At their recent showcase event, THQ Nordic unveiled a new entry in the Alone in the Dark series. This is the first new game since 2015’s Alone in the Dark: Illumination, and it’s not hard to see why, as it was panned by critics and fans alike with a score of just 19 out of 100 on Metacritic. However, THQ acquired the franchise in 2018, and have now finally unveiled what they’ve been doing with it, claiming it’s a reimagining of the original trilogy from 1992 to 1994.
The game will see players explore the classic Derceto Manor, now as pretty as it’s even been and stuffed to the brim with horrors around every corner. You’ll also get to explore the surrounding areas and watch as they get turned into nightmare realms before your very eyes. The original game’s protagonist, Jeremy Hartwood, has been sidelined for this adventure, and it’s the job of either Edward Carnby or Jeremy’s niece, Emily Hartwood to uncover what’s happened.
The team at THQ Nordic emphasised the focus on creating a dense horror atmosphere for the game and mixing together all the aspects that made the game great, which later entries lacked. Exploration, puzzles, and combat all feature, although it remains to be seen in what quantities, and how each flows into the other.
The modern horror genre has allowed designers and artists to go wild when it comes to creating twisted and horrific creatures that would make H.P Lovecraft uncomfortable, and Alone in the Dark will have a mix of monsters you can just about scrape by in a fight, and ones where you only option is to run away. On the surface, it seems like this game is learning the lessons that have seen games like Resident Evil: Village reach critical acclaim.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating though, and it won’t be long before people can get their first taste of what’s on offer. THQ Nordic will be at Gamescon in Cologne from August 24 to August 28, and at their booth will be a playable prologue for the game with exclusive content. As for the main game’s release, it will be in 2023, although no specific date has been announced.
When the series is coming off such a disaster, it can be hard for fans to get excited again, but under a new studio, things are looking promising for Alone in the Dark to reclaim its former glory.
Written by Ryan Woodrow on behalf of GLHF.
