Alone in the Dark 5
Encyclopedia
Alone in the Dark, originally known as Alone in the Dark: Near Death Investigation and informally known as Alone in the Dark 5 to avoid naming confusion, is the fifth installment of the survival horror video game series under the same name
created by Atari
. The game was released for Microsoft Windows
, PlayStation 2
, Wii
, and Xbox 360
in Europe, North America, and Australia in June 2008. The PlayStation 3
version, titled Alone in the Dark: Inferno, was released on November 18, 2008 and includes several enhancements from the other versions. The Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions were developed by Eden Games
while the PS2 and Wii versions were simultaneously developed by Hydravision Entertainment. The PS2/Wii version of Alone in the Dark is a completely different game from the PS3/X360 version. Though both have a similar plot, it has largely different levels, removing all the freeroaming from the other versions. Despite receiving mixed to negative reviews, Alone in the Dark was a financial success.
Alone in the Dark has an interchangeable first and third person camera, and puzzle solving style gameplay. The environment plays a big part of core gameplay, as the player can pick up any object (such as pipes, wood, etc.) and use it as a melee weapon. It can also be used to smash in doors, and knock objects over. Fire is generated in real-time, as objects can be set alight by holding it over the fire, and it can be extinguished. If the fire isn't extinguished fast enough, the flames will continue to regenerate. The player can pick up objects, and combine to make different styles of weapons, however, only some objects can be combined with others. Any object which is shot at or thrown will be destroyed instantly.
If the player takes damage, open wounds appear on Edward's outfit. The player must use a medical spray, or if the wounds are too deep, use bandages to heal themselves. If Edward takes too much damage, the screen will flash red, and a heartbeat sound will be heard indicating that he is bleeding out.
, a paranormal investigator and the main character, being taken to the roof of the building he is in to be killed. The guard is killed by an unseen force, allowing Edward to escape. He has amnesia and doesn't remember anything. As he wanders the building looking for a way out, he witnesses several people being killed or possessed by "demon
ic" forces. During his search for an exit, he meets Sarah Flores, an art dealer (city planner in the PS2/Wii version). Together, they make their way to the parking garage, where they find Theophile Paddington, an old man who claims to know what’s going on. He says that the chaos in the building was caused by a stone that, until recently, was held by Edward. It had been taken from Edward by a man named Crowley, who released its power. Paddington has the stone now, and finally states that in order to end the chaos, Edward must follow the "Path of Light", before it is too late.
The three of them take a car from the garage and head out into the city, finding it in the same kind of chaos as the building they just left, after outrunning an apocalyptic earthquake with giant fissure wiping out the streets as it follows them they crash the car in Central Park
. There, Paddington claims that he lacks the strength to continue. He hands the stone over to Edward and asks him and Sarah to meet him at the museum, then kills himself.
On the way to the museum, Edward finds out that his last name is Carnby. He tells his name to a doctor that he meets who tends to his wounds. As the doctor checks Edward’s medical history, he informs Edward that the only Edward Carnby in his records disappeared in 1938.
At the museum, the ghost of Paddington explains more about the stone. It contained Lucifer
after he was cast out of heaven, until Crowley released him. Lucifer now wants to use the stone to bring about the end of the world. Paddington tells Edward that there is a secret in Central Park that will allow Edward to stop Lucifer. As Edward makes his way back to Central Park, Sarah remains at the museum, e-mailing excerpts from Paddington’s diary that she believes will help Edward. Once at Central Park, Edward meets Hermes, who holds a stone similar to the one that Edward has.
Edward and Hermes return to the museum to find Crowley holding Sarah at gunpoint, demanding Edward’s stone. Edward shoots Crowley in the head, then Hermes opens a cavern in the museum that leads to Lucifer’s gateway to reality. Hermes combines his stone with Edward’s then tells Edward that Lucifer will soon be reincarnated. As Lucifer begins to take Edward’s body, Sarah grabs the stone to prevent Edward from being possessed. At this point, the player is presented a choice to shoot Sarah to prevent her from being possessed, or do nothing. If the player chooses to shoot Sarah, Edward becomes possessed by Lucifer. Otherwise, Edward and Sarah hug and say goodbye as Sarah is taken over. Lucifer, who possessed Sarah, taunts Edward and asks him how it feels to be alone, to which Edward responds, "I'm used to it", and walks away as the game ends. It is unknown what happens to Edward, Sarah, and Hermes.
was released on February 16, 2008 showing the inventory system and how items and environmental objects can be manipulated, as well as how items may be used together. For example, double-sided adhesive tape can be used to attach a glow stick to a wall, creating a source of light. Another example is the player using a knife to puncture a blood pack, then throwing the blood pack creating a blood trail to lure enemies from one spot to another. A second tech demo was released on February 26, 2008 showing the realistic use of fire with various objects in the game. It also shows how objects are affected when shot. The player is seen shooting a table and subsequently one of the tables legs breaks off, and shatters. The player then picks this up, and lights it in a fire for a spontaneous torch. A third tech demo was released on April 18, 2008 displaying the attributes and game play mechanics of fire in the game. A fourth tech demo was released on June 3, 2008 highlighting the enemies and their characteristics including what they look like and how to kill them. The inventory is limited to what it's possible to fit in the jacket. Everything in the environment can be used as a weapon.
, the same person who scored ObsCure and ObsCure II
. It includes the female choir The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices. In this game, Olivier did not use a live orchestra; instead he used virtual instruments and samplers to create a realistic orchestral sound. The official soundtrack album by Derivière & Voices is available for purchase digitally and in Audio CD format
in Leipzig. It addresses a number of gameplay issues found in the Xbox 360 version, such as the additions of full 360° camera control, a more zoomed-out third-person camera view, a more user-friendly inventory system and tighter driving mechanics. It also includes an exclusive new gameplay sequence found in Episode 6. The demo was released on the PlayStation Network on November 1, 2008.
. However, developer Eden Games decided to delay the game and rework it entirely from scratch, making it seem like the film appeared to deviate from the Alone in the Dark
game franchise, save for the fact that the film was in some ways a sequel to Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
.
stores.
Along with a copy of the game, the Limited Edition contains:
The U.S. market had a PS2 limited release with just the bonus CD Audio Soundtrack.
, she said : "There's an interesting achievement at the end of the game which will have a strong impact to the next... can't say anything else".
gave the PlayStation 3
version 72.35% and 69/100, the Xbox 360
version 61.83% and 58/100, the PC version 54.29% and 55/100, the PlayStation 2
version 50.44% and 47/100 and the Wii
version 39.30% and 39/100.
The Xbox 360 version of game has received mixed reviews, from scores of 3/10 to 8/10.
GameSpot commented "If you can endure some vexing technical flaws, Alone in the Dark can be a clever, satisfying adventure.." Gametrailers said "The game needed more gestation to really iron out the interface issues, but it remains an adventure worth pursuing...".
The PlayStation 3 version, Alone in the Dark: Inferno, has received far more favorable reviews due to the improved movement and driving controls as well as the extra scenes.
Most other websites have defended their reviews and refused to delete their articles. So far it is unclear whether or not Atari will decide to sue these websites. In the meantime other editors of magazines specialized in gaming state that it was possibly provoked to get attention and clicks on their websites, due to the predictability of Atari's reaction.
Alone in the Dark (series)
Alone in the Dark is a series of survival horror computer games from Infogrames. In most of the series, the gamer plays as private investigator Edward Carnby, who usually goes to investigate a haunted mansion or town that is full of undead creatures. The story is based on the writings of H. P...
created by Atari
Atari
Atari is a corporate and brand name owned by several entities since its inception in 1972. It is currently owned by Atari Interactive, a wholly owned subsidiary of the French publisher Atari, SA . The original Atari, Inc. was founded in 1972 by Nolan Bushnell and Ted Dabney. It was a pioneer in...
. The game was released for Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
, PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
, Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
, and Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
in Europe, North America, and Australia in June 2008. The PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version, titled Alone in the Dark: Inferno, was released on November 18, 2008 and includes several enhancements from the other versions. The Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions were developed by Eden Games
Eden Games
Eden Games is a game development studio. In May 2002, the company was sold to the Infogrames Group. It is most well known for the V-Rally series of games, as well as the 2006 release Test Drive Unlimited. They have most recently developed Test Drive Unlimited 2, which was released in February 2011...
while the PS2 and Wii versions were simultaneously developed by Hydravision Entertainment. The PS2/Wii version of Alone in the Dark is a completely different game from the PS3/X360 version. Though both have a similar plot, it has largely different levels, removing all the freeroaming from the other versions. Despite receiving mixed to negative reviews, Alone in the Dark was a financial success.
Gameplay
The gameplay in Alone in the Dark differs greatly from other games in the series. It is set out through DVD-style "episodes", where the player can choose to start the game from the beginning, or choose to skip to a section if they get stuck. If they choose to do so, the past events are recollected in a "Previously on Alone in the Dark..." cutscene at the start of the episode.Alone in the Dark has an interchangeable first and third person camera, and puzzle solving style gameplay. The environment plays a big part of core gameplay, as the player can pick up any object (such as pipes, wood, etc.) and use it as a melee weapon. It can also be used to smash in doors, and knock objects over. Fire is generated in real-time, as objects can be set alight by holding it over the fire, and it can be extinguished. If the fire isn't extinguished fast enough, the flames will continue to regenerate. The player can pick up objects, and combine to make different styles of weapons, however, only some objects can be combined with others. Any object which is shot at or thrown will be destroyed instantly.
If the player takes damage, open wounds appear on Edward's outfit. The player must use a medical spray, or if the wounds are too deep, use bandages to heal themselves. If Edward takes too much damage, the screen will flash red, and a heartbeat sound will be heard indicating that he is bleeding out.
Plot
The game begins with Edward CarnbyEdward Carnby
Edward Carnby is a fictional paranormal detective featured in the Alone in the Dark series of survival horror computer games created by Infogrames. He has been the main protagonist in every game to date, with the exception of the mini game, Jack in the Dark, which instead features Grace Saunders,...
, a paranormal investigator and the main character, being taken to the roof of the building he is in to be killed. The guard is killed by an unseen force, allowing Edward to escape. He has amnesia and doesn't remember anything. As he wanders the building looking for a way out, he witnesses several people being killed or possessed by "demon
Demon
call - 1347 531 7769 for more infoIn Ancient Near Eastern religions as well as in the Abrahamic traditions, including ancient and medieval Christian demonology, a demon is considered an "unclean spirit" which may cause demonic possession, to be addressed with an act of exorcism...
ic" forces. During his search for an exit, he meets Sarah Flores, an art dealer (city planner in the PS2/Wii version). Together, they make their way to the parking garage, where they find Theophile Paddington, an old man who claims to know what’s going on. He says that the chaos in the building was caused by a stone that, until recently, was held by Edward. It had been taken from Edward by a man named Crowley, who released its power. Paddington has the stone now, and finally states that in order to end the chaos, Edward must follow the "Path of Light", before it is too late.
The three of them take a car from the garage and head out into the city, finding it in the same kind of chaos as the building they just left, after outrunning an apocalyptic earthquake with giant fissure wiping out the streets as it follows them they crash the car in Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
. There, Paddington claims that he lacks the strength to continue. He hands the stone over to Edward and asks him and Sarah to meet him at the museum, then kills himself.
On the way to the museum, Edward finds out that his last name is Carnby. He tells his name to a doctor that he meets who tends to his wounds. As the doctor checks Edward’s medical history, he informs Edward that the only Edward Carnby in his records disappeared in 1938.
At the museum, the ghost of Paddington explains more about the stone. It contained Lucifer
Lucifer
Traditionally, Lucifer is a name that in English generally refers to the devil or Satan before being cast from Heaven, although this is not the original meaning of the term. In Latin, from which the English word is derived, Lucifer means "light-bearer"...
after he was cast out of heaven, until Crowley released him. Lucifer now wants to use the stone to bring about the end of the world. Paddington tells Edward that there is a secret in Central Park that will allow Edward to stop Lucifer. As Edward makes his way back to Central Park, Sarah remains at the museum, e-mailing excerpts from Paddington’s diary that she believes will help Edward. Once at Central Park, Edward meets Hermes, who holds a stone similar to the one that Edward has.
Edward and Hermes return to the museum to find Crowley holding Sarah at gunpoint, demanding Edward’s stone. Edward shoots Crowley in the head, then Hermes opens a cavern in the museum that leads to Lucifer’s gateway to reality. Hermes combines his stone with Edward’s then tells Edward that Lucifer will soon be reincarnated. As Lucifer begins to take Edward’s body, Sarah grabs the stone to prevent Edward from being possessed. At this point, the player is presented a choice to shoot Sarah to prevent her from being possessed, or do nothing. If the player chooses to shoot Sarah, Edward becomes possessed by Lucifer. Otherwise, Edward and Sarah hug and say goodbye as Sarah is taken over. Lucifer, who possessed Sarah, taunts Edward and asks him how it feels to be alone, to which Edward responds, "I'm used to it", and walks away as the game ends. It is unknown what happens to Edward, Sarah, and Hermes.
Development
A tech demoTech demo
A tech demo is a prototype, rough example or an otherwise incomplete version of a product, put together with the primary purpose of showcasing the idea, performance, method or the features of the product...
was released on February 16, 2008 showing the inventory system and how items and environmental objects can be manipulated, as well as how items may be used together. For example, double-sided adhesive tape can be used to attach a glow stick to a wall, creating a source of light. Another example is the player using a knife to puncture a blood pack, then throwing the blood pack creating a blood trail to lure enemies from one spot to another. A second tech demo was released on February 26, 2008 showing the realistic use of fire with various objects in the game. It also shows how objects are affected when shot. The player is seen shooting a table and subsequently one of the tables legs breaks off, and shatters. The player then picks this up, and lights it in a fire for a spontaneous torch. A third tech demo was released on April 18, 2008 displaying the attributes and game play mechanics of fire in the game. A fourth tech demo was released on June 3, 2008 highlighting the enemies and their characteristics including what they look like and how to kill them. The inventory is limited to what it's possible to fit in the jacket. Everything in the environment can be used as a weapon.
Music
The music in Alone in the Dark is scored by Olivier DerivièreOlivier Derivière
Olivier Deriviere has studied composition and orchestration at the Nice Conservatoire . In 1999 he produced a solo album and started to write arrangements of great film scores for the percussions quartet he founded at the Cagnes-sur-Mer Conservatoire...
, the same person who scored ObsCure and ObsCure II
ObsCure II
ObsCure II is a survival horror video game developed by Hydravision Entertainment and published by Playlogic Entertainment for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2 and Wii. It is the sequel to the video game ObsCure. The game was released on September 7, 2007 in Europe, March 25, 2008 under the name...
. It includes the female choir The Mystery of Bulgarian Voices. In this game, Olivier did not use a live orchestra; instead he used virtual instruments and samplers to create a realistic orchestral sound. The official soundtrack album by Derivière & Voices is available for purchase digitally and in Audio CD format
Alone in the Dark: Inferno
Alone in the Dark: Inferno is the PlayStation 3 version of the game, which was announced at the 2008 Games ConventionGames Convention
The Games Convention, sometimes called the Leipzig Games Convention and abbreviated as GC, was an annual video game event held in Leipzig, Germany, first held in 2002. Besides video games, the event also covers Infotainment, Hardware, and Edutainment...
in Leipzig. It addresses a number of gameplay issues found in the Xbox 360 version, such as the additions of full 360° camera control, a more zoomed-out third-person camera view, a more user-friendly inventory system and tighter driving mechanics. It also includes an exclusive new gameplay sequence found in Episode 6. The demo was released on the PlayStation Network on November 1, 2008.
Connection to Uwe Boll film
Originally, the game was to coincide with the release of the film version of Alone in the DarkAlone in the Dark (2005 film)
Alone in the Dark is a 2005 horror film, loosely based on Infogrames' popular video game series of the same name. It is directed by Uwe Boll, and stars Christian Slater as supernatural detective Edward Carnby and Tara Reid as the scientist assisting him...
. However, developer Eden Games decided to delay the game and rework it entirely from scratch, making it seem like the film appeared to deviate from the Alone in the Dark
Alone in the Dark (series)
Alone in the Dark is a series of survival horror computer games from Infogrames. In most of the series, the gamer plays as private investigator Edward Carnby, who usually goes to investigate a haunted mansion or town that is full of undead creatures. The story is based on the writings of H. P...
game franchise, save for the fact that the film was in some ways a sequel to Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare
Alone in the Dark: The New Nightmare, alternatively known as Alone in the Dark 4, is the fourth installment of the survival horror video game series Alone in the Dark, developed by Darkworks and published by Infogrames. The game was released in 2001 in North America and Europe on several platforms...
.
Limited Editions
A limited edition of the game was released for the European market. In the UK, the Limited Edition is only available through GameGAME (retailer)
The Game Group plc is a British video games retail company. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index....
stores.
Along with a copy of the game, the Limited Edition contains:
- A 15 cm Edward Carnby Figurine
- An art book
- A bonus 'Making Of Alone in the Dark' DVD
- A CD Audio Soundtrack
The U.S. market had a PS2 limited release with just the bonus CD Audio Soundtrack.
Sequel
There have been rumors of a sequel to Alone in the Dark. In an interview with Nour Polloni, the game's producer, in EurogamerEurogamer
Eurogamer is a Brighton-based website focused on video games news, reviews, previews and interviews. It is operated by Eurogamer Network Ltd., which was formed in 1999 by brothers Rupert and Nick Loman. Eurogamer has grown to become one of the most important European-based websites focused on...
, she said : "There's an interesting achievement at the end of the game which will have a strong impact to the next... can't say anything else".
Reviews
Alone in the Dark received mostly mixed to negative reviews. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
gave the PlayStation 3
PlayStation 3
The is the third home video game console produced by Sony Computer Entertainment and the successor to the PlayStation 2 as part of the PlayStation series. The PlayStation 3 competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version 72.35% and 69/100, the Xbox 360
Xbox 360
The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
version 61.83% and 58/100, the PC version 54.29% and 55/100, the PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
version 50.44% and 47/100 and the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
version 39.30% and 39/100.
The Xbox 360 version of game has received mixed reviews, from scores of 3/10 to 8/10.
GameSpot commented "If you can endure some vexing technical flaws, Alone in the Dark can be a clever, satisfying adventure.." Gametrailers said "The game needed more gestation to really iron out the interface issues, but it remains an adventure worth pursuing...".
The PlayStation 3 version, Alone in the Dark: Inferno, has received far more favorable reviews due to the improved movement and driving controls as well as the extra scenes.
Backlash from Atari
After several European websites had given the game average or low ratings, publisher Atari threatened the responsible websites with lawsuits, claiming the reviews could not have been based on the final version since it was not available by the time they were published; Atari themselves had not delivered review versions to them. The publisher suspected the reviewers to have used illegally downloaded versions of the title. However, review website Gamer.nl claimed that it was in fact sent a legitimate copy of the game prior to its release by Atari executives and, after the review was published, "They explicitly told [Gamer.nl] that they only let high scoring reviews break the post-release embargo date." (Gamer.nl still has the offending review posted on the website, despite Atari's wishes.) In addition Atari claimed that reviews were not done as demanded by the official product-review standards at all and should be deleted immediately.Most other websites have defended their reviews and refused to delete their articles. So far it is unclear whether or not Atari will decide to sue these websites. In the meantime other editors of magazines specialized in gaming state that it was possibly provoked to get attention and clicks on their websites, due to the predictability of Atari's reaction.