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EA - Medal of Honor release date, Dragon Age sequel, Sims 3 on consoles | Sonic & Sega All-Stars Racing demo out now | Did Dante's Inferno topple Mass Effect 2 from charts perch? | Multiple Deals of the Week on XBLA | Aliens vs Predator scores 8/10 | Free Mass Effect 2 DLC hits tomorrow | Exclusive Left 4 Dead 2 Gamerpics with OXM issue 57 | Need For Speed: Shift Ferrari DLC announced | BioWare talks Mass Effect 2 sex scenes | Sega talks Alpha Protocol delay | X10 Fable III news will make you "super pissed off" | Final Fantasy XIII DLC all but confirmed by boxart | Modern Warfare 2 'care package glitch' being zapped | Bungie has last Halo 2 hoorah on April 14th | PS3-exclusive LA Noire confirmed for 360 | Brock Lesnar the face of UFC Undisputed 2010 | Iron Man 2 trailer flies in | Grab Mass Effect 2 'Dr Pepper' DLC the free way | Dark Void gets its own Horde mode | Microsoft turning off Live for the original Xbox | Could Microsoft be raising the Friends List cap? | Just Cause 2 demo on the way | Watch Super Street Fighter IV bonus stages in action | Watch debut Fallout: New Vegas trailer | Monday Night Entertainment trailer crashes in

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Video

Launch Player

Street Fighter IV ³⁶⁰

Prototype ³⁶⁰

Preview

Alone In The Dark

Format Xbox 360

Developer Eden Games

Publisher Atari

Genre Survival Horror, Action

15-Mar-2008 Being afraid of the dark is what keeps most of us alive

1 Comments

As the first ever 3D survival horror game, 1992's Alone in the Dark was a true innovator. It's a relief to see then, that the fifth chapter in Edward Carnby's descent into hell includes almost as many fresh and savvy ideas. Its creator Eden Studios has gone from making a very smart driving game, Test Drive Unlimited, to breaking the rules of another very tried and tested genre.

Set in a possessed version of New York City, you reprise the role of Supernatural Investigator Edward Carnby, last seen exploring haunted towns in the 1920's. Eden has wisely retconned the forgettable 'New Nightmare' chapter in which the hero was updated to a wise-cracking demon hunter. There's a supernatural explanation for Carnby's disappearance for some 85 years, but Eden is frustratingly reluctant to tell us anything more about the story.

So instead, let's concentrate on the bits that made us go 'wow'. And we really weren't expecting it'd be quite this good. First off, there's no back-tracking or looking for quest items. Every obstacle is overcome using real-world solutions, and these apply the game's physics engine to its full potential. When there's a door blocking your path, you can set it on fire, shoot it to pieces or smash it open using a heavy object. The way the fire works is particularly convincing, and it's a lot of fun whacking a burning chair over an enemy's head. We also especially enjoyed pouring a trail of gasoline across a street and then lighting it up like the end of Die Hard 2, creating a barrier between us and the monsters.

Once an object has been picked up, you manipulate it in real-time by waggling the right stick. It reminds us of the feeling of interactivity in Fight Night 3, where you really feel like you're whacking things. You can also use items with more subtlety, such as using a pole to brush an electrified cable out of your way.

The game is in final polishing stages, so expect the full review this May. Until then we'll say that the enormous 843 acre free-roaming environment is extremely impressive and we love Alone in the Dark's cinematic visuals. It's shaping up to be one of the year's scariest and most innovative adventures.

Ben Talbot

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Reviews:

Alone In The Dark

Previews:

Alone In The Dark

News:

Alone In The Dark will be fixed up for 360

Join the controversy! Alone in the Dark demo hits Live

Alone In The Dark gets fiery

Phil Harrison explains Alone In The Dark comment to OXM

Alone in the Dark with Aceybongos

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