Alone in the Dark Reboot from THQ Nordic and the writer of SOMA

[DoWhocares]

Is this "not shit" like actually a good, fun game or "not shit" like robocop where it basically sucks but won't make you want to lobotomise yourself which is good enough nowadays?

Combat - the latter. Atmosphere and exploration - the former.

 

[Hell Swarm]

Is this "not shit" like actually a good, fun game or "not shit" like robocop where it basically sucks but won't make you want to lobotomise yourself which is good enough nowadays?

It has issues but it's an enjoyable experience scratching the classic survival horror itch. If you enjoyed PS1 survival horror and like third person combat you will have a good time with this.

 

[Fedora Master]

Is this "not shit" like actually a good, fun game or "not shit" like robocop where it basically sucks but won't make you want to lobotomise yourself which is good enough nowadays?

Yes

 

[Hell Swarm]

One issue with recommending the game is you can't tell people what it does so well without spoiling it. I think Fedora would agree the way you first interact with monsters catches you off guard and isn't what you're expecting and it really does a good job of being unsettling. I think we're both trying to talk around spoilers which would completely sell survival horror fans on the game.

 

[Infinitron]

 

[jaekl]

I don't believe in spoilers, that's just a made up problem that people who like to complain about non-issues invented. If it's possible to ruin something by supplying me information about it, then that's because it was crap to begin with.

 

[Fedora Master]

I don't believe in spoilers, that's just a made up problem that people who like to complain about non-issues invented. If it's possible to ruin something by supplying me information about it, then that's because it was crap to begin with.

Gonna say it: Combat is ass. And not in the "Supposed to be ass" old school RE way. It's just trite.

 

[Fedora Master]

Dr. Gray's room is cute idea.

 

[Konjad]

Sorry, I'm not 18 to watch the video

 

[Hell Swarm]

I don't believe in spoilers, that's just a made up problem that people who like to complain about non-issues invented. If it's possible to ruin something by supplying me information about it, then that's because it was crap to begin with.

Spoiling how horror things happen ruins the shock value. Telling someone to look out for the cat jumping out of the locker just isn't the same as having a pussy shock you.

I don't believe in spoilers, that's just a made up problem that people who like to complain about non-issues invented. If it's possible to ruin something by supplying me information about it, then that's because it was crap to begin with.

Gonna say it: Combat is ass. And not in the "Supposed to be ass" old school RE way. It's just trite.

Melee combat is early access survival sim bad but shooting is okay once you adjust the sensitivity. I want that goddamn shotgun!

Did you experience dynamic difficulty as well? So many spots to check and most contain nothing if you have 15 or more bullets spare. If you don't it's always 3-5 pistol shots.

 

[jaekl]

Spoiling how horror things happen ruins the shock value. Telling someone to look out for the cat jumping out of the locker just isn't the same as having a pussy shock you.

Hah!! Jump scares!? I think I might've been 8 or 10 the last time a jump scare got me. My nerves are forged in the fires of 1000 horror games, don't even talk to me about jump scares pal!

 

[Alienman]

The duality of the Steam user.

 

[Fedora Master]

The difference between Edward and Emily is pretty funny. People tend to be quite the assholes to her. Also lesbian tension.

 

[AfterVirtue]

What made the original work for me, as for others, was the atmosphere: by that i mean the interaction of graphics, setting, mood, music and the books; the books were written to the point, such that as a kid who didn't know Lovecraft i could summon by fantasy entire stories. Plot simple and serviceable, perfect in conjunction with the above to make your fantasy work with the game. Moreover, speaking about pulp, it was, for me, a computer version of

Now, why Carnby looks more like Bernardo Kastrup than a mustached Robert Mitchum or Humphrey Bogart?

Well, pretty sure the above doesn't translate well in the current game, but if i become convinced that it is enough of a decent game with a good atmosphere by itself, could give it a try. Discounted enough, at least. Shame if the monsters have less personality than in the original game, though

 

[jaekl]

Wtf it shouldn't be possible but this game actually rules. The people making this actually gave a fuck about it! I haven't been this surprised since I lost my virginity.

 

[AfterVirtue]

I haven't been this surprised since I lost my virginity.

A messy and possibly lovecraftian affair, i gather.

Wtf it shouldn't be possible but this game actually rules.

Well, i am going to be convinced enough it seems...

 

[jaekl]

Well, i am going to be convinced enough it seems...

Well I only played it for like an hour buddy and you know how first impressions from gamers are so don't get mad at me if I jumped the gun.

 

[AfterVirtue]

Well I only played it for like an hour buddy and you know how first impressions from gamers are so don't get mad at me if I jumped the gun.

Don't worry, i'm going to wait a bit longer, just to be sure. Post your opinions when you proceed further, if you want.

 

[Fedora Master]

The Edward/Emily split is a bit of a missed opportunity. I didn't expect a completely different path but... well, this is just the same path with slightly different dialogue.

Complete story spoiler:
I find it odd that Jeremy would deal with the fucking Crawling Chaos just to keep a single Dark Young at bay. I mean lmao who cares, just let it eat Nawrleans.

 

[Zlaja]

Did you experience dynamic difficulty as well? So many spots to check and most contain nothing if you have 15 or more bullets spare. If you don't it's always 3-5 pistol shots

Didn't the original RE4 pioneer this crap? Such an awful system that makes skillful play less satisfying. Messes with the immersion too.

 

[Barbarian]

I finished a Carnby playthrough. My impressions:

The good:
- Soundtrack is good, whatever "doom jazz" is
- Combat is somewhat sparse
- Plot and writing are serviceable, there were some nice moments, decent lovecraftian romp - enough to make you play to the end
- Voiced-over documents was a nice touch, more adventure games should do it. Very atmospheric.
- There were 2 or 3 entertaining puzzles, nothing hard or remotely inspiring though
- References to the original games and to other lovecraftian adventures(i.e: Prisoner of Ice) were a nice touch

The bad:
- RE4 camera is total shit for tight spaces, got to close to giving me a headache sometimes. There was a segment of the game where the devs jokingly put fixed cameras as in the original. Unironically the game looked better for the segment.
- Most puzzles are simple fetch/bring/combine types, very few multilevel puzzles and hardly any thinking involved(these days simply bothering to read the game documents might be considered hard brain work though). I know the game wasn't sold as an adventure but...
- Combat is annoying and repetitive. One encounter for each type of creature would have shortened but improved the game. The only two remotely interesting and memorable fights were "boss" fights

Spoiler

mr tentacle face and the final big tentacle creature

- The collectible gimmick is kind of meh, the content locked behind it is very light
- Character models look straight out of playstation 3(not that I care, but it exhales "AA game")


The game has barely anything to do with the original except for the name of the mansion and protagonists. Despite the name you are rarely alone too(there is a whole agatha christie esque ensemble of derceto inhabitants who are all suspicious and sinister). Kind of ironic that the guy who wrote the game also wrote Soma... dude made such a nice work writing that game where you are mostly alone and desolate with very few interactions, only to make this into a game which is literally called "alone in the dark".

Carnby's playthrough in particular was something straight out of

Spoiler

a silent hill game, complete with amnesia, reliving past traumas, and the whole repetitive meme of "I was here the whole time" reveal

I'm sure Emily's playthrough will be much better if it doesn't have this kind of BS.

7/10 and you should play it if you like the genre. Don't expect anything innovative or groundbreaking though. I actually hope this sells well and they make more games.

 

[Skinwalker]

Is it shit again?

 

[Hell Swarm]

Did you experience dynamic difficulty as well? So many spots to check and most contain nothing if you have 15 or more bullets spare. If you don't it's always 3-5 pistol shots

Didn't the original RE4 pioneer this crap? Such an awful system that makes skillful play less satisfying. Messes with the immersion too.

It's been in games way longer than RE4. RE4 implemented it poorly so it stood out more.

Is it shit again?

Read the thread you lazy jew

 

[Barbarian]

Is it shit again?

It is good. Buy it.

 

[Morgoth]

View attachment 47907

The duality of the Steam user.

Steam forums are the last place to go for gauging a game's quality. Their judgement is even worse than, god forbid me for uttering these words, Youtubers.