Alone in the Dark (2024) has received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising its storytelling and puzzles while others finding it tedious and frustrating. In a negative review from The Guardian’s Rick Lane, the game was criticized for its poor writing and buggy combat. Lane pointed out that the game borrowed elements from Resident Evil 2 remake but lacked the finesse and attention to detail. He described the experience as dull and uninteresting, with performances from Jodie Comer and David Harbour being tonally off and clearly read from a script.
In a more positive review, James Berich from Press Start Australia called Alone in the Dark “uniquely charming” with neat twists on the original game’s formula. Despite acknowledging issues with combat and lack of enemy variety, Berich enjoyed the overall experience and found it compelling enough to play through multiple times. He highlighted the game’s ties to Resident Evil 2 remake but found it to be successful in implementing main mechanics and puzzle-solving.
Mark Delaney from GameSpot was more critical of Alone in the Dark, claiming it didn’t do justice to its source material and was derivative and unenjoyable at its worst parts. Delaney focused on the game’s combat, criticizing its “shoddiness” and directionless melee combat. While he enjoyed some puzzle segments and exploration, it was not enough to save the overall experience for him. Delaney found the combat consistently poor and the story, setting, and lore were not enough to redeem the game.
Vikki Blake from Eurogamer also criticized Alone in the Dark’s combat system, describing the game as janky and unpolished. Despite some unique deviations from the original adventure, Blake found the experience to be forgettable and saved only by the reimagined storytelling. She noted that some players might find the jankiness appealing, but for her, it was a turn-off that detracted from the overall experience. Blake found some praise for the game’s main ideas and story but felt let down by the script and performances.
Ending on a more positive note, Alexander Chatziioannou from PC Gamer enjoyed his time with Alone in the Dark, praising the atmosphere, callbacks to the original game, and compelling twists in the horror story. Unlike other critics, Chatziioannou had high praise for the dialogue, performances, and writing in the game. He found David Harbour and Jodie Comer’s chemistry to be palpable and the game’s Lynchian sense of disconnect to be an interesting touch. Despite noting bugs in the experience, Chatziioannou deemed Alone in the Dark a success and highlighted the fondness for the series that shone through the game.
Overall, Alone in the Dark (2024) seems to be a divisive remake with varying opinions among critics. While some found the game compelling and charming with its storytelling and puzzles, others criticized its combat, lack of finesse, and janky gameplay. Ultimately, it appears to be a love it or hate it experience with major extremes in its reviews.
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