdale, Ryan (17 June 2024). "Embracer Shuts Down Alone in the Dark Developer Pieces Interactive". IGN. Retrieved 17 June 2024.
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